Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisée Guerlain 2012

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7.6 / 10 357 Ratings

A popular perfume by Guerlain for men, released in 2012. The scent is woody-fresh. It was last marketed by LVMH.
Pronunciation

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Main accords

Woody

Fresh

Citrus

Green

Spicy

Fragrance Notes

Lime

Indian vetiver

Mint

Rum

Perfumer

Thierry Wasser

Ratings

Scent

7.6357 Ratings

Longevity

6.9276 Ratings

Sillage

6.3274 Ratings

Bottle

7.5269 Ratings

Value for money

7.973 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 21.04.2024.

Reviews

14 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/10/2020

8
Pricing 8
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 9.5
Scent

MonsieurTest
29 Reviews

Translated Show original

MonsieurTest

Top Review 34

Elegantly floating woods make music over lime-mint rum chord

This is a very fine, restrained and elegantly composed summer scent. You probably need to wear it more often - and best of all in the right surroundings, for example on holiday in the Mediterranean, to appreciate and enjoy all its finesse. In the perfume shop, this rather quiet musician will probably quickly go under in concert with the louder competitors.
Eau boisé is, as the name suggests, a fragrance in which the wood is in the foreground. You have to like it, if you have an allergy to pencils, you better stay away. But if you like this sharpened smell of freshly scraped wood, Thierry Wasser arranges this probably cedar or similar note in the most refined way I know, summery light: the woods seem to float above a really tender sweet rum-lime and (very subtle) mint. But all this is so well composed that the nuances blend together in a wonderfully creamy way. Those who like the pencil-cedar note, and appreciate Laliques White or the more forward looking wood of Quorums Silver, will find a similar theme here; refined with the subtle rum note and with a soothing lime, which makes Guerlain's Eau boisé of the three wood favourites mentioned the most rounded and elegant fragrance.
The vetiver, for many an anxiety theme, is also soothed and dimmed here. While I needed many attempts to appreciate Guerlain's classic vetiver EdT slowly and rarely wear it, the eau boisé opened up to me much faster.
The sillage of this fine composition is certainly not enormous, but it is not as weak as often criticized here. Rather, it creates the floating or puzzling effect that is characteristic of refined, seductive perfumes, which only hints and attracts and thus has an attractive effect: What smells so fine and delicious? The durability, in this discreetly attractive skin-near area is also good, although not bombastic: in the warm south about 5 hours, in cooler temperatures even longer. And a remainder on the skin or shirt will stay overnight as well.
If Parfumo.de allowed several signature fragrances, and thus had a heart for schizos (most of them act as such with their constantly swelling fragrance portofolios - and sign with fantasy names?), then Guerlains Eau boisé would certainly be one of my summer signature fragrances. But good: the German Civil Code probably insists on a single signature, and Parfumo.de (unfortunately) adheres to it.
Before the sheep's cold comes tomorrow, today a sunny Corona Sunday is to be ennobled with this wonderfully lively summer scent. And hopefully this summer we will come to the Mediterranean...

04/29/2015

ColinM
516 Reviews

ColinM

Top Review 18

Summer keeper

Yes, this Guerlain Homme series is definitely the last great Guerlain’s series for men. While the Intense flanker is just near pure perfection, this Boisée is more contextualized into a “summer-fresh” cluster, so perhaps it’s slightly less versatile and less “fascinating” than that; but still, it perfectly keeps and even enhances some facets of the unsurpassed quality of Homme and Homme Intense. So, this is a summer scent: easily among the most sophisticated ones you can get in today’s mainstream market. The only “competitors” I would find would be either some good classics (but lacking in some “contemporary twist”) or maybe some Hermès... but while they tend to be more unisex and lighter, this Eau Boisée feels bolder and with a more decided masculine shade. The clever elegance with which Wasser kept the “masculine” rhum note giving it a summery vibe thanks to mint and herbal notes is brilliant, so is also the tremendously enjoyable vetiver grass note – which is vetiver, but with a twist; grassy, kind of anisic, slightly citrusy, irresistibly natural and bracing. I perfectly get the comparison with Terre d’Hermès and maybe there wouldn’t have been any L’Eau Boisée without that, but honestly, there’s really no game for me. L’Eau Boisée smells far more crisp, natural, invigorating and complex than Terre. There’s surely something synthetic going on here too, but to my nose this smells so bright and natural. It feels golden, and it feels stereo. And plus however there’s a couple of differences; this Boisée is grassier, greener, more peppery, slightly smokier, and with a boozy note. Utter class, utter quality, utter skills. An effortless summer gem.

