Bois du Portugal Creed 1987

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7.9 / 10 435 Ratings

Bois du Portugal is a popular perfume by Creed for men and was released in 1987. The scent is woody-spicy. The longevity is above-average. It is still in production. Pronunciation

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Perfumer

Olivier Creed

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Bergamot, Lavender
Heart Notes	Cedarwood
Base Notes	Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ambergris

Ratings

Scent

7.9 (435 Ratings)

Longevity

8.1 (344 Ratings)

Sillage

7.4 (325 Ratings)

Bottle

7.9 (316 Ratings)

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 20.11.2020.

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Reviews

11/13/2020

9.5
Scent 8
Longevity 6
Sillage 8
Bottle

ChrisG86

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ChrisG86

Very helpful Review 11

A scent knows no age

In the following I would like to go less into the characteristics of BdP.

Instead, I would like to tell a little story that came to my mind when I read comments on various fragrances (including this one) that are called "grandpa fragrances" or similar.

Before we get to the story, one thing first:

First of all, I do not find the term "grandpa scent" offensive at all, but neither does it mean praise. Whether praise or insult, through such associations scents are put into a certain pigeonhole in which they do not belong (see e.g. Aventus, the alleged panty-dropper). Because a fragrance, whether sweet or spicy, knows no age (and no drawer). Especially since it is the case nowadays that you don't have to adhere to social expectations regarding age anyway, as it was perhaps 100 years ago. I see 56-year-old men on the street, dressed like 20-year-old boys. And that's perfectly okay. What goes in one direction, however, may then also go in the other.
For example, what about the people who grew up with Le Male and Co in the 90s? Probably still wearing Le Male in 40 years. Why not, after all it's the scent they grew up with. Mick Jagger has two grandchildren. Can you imagine him as a rock legend with a "grandpa scent"?! Does Wolfgang Joop wear only Tabac or Old Spice at the age of 75?
We live in a society that hardly knows any taboos. So why think in antiquated patterns?

So the question remains: Does the wearer reflect the scent or does the scent reflect the wearer again?

Now for the story:

Grandfather Erwin, 67 years old, is sitting in front of the fireplace together with his eleven-year-old grandson Hendrik.

"Grandpa, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, my boy. What's on your mind?" replied
Erwin.

"The other day on the bus, on the way home, some boys from my school laughed at me for offering my seat to an old woman. Dad and you always said that people in need should be offered help. Why are the others laughing at me for that?", Hendrik asked. The boy looked a bit sad when he talked about it.

"How did you feel when you offered the lady your seat?" Erwin replied.

"Fine," the boy replied.

"You know my boy, I too recently offered my seat on the train to a young mother and her baby."

"Why? You are an old man yourself,' Hendrik wanted to know.

"Because there are things in life that apply to both young and old. I don't pretend to be. It is not a question of age but of decency and politeness to offer a place to a person in need of help. You do not have to act like a child in every situation just because you are still a child. Look at me: I may be older, drink whiskey and smoke a pipe. Nevertheless I like to wear sneakers and listen to Metallica every now and then. So on the bus you behaved completely right, namely adult and decent. And your feeling confirmed that," said the grandfather.

The boy was filled with pride when he heard that he had behaved like an adult. Now he saw things differently. "You grandpa, if there are things that apply to young and old, can I have some of your whiskey, too?", the boy asked smiling.

The grandfather laughed heartily: "But of course...in 7 years, when you are as old as the whiskey."

"And what about that scent you always wear?" the boy wanted to know.

"You can have some of that," the grandfather replied
End

See you soon
Peace!

5 Replies

09/26/2020

9
Scent 8
Longevity 8
Sillage 8
Bottle

ZrankFappa

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ZrankFappa

Very helpful Review 10

A milestone is defined by the distance of miles from other milestones. In between are pebbles.

Working title:
Why does it smell so good in your mother's bathroom (new)
I have revised my original commentary ...

One is spoiled. It's hard to find a rival of equal standing. You have created your own empire Apart from being spoiled, one is also comfortable and bound by habits.
Then there's a universe of woody perfumes. They are by no means the same as this one. But to compare? Well, what for?

