Vi Et Armis

At the beginning, the top notes are sharp and aggressive, with the aroma of smoky Lapsang Souchong tea, spices, and tobacco enveloping you, as if you've stepped onto a ship emanating a strong tar scent. The thick air and swaying deck create a lively atmosphere, where sailors playfully curse and blow smoke rings in your face, carrying the scent of sweet, citrusy whiskey.It's a celebration of the age of maritime exploration, marked by plunder, colonization, trade, and the exhilaration of unrestrained freedom. ⚓️ The middle notes feature ylang-ylang and opium, weaving through the fragrance like smoke in a ship's cabin, reminiscent of smoking opium and the lingering, intoxicating scent of the unbreakable haze. The unique scent of birchwood blends with other woody notes, evoking a sense of aged leather with subtle hints of sweetness and acidity, possibly derived from tobacco, caramel, and amber, adding complexity and depth to the fragrance. As a result, the dry down is slightly bitter and smoky, dominated by long-lasting incense and smoldering woods, with a touch of coolness. It's like slowly burning damp wood, until the sturdy ship fades away, signifying the end of an empire where the sun never sets. BeauFort truly encapsulates history in a bottle. However, the original name "East India" gives a more intuitive understanding of the perfumer's intended background. ⚓️ Overall, the fragrance structure is rich, intriguing, and delicate. It captures the chaos within the bottle, with a penetrating oppressive force and impact that paradoxically brings a sense of tranquility. As described in historical documents: "The initial consumption of opium causes dizziness and nausea, but subsequently triggers a pleasurable hallucinatory sensation." I enjoy spraying it on my pillow and indulging in its addictive aroma. ⚓️ The character associated with this fragrance is someone in their 30s, wearing a well-fitted leather jacket, sitting alone at a cigar bar, occasionally engaging in casual conversation with the bartender. The first impression of him is that he is unapproachable and challenging, and "I knew you were trouble." When you strike up a conversation with him, he listens to you while holding a cigar between his fingers, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. That smile feels more than just wickedness; it exudes a seductive and unrestrained allure, a subtle malevolence. He is well aware of his charm. Evil originates from succumbing to temptation. Scent 9/10 (Fragrance may vary based on personal preferences and experiences) Longevity 10/10 Sillage 9/10 Instagram:@desireandmemory_cabinet

Wow Wow Wow! I was not prepared for this. The power, the realism and the spectacular scent. This is not a fragrance you wear to blend in or to stand out. This is what you wear to enter a room with a "superhero landing". EVERYONE will notice you, good or bad. Heavy tobacco, wet and rich. Heavy birch tar, smokey and dense. A brilliant oud bringing balsamic thick wood. Whiskey sweetening and giving the fragrance allure and body. An incense that almost scrapes the nose and "saltens" the air. There is some hints of Tea, peper. But if i didn't see the note list, i don't think i'd pick it up. I can't really find the cardamom, and i have no idea what opium smells like. The quality, artistry, note and accord choice, and blending is flawless. It opens with a strong punch to the nose and an overpowering strength. DO NOT OVERSPRAY! One i'd happily wear in the heart of winter, or even late fall. It's warm and comforting in a way, and at the same time intimidating and hostile. I can barely make up or down of what my emotional responses are. But, i know beyond a doubt that i Love it. Where: That's a hard question to answer. If you're a bold man with a dominant personality, i'd say this could be a signature scent for winter. But for most people, this is a fragrance to be treasured and worn on special ocations. NOT office friendly. Outdoor wear preferably. When: Fall and winter. If you have long winters, like my fellow northern hemisphere'rs it could work for early spring too. Who: Men. Grown up men. This is no kids toy. This is not going to please the young crowd. If you want "Rabanne" and "Chanel" look elsewhere. I see a lot of kids commenting here, and hating it. They're not the target audience. And i don't think this would work well on a woman. Personal opinion. Personal score: 9.5/10. For what it is, it's almost flawless. All in all, i'm Completely blown away. I got an official sample of the whole "Come Hell or High Water" series, and i can't wait to explore the rest of the series. This is on my "to buy" list for the coming winter.

