Bois des Iles Chanel for women

The furs and hats have been checked. The audience is settling in, all their finery on display as the orchestra tunes in the pit down front. I sink into my velvet seat and look around at the other opera-goers in their silk and twinkling diamonds. There is a mingling of perfumes, like the cacophonous tuning of the disparate but very fine instruments tuning below, and all wielded by the hands of expert musicians. One fragrance stands out from array of perfume that greets my nose: Bois des Iles. Which great beauty or grand lady nearby is wearing this lovely fragrance? I cannot tell, and I do not care. I am only glad someone is wearing this. I sit back and enjoy taking in the spectacle, accompanied by the most lovely fragrance.

It smells EXACTLY like this Indian sandalwood masala incense I use (Balaji signature) , a woody, clean somewhat soapy sandalwood. A must have for sandalwood lovers! 9/10

I went to the Chanel Boutique and tried this fragrance. I was quoted $350.00 for a 200ml eau de toilette on the 6 April 2013.

I am very disappointed with this fragrance, it was pretty enough but the silage was very poor. It was a cross of Chanel 5 and Coco for me.

It lasted only 1hr on the skin. I had to smell the perfume lingering into my skin another hour later. I had it on a piece of Chanel paper I could smell it five hours later but it was very soft. I would not buy this fragrance because it was not good value for money.

I see much more in common with Bois des Iles and classic no 5 than with Egoiste - the same thick floral aldehydic sheen, heavy soapy musc/light amber bed, dense old school floral bouquet led by ylang ylang. While the rich animalic base joins to sandalwood in no 5, in BdI the sandalwood gets accompanied with a pinch of fresh spices. Five is much thicker, richer and rather sweet, BdI leans slightly more to unisex side with more lightweight core, and fresher approach. Both are powdery, BdI slightly less so. Perhaps the many vague scent memories from the past in this thread are due to this rather obvious connection to five.

Just can't avoid the thought that BdI is a very calculated production for women who think no five is just too much - but want the signature Chanel style fragrance.

I'm not personally drawn to this genre. I guess that I'm slightly hypersensitive to both this type of aldehydes and musc, they tend to cloud the whole experience of the scent when used with heavy hand like in BdI. There is nothing too "woody" or "foresty" to my nose in BdI, it's just a "perfume-like" perfume, very recognizable Chanel style, with explosion of floral, soapy aldehydes and a load of soapy musc.

For my nose the dense and rich base of no 5 is has better balance with the aldehyde cloud - in BdI it feels an overkill, enhanced with that soapy musc in all the wrong ways. I guess that many people are also (partially) anosmic to one or both of these components, so I don't really wonder that there are very different experiences of this fragrance. Just don't overspray it, it's very potent to some noses! I might be personally slightly anosmic to some aromachemicals used to mimic sandalwood - the woodiness in BdI is detectable but fleeting to my nose. Can't see anything groundbreaking or masterful in this, just quintessential Chanel brush strokes recycled to please the contemporary consumer.

But definitely... ...if you are drawn to five, but think it's slightly overwhelming, perhaps too sweet/animalic - try Bois des Iles.

Probably modern Bois des Iles has nothing to do with Beaux´s original creation since indian sandalwood is forbiden, but its stil magnificent.

Polge cant use real sandalwood but he managed to recreate some of its beautiful facets, the creaminess, the woodiness, the slight incense smell and a very sofisticated gourmand aura. And to make it all just perfect ther´s the classic Chanel touch al over the place, aldehydes, jasmin, ylang, roses and iris are responsable for the fresh and cool abstract flower smell, that lurks in the back ground just to remind you that this is N5 cousin.

Hands down the best sandalwood fragrance in production

I have to agree when people say that who uses Egoiste soon will upgrade to Bois des Iles. As said, BdI is more creamy, softer and more refined than Egoiste. Both are outstanding fragrances, but since i knew Bois des Iles, i have been using only it.
To have an idea, it's the same about SL's Borneo 1932 and Chanel Coromandel: Coromandel is more refined while Borneo is more raw.

The opening may smell a bit dated, but it does dries down to something outstanding: Bois des Iles has a sweet sandalwood base that lingers for hours.

The longevity is okay, around 7/8 hours, with a good projection and gentle sillage.

Unisex for sure.

