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.

My experience with this house seems to have me straight down the middle for the score of "Lovely,but it smells like a high quality version of something I have" or "smells novel". Bois Tabac is of the former. Long story short, this smells like the lovechild or Cabochard. Although, looking at the notes, provenance and time period this shouldn't be a surprise really. The key difference (beyond pricing) is that tabac goes quite smokey and Cabochard leans more into a clean leather. I definitely recommend it if you can grab a bargain , otherwise get some Cabochard or Aramis.

This is the only scent I liked from this brand, although the leather one was also good. This scent on the right man(35+, virile, sophisticated) is pure magic. Yes, man; I don't see it working on a woman. It smells of dry tobacco(although not listed), vetiver; it's slightly powdery and had just some sweetness. Honestly, it's class in a bottle!

A little green and mostly dry. In addition to the most forward vetiver and lavender notes, I get some sage and burnt incense, but it's fresh and dry enough to keep it from going full winter. To me it's unisex and I have no problem wearing it as a woman.

Nightfall. A pensive, elderly man walks along the tall grass, smoking a cigarette, accompanied by a flock of crows that occasionally cross his path. At one point he instinctively throws a cigarette butt to the ground; the fire spreads uncontrollably over the swathes of greenery it leaves behind. At dawn, a downpour comes, the man lies in the middle of a swampy fire, dispassionately staring at the gentle, sleepy clouds. In his head he replays lines from Neruda that he once whispered to his wife: "you are made of bread, a bread the fire adores.." He smiles broadly, then turns to the cawing crows, "I am." In other words: it's intense, smoky and intoxicating. But not easy, because playing with fire is not for the weak.

Burning tires in the dewy New England woods Amazing. A scent I didn’t know I needed. As a “man” under 30 I think this is delightful on myself and on others in my cohert and on a confident woman this would be an absolutely intoxicating and SENSUAL fashion. Go ahead blind buy it! Some of my favorite items of clothing have been just beyond what I see myself as pulling off that lo and behold I grow into and grow with- I see this scent as the same.

this opens with a slightly spiced sage and an aromatic freshness backed by some dry woodiness and hints of smokiness. The heart has some ambery labdanum that’s rich, warm and smoky. The dry down maintains its woody dryness but with an amped up smokiness and some powdery accords. This feels like a greener and more aromatic take on a tobacco scent profile

I was hoping for a more unisex, grassy scent. While this one is dry, the tobacco opens very strongly. This is not a green, grassy patchouli: Definitely that dank, "hippie" patchouli. The lavender and sage are lovely, but it's too masculine for my taste.

I have a full 50ml bottle for sale on eBay for a good price. I wanted to love this as I adore masc tobacco scents, but it gave me real daddy issues 🫥 Good, assured classic tobac scent.

The drydown is to die for.. I can only imagine Sean Connery wearing this perfume. The opening it's not my thing but after it's just very sexy. 10/10. Not for boys I would say. 30+

In the drydown (after one hour) this is identical, on my skin, to Oriza Legrand's beautiful Vetiver Royal Bourbon