Bois Bleu Robert Piguet 2013

Strong violet but somehow they "class it up" with a supporting cast that seems simple on paper but is stellar on my skin.

People mention words like mature or old school when describing this, I can see that, strong violet scents tend to do that.

This to me though is concocted so well and crafted to mix and slowly change to something above average.

Violets then vetiver then woody.

Thanks to the great, enticing, and inspiring comment from HaraldK, I ordered this bottle blind, which, given the currently very low price, was not too much of a risk.
Since I know his collection and fragrance preferences, I was curious whether Bois Bleu might not be too classic, green, or woody for me. I also had a faint hope of encountering a more lasting version of Narciso For Him Blue Noir, which I absolutely loved but was sidelined due to its poor performance.
Bois Bleu starts with a wonderful top note, citrusy and sour notes, totally refreshing and mood-lifting, high-quality with a minimal hint of aftershave, which is much more pronounced at the spray head but very fleeting when applied. Unfortunately, this fantastic beginning fades away after just a few minutes, a bit too early for me. Then comes the grand entrance of the main actor, no, not the cedar, but vetiver... and quite a rich one at that. A note that I usually have great difficulty with (in 9 out of 10 fragrances), but one that I am increasingly warming up to, triggered by the two successful Guerlains. Where I could never untangle the Gordian knot with Sycomore, I don't even want to talk about Encre Noire, the mix of delicious, bright, and creamy vetiver with a lemon drizzle and a very light floral touch appeals to me greatly! Nutmeg and tiny woods support the fragrance, preventing it from becoming too monotonous, which was also the case for Sycomore and Encre Noire. Here, everything feels less dull, but brighter, softer, yet not as sweet as, for example, Vetiver Babylone or Vetiver Moderno, and not as green-woody-herbaceous, rather a brighter, juicier, and fresher variant of Sycomore, which might shine in quiet moments and perhaps implements the vetiver theme more authentically and consistently, but Bois Bleu is much more fun to wear, somehow more life-affirming... and not so blunt. Bois Bleu feels more at home in spring than in autumn, which might be the crucial difference... with Sycomore, I always thought of November fog. It simply has a cheerier aura and is more versatile, except perhaps in summer at high temperatures. I like this mild-fresh and creamy touch that it maintains until the end, even if the vetiver has a Guardiola-like ball possession. Bois Bleu really doesn’t offer much more than that.
Conclusion: Finally, a vetiver fragrance that comes in a "new" guise, which has completely convinced me; the longevity is optimally chosen at 5 hours, allowing one to enjoy the wonderful top note repeatedly. The sillage is initially very good but not extremely strong, becoming noticeably more subtle from the middle. For some, it is certainly signature-worthy; for me, it is a truly beautiful all-rounder with that certain something. I see it as 60:40 for men, but that shouldn't deter any woman from testing it, as many women wear Sycomore. Those who couldn't quite connect with the scent or who didn't fit well (like me) might find a bit more happiness here. For now, I’m happy to keep it... but with me, you never know;-)))!
Oh yes, Bois Bleu has nothing in common with Narciso; there was a slightly salty, maritime note in that one, which is completely absent here. The cedar is also much more prominent in Narciso, here it can at best be sensed.
Now I absolutely must test Bois Noir; somehow, I have previously ignored or overlooked this brand;-))!

Brrrr..., despite the summer temperatures outside, I feel a chill as I spray on "Bois Bleu." It is the driest and coldest scent that has ever touched my skin. It feels as if I am leaning against a cabin in the far north, taking in the scent of cold wood with a deep breath... I cannot relate to the Mediterranean associations of Angelliese in the slightest. Well, in the heart note it becomes a bit milder, indeed a bit powdery, before a cool vetiver with a slight rubber note takes over in the base. "Bois Bleu" is more suited for Icelandic fishermen than for Provençal winemakers. Very, very masculine, much more of a nature guy than a gentleman. Unisex? Who would even think of that??