So if you like Egoiste, Heritage and other sandalwood based fragrances, Bois des Iles is a must have!

Big thumbs up!

Bois des Iles parfum: she is the queen of sandalwood perfumes. She is utterly incomparable. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Sandalwood has always been one of my most loved perfume notes. As a girl, I wore Crabtree & Evelyn's Sandalwood cologne. It made me dream of faraway, exotic locales: hanging gardens, sacred temples, stolen kisses from a mysterious prince. Since then, I have been obsessed with this soft, creamy, enveloping note -- hunting down every perfume I can find with a dominant sandalwood aroma.

Chanel's 1926 rendition is nothing short of perfect. This is a traditional sandalwood perfume: one that amplifies and highlights sandalwood's nuances. Rather than simply using sandalwood as a backdrop for other notes, Bois des Iles presents sandalwood as a single, rich note. Of course, this is a clever trompe l'oeil effect -- Bois des Iles has numerous notes: each one part of a complex accord that creates a masterful overall sandalwood experience.

Bois des Iles starts off with a bright burst of citrus and aldehydes, but quickly settles into an enveloping, sweet-ambery sandalwood fragrance. Heady ylang-ylang, along with syrupy tonka, benzoin, and vanilla bring out sandalwood's natural sweetness. Musk, orris, and oppoponax emphasize sandalwood's powdery, ethereal softness.

In parfum form, the dry-down is slow and sensual. It remains relatively linear (with the exception of the aldehyde top note, which dissipates quickly). The longer Bois des Iles is on the skin, the softer and creamier it becomes. Sillage and longevity are phenomenal.

Bois des Iles is a special perfume -- it feels sacred, mystical. Despite this sacred quality, it is a very versatile and easy-to-wear fragrance: good for day or night, special occasions or everyday activities (if you're like me -- you will want to wear it all the time!).

If you adore sandalwood, this is a must-own!!

Oh wow... Bois Des Iles where have you been all my life?! This review is long over due. I ordered a sample of this and 22, and I just knew that 22 and I would get along greatly. That didn't happen. Instead I fell head over hills for Bois De Iles and all of it's seamless perfection. I bought a fb immediately and it has become one of my top 5 fragrances. It's such a beautiful sandalwood fragrance; a tempting floral fragrance that is mildly sweetened with light vanilla. Vanilla is NOT prominent here whatsoever, but it quietly peaks through in the background. It's actually hard to decipher each note in Bois Des Iles; each of the notes are blended together so effortlessly. It's practically a work of art. A+ Chanel!

I think because I tried smelling strong sandalwood essential oil on my skin a week before, this EDT perfume smells very light sandalwood and light flowers and light ylang ylang.
Only last about an hour on my skin.

Finally got to sample Les Exclusifs at Holt Renfrew. Wow - what a high to try these! I understand the hype about Bois Des Iles. Immediately I smelled the aldehydes and gentle citrus then quickly followed by ylang-ylang and jasmine. The two flowers are so strong to my nose that I cannot smell any iris or rose. The amber and woods insinuate slightly in perfect balance with the flowers so as not to overpower. As it dries down, the aldehydes fade away and leave the flowers to rule my nose which happily sniff away. Unfortunately, I love the opening more than the drydown as it turns too sharp for me. Prefer 31 Rue Cambon and Cuir de Russie or No.22 but wouldn't turn Bois des Iles if gifted.

One spray on me:
Sillage: about a foot
Longevity:4-6 hours
Rating: 5/5
Price: Holt Renfrew 75ml for C$145

All I got from it was vetyver with hint of Tonka Bean...so strange, notes that I adore, like coriander, benzoin, peach, aldehydes...just couldn't catch that magic hidden in Bois des Iles.
Had both on my wrists, Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie...Bois DI just didn't work with my chemistry ;( Def Cuir de Russie.

Unrivaled beauty which doesn't ask for comparison or ideal.
Absolutely inimitable, almost indescribable in its ethereal beauty.
To me, this is the smell of the fairy tale forest hiding a sugar-sparkling gingerbread cottage that lured Hansel and Gretel into a trap.
Irresistible smell of temptation...

This is so unusual, not a common concoction at all.....it makes your mind travel immediately to some mysterious place with water, forest, with amber; it has a consciousness elevating quality yet remains cool.......UNFORGETTABLE experience for me - smooth, wonderful, no high notes but very well made. I bought it immediately. I want to keep a bottle till the day I die. LOVE IT THAT MUCH. Get it.

