A Selection of Woody Fragrances for Fall
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A Selection of Woody Fragrances for Fall

04 november 2013

There’s nothing like woody notes to enhance autumn’s charms. Sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, patchouli and more – there’s a wide range for both men and women to choose from. Just for you, Osmoz has concocted an eclectic selection of scents to set off the season’s golden hues with a smile.

Because you can be All Woman and still enjoy playing with male codes, in 1992, Serge Lutens created Féminité du Bois for Shiseido (now it’s in his own catalogue). Instead of a classically feminine floral bouquet, the designer dressed women in cedar and sandalwood, mussing up the outfit with a dash of spice (cinnamon, cardamom), without forgetting a few feminine touches (rose, violet and plum). This masterpiece would get flanked by its creator with a few variations on the same theme (Bois de Violette), but would also move into the mainstream with Dior’s Dolce Vita, a slightly sunnier, fruitier interpretation.

Everybody knows that houses are often partial to a particular olfactory theme, like Olfactive Studio, which cultivates woody notes with flair. Perfectly unisex, Autoportrait is a perfume that I can easily imagine a man wearing. Garbed in fall colors, this elegantly dry and restrained woody scent showcases cedar graced with frankincense and vetiver. But what makes it so unusual is the twist of cool spices (elemi) at the top. For a fuller, lusher feel, go for Lumière blanche, from the same collection. The sandalwood is enriched with a milky softness, over a bed of musk and tonka bean.

Sticking to sandalwood, its creamy facets go out and out unctuous in Estée Lauder’s Sensuous. Supported once again with a dash of cedar, sandalwood achieves the radiant femininity of a sun-drenched floral bouquet spiked with spicy notes, before melting into a warm and vibrant trail of amber. Now is definitely the time for anyone who wants to enjoy fall under the sign of radiant light to give it another look.

 

Vetiver, a classic perfumery ingredient, often expresses virility. From Guerlain to Carven via Terre d’Hermès, with its woody waves of scent that range from earthy to hazel-nutty to smoky, vetiver has been key to the whole concept of men’s fragrance. Citrus (particularly grapefruit) has become a favorite sparring partner for vetiver. If those tonalities say autumn to you, then give in to the temptation of Encre Noire by Lalique, an elegantly mysterious woody scent in which two different varieties of vetiver (Bourbon and Haitian) converse, highlighted by opening notes of cypress. It’s so sexy that some women have no qualms about borrowing it from the male of the species.

While patchouli, an Indonesian shrub, is above all a woody essence with earthy, almost dusty notes, its other cocoa-inflected or even gourmand facets suit it perfectly to the sensuality of oriental scents. At Chanel, patchouli is paired with ambry notes in Coromandel – one of their Exclusifs – which pays tribute to the lacquered Asian screens so dear to Coco’s heart. This thoroughbred and voluptuous scent creates a contrast between patchouli’s woody dryness and the balmy warmth of resins: an enticing idea for wrapping yourself in a reassuring halo for the coming months.

Sophie Normand

Sophie Normand

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Even though I’ve been fascinated by perfume since I was a teenager, I still studied first law and then journalism. I started writing professionally, and then about three years ago I thought of doing a blog about perfume. Alongside that, I share my passion for perfume through other media as...

  • 26 december 2013

    J'ai achete Encre Noire Pour Homme pour un cadeau et je portais avant i enveloppe et mis un arc sur elle. It has a unisex spicy opening which soon gives way to beautiful wood notes. It's definitely one to borrow from your man!

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  • 11 november 2013

    Awesome fegrance

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  • 11 november 2013

    Awesome fegrance

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  • 08 november 2013

    Les boisés sont pour moi obsédants, et je ne les renie pas pour autant lors des autres saisons. Y compris en plein été. Féminité du bois est éclatant, Tam Dao de Diptyque est un chef d'oeuvre de droiture et de distinction (c'est comme ça que je le perçois). Comme je suis à la recherche d'un cèdre bien sec et enveloppant, je vais me diriger vers Autoportrait (je compte sur toi Sophie pour me le faire sentir). Cèdre de Lutens est tout aussi intéressant mais peut-être trop fruité par rapport à ce que je recherche.

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