Bought a tester of this at a good price, mainly because of the number of votes saying it reminds people of Silver Oud, which is one of the greatest fragrances I’ve ever smelled but rather out of my price range. I’m sad to report that this doesn’t remind me of Silver Oud whatsoever. I don’t get much wood or Oud here (the Amouage is a glorious, powerful, woody, animalic oud beast to my nose). If anything, this remind me more of Interlude/interlude black iris from Amouage. I get cardamom, some sweetness, a little gunpowder, a hint of booziness, all behind the shadow of an overpowering bitterness. I get the comparison to old, over-steeped tea. It’s weird, and I can’t decide if it smells good or not. Seems to smell quite different close to skin than it does wafting around. The scent trail is at least much better than the up close experience. I normally wear whatever I want, and spray liberally, bystanders/co-workers be damned... but with this one I am actually thinking about how other people would perceive it. I think most people would just be confused/thrown for a loop, and not really realize it’s a perfume that one chose to wear. On clothing/bedding I mainly get just a smoked tea scent which is really really nice. Upon further wearing, I have either fallen in love with or become addicted to the scent. The opening is still rather jarring, but the dry down is just gorgeous. I find myself over spraying and re-applying throughout the day. Once you get past that opening, it’s really not an overly challenging scent and is one of the more wearable smoky scents I have came across (similar to Targa by blackbird in that regard). Some other review said it was like a drug, and I couldn’t agree more... it feels dirty/wrong, but yet I crave it over all other scents I own. The backstory/inspiration of the scent seems very similar to Arquiste Nanban (old timey cargo ships carrying exotic goods/spices from the Indies), but while I couldn’t get on with Nanban, I find this one to be simply stunning.

This is truly SOMETHING. I don’t want to describe the scent because, in general, I’m not good at that - just look at the accords, and you’ll know the style. However, you can't be prepared for this, I'm sure you'll be surprised. And I can't tell you whether it'll be in a good or bad way. Depends on who you are 😎 What I want to describe are my feelings towards it. I don’t wear fragrances just because I like them, but also because I consciously shape the atmosphere I want to create around me - I believe you feel it the same way. So far, I haven’t found a use for this one. When I discussed it with a perfumer’s nose, he said - imagine sitting with one or two friends, each in your own large leather armchair (you know, those with studs, where when you sit, your forearms are resting high on the wide armrests), in a dark bar with intimate lighting. Jazz music is playing in the background and you are drinking whiskey or brandy, smoking big cigars and you’re wearing this fragrance. Yes, I can imagine that and for that occasion I might choose to wear it. It’s very provocative. Whether you love it or find it disgusting, I believe that the first time you smell it on someone, the first thought that will come to your mind is, "What the hell is that?". The power is incredible in terms of projection as well as in creating atmosphere. It’s unlike anything I’ve encountered before... for me it’s completely unique, one of kind. Is it a safe blind buy? If you're looking for something incredibly strong, fascinating, provocative, impressive, hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighly polarizing, grandious, unique, in the style of this accord pyramid - something that will amaze and catch people's attention, some in a positive, but most in a negative way and turn you into a mysterious figure to strangers, then YES, you have to have it 😃😎😃 I love it, but I don ́t wear it...

I've been wearing this scent for a few days and absolutely love it; It hits you hard in the opening with an overpowering (in a good way) smell of peppery gunpowder with the lapsang souchong tea accord present in the background. Over an hour or so, the heavy smokiness mellows, revealing the beautiful smoky tea with a natural herby, slightly medicinal sweetness holding it together - perhaps the tobacco, opium and the whiskey accord. It's addicting to smell. I've been a bit mad and have worn this during the day (4 sprays) in the hot weather, but the first 2-3 hours I'm driving alone anyway. I think it's on par with Sauvage Elixir realm in terms of strength and longevity. Lasts an easy 8 hours and projects well when you're moving about. I think it would sit more flat if you're idle as it behaves more like a parfum. I think it's definitely a night time, fall/winter scent, not office safe. The closest scent I can compare it to is T-Rex by Zoologist. I'd say this is a slightly easier, more pleasant wear, wheras T-Rex has a more abrasive, harsh green burnt smoke constant through most of it's life. I think the tea accord in Vi Et Armis gives it a less challenging dry down. Although it still wouldn't be for everyone, it's still quite a heavy smoky fragrance. I like the history that Vi Et Armis has been inspired by (East India Company) and I think it captures the mood of that period of time well. Rating: 9.5/10 - My only drawback is I wish the opening lasted longer, but the drydown is amazing so I'm not that fussed.