Bois des Iles is my current favorite of the Les Exclusifs line and I just purchased the huge bottle. I just wish it was as long-lasting on the skin as Coromandel is.

The EDT can start off quite harsh and pungent at the opening (as with many Chanels), but as it wears off and the fragrance blooms, it becomes absolutely exquisite; creamy-tart woods with the kick of spices which never quite tips over into sweetness.

I love many sandalwood fragrances, and this accord is at the core of Bois des Iles, without taking over the entire scent. The fragrance manages to be both spicy-rich and fresh-smelling at the same time. Despite that "gingerbread" feel that people talk about, this is not an oriental or sweet scent at all. There's a crispness to it mixed in with clean earthiness that's hard to describe, and it would work perfectly on a man as well.

Egoiste has a clear resemblance to it, sharing that aldehydic woody-spiciness, but Bois des Iles is softer and quieter in the dry-down.

Just got a 20ml decant of this today...

OMG! I love it!

Chanel "Bois des Iles" just wordlessly, amazingly, moves me like no other frags ever did before. I remember smelling it when I was a child but never know what it was. "Pure beauty" one of my top favorite fragrance for sure!

Thank you Cath for sharing this gorgeous fragrance with me.

This is simply divine. I was so amazed when I sprayed on Bois des Iles liberally yesterday that I was overwhelmed and had to sit down just to take it all in. I don't think I have ever had a perfume hit me with such a "wow" factor and definitely not a Chanel. I am not a person who loves the Chanel mainstays like No. 5, but this scent is so different.

It was love at first topnote sniff, even more love through heartnotes and drydown. This gorgeous scent has everything I love, delicious sandalwood, a bit of amber, gorgeous florals with iris, rose, a pinch of citrus and peach and a big ember of vanilla warming everything and bringing all the notes together into a glorious whole. This is so well balanced, just a perfect construction. Bois des Iles is a beautiful wooden cottage with flowers blooming outside on a perfect warm day in an enchanted forest. I thought L'Heure Bleue was perfection, but this scent may be even more perfect.

I am adding to my post on continuing to wear this amazing scent. Ernest Beaux is now at the top of my list as the greatest perfumer ever. Every time I smell one of his amazing scents I am more overwhelmed by the pure beauty of his creaations than the last time I smelled it. Today this smells like the Garden of the Villa Borghese in Rome on a fall day. For those of you who know it, this "garden" is more of a politely pruned forest, it is more trees than flowers and it is just beautiful. Such a gorgeous retreat in the middle of a busy city. I so wish I were there today wearing this beautiful scent. The sandalwood and amber so beautiful in this scent and so perfectly balanced. It's like a symphony. Monsieur Beaux you left a legacy of great beauty to the world. Merci beaucoup.

A rather rough opening before what must be one of the very most gorgeous sandalwood fragrances that has ever existed. Exceptionally smooth.

try to get hold or the perfume to inhale

Will you believe it - bought it six years ago in the Rue de Cambon version. Never quite made it through the topnotes and ended up giving an almost full 100 ml bottle to my aunt.
Woke up one morning about two years ago suffering from badly delayed withdrawal symptoms and knew I had to get a bottle. Fortunately a friend was going travelling and could procure one for me in San Francisco. I now own a 75 ml bottle of Les Exclusifs and I treasure it. So apparently it took me four years to fully appreciate this.
Note to self: must wait at least four years before passing on "dislikes"...

I received a decant of this feom a fellow permuista a few years back and I was so excited because I was expecting this wonderful sandalwood and was really disappointed. I could not detect any sandalwood, just aldehydes, not a particular favorite of mine.

starts off with the classic Chanel aldehydes and dust (which i always detest), and then in typical Chanel fashion soon turns to something more bearable- a comforting powdery peachy sandalwood and a teeny dash of spice. it's classy and a little old-fashioned but rather pleasant once it gets past the initial toilet water stage. i definitely dont get "dark woods" from this, its by contrast very light fresh and feminine to me.

