Bois Bourbon Decennial 2012

..at least for long stretches of the fragrance development. Bois Bourbon is a wonderfully successful scent that makes you feel comfortable from the very first second. This is probably also because I really like creamy and powdery fragrances (since Dior Homme). The first minutes of BB are characterized by a delightful lavender-saffron mix..with a minimal hint of cinnamon. It feels very natural and somehow excitingly different. Since Oud by MFK, saffron has been my secret favorite, as it rarely stands out extremely in fragrances, but it shapes them very decisively. Saffron provides a warm-spicy coziness, something that perhaps only white musk can achieve. The heliotrope sweetness is very subtle and in no way intrusive..I perceive it similarly in Armani's Eau de Nuit, and it fits very well with the slightly ethereal (non-green) lavender and the lightly peppery spice. What can be more distinctly detected is a very beautiful rose that comes across as a bit waxy. It is totally unisex, not overly sweet, but also not overly masculine-dirty. It seamlessly integrates into the fragrance at this point. Always accompanied by a noticeable powder that is very pleasant but also quite dry. I can also detect a slightly subtle raspberry note, neither synthetic like in Tuscan Leather, nor freshly picked from the bush.

From the heart note, I was already looking forward to a masculine finale in the base, as the notes clearly point towards a distinctly masculine direction...but unfortunately, this does not come for me. Neither the counterpart through woods, nor anything green-herbaceous-mossy like oakmoss or tree bark. Rather, the rose increasingly pushes itself to the forefront, but it also becomes more feminine, as there is no more harsh counterpart. BB still smells very pleasant, but at this point, it loses its uniqueness. Even though you constantly feel that sandalwood is somehow still lurking around. At this point, BB is a mix of Old Bond Street (Atkinson) and Santal Royal (Guerlain).

Conclusion: Airy, bright fragrance that can certainly be worn on several consecutive days, which I couldn't say about any single fragrance in my collection so far. 60:40 feminine in the later fragrance development. I would place BB in the upper third of niche fragrances..you can smell it through and through..the lovely base, however, prevents a significantly higher rating. Longevity of up to 8 hours is great with above-average sillage for such an "airy" scent, without it being a fleeting fragrance.