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Apicius
Very helpful Review
4
Montale's Femme Fatale
Boisé Vanillé is one of the rare fragrances that nobody should die before having smelled it. It is very much off the beaten track with its surprisingly different handling of vanilla. Whenever this note is being found in the pyramid, we are quick to call the fragrance an oriental. However, despite vanilla, Boisé Vanillé is very much the style of a a dark chypre!
The fragrance has a fruity opening which salutes us with a rather strange contrast to the vanilla note. It is a little bit the kind of dried fruits style although with lemon and bergamot, the known scent notes do not reveal much. Fruitiness is top notes only in here, and it dies away quickly into a solid but very, very dark kind of vanilla and patchouli accord without lots of further development.
This vanilla is far from being broad or sweetish. No custard! It has has herbal aspects, and a wonderful deep and dark transparency or iridescence which is the core of its very unique style. Besides that, it might have some reminiscence to certain ambery perfumes.
Enough said, Boisé Vanillé is one of those where the list of scent notes does not reveal the essential. It is listed as a ladies fragrance on Parfumo, but if so, then it is one of the very few that I wear. I think it can also be worn by men and some women: no girlies, no blondes – rather for self confident ladies with a darker complexion who are proud of their live experience. It is definitely old-fashioned, and if you want to make use of a clichée, you may very well link it to the concept of the femme fatale.
While being not the best choice for everybody, it should have a gorgeous effect on those who fit to it. The brand Montale is best known for their ouds, and to be honest, many of their other perfumes are not that interesting. Boisé Vanillé, however, is one of the few exceptions. It is a true gem and highly recommendable. Test it if you can find it!
Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