Bdi is a lovely fragrance with a nice heft of vanilla powder. On the fence of deciding if this is masculine enough for me to wear. Give Creed Vanisia a try on opposite wrists to see if you get the comparison and go from there. JG 033012

Update: I really adore this well crafted fragrance and I can definitely see how this is an upgrade from Egoiste (black cap). Unique and sophisticated for sure. Jason G 042113

One reason that the idea of “perfume experts” writing guides makes certain people so uneasy is that nobody likes the idea of having their tastes dictated to them. People don’t like to feel ordinary or transparent, and when they at a certain level of appreciating art or culture, they have a need to feel that their particular tastes are more elevated or discerning than average.

Perfume makes this so much simpler for me. If I like something because a perfume authority pronounced it good, who the hell cares? It gave me a totally licit and freely available pleasure. I always need more of these. My main interest is finding more substances that will do this for me, not experiencing introspection over whether this is the right path to developing taste.

I never got Chanel No. 5, maybe because it was almost a cliché or trope of a fragrance, totally determined by culture. I had no innate inclinations to anything aldehydic. From an early age I had associations with the scent which were not particularly pleasurable. But of course, I want to like it, because I want to enjoy things that are good.

Bois des Îles ended up being the bridge for me to begin to appreciate No. 5. It’s a complex fragrance that has elements I am already conditioned to love such as woods and warmth – sandalwood with a soft, chalky drydown. It is recognizably “Chanel”, a signature which is has to do with aldehydes and complexity. Because it’s likeable it makes me associate with the good aspects of Chanel (crisp black and white things) and not the tacky aspect (strings and strings of fake gold bling.)

In spite of Chanel being the producer of many overpriced pieces of dubious value; the perfumes are mostly great, and the Les Exclusifs are a shockingly good value. I wish I had purchased the vat-sized unit because this perfume is meant to be worn copiously and frequently.

While walking through an enchanted, rich resin filled rain forest, imagining fairies dancing in their little circles, you catch the aroma of gingerbread and slightly spiced peach pie baking. You are drawn in by the aroma and make your way through the many colorful flowers and fresh roots, until you come upon a little wooden cottage that fits comfortably within a large tree. This quickly becomes your own personal hideaway that you will no doubt remember to visit many times.

Bois Des Iles still keeps that perfect sandalwood aroma that has for the most part left the scene along with Indian sandalwood. From the very beginning the sandalwood presents itself to perfection along with just the right amount of aldehydes, enough to enhance and balance it, but not too much as to shock the senses.

This fragrance, created more than eighty years ago still fascinates with the ability to work backwards. When smelling the sandalwood at first spray, one might get the idea that it’s a linear fragrance...not so. What would ordinarily be considered top notes do not make the scene until later in the dance.

It’s said that it has a definite gingerbread note and I would agree, however, I have never been fond of the smell of gingerbread cooking until I smelled BDI. It’s the same note, but yet it’s not quite so gourmand sweet. This beauty lasts all day and into the night. It’s strong but not so over whelming as to be offensive. Fall would be the perfect time to wear it, but I wear it anytime, best in the evening.

this EDT lasted 12 hours on me...did not won me over at first but this is definately strong scent...how is then the Parfum strong?...what stayed from it is iris and amber and musk...but still its remarkable for EDT!

Ahhh...Bois des Iles is like a breath of fresh early summer air, very welcome in the middle of our blah gray autumn here.

Out on the hiking trail in the summertime, early afternoon, under the oak trees, that smooth woodiness of tree bark, that warm golden gentleness of the sunshine through the leaves, that mild rich earthiness as you unsettle the earth beneath your boots, the sweet mellow grassiness of the breeze through the goldening wild grasses and wildflowers of the meadow just beyond...

So heavenly.

This is the current EDT I'm sampling, for those curious to know.

I hoard a tiny bottle of Bois des Iles parfum and I don't know what I'll do when it turns. I'm afraid to wear it, because I don't want to expose it to air. I love to just sniff its box.

The first time I smelled Bois des Iles, I started crying. It was like a forgotten memory, or the fulfillment of something I always longed for. Who can really explain these things? All I know is that it is the most exquisite, beautiful, evocative thing I've ever smelled, and not having it would be like losing a limb.

Aldehydes, sandalwood and iris on a sweet fruity oriental base. Resinous undertones, dark woods, dry/sweet juxtapositions. Not much to say about such an imponent fragrance but, if you ever wondered how a masterpiece smells like, you have to try this. Men wearing Egoiste on a regular basis may decide to upgrade to Bois Des Iles pretty soon.