I just always know what I don't want.
But I'm making an exception for this one. A very big and grateful exception! A milestone A milestone is defined by the distance of miles from other milestones. In between are pebbles.

Discovering a perfume late in the day is like the movie you don't go to and which is supposed to be totally impressive, and then years later you get the DVD as a gift without remembering it, and the movie is just delicious. Not just to please, but it is sophisticated and exquisite.

First assessment:
"hmm, a Creed, well, if you must.
The ignorant prejudge just like that
First short pass.
I expected something clumsy about the amber. But that didn't happen. The "depth" doesn't go to the edge of the carpet
Next experience:
Consciously on the arm and allow time.
Relatively soon I was reminded of an impression, as if there was cinnamon, or something sweet.
But then I put something on, worked a lap, actually physically, and when I took the sweater off again I was already in the drydown, and there it is! A woody note, but very fine. And very spicy. With very light, elegant tones.
That could be me. When I return from the Highlands to anywhere.

But without that certain primitive notation. In this case, the Highlands are not dominated by flocks of sheep. ...

I think I know that perfume! My childhood friend was from a good family and I visited her often, and of course I knew the remote corners of the elegant family home.
The mother had her own business, and the mother's partner was a ferry captain on ferries to Finland.
So, and where Lutz had his shirts, or even in the bathroom, it smelled like a demanding gentleman who would always be witty, epicurean and generous.
I have lost sight of my teenage companion, she studied architecture, and whether Lutz is still there, I do not know.
But that's how I kept this house to myself: Exquisite, sophisticated and a little bit snobbish, but at the same time very kind
I'm gonna keep working on this.

[ Thanks René72 for the rehearsal!! There are more added in the meantime.]

2 Replies

09/26/2020

9.5
Scent 7
Longevity 6
Sillage 8
Bottle

Salva

Translated Show original

Salva

Top Review 30

He's always there...

About half a year ago, I joined this platform and, to be honest, up to that time I had hardly a clue about scents in general... I was allowed to call about 10-15 bottles my own, but I didn't like terms like top note, 'dry-down', woody-oriental and many more...

Of course you learn a lot with time and expand your scent horizon. After about 3-4 months of trying and testing, I have found that I like classic scents the most and that they are the most appealing to me as a person/type. Those fragrances, about which many users write things like they should be worn by "older men", "over 40 men" or even grandfathers or they are more suitable for these men...
Well, I'm not an older man, I'm not 40, and I'm certainly not a grandpa. But I love the Bois du Portugal, for example

In the course of my development and discovered passion for such classic fragrances, I inevitably came across the house of Creed at some point. Admittedly, I haven't been able to test or smell all of the fragrances from this house yet. I liked the all too popular Aventus, but nothing more. But the Bois du Portugal is now (besides the Royal Mayfair) my second bottle from this brand.

When I got my bottling to this scent from the souk here, I was already very impressed by the smell of the spray head alone. I perceived an eerily masculine, for me personally beguiling, very classic, incredibly noble, wonderfully stylish and high quality fragrance ...
"What a piece! It'll be 100% in your collection, but so what!", I said to myself.
I sprayed my wrists and my fascination was quickly confirmed...

The fragrance opens with bergamot, pleasantly fresh with a spicy touch, but with clearly perceptible lavender. This woody-floral and slightly herbaceous note gives the fragrance its fougère character from the outset. Yes, lavender is one of my favourite notes, along with a few others. This one is said to smell like floral wallpaper or even older English ladies... Well, a lecturer of mine at the university was such an English lady, original and originally from London. I liked her very much, a very nice, friendly and polite lady. And her London dialect, wonderfully beautiful...
[...]

But let's get back to the Bois du Portugal. The predominant woody notes, such as cedar and sandalwood, are not long in coming and, in my opinion, dominate the fragrance throughout its evolution. These make the fragrance velvety and warm and at the same time form its spicy-piney core. These are also characteristic for the Fougère Vibe mentioned above.
Vetiver, also one of my favourite notes, gives the fragrance another strong earthy and rooty nuance. And in the base, I also detect a minimal dry-tobacco-like trace, probably due to the amber.