Much has been said about this scent and it is mostly what this is about: heavy smoke, bitter tea and spice. In my case I've had mixed feelings about it. First it stroke me as very original, highly conceptual and redolent of a battle field. Some minutes later I could not stand the heavy smoke, I felt it suffocated my nose to the point I needed to go wash my armis (npi). I showed it to some friends and most of them found it highly evocative, very interesting but unwearable. I smell a huge amount of bayleaf but not the dried one you put on a stew but the leaf the moment you take it from the tree and break it with your fingers. That smell is divine but a bit harsh for the nose. Yesterday I decided to give it another try for a gathering in an open space and at least 5 people came up asking what I was wearing. People I don't know. Then I met some friends and all of them were raving about it too. They mentioned eucalyptus, smoke, spicy stew, barbecue... In my case I didn't smell it very much until I reached home and had to take a shower, I again felt overwhelmed and nose fatigued. It sickened me. There you are... believe in those who tell you first sample! I think I would love this on someone else's shirt in such an outdoor environment as an attention getter but definitely not on me on a daily basis indoors. Sillage is strong and longevity huge.

As someone who has spent most of my life working in whisky bars (with the associated dulling of my senses from the selfless task of tasting countless whiskies on a daily basis), I’m a MASSIVE fan of scents which are unapologetically bold and challenging. This stuff embodies those descriptions to an extreme that I have never come across before in my life. First spray is (for want of a better word) SHOCKING. It’s as far from subtle as you can get. Overwhelming smoked meats and an Islay whisky-esque TCP/tar/iodine blast. Dry down, which develops over an absolute eternity, is where this stuff really shines though... Developing into an intoxicating, complex, sweet, spicy, woody mix that I can never prevent myself from breathing in. The best way I can describe this scent is that the talented people at Beaufort have let loose a raging beast and have done very little (but masterfully JUST enough) to tame it. Is it an every-day spray? No... It will fill a room before you are even in it and will raise eyebrows. My bottle has lasted over 3 years and still going strong but for the right day and time, it is an absolute MASTERPIECE.

Ahhh..what a great time to genuflect. A fragrance that forces you to choose sides. I mean it REALLY forces you to choose sides. One sniff and all you can say is, "Mama, there goes that man!" A pleasant surprise this was and a blind buy that will go down in history. The opening is a cantankerous mix of a pine sol accord and barbecue. As crazy as the description may sound, the composition gets better and better as it wears. More backwoods West Virginia than it is India. Imagine the closing hours of a wooden roadhouse being fumigated by the smell of cigarette butts doused in various whiskey shot glasses. That's East India.....kinda. They say controversy sells but in this case, controversy smells. This one exceeds the smell limit and then some(I double dare you to spray on clothing). I got a feeling this will be the next big thing. A litigious little animal this is, therefore i can't recommend it as something you should blind buy but for those willing to sample something on the oppugnant side of things, look no further.

This fragrance is sparking so many contrasting emotions in me. At first, I was almost disgusted by how strong the BBQ bacon/sausage smell was—it felt overwhelmingly smoky and savory, to the point where I thought, there’s no way this is wearable. But I decided to be patient and let it develop on my skin. After about 5-10 minutes, I started to understand why people rave about this—it’s absolutely unique and mesmerizing. You won’t find many fragrances with a similar profile—maybe one or two—but the quality and creativity here are undeniable. You can tell there’s some serious technical skill behind this composition. When that sweet whiskey note blends with the spicy pepper and what I believe to be opium (I’m not too familiar with the ingredient, but there’s a dark, spicy note distinct from pepper), it all starts to click. Now, I think I have to pull the trigger on this one—it’s a hidden gem. I’d wear this to a rave, a dark and crowded venue with loud music—maybe a techno party or a heavy rock concert.

August, 1715, in the hours before midnight, somewhere in the Caribbean a Spanish galleon heavy in the water is barely making headway having hit a patch of dead wind and missed current. The hot dusty hull is full of tobacco, tea, spices, emeralds, gold, silver, and exotic riches, woods plundered from the Islands in this New World. The crew, hired, hot and restless from too much time spent in these doldrums, pass the hours below, gaming and drinking, wagering bets and listening for the cry from above that they have caught air. The lanterns on deck burn, smoldering wafts of heavy pitch smoke through the salty night air rises, caressing the mizenmast as it reaches towards the clear, starry heavens. Insects buzz around the flickering light as a few deckhands sing a drunken Ballard; others stand broken, looking into the black, inky endless night waiting, Waiting for something to break. This is the smell of Vi Et Armis. Amazing, just amazing.