One of the 100 best fragrances of all times.

Rating: 9.5/10

So many good comments here. I agree, this is a polite, elegant, slightly old-fashioned but very addictive scent. I detest Chanel No.5, but am a fan of Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie and No.19. I like Coromandel too but have never owned it. Of this selection, B.d.I is my favourite for everyday, quiet and appropriate in all settings. When I wear it, I feel like I have a secret.

This Chanel is on my least favorite list along with Chance. Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't incredible juices in their own right. Bois des iles to me, is very old school and I'm just not a big neroli/peach fan which is what lingers in my nose for the longest time. Not that it isn't feminine or pretty, but in a very old school way. Rather buttery vetiver ending which is what gives it points imo.
I imagine what women smelled like in the 1920's and this is it.

Bois de Iles is warm, fuzzy, woody oriental with an opening splash of Chanel aldehydes. The Guide stated that Bois de Iles was like the brunette sister of No.5, and I totally agree: it has the same deep murky fuzzy wood notes but Bois de Iles is lighter, perhaps a little more laid back. I would even say Bois de Iles was like the brunette little sister, and is a better "fresher" version of No. 5 than Eau Premiere (which was ash on my skin). Perfect for those early fall days when you want something a little deeper but not too strong, a nice light blazer rather than a heavy peacoat.

Would I buy Bois de Iles? Someday, but it's low on my priority list. Inez by BPAL is pretty similar, like a scent cousin, and significantly cheaper though it comes in only 5ml bottles. If you like Bois de Iles but don't want to spend $110, Inez is a fine substitute; likewise if you like Inez and want more than 5ml, Bois de Iles is where to go. When I finally run out of my bottle of Inez I'll buy Bois de Iles, but not till then.

I just got this today. I've been chasing it around for years and I am so pleased. It's a beautiful, warm scent. It's classy and simply stunning. I tend to love most chanel, though. For the price, 110 us, I found it quite reasonable. The bottle comes with a cool magnet closure, in a pedestal box in a black, drawstring Chanel bag. To top off how beautiful the scent is.

Sandalwood, forest and slight spice wrapped in the very distinct Chanel notes. Lovely I'm thrilled

Fur coats, butter soft leather, Methuselah Cristal out of Waterford flutes....first class all the way. Amazing.

I need it to be twice as strong!! But I guess I can use a LOT more. I wish they had a body cream too! I love it!

The ultimate in luxurious comfort and warmth.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!

Bois des Iles really lasts all day for me. I have several versions of this, and the vintage parfum is the best. It is just a beautiful fragrance that reminds me of a sunset on a tropical beach. It is class and luxury combined into one.

This IS the smell of the wardrobe in "The Lion The Witch and The Wardobe"! I can even sense the musty fur coats that Lucy rubbed her cheek against as she walked further into the closet!

Bois des Iles just didn't do it for me, and I think it must be the aldehydes because it made me quite nauseous. I adore Coromandel, Sycomore, Cuir de Russie and No 19 and while I can admire the Chanel quality in this perfume, there was just this odd note which jarred. I note in someone else's review BDI had a similarity to Samsara - I wonder if she hit the nail on the head because Samsara and I are sworn enemies. Nevertheless I am glad to have tried a decant, but will pass it on to a deserving friend.

I love CHANEL's classic perfumes. As much as I like Bois des Iles, I have to say that it shares too much of a similarity with No.5 and No.22 for me to also purchase this one. It is a very classy, somewhat old fashioned, powdery, not-too-sweet fragrance. Because I am so used to the other two perfumes, this smelled like watery versions of them. So perhaps this could be an option for someone who thinks Nos. 5 & 22 are too heavy but who would like to wear a high-quality aldehyde. It's still a very characteristically CHANEL perfume.

To die for. My absolute favorite. It was the very first fragrance I ever tried that I fell in love with immediately. It is such a comforting, cozy, classic fragrance. It makes me feel better just to wear it. Worth every penny (although I wish it didn't require quite so many pennies to own).

