Hi Posse. Bois Blanc was a Press Gift. Recently Libertine Parfumerie and Agence de Parfums in Australia had their A/W2021 Press Showings. It was the first large scale in-showroom event since March 2020 due to C19. The room was filled with the buzz of excitement over just being together to smell perfumes again. It was also full of a years worth of new releases and we had a LOT to catch up on in the hour. More than 40 perfumed cardboard strips went under the microscope of a room full of bloggers, journalists, beauty influencers etc etc. We were about 15 and there were four other groups being seen. By about strip 30 my nose was blown and everything started to smell the same. I’d let a strip filled with roses touch my nose and so rose I smelled.
The Libertine crew know that I really like the Frapin brand, not least of all because the divinely handsome David Frossard is their Creative Director. He is also the director of new perfume brand Obvious Parfums. Remember that name, you’ll be hearing a LOT about them in the future.
Bois Blanc by Frapin 2020
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bitter orange, Mandarin orange, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Ginger
Heart: Sage, Virginia cedar, Violet leaf
Base: Ambroxan, Gaiac wood, Cade juniper
The eucalyptus, rosemary and ginger give the opening deep green herbaceousness and zing. Mentholated citrus, very appealing and unusual. This opening lasts a few minutes. Then a photo realistic pencil sharpenings from my childhood completely derails my objectivity. Suddenly I’m at my desk in primary school. Uncanny! Maybe ten minutes I’m transfixed with my nose to my wrist. The other notes swirl around but I’m trying desperately to hold on to that one perfect note.
WOW! That was so intense. (I have worn Bois Blanc now a few times and every time this fabulous reaction. I can’t wear it if I’m hurrying, too distracting)
Around the 30 minute mark the fireworks calm and we settle into what is the main ride for the fragrance. A lightly herbal, fresh cut green woods and that lovely hints of gin from the juniper. Towards dry down there is a lovely creaminess that comes in and makes the whole fragrance cosier and plush.
Beautifully wearable, totally unisex but leaning slightly modern traditional masculine. Bois Blanc lasts well too, if that’s important to you.
I’ve also reviewed Caravelle Epicee, Nevermore and Isle of Man for Perfume Posse.
Is Bois Blanc sounding like something you would wear?
Portia xx
I love the description of Bois Blanc, especially the “lightly herbal fresh cut green woods”. Now that it’s getting warmer here, I long for herbal and green perfumes.
And I’m really happy that you could have a meeting with perfumistas. I couldn’t decide which would be more exciting: perfumes or people 🙂
Oh this sounds lovely Portia. Pencil shavings and juniper have me interested and love a splash of eucalyptus too.
I adore Frapins’ Orchid Man and have a sample of Nevermore somewhere so best check get it on my arm and will add Bois Blanc to the sniff list xx
PS i just purchased a sample set of the Obvious scents.
Heya Melanie!
Isn’t Orchid Man interesting. Such a good take on mens fragrance and wearable by all.
Obvious is the cover story on Fragrantica today! Synchronicity! https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Obvious-Keeping-it-Simple-14824.html
Portia xx
I love their 1270 and have always been impressed by their perfumes. I also got to have some of their cognac at our local French restaurant and greatly enjoyed that experience 🙂
ElizaC,
You are POSH! I love that they serve Frapin at your local French restaurant. Now I am lemming the booze! HA!
Portia xx
The only one I have and love is the original 1270. Their room sprays are lovely as well.
Where do you find their room sprays? That sounds wonderful!
We actually stumbled across their booth in Paris at a perfume & food expo in 2008 right around the time of the launch, they had the one perfume, two room sprays and a fabulous display of their cognac. I bought the perfume & room spray and my husband bough the cognac. Everything was sooo good! I don’t even know where to repurchase the room spray, they may be discontinued.
OOOOHHHH!! I never knew they did Room Sprays TaraC.
1270 came out in 2008!! Can you believe it. By the time I found you all online it was around 2009/10 and it was still being held up as a rare and beautiful wonder well after that.
Those were the good old days of only 1300 launches per year. I just checked Fragrantica and in 1999 less than 300 perfumes released, in 2005 about 900. In 2020 there were over 4000! No wonder I can’t keep up.
Portia xx
Holy cats & crackers! So much to unpack, here.
1. that opening sounds divine!
2. he’s into COMBAT SPORTS!
3. he collaborated with Mats Johansson on Bast (post-training products).
4. that opening sounds DIVINE! 😉 (Frapin has never moved me – but that opening sounds…. well, you know)
glad you got to spend some time around perfume people! It’s nice to have a bit of ‘normal’, innit?
xoxoxo
Yeah, the opening is really lovely Musette,
HA! David is a fighter, bikie and man about the world. Handsome and charismatic AF. Last time we wre in Paris he took us all out for a drink. We were expecting booze but he took us to a vegan tea bar. It was wild and weird and fabulous.
Fingers in MANY pies.
I think it will have to happen a few more times to feel normal. All of us sniffing and laughing and describing was bizarre and wonderful.
Hugs,
Portia xx
Haven’t tried any other Frapin offerings since Caravelle Espicee. The only Frapin I own is 1270. Not sure I will seek this one out.
I remember the Frapins and remember being underwhelmed – but the top notes in this one sound so intriguing…
xoxoxo
I wonder if you’d feel the same nowadays Musette? It would be so interesting to know what you thought if you tried them again.
Portia xx
I’ll look to see if I still have any!
xoxoxo
Fair enough Eldarwen22,
You didn’t love Caravelle Espicee? Bummer. It’s my favourite from the brand so far and gets quite a bit of mid season to cool wear.
Portia xx
Yay Portia, for the first large showroom event since March 2020 due to Covid. I am thrilled for all of you to enjoy the excitement of being together to smell perfumes again. This is a very welcome victory in my opinion. How much I’d enjoy overwhelming my nose by sniffing wonderful new perfume. I’ve not sampled Frapin perfumes yet. I’ve been enjoying re-visiting and discovering vintages, my favorite perfumes. xoxo
Hey there Kathleen,
Yes, it was surreal. Like being in a movie from the past.
Australia has been so vigilant (and a good dose of lucky too).
HA! Yes, it was definitely worth blowing my nose for the adventure. I’m going to go back in and have a proper sniff of the things i missed.
OOOHHH! Which ones have you been falling back in love with?
Portia xx
Wow, that sounds like a very pleasant meeting up. Can’t even imagine it. We’re due to start the end of lockdown (slowly) mid next month. I’m afraid my life isn’t going to change much. Bois Blanc sounds a good warm weather fragrance, and the pencil sharpenings note is very intriguing. I’ve not tried any Frapins. The only one I am even remotely familiar with is the gourmand (which makes me think of Genestet Botrytis.
Hi Cinnamon,
Yeah, getting together was big. Our regulations have just been relaxed to the point that dancing and snogging are now allowed again in NSW!
There are a few good Frapins, mostly actually. They are making very good stuff considering fragrance is just a side hustle for them.
Portia xx