Positive Reviews of Bois Impérial by Essential Parfums

I recently tried Bois Impérial by Essential Parfums and want to share my impressions. The fragrance starts with notes of basil and pepper – fresh and spicy. Then you can smell the earthy vetiver. The base has woody and patchouli notes, which make the scent long-lasting and rich.

This fragrance is great for everyday wear, especially in the office. It’s not too sweet or strong, which makes it pleasant for daily use. The price is reasonable for this quality.

Overall, Bois Impérial is an excellent choice for those who love woody and fresh scents with a hint of spice.

Rating: 4/5

Fresh woodsy vetiver with a citrussy tang, presumably from the timur berries (not that I’ve ever come close to one). Everything shades into everything else here – the light spiciness into a kind of herbal freshness, the ozonic wood note into the equally ozonic floral aspects, the fluffy patchouli (now there’s a contradiction in terms) into the thoroughly washed vetiver. This kind of strip-lit perfume is something of Quentin Bisch’s signature. Sometimes the results can have an intriguing, disorienting quality (as in his creations for Marc-Antoine Barrois). This is much safer – clean, crisp, office-friendly; or something I’d wear on an airplane trip so as not to offend my fellow passengers. Indeed, the drydown has a passing resemblance to my usual flight perfume – Timbutku – but with a sexy gruff smoke and pepper accord lingering at the back.

Bois Impérial lives up to its billing. Here is a woody aromatic that brings the fresh tinny citrus flavour of Timur pepper to a punchy Thai basil crop that strongly vibrates like an ‘anisic’ metallic strum in its entire wearing, one that is vibed in Haitian vetiver strains, lumbered in spicy tones of cedar and akigalawood (a Givauden 'franken-note' that supposedly whiffs like a dry funk-less agarwood wrapped in leafy patchouli) and glazed in the ambroxan style of our futurismo. Truly, an alluring, breezy drone of woody reglisse and phantom allspice, and “Quentin’-sentially Bisch.

A pleasant, strong mix of vetiver and Thai basil (the essential oil of which usually smells to me like mint) with an effervescent sparkle that recalls 7up. There's also a background sludge of chemicals, including something ozonic that reminds me of a hot computer, or maybe of plastic dishes on the verge of melting in a hot dishwasher. There's also a very modern musk element that reminds me of the rice milk musk of JHAG's Not A Perfume.

Hours in, the basil and the sparkle fade, while that coconutty Australian sandalwood made famous by Santal 33 comes in, paired up with the plasticky chemicals and fading vetiver.

I know this sounds unpleasant, but it works. The mix of ”real” and ”artificial” smells is handled well. That being said, it’s quite strong and, by day two, the chemical onslaught starts weighing thin. But I’m still voting thumbs up for a clever new take on vetiver.

Crisp, clean, woody and interesting. Smells like fresh air on a cool spring day in my opinion.
Haven't smelled ganymede so cant compare them.
Longevity also very very good.

8,5/10

Really like this one! Hard to put my finger on it.

Difficult to describe. Not that this fragrance is complex. It's just slightly unusual.

Bois Imperial at its heart is a woody number. But not your typical woody. It is a fruity, sparkling, soapy woody. It's fresh and clean but has some subtle nuances which stop it becoming generic & boring.

This stuff lasts for ages. Just keeps going. It's a real workhorse. I can see why so many people say they have received lots of compliments. Think it will please people around you.

In many ways it reminds me of BR540. Not the scent profile as they smell nothing alike. It's just that they both have that ethereal vibe. You think it's not particularly strong so give yourself a few extra squirts and before you know it you are choking others out. It booms off the skin. Really hangs in the air. Great price too!!

Grapefruit, and lemon pledge over fresh cut woods. Very dry. Starts off like a mix of Bvlgari Tygar and Cedrat Boise. It's very simple and linear though, I don't find that it has a complex drydown or evolution. Just less of the citrus topnotes as it dries.

The most impressive thing about Bois Impérial is the performance. Just a couple of sprays will last all day and project.

It is a pleasant scent but I think the projection and longevity are why this seems to garner compliments. I have not received one yet after a few wearings, truth be told, but I can see this working in that capacity.

Banging good fragrance which reminds me of Ganymede but on a budget.

Excellent for the warm weather and gathers compliments (if that's your thing), I highly recommend it.

Just got mine in today. Wearing it as I write this. Allthough some websites describe it as woody, that is not what I get out of it. It opens on my skin with a fresh citrus note. In my nose its more lime than grapefruit. But I do get grapefruit too. After about 1 hour I get crushed peppercorn. Then an earthy fresh patchouli. I was just at the local fishmongers (of all places) and a lady mentioned how nice I smelled. I had just picked it up from the post office and couldnt wait, and opened it and sprayed both wrists and a little on my neck. So the lady at the fishmongers liked it and could smell it above the fresh fish😀.
So now I am two hours in and I am drinking a glass of Riesling. The two scents, Riesling and Bois Imperial go well together. Touch of mineral wine and peach.
The Patchouli is making an entrance now. But not too strong. Just a side kick to the somewhat astringent leafyness. Far in the background is a touch of liquorice.
Brilliant! Love it. This wont be my last bottle

This reminds me of Terre d' Hermes, but I prefer this. The performance is outstanding--still enjoying lovely wafts 8 hours later with 2 to 3 sprays. Love the vetiver note in this composition--a smooth vetiver like I find in Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver, edp.

I find this perfume uplifting. It's beautiful, and it makes me happy. Makes me think of enjoying dinner and wine at a charming outdoor French cafe under a moonlit, starry sky while listening to classic French songs being played on the accordion.

IMO, Bois Imperial leans masculine, but I imagine it would smell amazing on a woman too. For a niche fragrance, the price is surprisingly affordable. Could be a new signature scent for me.

update: Love this perfume more with each wearing. However, it projects better than I could have imagined. Go easy with this one. Finding 2 sprays is the limit. And, it lasts!