When looking at the fragrance pyramid, I cannot quite grasp how this scent experience comes about. I would have expected ingredients like juniper or even cool incense. Perhaps it is the combination of citrus fruits, nutmeg, vetiver, and cedar that creates the frosty impression, while the violet is responsible for the powdery middle? Be that as it may, a cool breeze runs through the fragrance in all phases, sending shivers down my spine...

In researching the inspiration for the name "Bois Bleu," I unfortunately did not come across reliable sources. However, I find it plausible that it is derived from the "Blue Atlas Cedar," a mighty tree reaching up to 40 meters in height and two meters in trunk diameter, which is native to the high altitudes of the Atlas Mountains - where the namesake titan is known to support the vault of heaven. A very fitting image for this powerful scent - which, although it does not inspire me to wear it, fascinates me so much that it easily deserves 8 points. And that even the next morning, after I applied the fragrance late in the afternoon the day before. It certainly does not lack in longevity. Let us be grateful for that, otherwise the sky might have fallen on our heads long ago...

Robert Piguet's greatest works come from the long-gone days of the 1940s and 1950s, think of Baghari, Bandit, Calypso, Fracas, Visa, and the ones launched only after his death, Futur and Cravache from the Sixties.

Everything that came after that, in my opinion, was not really spectacular, and the master himself would never have allowed these creations... Bandit Pour Homme and Fracas For Men were simply dreadful!

Now, after a few years, the old formulations have been slightly modified and adjusted under new management as the Classic Collection, and there were even two completely new series, the Nouvelle Collection and the Pacific Collection. The Nouvelle Collection is not bad in itself, but also not extraordinary like the classics were. I can't make anything of Notes, for example. From the Pacific Collection, I only know Chai so far, which I find quite acceptable.

So, now to Bois Bleu… the fact that this fragrance is supposed to be available only at Harrods in London is no longer entirely true; you can also snag it online at various retailers, rare, but it exists.

The packaging design is not quite typical Piguet, as it does not come in the usual black but in a very appealing ultramarine blue. The bottle is then again as one knows it, a black glass cube.

The scent itself is rather classically fresh and starts with a zesty, tangy citrus note; besides bergamot, I also perceive a strong petitgrain note and subtly processed cedrat lemon, yuzu, and lime.

The heart note is spicy, yet not overloaded, with nutmeg dominating the somewhat shy violet.

In the base, the scent becomes beautifully woody-earthy and feels a bit dry, with vetiver being the most dominant ingredient.

The fragrance could also date back to the time of the first Piguet perfumes, and I think you can tell that it was created for the British market.

The longevity of the fragrance is rather low, like with most of this fragrance family, so one can and should definitely reapply. The sillage is also rather subtle, which is not bothersome.

More suited for the men's segment, it can also be worn by women if they like it fresh-herb-woody.

The scent transports you to another time and also brings me thoughts of the Côte d'Azur.
Thank you and your comment, Angelliese, for that! :-)

I had Bois Bleu in my shopping cart so many times and ultimately managed to hold back from buying it blindly. Despite my experiences with the previously outstanding Piguets in my eyes, I was hesitant.
After a sample from dear DonBlech, it became clear: I made the right choice!
Good thing I didn't buy it blindly! At first, I thought of Villoresi's Vetiver. Bitter, sour, slightly woody, but thickly present Vetiver. As it developed, Etro's Vetiver came to mind as well. The new one, with the silver cap, not the one with the gold. But what didn't come to me was the perception of the typical Piguet DNA that I find in many fragrances.

Whatever, Bois Bleu is a clear disappointment for me in this regard. While I see Bois Noir, Casbah, and my dearly beloved Cravache as milestones, Bois Bleu is a contemporary rider on the already flattened Vetiver wave.
It's well made, no question about it. Not a cheap scent. But the similarity to the aforementioned is too striking for me. To me, this is not a true Piguet. What a shame.