One of the most approachable frags in my entire collection. Just kidding. After getting the discovery set a few years ago and purchasing a full bottle of Coeur de Noir as I found it to have just the right amount of grit while still being fairly easy to wear, I started getting further into the harsher, smokier, birch tar....'ier facets of BeauFort. Which makes me shocked to see downvotes on whomever said this reminded them of Coeur de Noir. This scent is basically the opening of Coeur de Noir (plus tea leaves) if Coeur de Noir didn't settle down into a soft leather frag. This is the smokey, birch, somewhat abrasive opening of Coeur de Noir elongated through a much longer portion of the fragrance's life. It reminds me a bit of Oud Wood Intense - maybe not a lot of people will like it, but the ones who do will absolutely love it. For god's sake unless you already own a BeauFort frag do not blind buy.

Loyal to its own theme which is smoke with different notes in every scent When I first sprayed it I was overwhelmed by it I felt it was very harsh and medicinal I thought to myself here goes a fine day that could be potentially ruined with a bad scent Boy was I wrong After half an hour it settles down to a mix of harsh pipe tobacco or maybe cigar tobacco with the smoke from the birch It was mesmerizing at best and I was annoyed but in a good way by it It’s the challenge that actually matters in niche fragrances such this one After I looked at what it smells like in this website it instantly clicked it’s almost identical to amouages royal tobacco and this one is a lot cheaper Such an incredible found and when I finished my sample i ordered a full bottle immediately Longevity is incredible projection is good Smoke based scents are a delight to my nose if they are done properly

People in general should stay away from this house, if there are not truly into rare and weird frags.If you are, this is not about complements, it's a statement! ...an attitude perhaps. You rather apreciate this aroma around yourself and you crave for it or it's simply NOT your thing, no matter how much of a niche head you define yourself, and all those mainstream Blue du chanel fans, that sorround you, most certain will not apriciate your exquisite taste for the rare things in life. if you want to smell like the shepherd boy that lives in the Cabin, with the fireplace next to him to keep him warm in the severe cold seassons, and you want to find what his noble soul smells like (just wait for the dry down, decades after) this is worth experimenting with...and for all of those who don't releate to this you're missing out on an other 1000 fragrances, at least.

This is a fragrance centered on the impression of opium. Very complex. To my nose, I get a blend of white florals (narcissus?), green tea, citrus (yuzu? mandarin maybe?), grassy notes, spices (pepper and cloves?), and possibly a bit of jammy rose. I would also swear that there is some blackcurrant, as it (remotely) reminded me of the opening of Trumper Eucris. All this mix is what Beaufort sells as "opium accord". Shortly after, there is a strong support of fresh cut woods (birch) and tobacco (that is: a blend of cloves, smoky accord and possibly frankincense giving an impression of dry tobacco leaves). The base shares a similar DNA with Coeur de Noir, without the chocolat-ey facet. This is masterful, with great projection and average longevity on my skin. Best worn during mild to colder evenings, or the coldest days. 30+

My experience with Beaufort can be described as chapters in a novel regarding historical conquest, empires spanning the world and deception, elusive faces to hide the darkness. Tonnere is the embers of war, Ironduke is the vanity of man, Terror and Magnificence is the rise of an empire. You can make a story in any combination of perfumes you want but Vi Et Armi for me describes an invasion and its spoils. It’s smoky through and through but opens up with a wave of Lapsang and barrel whiskey, almost like it indicates a village ravaged, stripped of its provisions and its dignity. It smells like conquest, but despite all that never feels overwhelming. It’s a beautiful fragrance, and probably the best balance in ferocity and elegance in the line up. Love it!