The first time I smelled it, I thought it smelled really old fashioned... from another time and era that I didn't belong. Anyway, I still asked for a sample, and a few days later, gave it another spritz. I couldn't understand what the fuss was about. I smell a lot of powder, flowers, and a comforting sandalwood, a warm and very-close-to-the-skin intimate scent that might belong on an older woman. It still did not appeal to me. Funny thing is, like Doc Elly (below), I kept reaching for it every few days because I was craving something in it. What it is, I cannot place. The powder repels me, but something about it attracts me. Who knows, when I finish my sample, I might actually get a bottle, though it was definitely not love at first sniff.

I'll be honest. I have a 1.5 mL sample of this, that I've tested several times, and I don't love it.

I thought I was doomed with this one, for sure. Woody autumn forest oriental with lots of sandalwood? Usually this would spell love for me, but this wears curiously flat on my skin every time I've tried it. Chanel-aldehyde opening, a murky-sweet wood, that just kind of fades out. There's not much about this that's rich and deep, but quite the opposite, there is something almost shreikish about it.

Actually I'm glad I don't love it because it will save my wallet a big wad of cash.

I'm glad everyone else loves it so much, though.

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. A touch of aldehyde, then velvety lilac and sandalwood prevail all the way to the finish.

Accented with a wisp of peachy rose in the heart which leads into a warm, powdery wood. Yet this feels a little soapy, oily and tactile like a balmy, heartfelt hug from a classy woman who doesn't normally show physical displays of public affection--only doing it when she is really compelled to.

Feminine with dry notes that are traditionally masculine, yet harmonized with resins in a way that conveys warm, womanly independence.

If I had to describe this one for someone who had never smelt it I would say that it is a mixture between Chamade-Guerlain and Chanel n5. It starts with the alhelydes and finishes more Chamade like. There is something intriguing here that makes you willing to investigate it more deeply ,something pungent that comes into scene and quickly disappears only to turn up a bit later.When you smell it on others it makes you get closer to find out what it is.
Overall it is elegant like a time long gone. I can perfectly picture Coco Chanel getting out of a Beige Rolls Roice smoking a cigarette wearing Bois des lles,one of her famous black and white suits and her pearls.
I loved it the moment I smelt it for the first time.

Bois des Iles is timeless & beautiful. I remember this smell from childhood, but cannot remember who wore it. It is a smell of all things soft & luxurious & elegant & plush. Very unobtrusive & comforting. Well mannered.
A great one when you just cannot decide, as you just cannot go wrong. Will always be in my collection. Its one of those, like many Chanel frags, that reeks of class, yet nobody wears it. I love that.

When I found out there were 12 more Chanel fragrances to be found at the boutique, I rushed myself to the Chanel boutique here in town to get me one.

The saleslady sprayed a few cards for me: No18, Eau de Cologne, 28 la Pausa and Bois des Iles. I didn't like any of the first three, but Bois des Iles caught my attention right away.

Went home, sniffing all the cards and was convinced Bois des Iles was the one. Got back to the store the next day after reading some of the reviews on this site and was really eager to try Coromandel as well. Asked for a spray on each hand so I could pick either Bois des Iles or Coromandel.

Went for a walk around the Vondelpark here in Amsterdam which is close to the boutique and knew right away that Coromandel was the one. I haven't smelled anything like it since I first tried Antaeus or Egoiste: I knew I found my new signature scent in Coromandel.

I did like Bois des Iles as well so I returned to the store again two weeks later. This time I wanted to try Sycomore as well and to cut a long story short: I went home with a bottle of Sycomore.

I'll give Bois des Iles another shot this autumn, as it makes the perfect autumn fragrance. The problem that I had with Bois des Iles is the opening, which smelled very "soap-like" on my skin. After 15 minutes or so Bois des Iles gets darker and warmer and from that moment on, I really love the fragrance. It's as comforting as Coromandel is after the opening.

Edit: a few tries later and I love the opening now... It reminds me of some flowery perfume my mother used. Warps me back in time. Lovely! After that it's heavenly. Can't wait to get the full bottle this autumn...


10/10


Edit [sept.2011]:

Bought a big bottle a few weeks ago and it's my second most used and loved frag now after Coromandel. From opening to the last whiff this is such an awesome fragrance. It changes all day and it's different on each wearing.

The aldehydes from the opening make me high. And the rest of the notes take me further into heaven...
This is a true work of art!

Bois des Iles is a beautiful incensey sandalwood scent, with floral hints in the background. Very Complex, elegant and timeless, an absolute Masterpiece!

