Bois Tabac Virginia

It seems that Le Jardin Retrouve has done as much as possible to maintain the integrity of founder Yuri Gutsatz's original compositions, as they all speak a language with no modern lexicon. Naturally, this is what draws me to Sandalwood Sacre, Jasmin Majorelle—and now Bois Tabac Virginia. However, while the other two have a beautifully limpid quality, the beauty in BTV lies in its boggy first stages and its drier, raspy dry down. The beginning is a true showstopper and may prove a challenge to those expecting the honeyed and sticky qualities of popular modern tobaccos. The opening accord can best be described as a wetland ambergris, as if a rather diminutive sperm whale species somehow roamed a brackish habitat and expelled a specific exudate that is ever-so-slightly sulphurous but still with a salty sheen and musky earthiness. What soon follows reminds me of visits to Leavitt & Peirce Tobacconist in Cambridge, MA. There's that unmistakable smell of saturated loose tobacco leaves that waft from large apothecary jars with names like Norwegian Shag, Turkish Bold, Black Ribbon, and Full Virginia Flake (naturally). When I was younger, I would purchase samples of them just so that I could inhale their scent as some form of aromatherapy—yet I stopped just short of actually smoking a pipe. There is a warm, intoxicating texture to BTV that captures this very sensation. Further into its progression, it almost reminds me of autumn leaves in October, as they fall to the ground while layers underneath become matted, expressing their scent into the crisp air. Growing drier over time, it feels woodier, styrax-like, faintly smoky, with leathery undertones. It's worth noting that there is no forward coumarin here, nary any tonka or liatrix to be found. From what I can tell (though I could be wrong), tobacco absolute itself isn't used. What forms the crux of the tobacco accord here is labdanum and vetiver, married together, with some patchouli to shade it further, which proves that the impression of tobacco, much like most other "notes" in perfume, does not necessarily require the obvious materials. It's fast becoming a favorite of its genre and will be a companion for the coming season.

When I first wore this, my initial reaction was “this smells like an incredibly sexy man”. There’s something about this fragrance that I find really intoxicating. It’s earthy and woody, and there’s a hint of something that’s almost animalic/leathery on my skin (I suppose it's the labdanum/ambergris, though I don't have the most experience with either note). I’m not too good at picking out tobacco notes (and they aren’t listed, but are in the name of the fragrance itself of course), but there is something in Bois Tabac Virginia that does lead my mind to cigarettes, but in a clean and inoffensive way. The smoke, rather than actual tobacco. It’s just a hint of smokiness, not a full on ashtray. I've been really impressed with everything I've sampled from Le Jardin Retrouvé so far. The parfumes just ooze quality, and are classy without seeming outdated. I just really, really like this. Both the vetiver and the lavender is there, with a hint of patchouli, but it’s all perfectly balanced. I do think this is unisex, though definitely leaning masculine. It’s something I’d rather smell on a man that myself, but that being said, the scent is just so alluring to me that I’ll also happily wear it.

Such a delightful fragrance. As the name suggests, it's very woody, but in a fresh / green way. It almost has some sharpness and dewiness, just like a forest on a crisp autumn evening. I can not sense any tobacco in a dense, dry or cigarette kind of way. Rather, it has a slightly bitter and darker kind of quality which keeps it from going totally fresh and green. It is also quite a nostalgic scent with a retro composition, while staying very classic the whole time. Like others have said, I can see it more on a male, but I personally also can imagine wearing it when the conditions are "right" (i.e. gloomier weather, misty atmosphere). Longevity and projection are great. You can go easy on the sprays with this one, it will still be very present.

This is an excellent woody vetiver that still holds its own despite having been launched before I was even born! Don't expect a tobacco scent-although the name is suggestive of it, this is a classic that should be in every wardrobe. Think crunchy autumn leaves underfoot and you're there. Longevity is great at around 9 hours.

The opening has an animalic note to it, that made me doubt my decision to buy this. But it fades soon and it blends into a great classy scent.