Lo ho dal 2020, lo uso in estate,lo trovo uno fra i profumi di nicchia più belli e funzionanti. Ha un'esplosione di pepe nero,liquirizia amara,fumo di sigaro, tabacco di pipa,hashish,cannabis, incenso,fumo di ogni tipo. Non è dolce ne vanigliato e per questo si distingue dalla massa di roba moderna. Il suo potere evocativo è notevole,è una fragranza che avevo già recensito,nera come un pirata giovane e sexy,l'ombra nella notte,galeone e luna piena. La parte dopo l'apertura mi stordisce e mi inebria, le prime volte mi dava la sensazione come se fosse vera hashish o cannabis o altra erba fumata.. Ho ricevuto complimenti e conferme,dopo 5 anni continua a piacermi. Spero che non lo abbiano già cambiato come formulazione,ci spero ma non ci credo...

I wanted to understand well and study this brand well and I must say that after filippo sorcinelli they are my favorites. vi et armis and tonnerè at times may seem similar. vi et armis ... has an incredibly strong note of birch tar and tea and tea is the only note that annoys me but fortunately it disappears in half an hour.light pepper, tobacco is very strong , whiskey is there but does not make it the perfume an alcoholic perfume, it settles on the bottom and makes it together with the oud ,the cardamom and the excellent tobacco a sweetly pleasant drydown. opium in large quantities. it will be my next purchase. excellent performance. more wearable than rake & ruin (which is my favorite) and tonnerè. high quality ingredients. 10/10

''BeauFort London Vi Et Armis'' Bodyguard , kıllı, sakallı, iri yarı ve deri ceket giymeye çalışıyor. Bu parfüme nasıl unisex diyebiliyorsunuz aklım almıyor. Adıyaman sarı tütün içmekten simsiyaha dönmüş bir erkek parfümüdür. Oldukça ultra niche bir şekilde kompozisyon üretilmiş. Deri tabanı aşırı kuvvetli kullanılmış. Huş ağacının vermiş olduğu kırçıllı naif odunsu notaları kendince deri ile bütünleştirmiş. Siyah çay bayatlamış. Üstüne kömür ilave edilmiş burunu yoran baş ağrısı oluşturacak simsiyah bir parfüme dönüştürülmüş. Ben buna biraz benzin notası eklemek isterdim sanat : 10/100 Koku : 10/8.1

First up, one spray. No more. This is Chernobyl on steroids. But it’s India where we must sail... The scent. Bloody marvellous. This will have you picturing yourself sat on a leather sofa with your musket by your side, smoking a cigar, drinking a whisky while a maid is serving you a pot of Darjeeling tea. Some may take offence with the reference to the maid. For that, I apologise but I’ve been teleported back to 1689 AD. Back then, the only take on DEI was drunk, emancipated and intoxicated. The dry down is intoxicating. Bold, masculine, Tom Hardy in Taboo. Fuck me, this is good.

Nero, piratesco, inizialmente mi fa sentire come se avessi vicino al viso una canna accesa,sento la brace ardente e tutto intorno una nuvola di cannabis,o hashish,verde e affumicata. Ogni tanto si mescola al liquore inebriante,a legno ed incenso,liquirizia amara. Stordisce e rende folli,ricorda un giovane pirata,un'atmosfera surreale e pittoresca. Ho sempre avuto riscontri notevoli quando lo indosso,piace a me e a chi lo sente ed è di qualità. Molto maschile. Lo vedrei a fatica su una signora ...

This. This right here is a masterpiece. There is something intensely intrepid and exotic about it, but at the same time sweet and comforting. If someone made a boutique selling fine teas, tobaccos, and incenses in bulk out of used whiskey barrels, you might come close to this. There's something oddly medicinal about it, too. If you told me it was a cure-all patented tincture from the 19th Century I'd believe it. I want to roll in this stuff like a cat with a bag of catnip. Superb.

Luca Turin on Vi et Armis "Vi Et Armis smells like an alchemist’s Christmas party: a dark, rich, swirling combination of peat fire and flambé spice pudding, with some cough syrup and fence paint thrown in for hygiene. I have long wished for a fragrance like this one, and am impressed that such a sweet spot could be found in what is otherwise forbiddingly medicinal territory. Vi Et Armis arises from a combination of single-minded art direction and great technical skill."

I wish this was stronger and longer lasting 🔥 The most amazing scent ever.. The more i wear it the less i can stand All My sweet Boy scents.. Even T-rex is tuning to sweet pissie with way to much old school womens parfum.. Next to this. I need the candle to make this smell stronger 😊 Its been My signature for some time now.. And its not at All strong enough to me anymore 🥺 But the scent is instant jizz.. Just tripple the longivity and Sillage and way way more smoke 🔥

YES! Even the virus has decided this is one to avoid - I've just taken delivery of the hand sanitiser version (no joke). For me this is Catnip; amongst the tarry wood the fruit flies have found the quince - the acetic acid drills up your nose. 6 months ago I oversprayed the EDP and had to take a break but now with the hand spray (with added moisturiser - Beaufort care!) it is everyone's civic duty to spray this liberally in public places...