If you smell closely, you can notice may be certain similarities between this scent and Samsara.

I absolutely adore Bois des Iles. It's a bit powdery sweet and woody.

This is for the EDT that stay close to the skin and last!

Very subtle aldehydes! Doesn't have the soapy, old-fashioned talcum powder accord which plagues many classic perfumes (on my skin anyway)..clean but not jarring, feminine but not overstuffed with flowers nor too sweet, BdI is a beautifully balanced composition. Wears very close to the skin; the iris and sandalwood play into the symphony of notes ( I love you Earnest Beaux). Absolute class in a bottle!

This scent (edt) almost demands cashmere. It doesn't smell a thing like Joy, but it is so sublimely beautiful, sensual and wealthy smelling that it reminds me of that scent. I love them both.

Bois Des Iles reminds me of dressing up and crunching through the snow to see Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, to the point where I'm not sure I will be able to wear it any other time of year. But I love it so much that I'm going to try. An absolutely unforgettable fragrance!

Trax..Thank you for this beauty. LOVE IT. Another bottle worthy for me. I love the forest with warmth feel to this but I also get a very clean musk like a body shop musk, but of course expensive. Very lovely.

Very classic...a lovely soapy woody floral that wraps you up in it's plushness. It is similar to No 22 but nowhere near as sweet or claustrophobic.

Out of the hundreds of perfumes I've smelled, this is my top choice. I'd wear it every day if I could.

Only problem is the price...since it's $100 a bottle on Chanel's website (and that's for the EDT!)) it's way out of my price range for a daily signature scent. (Not to mention the scandelous pirates on Ebay asking $125-350 for the same thing. Shame on you!)

So, I'll keep getting spritzed at the department store and hoping to win the lotto so I can smell of Bois Des Iles forever.

Tried it in Selfridges and thought "WOW" this is my signature CHANEL scent until I found out about the ridiculous price tag of £150 plus for 200ml is a little bit "way over" my budget.

I thought it was very similar to "Egoiste" yet a bit more sensual and floral.

A lovely fragrance that I'd be happily buy in a max. 100ml bottled version.

CHANEL style and classic!

Parisienne glamour galore for male or female!

WARM, RICH, SENSUAL, SOPHISTICATED!!

10/10

The Bois des Iles I am reviewing is from the Les Exclusifs line in the EDT concentration.

In every article I've read on this particular fragrance, Bois des Iles is hailed as being the first woody fragrance ever created for women. While I do agree that Bois des Iles has some woodsy qualities, I'm more swayed into placing it into a floral category. A floral woody musk tends to be more true to describing the scent itself.

Bois des Iles opens like a classic Chanel fragrance, soft aldehydes and sparkling, clean soap. For a while it smelt like a cross between Chanel No.5 EDT and Allure EDP. However, once settled on the skin, Bois des Iles becomes quite buttery and 'golden'.

This fragrance smells expensive and unusual, despite its rather predictable composition. I honestly could not detect any hint of the peach or bergamot in the opening, so on my skin the florals tend to dominate.

The heart consists of oily florals that smell rather like a floral-scented lotion on the skin, rather than a perfume. This interesting quality had me sniffing my wrists for hours trying to determine why the scent felt so buttery and soft.

The rich, buttery florals do not dissipate from the skin throughout the whole composition. Even with the arrival of the sandalwood, vetiver, benzoin and musk, Bois des Iles has a very distinguishable smoothness.

I do believe that Bois des Iles is a bit of an acquired taste. While I enjoyed wearing this fragrance and revelled in its amazing lasting strength, ultimately this fragrance just wasn't me. I found Bois des Iles to be a fragrance better suited to a pretty, rather conservative and tame young lady which is far from my wild self.

A pretty floral but the EDT didn't even seem to last a half hour on my skin (even with generous spritzing) so I couldn't properly evaluate the fragrance! I need to try the pure parfum to get an accurate response and suggest others do too.

