Bois Marocain (2022)

Moroccan Wood has changed over the years. Its initial focus was an amalgam of cedarwood and sandalwood accented by waxy, resinous, and earthy elements. Today's version is still wood centric, but significantly more focused on Boswellia - i.e. the tree in which we obtain frankincense - as opposed to cedar or santal. This perfume at any point in its life could've been called North African Wood or Arabian Wood. Take note of formulation differences, but, regardless, it is still quite a compelling wood-centric composition. The waxy fruity and piquant citrus zest opening is a lot quieter now, opting for more nose-tingling peppercorns and aromatics to truly deliver a striking cedar note. This is fresh cedar, the tree trunk cut before your nose, oils oozing. Part of what is helping this along is a pine/evergreen resin note that pushes the oily and slightly sticky facet, but with the dialed-back citrus note it is not quite as convincing of pine resin or something like that as it used to be since those resins have a distinct bitter lemon aspect. Instead, its role is to bolster the peppery and oily aromatics of the cedar. This opening and transition to the heart is quite loud and strong, but it calms significantly in the dry down, which happens fairly quickly, where the focus firmly shifts to the frankincense resin accord. Thanks to the remaining cedar accord in addition to a green and woody vetiver, the frankincense comes across as both sticky and fresh resin and a touch smokey at the same time. The dry down is quite muscular and forward, though restrained and quiet; a low projection and sillage skin scent that announces itself quite clearly up close and is very pleasant and striking. This is where it differs from other similar perfumes such as some from the Comme des Garcons Incense series for example, that prefer to use their woods and incense to create a meditative, agrestic, "humming" vibe with more smoke tendrils and bits of loamy earth and sweetness. Bois Marocain has a confidence, strength, and stridency that does not come across as a relaxed smile during a prayer. Even in Tom Ford's own offerings this stands out, with Santal Blush opting for baking-spice flecked, creamy, powdery sandalwood and Ebene Fume - well never mind, I'm not going to go into the mess that is Ebene Fume, I might as well compare real frankincense to the black tar bonfire smoke of rotted wood and tires. Perhaps a bit simplistic and linear, and maybe "restrained" enough to be lackluster, I believe these characteristics do Bois Marocain more favors than disservice. There is something appealing and attractive about confidence, muscularity, and energy that is self-restrained enough to stay close to you, like a good strong friend that is at your back, their hand on your shoulder, yet is respectful enough to never interrupt you or speak for you. The perfume feels very solid in the best possible way.

Green Bush (Cypress) + Green Pine Needle + White Vanilla + Bourbon Rum + dark smoky Incense + Pink Pepper + Bergamot citrus + smallest touch of Cinnamon + spicy Cedar Re-released TF fragrance. Fresh, Pine-green spicy aromatic, with a touch of addicting gourmand notes. This is a really great fragrance for the scent genre!! But...This dna is what was hip-popular in the 1990's, with hits like Chanel 'Egoist' and Hugo 'Green'. You can argue that the scent is timeless, but is slowly becoming what an older man and newer grandpas are smelling like because of what era this scent genre is from. Personally, i love this scent genre, but never wear it because im obsessed with the idea of smelling like next-gen head-turning dna's. The note of Bergamot oddly comes out in the mid dry-down, pleasantly brightening the dark notes and giving the dna a refreshing citrus acid and sweetness note which is really enjoyable! There is also the smallest hint of cinnamon of a note that reveals itself in the mid as well, that is now starting to transform this dna as really delicious. The fact that this fragrance is changing in the drydown and having notes that are traditionally found in the opening, but here actually are coming out in the mid drydown instead is an indicator that this perfumer is technically talented! In the Bottom end dryoff, a spicy cedarwood is revealing itself to be the base of this fragrance. As a skin scent, this lasted the entire day! What makes Bois Marocain different and really really good is the other notes added to it's dna where the others are lacking, including that White Vanillin, Bourbon Rum and dark smoky Incense. It's taking the genre to another level in a good way, it gives the dna an addicting feeling where you want to keep going back into it to get more hits of whiffs. Im in love with Chanel 'Egoist' and Hugo 'Green' from my childhood, it was the first fragrance that i purchased and it made me feel sexy af confident even as a kid! But i have to admit, even tho Hugo 'Green' is a monster projector, but because of the additional notes found in Bois Marocain, it is now my favorite fragrance in the scent genre - it's that good! Dated dna, but a really good one! It's like a 're-imagined' creation of it's scent genre. As others have stated, projection and longevity performace is poor - just like the majority of TF fragrances today. On the paper blotter in the store, this was nothing special. On skin this is a fabulous dna!! This is so fucking addicting good!! <3 This is going to be one of those forever slept-on fragrances. 4.5/5 Woofs!

If you like sweet, fresh or flowery scents.....This is not for you. Some days, you are tired of smelling "soooo good" and "yummy" -- Some days its like H.L Menken said; "“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” Those days, I reach for Bois Marocain or Bvlgari Kobraa. Bois Marocain smells like peppery spices infused into wood. The name is quite apt, as I always picture walking through a spice market in Marrakesh. Its pretty linear. Definitely bottle worthy. You cant wear it every day. Its a mood type of fragrance. Very well done, peak Tom Ford....no its not as good as the pre formulation versions. That said, nothing new is better, other than cell phones. As far as comparisons, It doesn't smell like Ebene Fume, but its in that ballpark. If you had one, it would scratch the same itch well enough not to want the other. I recently went to smell the new TF Black Laquer, which is supposed to be some unique new creation. Its 85-90% Bois Marocain. TF seems to just be modernizing prices. TF has lost its originality its seems. I still like their products. Bois Marocain is a 8.7/10 for me.

I can’t smell it. Perhaps I am nose blind to the woods in Bois Marocain but.. seriously? I can still smell the Bogue o_e that I only sprayed two times two days ago on my shirt. I used now about eight sprays of BM and I don’t smell it. Only when I try very hard, push my nose on the spot where it should be and inhale deeply, only then I get a vague sense of a woody scent. I don’t know how this works for some but BM by TF was for me a waste of money and time. Oh, and therefor I verified the TF I got is 100% genuine but I do feel cheated. In my opinion TF should have taken this scent from the market. Something must have gone wrong in the production line. This is not the level or TF experience that people want to give their money for. Days later.. I gave it to one of my friends. He is over the moon with it. Tells me how well it performs and that he got many compliments wearing it.. Well.

This fragrance happened to be my most worn of this past winter. I went to Neiman Marcus and the attendant was being fucking annoying - it’s almost impossible to sample in peace at neiman marcus. However the one good thing she did is show me this fragrance. I told her I had a bad experience with TF oud wood as it doesn’t last. She quickly went and grabbed Bois Marocain and gave me a tester strip with it. HOLYYYYYYY SHITTTTTTTTT. This came off boozy, sweet and woody on paper. On skin a bit different but not by far. On skin I didn’t get a boozy note. But instead a sweet - peppery - wood smell that’s pleasant , sexy and a COMPLIMENT GETTER!!!! The projection is strong and i found it to taper down around 4 hours but in a slow pace. This lasted easily 6-9 hours on my skin easily. The cooler the day the better the performance. Definitely a winter date night MASTERPIECE!