Love love love this. It's not as pure smoke and guns (with a sharp whiff of lime now and then) as 1805, although it still is predominantly smoke, but with added bitter tea (it is not, however, smoked tea, strangely enough, but good) note and something else, something between new paper and fresh tree bark. And booze - maybe rum, maybe sweet-barrel matured whisky. It's OTT, it's weird, it reeks of adventure and stories and romance.

Has this barbecue accord but mixed with the Grapefruit and Opium . Which makes it a difference type of barbecue. Drydown is where the Opium comes in. Very challenging to wear. Much more challenging than Iron Duke or 1805 Tonnerre. Very unique. If I were to engage in a sword duel then I am wearing this beast. It is up there with Zoologist Tyrannosaurus Rex in terms of projection and scent strength.

Vi et Armis is love at first sniff. There's nothing like it in the market. The smokey birch/tobacco mixed with a slightly sour tea note is divine. I love that it's bold and unapologetic, definitely not for the faint-hearted. Its strength, at the same time, is also its weakness. There are really not that many occasions that I find appropriate to pull it off. Spray at your own risk.

There's a crackling fireplace and the aroma of a bitter black tea, 'cause we are in a victorian country house. There're gallons of whisky and swirls of narcotic smoke, 'cause we are in a misty sweaty den for poets. There's an acrid smell of extinguished candles and the effluviums of incense for centuries,'cause we are in a gothic Cathedral. A 10/10 masterpiece

Very similar to inexcusable evil, the Smoky Accord Is at the sale intensità and the tea leaf with pepper recreste the iodine Accord. Similar tò my nose, but a bit more complex and pleasent. True that for some can smell as barbecue sauce. I think also of the option that gives a iodine yet camphoric green balsamico smell

The initial spray I get just raw dry black tea, then 10min later I get the whiskey in the mix with the opium, incense and birch. Later on it’s birch, opium and a bit of incense. Just as one comment said I imagine those brutal European high society vampires ti smell like.

The black bourbon, opium and rum infused tobacco intoxicates you, prepares you for the complex and multidimensional experience, flowing with incense and freely expressing itself. I understand the religion note in this. This scent is amazing to me.

It smells like Hashish, fabulous! Edit Dec 2018 I don't understand why my short description is voted off? It does smell like hashish as other people have noted. Please don't be such wowsers

To me, this is a voyage in a bottle. Soothing rich swirling smoke laced with sweet spices soaked in wood-barreled liquor that’s made a Magellanic voyage around the seas.

A perfume to fascinate. Intensely complex, smoky in the opening with a fabulous tea and narcotic in the dry down. Sticks to you like glue. For the adventurous conqueror

Somebody popped open a jar of stewed persimmons, liberally spiced with cardamom, right in the middle of an active firing range.

Dark Addictive Sexy👍🏻 Beastly sillage and longevity👍🏻 Get so compliments 👍🏻👍🏻 بی نظیره این عطر بوی دودی دارک اعتیاد اور👍🏻

Scent: 10/10 Quality: 10/10 Originality: 10/10 Sillage: 9/10 Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 Price VS Size: 10/10

in my opinion, of the the sexiest, primal and carnal perfume out there..

Smoke perfumes have become something of a must these days. Every niche brand and ...(in general) everyone has a smoky perfume in their line. Smoke, birch tar, ash, whatever material that has a smoky aspect goes in. The good thing for me is that I like smoky perfumes, the bad thing is that the 5-10 smokes you get acquainted initially are the best and the rest are redundant, therefore if you find 1-2 that suit you then you set course for different territories and consider this one closed. That's the reason I didn't try Beaufort scents sooner. Vie Et Armis (or East India) is nothing of the sort..."chaos in a bottle, ultra-smoky" material, but it is a rather soft smoky (frankincense, labdanum, birch tar) woody perfume with excellent complexity and sweetness (tobacco, whiskey) that dries down very nicely. The opening is smoky but not excessively so and nicely spiced. The rest of the scent dries down in an elegant, classy smoky woody way reminiscent of a nice dry woody (think vetiver) scent but unlike those perfumes this is more convoluted and deep and thenceforth much more satisfactory and highly pleasurable to wear. Personally, I find Vi Et Armis as a greatly elegant smoky perfume (my Calcutta of a scent) worthy of owning and experiencing everyday (rather than for some weird isolated days or for "specific" occasions) and a worthy candidate for anyone looking for a smoky scent in their wardrobes (men or women). Very nice work, indeed.