I have been in possession of a bottle for a couple of weeks now and wear it in everyday life as well as in the evening when I go out. Except in the middle of summer (where it would be too woody for me), this fragrance mMn is wearable in every season and on every occasion.
The durability is with good 6h (with 5-6 splashes) for me personally completely sufficient. It is not a Sillage monster, but this fits to the whole character of this fragrance. In the first 1,5-2h it is still perceptible for other people in the nearer surroundings, but then it quickly gets to a so-called "Sillage-Monster". skin-scent', which is very much in my interest. Because this fragrance is a truly classic gentleman of "the old school", who doesn't need to attract attention in any clumsy way or anything...
Conclusion:
For me personally, the Bois du Portugal is a fragrance with an enormous amount of style and personality. Woody and aromatic, it radiates so much self-confidence and charm like few others I know so far...

When your head is spinning,
it brings clarity...
When you're angry,
he gives you peace...
When it rains it offers shelter,
in the sun he protects with shade...

Bois du Portugal...
...someone who's always there for you,
...one who always has time,
...one who always has an open ear...
The "old man associations" of other users that I quoted at the beginning of this article cannot be dismissed here and are understandable somewhere. But you have to be the type for, if you are a little younger, to like or wear fragrances of this kind.

Qualitatively, however, it is - in my opinion - very high quality and worth every cent. And if you search cleverly, you can find it online at a "good price" for Creed But what exactly such a "good price" means, of course everyone has to decide for himself...

In any case, I thank all those who have read so far!

26 Replies

07/19/2020

8
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Drseid
753 Reviews

Drseid

Mature, Sophisticated Woods...

*This is a review of vintage Bois du Portugal

Bois du Portugal opens with a smoothed out aromatic bergamot and lavender tandem with natural smelling cedar support before transitioning to its heart. As the composition enters its early heart the natural cedar takes the fore, adding moderately sweet and slightly powdery supporting sandalwood and rubbing alcohol-like ambergris rising from the base, with the opening aromatic lavender remaining, now in an additional supporting role, adding a touch of sharpness to the woods. During the late dry-down the aromatics (both lavender and cedar) vacate, leaving the now relatively dry, slightly powdery sandalwood sans its earlier sweetness to take fore through the finish. Projection is very good, and longevity excellent at near 12 hours on skin.

Creed is a house that I rarely get along with. Most of the perfumes offered, save a couple notable exceptions that others rave about I find mundane and uninteresting at best, and outright disappointing at worst. Due to my many disappointments over the years with the house I put off trying Bois du Portugal for literally decades fearing I would find yet another Creed offering a bust... Having now sampled the original formula of Bois du Portugal on skin a handful of times, I can honestly say I was very wrong to avoid this one. The perfume draws one in immediately on application, as the aromatic lavender, bergamot and cedar wood meld together perfectly in a smooth almost liquid-like fashion. The segue to the slightly powdery woody heart is perfect, and some real sandalwood makes its way into the mix to add sweetness and balance. If there is a slight weakness to the perfume it is in the darker, relatively minimalist woody late dry-down that still smells quite good, but as the aromatics vacate, so does the distinctiveness to a degree. No, Bois du Portugal will not bowl anyone over with innovation, but it wholly succeeds at smelling pleasant and sophisticated at all times. As an aside, I have heard that the current stuff does not compare well to the original formula reviewed here, and if that is indeed true I would strongly recommend seeking the vintage out; this writer surely will! The bottom line is the $180 per 30 ml bottle on the aftermarket "excellent" 4 stars out of 5 rated vintage Bois du Portugal is a fine departure from the normally shoulder shrug worthy offerings from Creed, earning an easy recommendation to perfume lovers seeking a mature sophisticated woody composition.

