Bojnokopff

The first fragrance which has sent me down a mystical imaginary rabbit hole. This had me imagining finding a real life Aladdin’s cave, in the middle of a dark, lush green overgrown forest. Very lavender with a great bitter chocolate note, but a significant, almost overwhelming, smoky punch from the guaiac wood which gives you a deep smoked Islay single malt mist. This is especially noticeable in the opening but blends effortlessly. It’s not one that you could wear under the radar for me. This packs a very unique thump and will turn heads, but I imagine it wouldn’t be for everyone’s nose on first whiff. It’s a very strange and wholly unique fragrance, but one which intrigues and entices you deeper and deeper, whilst you fall deeper for it. Feels like it needs to be worn with utmost confidence, but I don’t think you could wear this without it brandishing complete abandon upon you. This isn’t about you and them. It’s about you and it. Match for: fresh crisp cold dark night, a long coat and scarf, a dark, underground bar.

On my husband, Bojnokopff smells like cherry liqueur chocolates, smoke, tobacco, a smoother oud, and signature Fort & Manle cedar base. A huge improvement over the original Purple Hat version - they did a good job distinguishing it from rest of the line. The way the cherry plays brightly against the rich smooth browns of chocolate, tobacco, and oud reminds me of the apricot wow factor atop the smoky tea and wood in Indigo Smoke from Arquiste. That's what I thought he was wearing until I figured out the cherry and tobacco. Feels super smooth and oh so decadent. Update: We brought a sample with us on a romantic getaway in the mountains and with the changes in pressure while driving there, Bojnokopff perfumed the entire toiletry bag 😍 and we didn't get sick of it. One of our all-time favorites.

This is a fun experience. I did 10 sprays. It starts off with beautiful lavender, vanilla, and decadent chocolate (cake) and it just swirls around you as you move in the breeze. Not super long lasting, but a very nice linear scent. Lavender is wonderful - reminds me of Goldfield & Banks Purple Suede lavender which I adore - and it stays the whole time blending with the woody undertones while everything else fades. I think you could wear this anywhere anytime. It’s got dessert-like flavors without being sweet. Works great now in fall weather, but since it’s not sweet I’m also looking forward to trying it in warmer weather. Overall it’s a win. Update 10/1/2025: Still a winner. More cedar notes after sitting for a year. Oud is subtle and only close up on skin. Love that lavender and chocolate.

Try to visualise a handful of freshly picked lavender, straight from a ripe autumn harvest, herbal and densely aromatic, dry chips of oud and fine dark chocolate shavings with a crushed vanilla bean thrown into a pile of blazing embers. The fine white smoke that would emanate from the combusting mixture is Bojnokopff. I must admit I don’t have a lot of experience with genuine oud and can therefore not attest if there is some in here, but there is a certain clay like facet of genuine oud that I definitely recognise in here with a good amount of the meaty smoky guaiac and drier classically grainy woody cedar. Beautiful, perhaps a bit odd to wear out, but definitely a wonderful experience and a likely future purchase when I can scrap together a more substantial fragrance budget.

Another masterpiece by Rasei Forte. It's also incredibly unique and difficult to describe. The notes blend together well and create a mysterious and unique fragrance that will draw attention. However, it's uniqueness will be polarizing in my experience. The opening definitely can come off as medicinal, but I personally like this aspect. That medicinal note fades and the rest of the notes are more distinguishable. The oud in this is very soft and is more of a backbone to the very forward balsamic and smoky resinous wood. There is a little sweetness, but to me the chocolate comes off a bit more dusty and bitter, more nose in the cocoa powder than a candy bar. Best suited for cold evenings, possibly in a leather chair facing a fire and listening to Wagner on a gramophone.