8,5/10

09/14/2019

7
Sillage 8
Longevity 8.5
Scent

1972
4 Reviews

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1972

Helpful Review 12

Never heavy, always friendly, light and easy

Without having searched for it, I find in this little sample of L'Eau Boisée a Terre d'Hermès that is bearable for me. Friends of the latter may alienate my pleasure. I must point out that at the time Terre d'Hermès was shortlisted until a traumatic experience put an end to it. Just this much: Dear friends of Terre d'Hermès, please don't bathe in it before going to the theatre. I think until today I have to dream about it sometimes at night. Where I smell it, attraction and displeasure fight in me.

There are many critical voices here about Guerlain's L'Eau Boisée. L'Eau Boisée was uninspired, boring, weak. However, it inspires me to make this comment - not least because so many different, often contradictory opinions appear here. From "too harmless in its overall effect" to "very pungent ... and cause headaches". With Driver, on the other hand, I can say: "Yatagan is right. This Guerlain is very pleasing." Leimbacher discovers a family closeness to Guerlain Homme which I do not see. Homme for me comes across as far more modern, almost synthetic and androgynous. Tom14's curious experience: "I have seldom tried a fragrance that drives me from the first to the last second with such sharp aggressiveness into a corner that I am completely defenceless" A blatant case of skin chemical incompatibility, as he admits.

In order to enable the reader to classify my description of the course of events, I send ahead not to disdain the traditionally masculine, powerful representatives. But I also love classic elegance and a citric start.

L'Eau Boisée starts off with an intense citrus-fresh welcome. In the top note it becomes harsher, with a light woodiness. Then the vetiver reigns temporarily. Finally, a base of woody musk warmth prevails, while vetiver and citric notes balance each other out. All this never difficult, but bright and light. The rum remains absent from the start and may support the alchemy unnoticed. Perhaps the commonness of the ingredients of citrus, rose geranium, vetiver and woods creates this Terre d'Hermès effect. But where the almost toxic intrusiveness of the Terre d'Hermès in the theatre floor once traumatised me, the light, friendly Boisée attracts me.

Durability and intensity initially raise question marks. With this impression of understatement Tom14's curious experience "Stubborn is no expression at all" may not be connected at all. During the first test the evening before, there were repeated concerns that the Guerlain might break down. But far from it, while falling asleep a floating chord of vetiver, citrus and wood remains present; the following morning I still perceive it. Once you have gained confidence in L'Eau Boisée, you can rely on its discreet presence.
A pleasantly unagitated, brighter Terre d'Hermès that replaces its din with friendly elegance.

03/12/2012

5
Bottle 5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 8
Scent

Apicius
222 Reviews

Apicius

Helpful Review 7

L'Eau de Jardin des Herbes?

„It is with vetiver!“ - this announcement is what you hear first both from sales agents and from your friends. So what – vetiver was also in last years' variant “Pininfarina Collector”. And what kind of vetiver is it then? From some PR text found on the net, it should be “Indian” vetiver, which of course has never been used before. Thierry Wasser is supposed to have it discovered in India on one of his numerous sacrificial expeditions for the house of Guerlain! And what about the name “Boisée”? Aren't all Guerlain Homme's so far quite woody?

Guerlain make excellent perfumes, but this LVMH brand has never been good at sincerity towards customers. One simply should not take their stories too seriously, they are told to make their perfume sell better. I am far from believing them, yet, I get curious about what is really behind these tales.

With Guerlain Homme, they have a perfume with an extraordinarily good base note. It is woody, but not in a very direct way. It does not cover the wearer in scents of woods, instead, it points at the wearers own bodily odour, his very presence, and transforms it to something beautiful. In that way it is simply sexy, although at the same time, it is so discreet, almost at the brink of boredom. For a men's fragrance that is supposed to be an everyday fragrance for the global market, I cannot imagine a better way to make a base note.