04/16/2020

7
Scent 7
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Chizza

Translated Show original

Chizza

Top Review 22

For the old age

He turned off the tap of the bath and slid clumsily into the bathtub. He was 78 years old now, the ravages of time were already gnawing at him, and many things no longer went off as easily as before. His wife laid out the towels for him, he nodded benevolently to her. How long had they been married now? A little over 40 years. How time flies...born in the turmoil of the Second World War, his mother carried him and his siblings through. His father was captured in Italy during the war, later transferred to a prison camp in Russia and released years later. At that time the upbringing was different anyway and so he could never develop a corresponding closeness to his father. Nevertheless he loved him and looked up to him - of course. His father had been dead for years; only his scent was still in his head. It was the smell of men who had seen and experienced a lot. He had forgotten his name and that was not important.
His life went on so far, he graduated from school, did an apprenticeship in a bank, and met his wife there as well. Marriage, constant promotions, his own children, his own house and garden. In short: a stable environment and somewhere average life. He was satisfied. Only in 1987, a reminiscence flickered up. He went to a perfumery and was offered a fragrance. It reminded him of his father, although the scent was not the same. He felt connected.

There was lavender, refreshed by the bergamot at the beginning. Quite intense, it stayed that way. Little by little the freshness receded. It became woody. Cedar, as the salesgirl explained to him. The scent was balsamic, soothing, like a relaxing bath with bathing additives from Badedas. Finally, the scent compared and unfolded a little more creamy. He had fallen in love with this perfume when he was 45 years old, this perfume was still in the bathroom today. It was his signature. At the beginning he felt a bit too young for that, because the perfume radiated a certain maturity, he practically grew into it.

He thought of all this as his dull body recovered in the hot bath. His wife came in between, scrubbed his back and assisted him. Before he got out, he looked over to his perfume once more; slightly longing, for he had never seen the country that gave its name. I wonder if he would like it there? He dressed for dinner. It was Sunday, so he was allowed to wear the neat corduroy trousers and the shirt with the loose jacket. He combed his grey hair and took the perfume to put on some splashes. He took another look at the bottle and smiled gently: Bois du Portugal.

6 Replies

06/15/2019

6
Scent 8
Longevity 8
Sillage 8
Bottle

Norleans

Translated Show original

Norleans

Very helpful Review 8

I have tried several times...

First of all: pure woody scents and my nose are not the best friends.

When I ordered my first bottle of BdP for testing, I was almost a bit overwhelmed by the fragrance. It smelled like an old gentleman and so not at all imperial à la Napoleon. Rather after Mercedes-Benz (built 1986, 1st hand, eggshell, top groomed) - driver, who likes to drive with his car and his wife every Sunday to the confectioner and slurps his pot of coffee on the confectioner's terrace (because outside only little pot), takes his piece of marzipan cake and treats himself to a little liqueur before going home.
So it's quite likeable, cosy and constant - but not very varied and radiating even less esprit. I was disappointed.

After a few months I accidentally saw that a sharing was started to BdP and I remembered my first fragrance impression. Maybe it was the bottling that didn't make me like him so much? Maybe it was a little overlaid? So I took part in the sharing and got a fresh Bois du Portugal sent to me. Unfortunately my impression has not changed.

BdP in my nose is a very linear scent of... yes, wood. I'm to blame myself if I've hoped for more, for example, the sparkliness or a stronger unfolding of lavender.
We are dealing here with a solid wood scent, which has already become old with 1987 as the year of birth. The perfumers' intention at no time was to create a fragrance that could be so interesting for U-45 people. You had to bring in a certain old-fashioned aura, because you wanted to take Napoleon into marketing. No one would have believed that Napoleon had used a fragrance like Nightflight or Le Male.

I don't want to accuse the lovers of this fragrance of old-fashionedness, but only give back my final impressions of this little complex, somewhat dusty, but very solid fragrance.

Thanks for reading.

4 Replies

05/27/2019

8
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

DonJuanDeCat

Translated Show original

DonJuanDeCat

Top Review 15

Napoleon, the perfume!

Hello you perfumed ones, here I am again and describe once again a fragrance! And today it's about a Creed scent!

