Bois du Portugal (for men)

cbstarker

When I first started into the world of fragrances, one of the first things I learned was the dichotomous opinions of the Creed house. Over and over again, many reviewers stated that a certain other fragrance was just as good as a Creed but at a fraction of the price. Well, I went through a few of those something or others and will say that you get what you pay for.

Many Creed lovers will also say that BdP doesn't deliver the way other Creed fragrances do: low sillage, low longevity, and so on. But I disagree. I think of Bois de Portugal as the "soir" to their other more vociferous fragrances and it's all the more better for it. This is the quiet little so-and-so in the back of the room that's been holding out. When you finally introduce yourself, you end up going on a date!

What I like best about BdP is that it is like a choir: It combines a variety of notes that you can easily single out but work together to create a mellifluous song. And on top of that they are some of my favourite notes.

The is perhaps the most unique and well-formulated woody oriental that I have tried. The lavender is more like a movie preview before the feature presentaion. It provides a slightly floral opening that sticks around for a while to balance some of the woody notes but the vetiver note is by far the most interesting. Without it BdP would just be a fairly typical woody oriental but the slightly sour vetiver gets in there and makes things a little earthier, more grounded. It smells "real" and not like some delusion of grandeur.

Oh, and longevity? Sillage? I like my fragrances to stay close but last a long time. Bingo, Bois de Portugal is a beautiful, long lasting body-wrapping fragrance that captures many pleasing elements - floral, grassy, earthy and woody.

shamus1

Bois du Portugal is growing on me, and I'm wearing it as I write this. I'm surprised it's known as a "woody oriental". It smells like a leather chypre. Maybe it's wood oil I'm smelling, but it smells like leather to me. I like it. Reminds me of Aramis or a much more spicy Chanel Pour Monsieur.

shamus1

I just tried BDP for the first time today, and have to say that it's definitely a quality product, but not my cup of tea. It is extremely spicy and woody, but in a rather stodgy, dandified way. It reminds me of a lot of classic British men's fragrances from the turn of the century; BDP could just as easily been released by Floris. If you're like me and are prefer Annick Goutal's or Acqua di Parma's style of men's fragrances (i.e., "bitter" and "Mediterranean", respectively), BDP might not be for you. But if you're looking for a powerful, virile, spicy and leathery smelling high quality fragrance, BDP might be right up your alley. Just keep in mind that it definitely brings to mind the image of an uptight dandy.

andyray

I've recently reviewed Creed's 'Original Vetiver' and argued that it remains an 'oddity' within their collection given its title and resultant olfactory outcomes. At the same time, importantly, I briefly discussed Creed's status within the 'world of perfume' and their House being synonymous with 'Class'.

In short, and in contrast to 'Original Vetiver', 'Bois du Portugal' does what it says on the Creed box, and delivers a classic, rich and opulent perfume spilling over with deep woody notes that would appear to last forever.

If you like your male perfumes 'heavy' and leaning towards the oriental, feminine set of the scales, then this should delight as it resonates almost fougere-like sweetness. Lovers of 'Santos' and 'Salvador Dali' will gravitate towards this, whereas those that like the dryer, floral notes of Green Irish Tweed', for example, might wish to pass this one by.

Seemingly devoid of fresh citrus top notes, the initial opening is huge and, by skipping any prologue, the whole plot of the scent explodes in a tempest of deeply rich and seductive Portuguese woods, splashed with the clean, calming notes of lavender.

As Prospero releases Ariel from the (pine) tree, he steals away to make continual magic (and mischief)for his master and, in so doing, scatters the air with a melange of extremely warm, soft, almost heady, alluring resinous notes that seduce those who fall under this potent olfactory spell.

This is a commanding, beguiling, dramatic perfume that offers massive impact and staying power that, I suggest, for some will be too dense; for others, not masculine enough, and maybe even a touch too old-fashioned. For those, however, who desire a huge powerhouse of a scent that draws others in and generates the question, 'what's that you're wearing? It smells amazing!', then this is a 'must-try'.

Finally, there is an epilogue with 'Bois du Portugal' as hours later, there's a sense of resolution to all the notes and their drama as the scent still lingers and leaves an uplifing feeling of that in which something special has been encountered in those deepest Portuguese woody elements. Andyray.