Unfortunately, all got spoiled by the so called “Mojito” accord that was apparently imposed on the original scent by their art director Sylvaine Delacourte (if you believe the story she tells): sweet, candy-like and simply not good. The original Guerlain Homme is not recommendable IMHO. Also with the intense version, Guerlain kept the “Cuban” concept, this time with rum, and it wasn't much better. Finally, with Homme L'Eau, Thierry Wasser got the chance to make something less experimental. The combination with the rather conventional but excellent citric note is perfect, and it is so much better than the original.

With last years Pininfarina Collector, Guerlain combined the Homme base note with warmer and a bit unusual, almost gourmand notes, letting a good portion of tart Vetiver balance the fragrance.

And now, it's L'Eau Boisée! This time, Mr. Wasser has created a fragrance that focusses much more on the wonderful Homme base note than its predecessors. Top and hard notes are not contrasting or opposing the Homme style, they simply fit in. The citric note in the top is beautiful but fleeting. It is the heart notes that we should draw our attention to. They are quite fougère! I smell herbal spiciness: You could think of juniper and pepper, but it also has the licorice appeal that notes like fennel seed, absinthe, grass, carrot seed, parsley, celery and even lovage can provide. If you call that woody, then definitely not in the usual way that this denomination is used.

The niche brand Odori once invented a story about beautiful walks through the marketplace of Florence to promote their celery perfume Gli Odori. But Guerlain is not niche, and I see why they can't do anything similar!

And the vetiver? Well yes, I wouldn't deny that some might be there, but it is far from being dominant. You simply cannot refer to L'Eau Boisée as a vetiver fragrance, and all comparisons to Guerlain's original Vetiver perfume are out of place. Actually, since the overall character of L'Eau Boisée is herbal, any vetiver just fits in, it is much less present than in Pininfarina Collector, where it stands out among completely contrasting notes.

Guerlain subsequently tries to hide Thierry Wassers intentions – which is probably understandable under an economical point of view. However strange such herbaceous kitchen notes may appear to readers and customers, the result is convincing. Thierry Wasser by now has earned his status as successor of J.P. Guerlain.

11/09/2014

5
Bottle 5
Sillage 10
Longevity 8
Scent

Drseid
819 Reviews

Drseid

Very helpful Review 5

What Terre d'Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche Should Have Smelled Like...

Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisee opens with sour lime citrus over faint whiffs of peppered cedarwood. As the composition transitions to its early heart the lime softens but remains, as slightly synthetic grassy greens and spearmint join the gradually strengthening black peppered cedarwood with sharp vetiver additional support. During the late dry-down the peppered cedarwood takes control with the sharp supporting vetiver remaining through the finish. Projection is average, but longevity is outstanding at well over 15 hours at strength on skin with the composition still detectable past 24 hours.

Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisee was a composition I expected to dislike. Let's face it, most flankers disappoint as they tend to be money grabs to cash in on the original composition's success. In this case the source, Guerlain Homme, was a complete bust housed in an equally unimpressive bottle, so its flanker seemed destined for failure as well... Moving past the extremely low expectations going in I sprayed the composition on skin during my recent visit to the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas and immediately knew I was going to have to eat my words. L'Eau Boisee with its peppery cedarwood profile immediately conjures up images of one of my favorite compositions, Terre d'Hermes. The primary difference is it swaps in a really nice lime accord with hints of various greens including mint to give the composition a slightly fresher profile. Taking this thought further, I actually see L'eau Boisee smelling closer to what the disappointing and wholly forgettable Terre d'Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche flanker *should* have smelled like. The only negative of any consequence is the composition is extremely linear, but that is far from concerning. In short, I count myself quite lucky I gave this flanker a go, as it turned out to be a *very* positive surprise, proving far superior to both expectations and the composition it supposedly is derived from (Guerlain Homme). The bottom line is the $41 per 80ml bottle found at online discounters Guerlain Homme L'Eau Boisee may have a name that is a bit too long and was derived from a dud, but this "excellent" rated 4 star out of 5 composition has proven that flankers can (and sometimes do) outshine their sources. Terre d'Hermes fans take particular note, especially if you prefer a more fresh green spin to your year-round favorite.

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