High Desert

I just tried this out for the first time (on my fiance, not myself), and I can see why it's so polarizing. On the initial spray, I was shocked at how strong the smoke and cedar were. A few seconds later, it started to settle into his skin. Hours after that, it mellowed into a much softer fragrance, but one that I catch a whiff of as he moves. It seems a lot of people don't like it, but to me, it smells very unique and very sexy, but not overtly provocative. There's something about it that evokes a muscular southern man, skin kissed by the sun he works under, resting his feet by a bonfire made from cedar logs he'd felled that day. His leather jacket, heavy and showing signs of wear, is draped on the log next to him. The sky above is clear and you can count every star. It's almost photorealistic for me- I smell it and the vision in my mind is so clear. It also has a warmth to it that I can't quite describe. I grew up in a small southern coal mining town, and something about it smells like home to me. I also spent a lot of time in my late grandfather's woodworking shop, and taking a whiff of this makes me remember his warm smile and his kind eyes. This scent has a duality to me; equal parts sexy and comforting. With that said, I think it's a perfect scent for my fiance- hot and home all in one. (And my dear fiance, who isn't particularly gifted with a strong sense of smell, says to add that he likes it and it smells "fresh" to him lol)

Has kind of a campfire smell. Makes me think of camping. Not necessarily the desert though. Some national park somewhere. It’s woody and the birch tar is interesting. I can see why some people, like my husband, wouldn’t like it. (You know with the ‘why can’t you wear things that make you smell womanly?’ and I go I do! Like a hippie chick!) I kind of love the birch tar though. Kind of reminds me of doing wood burned designs as a kid. I can detect the cade and the sage but mostly it’s just cedar. Something slightly, very slightly, medicinal about it. Now this isnt something to wear out on the town. The campfire thing is going to be off-putting to a lot of people. But if you happen to visit a state park you'll match the scenery. You’ll smell like Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec. It is rather strong so if you’re headache prone you may want to avoid. i think this would be really hot on a rugged outdoorsy kind of guy. Kind irresistible really. Or husbands pretending to be outdoorsy and rugged?

Opens strong on first spray with the bitter citrus of grapefruits mixing with dry herbs and woody smokiness swirling around. Almost like you kicked open the dusty swinging door of a saloon with an armload of dried firewood with a bunch of grapefruits balanced precariously atop. The bar goes silent...staring you, a stranger in town, down. The silence is broken by a regular patron who speaks up..."Partner, you smell just like my grandpa-pa used to". A compliment of the highest order, in this case. High Desert comes through like a dancing tumbleweed mixed perfectly with ancient dust and fresh air, and paints a picture of a time when things were less digital and plasticized, and folks were a bit rougher around the edges. While the fragrance might also be a bit rough around the edges, there is still an air of refinement and curation here. Completely natural in composition and aroma, High Desert is a refreshing break from modern perfumery that stands out from the crowd to my nose.

I'm questioning the validity of these reviews. It smells like aftershave, and I don't get any smoke?This thing is loaded with birtch tar and I'd love to know what generic aftershave this smells like? I grew up in the desert and this thing is spot on to a dusty southwest + coal fired railroad train. Maybe we're smelling different juice or it's been reformulated. I understand fragrance is subjective, but these reviews are wildly inaccurate. I've let friends, family, and people I know and trust in the fragrance community try this, and I've never heard aftershave or bug sprays. You people need to get outside more.

This is a great scent. Boyd's of Texas uses natural ingredients, so as such this is a strong, but not "beast mode" performer. But the ingredients used are of great quality and do evoke a ghost town with sagebrush and leather. The birch and vetiver are blended in well...there is no strong dominating note. I get reasonable performance and decent sillage. Which I am perfectly OK with. I wouldn't want this to have a "beast mode" at all. It's a great scent that evokes the southwestern desert. Very good!