Bois d'Orange

Lovely perfume, I like to use this in the midst of winter, when I am feeling blue and summer is long forgotten and months away...that is when this lovely little perfume comes out to play. This is a really happy, unpretentious orange scent. I have the shower gel too which is very nice to use - uplifting, fresh and invigorating on cold, dark, damp mornings it lifts the spirits. I also have the body oil which is nice to use when you want a little scent and soft skin but don't feel like wearing anything "big". I find the body oil slightly sweeter than the perfume. The scent itself is quite a natural manadarin orange smell to me, but also with some green and some wood mixed in - and it smells like all the orange - the peel and zest, the flesh, the juice, perhaps even the pips as well as the leaves, the wood, the blossom....it doesn't smell on the skin as though you have just peeled an orange and it actuall doesn't smell gourmand to me, it just captures orange beautifully. A little brash and intense in the opening this soon settles down. It is pretty much a skin scent for me after the first few minutes, which means it is suitable for work as it is unlikely to offend and smells clean and fresh. I have also found it layers beautifully with a little violet oil on the pulse points, or a splash of violet water. I find it lasts about 4-5 hours on my skin, but I get longer if I spray my clothes too. This doesn't project much, it stays close to the skin - I can smell it but it doesn't bother others. I can see comparisons with Guerlain's mandarine basilic although that dries down to a much more straightforward orange peel scent on me that really does smell like I have been eating oranges, it also has some similarities with Crabtree and Evelyn's Tarocco Orange, Sage and Eucalyptus range of bath and body products, although without the herbiness of the sage - it does layer well with these products though - and the C&E range has a light body mist so I sometimes use the Bois D'orange in the morning and carry the C&E body mist to refresh in the day. This is a happy perfume, summer in a bottle in the middle of winter - lovely :)

I can't believe it took me this long to get Bois d'Orange ! Few years ago, I had an animated discussion with another fan about R&G products and the lady told me how Bois d'Orange has unique behaviour and her undying devotion. Apparently it cools the wearer in heath and reheats in cold weather. Different behaviour in different temperatures is nothing new to me, but thermo-balancing one, now that is usefull little cologne indeed. One spray on my arm and 'that's nice' later and I forgot all about it. This summer I bought this cute little giftbox with my usual body care in local pharmacy. When I finally started using it, I have found it difficult to stop. From shower gel that is pure delight to this little 'eau fraîche'. Yes, it is similar to Mandarine Basilic that I allready had and loved, but it tourned out, Bois d'Orange was so much more than expected. It's juicy, zesty, aromatic and very woody. It has a beautiful balsamic dry down with traces of everything in it that I find simply irresistible. And it just might be thermo-balancing, I enjoy it now as much as I did this summer. It's quite traditional and perfectly executed. Longevity is surprisingly good and even better after body lotion. I have been seriously under the weather for a week now and I have found comfort and joy in Bois d'Orange. There is very few perfumes one can use when ill, during period with cramps, morning sickness and other joys of pregnancy...life actually! I know of other perfume enthousiastes who survived difficult times wearing only R&G colognes and Bvlgari's teas for months ! Bois d'Orange has become one of those little things I reach for without thinking and surprisingly enjoying it every time. Nose behind it is Dominique Ropion.

This was my second Roger & Gallet purchase after I tried and fell in love with Fleur de Figuier. I initially bought it for myself because I love unisex woody citrus fragrances. Even though I loved the scent and found it fairly light and transparent, it seriously bothered me. It just felt wrong on me, and I was constantly aware of wearing it. I gave it to my husband to try, and he really liked the scent profile. Now, I absolutely adore smelling it on him when he's wearing it. It must be the difference in our skin chemistry or some other unknown factor, because it developed completely differently on him. The opening is fruity and floral, but it soon turns smoky and grounded. When reapplied over time, it also lingers beautifully on fabrics that aren't washed after a single wear. It depends on the person, but this scent now leans more masculine to me. The blend of citrus and woodiness is effortlessly sexy without trying too hard, and I think I'll gift him a 100 ml bottle once he runs out of this one.

YES this is pure class, and NO it doesn't last very long. The way that Dominique Ropion has created it, although it is a very simple orange blossom fragrance, it is absolutely crammed with different textures; a momentary sparkle of bright zest, some crisp & clean cotton white florals, voluptuous creamy blossom fleshed-out by coconut and ylang, then dry, bitter green petitgrain giving the impression of crunchy, arrid leaves and bark. It bursts forth for about 15 minutes, projects politely for maybe an hour, then clings as a skin scent for a couple more. The modern bottles on these are outrageously nice, too, so if you love neroli and you have £18...

I get almost the exact same fragrance as Guerlain eau de cologne Imperiale in the opening, it's an almost like for like mix of citrus notes and bright neroli, but where the Guerlain provides a fleeting blast, this one sticks around for a bit, and goes through more development. The base is warm and pleasant, still citrus, but there are Amber and Woody notes, I wouldn't particularly say cedar, but Woody all the same. It's quite light, it's not a powerhouse, not does it stick around for longer then a few hours, but it's very enjoyable all the same. Roger and Gallet are easy to overlook, but they make some really good fragrances.