Bois Bleu by Robert Piguet

Hi Posse, Bois Bleu is almost never talked about. I remember this range coming out because Joe Garces was in charge of Piguet at the time and he did a world tour, meeting fragrance lovers in department stores that carried the line. He was sweet, amiable and really passionate about bring the Robert Piguet line back into our hearts. It had always been a niche house but now that niche had become multinational big business he definitely wanted to have the brand front and centre, behind only the enormous mass-tige houses like Lutens, L’Artisan and Amouage. He had worked hard with the team to being us a bunch of new 2012 and 2013 releases. The Nouvelle Collection and the Pacific Collection. Some became scentbloggosphere favourites like Casbah, Chai and Mademoiselle Piguet. Bois Bleu not so much, but it was the one that really caught my attention along with Petit Fracas.

I think they may have released too much at once, who can notice more that two releases a year from a house? It becomes overwhelming.

Bois Bleu by Robert Piguet 2013

Bois Bleu by Robert Piguet 2013

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Citrus fruits
Heart: Nutmeg, Violet
Base: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedar

Aquatic citrus is one of my favourite perfume openings. A juicy sea water accord is practically guaranteed to get my attention. In Bois Bleu it has only the most tenuous tie to the 1990s aquatic rage and feels infinitely more sophisticated. The addition of cool, elegant violet gives a new edge. Any fans of this genre will love the upgrade. If you hated that period in perfumery then this might be a gateway for you.

The spicy nutmeg has been there from the start but it becomes the focus of the heart with the crisp, salty green rootiness of vetiver and an amorphous woodsiness beating more apparently the further we get into dry down. We never lose the clean salt water vibe till I can’t smell fragrance anymore, hours later.

Bois Bleu is unisex leaning towards traditional late 20th century masculine. Longevity is excellent but projection after the first hour is subtle, like a wash a fragrance that has melded with my own smell. This is a perfect summer spritz that will keep you cool in the height of heatwaves.

Surrender To Chance has samples

Would you dive back into aquatics if they smelled like the 21st century?
Portia x

 

  • Tara C says:

    The notes sound like something that wouldn’t work for me, but I do love Casbah and L’Insomnuit. My favourite aquatic is DS & Durga Rose Atlantic.

    • Portia says:

      Hey TaraC
      LOVE L’Insomnuit, one day I’ll grab a bottle.
      I think it was you who made me go try Rose Atlantic, what a fragrance!
      Portia xx

  • Cinnamon says:

    Not smelled this one. Fracas didn’t work on me though it smelled awesome in the bottle. Owned a bottle of Bandit which was wonderful. Sigh.

    • Portia says:

      Cinnamon, I love Bandit. I had a vintage extrait for a while but another friend loved it so much I gave it to them. I probably wouldn’t have worn it enough because it was too precious. I’m sure she did though.
      Portia xx

  • March says:

    In the words of Randy Jackson on American Idol, that’s gonna be a no from me, dawg. (insert mental GIF here). But I remember Garces’ tour and I met him at Sniffa (at Bergdorf, I think) and he was lovely. I know there are a couple other Piguets I really liked!

    • Portia says:

      HA! That’s the beauty of fragrance March. We all love different things. You did make me laugh out loud though, thanks.
      We were all a bit bummed when news travelled to Australia that Joe had left. It’s so rare for anyone important within the fragrance community to come all the way here that we kind of feel proprietary ownership of them if they do. The only other two I have super fond memories of visits are Christopher Chong and Romano Ricci. Both those guys stole my heart as well.
      Portia xx

    • Musette says:

      LOL! the minute I read Portia’s review and she mentioned ‘aquatic’ I thought of you, March, and your overwhelming LOVE for Eau du Frog 😉
      This would probably be a hard-ish ‘No’ for me, as well, since that amphibian accord ain’t my fave. And I don’t even remember this one, to be honest – when those Piguets came out there were so many that I couldn’t even fathom smelling all of them (and, iirc, I had a sample collection!)

      xoxoxo