To be clear, this does not smell “bad” to me, but it is a very challenging fragrance. This makes the more animalic notes of Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather look like child’s play. First, I can smell it through the box - a vague undefined smoky smell. On first spray I get acrid smoke - it’s black, charcoal-esque, not unlike the peatiness of a decent bottle of Ardbeg single malt whiskey. The smoke is followed by a syrupy hint of tobacco and a bouquet of dark berries (think fruit of the forest). I find that this fragrance seems to change rapidly, and within minutes the berries are replaced by an almost nauseating medicinal/camphorous note which lasts for quite some time. The camphorous smell eventually mellows out and ends up reminding me of liquorice sweets (if you’re from New Zealand, think of liquorice all sorts) Sillage is very powerful, and the fragrance sticks around for a while. I would not wear this in the office or any formal setting. This is a true rockstar fragrance and is probably most at home at a dingy bar or a packed hardcore punk show (provided you’re standing at the back and not squished into the moshpit) If you like artistic fragrances that tell a story and challenge your olfactory abilities, give this a sample. I blind bought this, expecting it to be a shocker and was not disappointed!

Vi Et Armis is an interesting exploration of British adventurism prior to the opium war in China. The British took home spices and tea, and by force & arms traded opium with the Chinese. Beaufort was apparently inspired by the cargo goods on those trade ships, and worked at developing a raw opium accord for showcasing in this very potent and artistic scent. I will describe what I smell... Opening: Lapsang souchong tea. Chinese herbal soup pack. Indian grocery store. Heart: Wildfire smoke. Islay Scotch whisky. Camphor. Caramelised peanuts. Wood tar. Burnt sugar. Hint of indolic white flowers. Dry-down: Camphor. Precious woods. Black tea. Smoke & tea dominate the scent throughout. The opium presentation here is less sugary/syrupy than the real thing. Vi Et Armis is hazey, creosotic, medicinal and heady. Great fun to smell, but challenging to wear. Performance is powerful, and application should be restrained. Overall, an artistic, interesting & complex smell which is not very appealing or wearable, despite its rather intense beauty. I also appreciate that Beaufort has executed its backstory well, resulting in a fragrance which matches its marketing. Niche & pretty.

Fragrance in three words: Tar and Treacle Vi Et Armis smells like black treacle when it first goes on my skin possibly due to the way a fruity cardamom mixes with a hefty black pepper. As the fragrance evolves I get smokey Lapsang Souchang tea. It avoids the burnt rubber aspect of Bulgari Black (1998) and the softer seductive side of Lapsang used in L'instant de Guerlain (2004 or new packaging 2018). It's probably the most authentic Lapsang note I've smelt. I get whiffs of birch tar which remind me of fresh tarmac. This fragrance is said to use Cambodian Oud unfortunately I can't smell it. I do get some fleeting sweetness which is most likely whisky. It's pretty much four notes for me: tea, black pepper birch tar and smokey incense. It's worth mentioning the incense in this is not as smooth as the one in Beaufort's Terror and Magnificence (2019). A complex and interesting fragrance. If you are turned off by black pepper, smoke or birch tar you will really struggle with this. It is a strong fragrance which lasts around 8 hours. Price (2021) is £110 for 50ml. I would consider a bottle. Scores 7.5 out of 10 Source: 1ml Sample

First off - I've been searching for a new smoke scent for ages now but even though I like this and I'm going to give it a few more goes, the colonial inspiration behind it is kinda gross and puts me off. It might even put me off enough that I wouldn't buy a bottle of this even if I end up loving it. It's just a shame perfume houses do that. Straight off this opened up for me with a BLAST of smoked fish. And considering how non-smoky so many 'smoke' fragrances have been on me, I didn't actually hate it. It settled quickly into smoky tea and orange liqueur. Peaty. Slightly antiseptic. This was pretty linear on me from 30 minutes until it faded away around the 2.5 hour mark. Smoked tea and orange peel/liqueur with hints of smoky wood. Very quickly became a skin scent. Made me think of Owen Owens deli at Christmas (complimentary) or the kitchens at an old house. Comforting smell that I kept on sniffing. Just wish it was louder and longer lasting on me. This is my favourite so far from BeauFort, but I'm still not convinced. Going to give it another try.