No, man, no, no! It's not about Aventus,...!! Yes, I know, I play the card "I-make-me-again-fanatic-Aventus-disciples-funny"-card too often when I mention Creed, but it's really true when it comes to batch codes from that scent, isn't it? Everybody's going crazy! :D
And since now also a Flanker of Aventus appears (and/or appeared), thus the Aventus Cologne, surely again endless discussions and comparisons between the different Aventus versions will be ignited. Which is good, because this proves once again that I'm just a passionate collector with all my comic and Star Wars stuff, while you fragrances are the real freaks, you are man :DD

But let's get to the scent. As you can see, there are also some other fragrances from Creed than Aventus. One of them is Bois du Portugal here, which officially appeared in 1987, but according to legend its original formula was already created in the early days of Creed in the 1760s. Even Napoleon (yes, THE Napoleon) was so enthusiastic about this fragrance that he allegedly used over 150 bottles of it... in only three months! If Napoleon were still alive, I bet he'd be a member here on Parfumo and certainly looking for THE Batch as well, but of course from this fragrance here rather than from Aventus... which would be another proof that everyone who registers for Parfumo will sooner or later change from passionate fragrance users to insane freaks... :D

The fragrance:

I smell a beautiful, classic, but also quite old-fashioned fragrance that smells of lemons, lavender and tart cedar. A slight sweetness appears afterwards, which apparently comes from the amber. The sandalwood also makes the scent softer and softer and even a little creamier. Only the Vetiver seems to be the only fragrance you can't perceive at all.
Actually, the fragrance then remains as it was for a long time, only that the lemons lose a little intensity over time and that the lavender comes across a bit more herbaceous and spicy, so that the fragrance is even more reminiscent of some old-fashioned scents of bygone times.
Towards the end, the fragrance remains as it is. There are no other scents added, so that you still smell the described scents, but in the base the intensity of the lavender gradually decreases, so that the scent appears even softer. The woods become slightly stronger and the amber a little sweeter, which gives the fragrance more warmth and all in all a rather good, if not particularly spectacular fragrance.

The Sillage and the shelf life:

The Sillage is quite good, so that the scent is easy to smell even if you are not very close. The shelf life of over eight hours is also quite long.

The bottle:

The bottle has the typical shape of almost all Creed fragrances and is rectangular with an oval base. The bottle narrows towards the neck and then closes with a lid that widens again in an arched shape. The Creed logo can be seen on the front of the bottle, under which the label of the fragrance has been affixed. A beautiful bottle, where there are more beautiful color variations.

So this was the scent Napoleon liked to use. Of course, all this is not proven and more a legend, so this is more regarded as a marketing gag by Creed, but interesting is the story anyway. Especially since the scent is really good, at least for an old-fashioned scented scent. With such a kind of scent, many people say "old man's scent", you can see that one way or the other, and I have to say that this scent seems to be more suitable for men from middle age than for guys in their twenties.

In my opinion, it can be used at any time as a daily fragrance. It's not particularly complex or spectacular (so it's not really suitable for going out), but it has a nice scent, doesn't bother anyone and can be used as a work scent or as a day scent at any time of the year.

And that brings me back to the end. I hope the Aventus disciples aren't crying in a corner because I made fun of Aventus again, but I guess they don't have time to cry anyway, as they surely go through their lists and tables with various batch code entries and try to get a sample of every Aventus batch to find the ultimate Aventus scent, mu ha ha ha ha :D

All right, you freaks. Have a nice evening. See you next time :)

6 Replies

05/10/2019

8.5
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

FabianO

Translated Show original

FabianO

Top Review 16

Balanced between warm, cosy and woody and a little bit mineral

In 2013 I already wrote a somewhat diminutive commentary on "Bois du Portugal", came to speak of too much "patriarchally sweet woodiness", did me with the Creed classic quite a bit difficult. With a new model now, from a definitely fresh flacon, I have to relativize the impression of that time.
(Maybe Creed's fragrances are just not as durable as theirs, but after 3-4 years I often give them a little fatigue, not to mention staleness.)

Well, the "Portuguese wood" is now quite happy with me. Maybe it is also due to my 6 years more maturing, but in the portfolio of the brand this fragrance still occupies a recognizable right to exist.
In the beginning perhaps still something special, which may be due to the intense lavender, which in combination with the cedar wood and the already somewhat mineral-balsamic ambergris is a little bit more pointed.

