Bois d’Argent Esprit de Parfum

Got hold of a decant today. It's very nice, much better than the EDP. I never smelled the original EDP so I can't compare, but the esprit is rich and deep, enveloping me in warm incense and iris. I'm getting the ambergris and vanilla too. The effect of this perfume is a sort of smouldering, woody incense, with some oozing honey and vanilla, but minimal on the sweetness. For those saying it's faint, it takes me about 15 mins after spraying before it becomes noticeable, then it gets stronger and stronger, so be careful! I get stellar longevity, even after climbing for 3 hours (very sweaty) I can still get wafts of it, but not in an obnoxious way, it doesn't have scratchy base chemicals. I'm not a lover of Kurky's output since at Dior (I think the Sauvage flanker was better than any of the privées he's done), and I haven't thought much of the other esprit line scents (although I haven't spent time with them). This is, however, a hit for me. If Kurky and Bisch are the pefume bros du jour, I choose Francis every time. They are so prolific right now it seems everyone else must be losing work. Shame, I'd love to see Karine Vinchon Spehner take the helm at some massive fragrance house (or better still, set up her own), and be given free reign. Update: the skin scent after 12 hours or so is identical to MFK Kurky.

I am a Dior private line newcomer, so I have a feeling that is going to skew my point of view quite a bit here...but I love this. Aside from being insanely overpriced, this fragrance just makes me feel good. And comparing it to the EDP (most recent formulation), it's exactly what I would have hoped for. I love the EDP, but find it's performance lacking. This dials everything up the perfect amount (it's still not a room-filler...which I consider a good thing), while staying pretty much true to the EDP's vibe. I find this fragrance to be in a similar vein to Bal D'Afrique Absolu...not in how it smells necessarily, but just that it's so comforting to wear, smells so pleasant, and the performance is a long-lasting perfect scent bubble just for me. I put this on after a long day, when it's time to relax unwind. Feels like an insane premium to pay for such a feeling, but given that I've found few fragrances that recreate it as well as this does...well, I'll consider myself blessed that I can afford it today.

I hate these reviews anymore. It’s literally bashing the brand, the fragrance, the influencers, the price. What does the fragrance smell like?? Just say that and go. Between the constant trolling hot takes and the reviews before people have even smelled it, it’s sickening. Anyway! What does it smell like. I’ll say I wasn’t a huge fan of the original. The scent profile always smelled just a bit dated to my nose. This Esprit version is much more my style. It starts of with sweet thick honey in the opening. I almost regretted my purchase but after about 15 minutes that dies down a bit and the iris and amber start to shine through. BDE is a warm radiating sweet powdery amber, with just a bit of incense. It almost reminds me of perfumed powder. If that’s your style, proceed. If not don’t buy it! I purchased retail and I’m enjoying my purchase. It smells amazing to me, longevity is great and silage is good. I’m imagining this will get sweeter and a bit more intense as it ages.

This has been my favorite Iris recently. I love this scent for what it is: a clean, slightly sweet, ‘your skin but better’ fragrance. I find it to be comforting, cozy and even a little low key sexy. Bois D’argent Esprit is incredibly well blended, sophisticated and balanced. This is understated, ‘easy reach’ elegance. The opening is sweet realistic honey. The iris is powdery but not cloying, and the frankincense never pulls too green. I love the balance of ambergris and vanilla with just enough ambroxan to feel modern. Apart from the honey opening, the notes are almost indistinguishable. I felt the edp version was too woody and masculine for me while Esprit is sweeter and more unisex. This isn’t going to fill a room, and the longevity could be better. But, as a scent it’s divine.

I’m convinced the people who reviewed Bois D’Argent Esprit and answered the reminds me section have never actually smelled this fragrance. BDE was a complete blind buy for me, I’m also not a fan of the original at all. My initial spray immediately after receiving almost smelled like regret. Almost. I waited a few days and did an actual full wear. Not on a piece of paper, not a sample on a dirty hand. An actual full wear from a full bottle and it was amazing. It’s an addictive, full bodied, powdery, honey fragrance with just enough incense to make it interesting. I haven’t smelled anything like it. Certainly not the original. In my opinion, I wish it came in a bigger bottle but I think it’s worth every penny. It literally smells and fees like luxury!