(Vintage) Parfum
I am fortunate to have this fabulous fragrance in the parfum concentration circa mid to late Twentieth century, recently un-boxed and opened for this review.
The Blending of elements in this legendary perfume border on perfection, I believe the genius of Ernest Beaux is demonstrated here in it's most absolute and unrestrained glory.
From start to finish I am mesmerized by Grasse Neroli & Jasmine, Damask Rose absolute, ( Bulg. or Ottoman ) Iris and a warm spicey Gingerbread accord that lasts for hours followed by a protracted drydown of the most exquisite Florentine Orris, ( Iris root ) Mysorean Sandalwood, rare exotic woods and now obsolete Nitro musks.
Alas, perfumery of this calibre will never be recreated again due to the un-availability of rare tinctures and precious aromatic compounds.
I hope to sample the more modern eau de toilette formulation soon, the intrigue is becoming quite urgent now.
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful vintage extracts in my collection.
Merci Monsieur Beaux.............

I just don't "get" Chanel. From time to time I feel compelled to try one Chanel or another just because everyone else regards them as practically sacred, so last night I put on a sample of Bois des Iles. The opening was so harsh that I almost scrubbed it, but didn't because I thought I could detect something promising under the obnoxious mix of aldehydes and rough sandalwood. After a half hour it settled into something more wearable, still mostly a very dry aldehyde-sandalwood mix that strongly evoked light gray swirly patterns like lichens, but as the hours passed I experienced some of the floral aspect of the scent as well as the famous "gingerbread" note. None of these phases really appealed to me. Maybe it was because I used the current version of the EdT, and those who love it have used an older version or a different concentration. Whatever the reason, I felt as if I were wearing the scent of a person from another time and place, to whom I could not relate.

I can certainly appreciate Bois des Iles for its historical significance and for the craftsmanship that went into formulating it, but the scent itself leaves me cold. It's like a well-made European porcelain figurine that I can grudgingly appreciate for the artistry and work that went into it, but that has no place in my aesthetic scheme of things or in my life.

A couple of weeks after this initial encounter I found myself craving the gray lichen scent again, so even though I don't "get" the scent I find myself being strangely drawn to it.

Another update a few weeks later: Last night I was in the grocery store (TJ's) and smelled the sillage of Bois des Iles - unmistakable. I don't know who was wearing it, but I knew I needed to wear this perfume again. I've sent off for a decant to supplement my tiny sample. Maybe this is my HG of Chanels. LOL! Who would have thought. It just goes to show how our reaction to a perfume can change over time and how the memory of a unique scent can persist and work its way into our subconscious.

(Pure Parfum review)
This scent is 100% artistic perfection. I put just a drop on at 1 p.m., and now it is 10 and the scent is still lingering. I love the way the fragrance changes throughout the day, and it never really loses the flowery middle notes. While I do appreciate this scent, it is with the utmost respect that I say it is too sweet for me. However, I will enjoy my sample to the fullest and will probably return for another over time.

Opening with I nice soft aldehydes, and liht powder. After I feel many flowers, they are so elegant and light. I can to say with ones is dominated, the all in line with each other. In base Ylang-ylang with sandalwood working good on my skin.
If you like Guerlain Samsara, you should try it. Bois des Iles in base, is like a lighter version on Samsara.

This is a gorgeous scent, but a bit too fruity on my skin. Ultimately I had to give my sample away because I could not wear the scent without smelling the fruitiness. To sum up, Bois des Isles does not work on my skin, but if you are the least bit curious about the scent, rest assured that it is nonetheless exquisite, and well worth testing.

It doesn't happen all that often that I close my eyes and go "Mmmmmmmm!" for minutes. It did happen when I tested this for the first time. I went weak in the knee, I was speechless and totally mesmerized. Mals86 is right, it IS perfection. All I can add is that it is incredibly sophisticated, it shouts class and taste and maybe even money. I almost feel I'm not worthy. This blend is the definition of beauty, a masterpiece.

Absolute perfection. Warm and smooth and floral, and then warm and smooth and woody/resiny... like wearing your warmest, softest sweater and eating gingerbread cake. Cashmere in a bottle, with the elegance all Chanels seem to share (it's that expensive iris butter, I think).

I agree with liat -- it's NOT for warm weather, just as you wouldn't wear your cashmere sweater and microsuede skirt in that weather. Try it when the snow falls, and you may be enchanted.

Not for me, thanks. In this hot hot weather, it's just too much of everything. Need'em light and green and fun.

This one and No5 and 22 and Cuir Des Russi,wrere not on earth,and Coco made them reality,they are legendary smells,unique and sensual emotional mixtur(litrally). Hard to copy.

Top rated female perfume from Chanel