Bois Impérial Extrait by Essential Parfums

What a gem! A woody, fresh and spiced fragrance with a very elegant profile. It projects cleanliness, poise and confidence without being invasive. Ideal for formal wear, evening events or important meetings. It leaves a sophisticated and well-groomed impression.

I’ve used two bottles and given what the fragrance is they’ve lasted several days. I like it but I have mixed feelings. This extract blends wood accords of various intensities: varnish at the start resins and clean warm wood at the end. As a lover of nature I adore these scents even if they’re synthetic; however this perfume ends up tiring me a bit becoming cloying as it maintains high intensity in your bubble without causing olfactory fatigue. Regarding the criticised price I think it’s expensive but not dear considering it’s not for everyday wear: it’s for occasional use in cold weather with about three sprays. The 30 ml bottle can last years and with a couple of samples you’ll cover most of winter.

The Bois Imperial extract is exactly as described a darker and heavier version of the bestseller. I own both and when comparing them there’s a beautiful well-crafted rose that gives it a nocturnal and elegant air. There’s been much talk about longevity and projection; the EDP is already outstanding on my skin but this is another level: it lasted two days with showers in between. It’s extraordinary and doesn’t cause olfactory fatigue like its sibling. The price is 130 euros/30 ml; perhaps it’s not justified by the great similarity to the EDP but if you’re a fan of the Bois Imperial DNA you’ll love it. Versatile for all seasons day and night. I’d avoid using it in the middle of summer because its tremendous intensity can be overwhelming.

I do not expect much life from this ‘money pit’. Less projection, and when I say less, I mean very, very little. Fewer nuances. And what I least expected is less longevity. I categorise it as a ‘money pit’ because when you buy an extrait, you know it will project less, fair enough, though I don’t know if that little, but we have passed that point. It should have more nuances, but what do I know? They wanted to simplify it, okay. But what cannot happen is that I apply the original two hours earlier at home, go to the shopping centre to try it, and three hours after application it is gone, while the less dense version projects as well as the original Bois Imperial. Damn it, twelve hours after applying it I still feel bursts of scent, and the extrait has not lasted even three hours. In short, today’s perfumery. Disappointing.

A perfume that will delight those who already use and enjoy the original Bois Imperial. On my skin, the longevity is equal to the EDP with slightly less projection (expected in an extrait), but with a much more crushing potency than its sibling. It is darker, with a DNA 99% similar to the original launch (there is Akigalawhite here, though it is not named, and ambroxan too), with a touch of rose in the heart that disappears at the end to leave a scent identical to the EDP. Redundant if you have the EDP and enjoy it as is, but essential if it is one of your signature scents and you are a devoted fan of Byredo, like me. Beware of the sprays: where the original allowed you to pump five or six times (trigger happiness), here two sprays are enough unless you want people to smell you from the next county. In conclusion, just as delicious as the original, more potent, darker, with the same longevity, with the only drawback being the price, which is excessive.

Fragrances for the few. A little denser due to the spices compared to the original. Slightly longer-lasting on the skin thanks to the higher concentration (around 10 hours close to the skin). A touch darker with reinforced woods and resins including labdanum. A bit more expensive with very little liquid in the new 30 ml format. A bit recommended; the original EDP is still better as they smell almost identical… only if you’re a fan and even then I’d advise you to think about it two or three times. A little more enthusiasm wouldn’t have gone amiss from Mr Quentin Bisch especially after a couple of years of his redundant and increasingly boring repertoire. In short recommended only for fans of the original; if you don’t own one I’d urge you to buy the EDP version. This is just another way Mr Quentin continues to exploit the Ganymede DNA until every possible idea is exhausted. Final rating 6/10.