But after 5 minutes everything is well balanced, the lavender a little tamed, and what I had called "old-fashioned" at that time, I would rather describe with a very comfortable, almost hugging, woody atmosphere. This will make you notice once more how easily neutral terms per se may become charged with atmosphere or how strongly your own basic state of being takes over everything (even falsifying).

After about 20 minutes "Bois du Portugal" has arrived in its heart phase, for me the best with this fragrance.
The ambergris has spread cuddly, the wood is primed with masculine spices, lavender is recognizable, but soft and mildly ethereal in the background and the fragrance is carried by a balanced warm, soothing aura. I have to admit it. :-)

6 Replies

03/23/2019

9.5
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

MrInfinite

Translated Show original

MrInfinite

Helpful Review 11

Bois du EDEN !

I didn't intend to write a comment, because my mood is going towards 0 with the constant rain. 16 o'clock; I am forced to apply a fragrance to change this. It should be woody but not too earthy or too sweet.....not too heavy or intrusive.....more like a warm hug with woody notes. After a short search I had to decide between BdP or Azzaro Pour Homme. The similarities of the two are amazing but the Azzaro is too spicy for me in the course.
BdP is much quieter and as mentioned above it should not be so intrusive.
This fragrance leaves the wearer no chance of having a bad mood; it always brings a smile to my face. A nice friend who tells you to switch off and turn stress into relaxation. He'll stay with you for a whole day, too.
A little paradise for the soul...

1 Replies

03/08/2019

8
Scent 8
Longevity 6
Sillage 9
Bottle

Konsalik

Translated Show original

Konsalik

Top Review 14

A radical middle course

Through the whole Aventus story, the niche house Creed is a little burned for me. It's a little blasé of mine, I admit it, but in my imagination Creed is somehow... guilty. On the one hand, "Green Irish Tweed" (through no fault of my own) is partly responsible for the wave of aquatics that does not want to subside (no pun intended), on the other hand, the ever-increasing numbers of Aventus imitators, who recently found their way into the Douglas and Müller shelves of this republic through Montblanc's jump on the train, make me turn up my nose. Somehow the distance between old, European perfumery house Noblesse and contemporary mass taste seems to me here once too often to be lifted.

Thought the wrong way, it's clear: What can people at Creed do to get trends off the ground? After all, Jean-Michel Jarre or Kraftwerk are not to blame for the fact that since the nineties a great deal of shit has been done with synthetic sound production. Nevertheless: An aftertaste remains and the more recent releases already seem as if one is reluctant to withdraw the foot once set in the door. Be that as it may: The last great litter of old Façon is not considered a few "Bois du Portugal". The fragrance pyramid also let me immediately become straight in the cross. I wasn't disappointed!

Bois du Portugal" is a perfume that holds its balance like no other in the classic masculine triad of "citric", "herbaceous-spicy" and "woody" - let's call it that for the sake of argument. A bergamot strongly illuminated by rather English lavender and whitish-powdery (not necessarily "powdery") herb or moss tones - could be almost a lemon - opens incredibly bright and airy. This is soon joined, albeit quietly at first, by the typical, somehow very dry, but never piercing woodiness of the cedar, which continuously increases in strength and maintains the overall so astounding scent of the bright, whitish radiant. Strangely enough, the vetiver is clearly audible without being pastel as in other fragrances; rather, it hangs into the cedar without break and cheerfully. Strange how far the color metaphor carries here: How should you change almost pure white to pastel?

A really beautiful, airy fragrance, which, despite its summeriness, is still sufficiently strong throughout the year and at the same time thoroughly masculine and elegant. I still give him "only" eight points. What's the problem? Probably an olfactory ideosyncrasy on my part, which the inclined reader should not necessarily understand as a warning. Maybe it is an incompatibility of lavender with another component, but: Something in "Bois du Portugal" reminds me in the course of the fragrance of cabbage. Kind of poopy methane. I've only had it with Guerlain's "Jicky."
But this small "individual-associative" mistake does not prevent me from recommending this fragrance to every gentleman looking for a high-quality signature fragrance suitable for the whole year as a work of art that is balanced to the last (and never bland because of its almost radical balance).

8 Replies

Show all reviews (13)