I knew I was going to regret but I still blind bought it because I want the experience of a truly uncompromising niche house so bad, I’m still in the searching for my signature scent journey. Initially I was going to blind buy this one but I ended up buying the come hell and high water set. this one is unique. the best of the five to me, I’ve smelled opium in Asia and this one does smell like the real deal with some tea and incense at the background I also get the Isley single malt whisky note here. But definitely it’s not going to be my signature even though people will never forget how you smell when you are wearing it. it’s super strong and it will knock people out. Thanks to this house, now I know I’m not into this kind of extremism style but on the other hand these frags are more like art to me to appreciate not wearing it. the experience is unforgettable. Please don’t blind buy Beaufort London unless you just want the experience, just like paying ticket for a great show.

Vi et Armis embarks on a bold journey with a powerful, aggressive smoky opening that demands your attention. However, patience reveals its hidden treasure – a dark, smoky, woody scent that transforms into something highly wearable. It's a Beaufort creation that can grace public outings, provided you weather the initial, intense blast in the privacy of your home 😄 As the aggressive smokiness calms down, it evolves into an intriguing, complex aroma that marries dark woods and smoky elements. Vi et Armis embodies a compelling duality, making it a versatile choice for those who appreciate a fragrance that transitions from a dramatic opening act to a refined, wearable dry-down, all while maintaining Beaufort's signature character. While it leans slightly masculine, a confident woman can easily make it her own, embracing its bold allure.

Having sampled this for a full wearing and reading the reviews I can only surmise that this is a fragrance that can differ significantly depending on your own skin. I found the opening to this a little challenging but still the most pleasant Beaufort of the 3-4 I've tried to date. Delicious tobacco, tea, a hint of pepper, cardamom and booze. Something I can't quite discern? perhaps the opium? The whole experience had me sniffing my wrist all day. Evocative of being on an old trading ship, the contents of the cargo hold wafting through the rest of the ship. Not easy but by far from the most challenging fragrance I've sampled or worn this year. Excellent longevity, heavenly dry down. I really like it. Not quite a love, still very good indeed.

This is the second in this house I have tried. A very interesting house. Not your typically mass produced clean and fresh scent. Not at all. In a nutshell, this is a very heavy sweet smoke filtered though a hot wet tea bag. While there are some changes in the scent over the course of the wearing, the smoke is pretty liner. I can see the references to hash. This is a beast mode performer. 12 hours in and it is still there with me. Two days later and it is still hanging on to the shirt I wore that day. Bottom line: You are either going to love this or hate it. If you like heavy scents and the notes look intriguing, try a sample, of not, run away.

The name certainly helps. "By force and arms." Violence and disturbance of the peace. Wow. Amazing. Would i wear it in public? NO! This stuff is wild. The initial blast was nothing but a birch burning BBQ. Assaulting your senses. Forget peace. It mellowed later and I barely pick up tea in the background. Really don't get the whiskey. I couldn't tell you what opium smells like, so not sure. Just a birch fire. Great experience. Not sure if anyone wants to smell like this all day. Maybe some are out there. Hats off to you.

Smells like a wooden box full of wet cigars at first and this may be offputting if you don’t let the fragrance fully reveal itself. When it does, it is smokey, then boozy and almost sweet at the end. I wasn’t sure I could handle this fragrance but on a late September afternoon this was a very fitting duo and wasn’t as heavy or disturbing as I thought it would be. I would say it is a more stereotypically manly smell but I love it on me as well 💁🏼♀️

This has so many notes that I tend to love! And, on the whole, I do like the scent. But I think it lacks depth for a body fragrance because it's just one big blast of smoke. I'd love it as a candle (it would rival my feu de bois by Diptyque). But as a fragrance, it's not dimensional enough. The smoke envelops everything. You can't really detect anything else but a slight hint of whiskey and wood, which also smell smoky in and of themselves! Whew.