Collection Extraordinaire

Bois d'Amande Van Cleef & Arpels 2020

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7.9 / 10 296 Ratings

A popular perfume by Van Cleef & Arpels for women and men, released in 2020. The scent is sweet-woody. It is being marketed by Interparfums.
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Main accords

Sweet

Woody

Creamy

Gourmand

Powdery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Almond

Lemon

Heart Notes

Cedarwood

Base Notes

Tonka bean absolute

White musk

Perfumer

Sidonie Lancesseur

Ratings

Scent

7.9296 Ratings

Longevity

7.6258 Ratings

Sillage

7.1258 Ratings

Bottle

8.3251 Ratings

Value for money

7.3171 Ratings

Submitted by Morpheus1, last update on 07/17/2025.

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the "Collection Extraordinaire" collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Nubica

Star

Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum

Bois Doré

Infusion d'Amande

Myrrh & Tonka

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/26/2024

6
Pricing 5
Bottle 5
Sillage 10
Longevity 9.5
Scent

CatSmells
7 Reviews

CatSmells

5

Smooth and Buttery

This is not a typical gourmand fragrance, yes it has vanilla and almonds but it’s not a heavy marzipan or frangipani dessert. Instead it’s more of a light, fluffy almond cake, or even an almond pudding/mousse (if that’s a thing - it should be!). That being said, it doesn’t actually smell edible like many gourmands.

This is a well blended, smooth and buttery fragrance that dries down into a woody, and musky skin scent that lasts forever on clothes. It does not have a big projection, but the intimate scent trail is addicting once noticed. The airy lemon scent adds a gentle zing whilst the woody notes add depth that prevents it being sickly sweet and cloying.

I appreciate those likening it to BR540, but I think it shares an airy almond or burnt sugar note found in BR540 Extrait. However this is far superior in that it doesn’t have a synthetic/plastic smell I find with both BR540. I own Replica BTFP and they’re nothing alike - both have vanilla but it’s totally different, even the vanilla notes are different.

I think this could be a popular fragrance in 2024. I’m obsessed.

12/29/2024

6
Pricing 8
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 7.5
Scent

Musicandarts
206 Reviews

Musicandarts

2

A nice versatile almond gourmand that is not too sweet.

This review is based on a 10 ml vial of Bois d’Amande that came as part of a travel set that also included Ambre Imperial and Moonlight Patchouli. It is a beautiful almond fragrance from the Collection Extraordinaire from Van Cleef & Arpels. Sidonie Lancesseur has created a lovely mild gourmand that stays elegant without becoming too sweet.

It opens with lemon and almond notes that do not foreshadow the typical almond tonka gourmands. The presence of a tangy lemon in the opening coupled with a raw almond note makes this a unique almond. Every note listed by the perfumer is present in the beginning, though with different intensities. The tonka bean pushes it towards a gourmand personality while the musk holds it back from going there. The citrus subsides as we move into the heart notes, but the cedar is now perceptible. For most of its life on my skin, Bois d’Amande is an almond-tonka-cedar. Most notes stay on till the very end, though their relative contribution changes as time proceeds. I can easily pick up tonka bean, cedar, musk and almonds in the base notes and dry down. Though this is a nice almond gourmand scent, it does not stand out as something particularly unique or exceptional.

The performance of Bois d’Amande is moderate, though this may not be bad thing. It is a perfume that I can recommend for the office setting, perhaps the only almond scent I would dare to. Sillage is detectable in the wake of the wearer for a few hours, but it doesn’t project over long distance, again something useful in an office scent. The longevity is good, not great. The base notes of almond, cedar and tonka subside in less than six hours on my skin.

In summary, Bois d’Amande is a lovely almond gourmand that stays on the respectable side of the gourmand spectrum. It works great as an entry-level almond scent that is also versatile. Just like Ambre Imperial, Bois d’Amande does not chart new courses in perfumery. However, it is still a good bargain if you can get a 45 ml bottle for $40. The inexpensive travel set that I bought is also a good option.

03/01/2020

6
Pricing 8
Bottle 7
Sillage 6
Longevity 7.5
Scent

Parfümlein
120 Reviews

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Parfümlein

Top Review 33

The fragrance for the quiet days

... this is how "Bois d'amande" presents itself: it is not a loud fragrance, it does not attract attention, it does not captivate with a dominant note. At the beginning there is a citric-woody freshness, which smells more like warm, sunlit wood than cold winter forest. The ratio between citric and woody parts is very balanced, they enter into a balanced combination. A very short time later, a soft almond note appears, blending with the citrus-woody note, giving it a slight sweetness and a greater depth. Both notes remain present, even when the clearly perceptible spicy sweetness of vanilla finally sets in. All three components can now be clearly perceived next to each other and interwoven, none of them recedes behind the other (I do not perceive any further notes at the moment). All this remains unchanged on the skin for several hours without any surprising development, before the citric-woody, warm tone finally recedes and gives more room to the almond sweetness.
From the beginning the fragrance appears light, inconspicuous, discreet. It nestles softly, almost creamy against the skin and remains there, as already mentioned, without any significant development, as a delicate companion. Because none of the notes seems really dominant - when the almond and vanilla take over the field, the silage has long since been weakened - the fragrance comes across as strangely distant, as if it really wants to remain inconspicuously in the background, not distract, not occupy the thoughts, just be there, radiate a meditative calm that invites contemplation, that leaves room for one's own thoughts, room to work, room for conversation, always caressing the skin as a gentle companion. Sweetness, spiciness and woodiness are so well balanced that there can be no question of a gourmand or forest scent. It is also difficult to assign the fragrance to a single season; I think it is suitable at least for autumn and winter and for spring, if not for warm summer evenings. This is also due to the lightness of the fragrance. It is light without being volatile; on the contrary, it leaves a slightly oily film on the skin. Nevertheless, he retains his restraint. A fragrance for the quiet moments in life, those that are not marked by enthusiastic feelings, but by a gentle turning to oneself, a coming to rest, a letting oneself fall. In lightness and weightlessness of thought. A beautiful fragrance, recommended for walks in the forest, for meditation and always: for silence.

06/27/2024

5
Pricing 6
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 9
Scent

Dionysos2022
657 Reviews

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Dionysos2022

Helpful Review 3

What do I smell here...

... actually? I can smell the mixture of lemon, sweetness and roasted almonds. Which immediately takes me back to the Oktoberfest.

When this fragrance is applied, the first thing you smell is sugared almonds with a green, citrusy note from the lemon. This is followed by a woody scent and finished with musk.

This is a fragrance that can be worn by both men and women. Here I am of the opinion that it is suitable for both sexes from the age of 25. The fragrance can be worn all year round and is suitable for both the office and leisure time.

If you like a not-too-sweet almond scent, you should take a look at this fragrance.

03/05/2024

8
Pricing 9
Bottle 10
Sillage 10
Longevity 10
Scent

Sbel
16 Reviews

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Sbel

5

.. For luck!

Jacques Arpels said: "To be lucky, you have to believe in luck." Known as the iconic lucky charm of Van Cleef & Arpels! Of course, this iconic meaning also applies to their jewelry that seduces women ... but I think the same goes for their fragrances too!
i really liked "Bois Amande" from this brand. How it quietly impresses people without shouting! Lightly roasted almonds. It smells like vanilla pudding with lemon sauce and almonds on top. I love almonds very much, their aroma and smell is wonderful to me everywhere Here it is carefully crafted and of high quality.
Also iconic and stylish in the bottle.
I loved it very much!

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