Bois d'Amande

Bois D'Amande I bought about five years ago just after it came out. What impressed me at the time is what makes me still reach for it now: the almond opening is super refined but the gourmand feel is kept in check with the freshness of the citrus notes in the top. It is a lot fresher than you expect. It stops it from going too sweet or too cloying and just gives me very expensive vibes. I'm not a big gourmand kind of guy as regular followers of my reviews will likely know, but this one works very nicely for me. The heart of this fragrance is a fairly pale cedar and Iso E Super that is quite understated and adds just enough rich context to allow the base notes to be here. The bottom is a darker vanilla and some musk plus some Ambroxin to make it all work together. Bois D'Amande commendably manages to stay away from unbalanced Bakewell Tart stickiness and it works beautifully together with no sharp edges. Sidonie Lancesseur has done a beautiful job with this one. What we are left with is a unisex, not-too-dessert-table fragrance that wears as well during the day as it does for the evening. You'd think from the notes that this leans strongly feminine and arguably it does, but is wearable for a guy if you're in the mood. It is understandably fleeting though and will give you three hours projection if you over-spray then sinks into a (delicious) skin scent quite quickly for another three hours on your skin. Personally, it doesn't have the masculinity to be a sexy or erotic skin scent for me really (but is very, very much so for a woman) which is why I tended to use it as a daytime layering scent mostly. This maybe doesn't give it the respect it deserves; Bois D'Amande is a very finely blended and well done scent that I've enjoyed wearing over the years very much. Any guy wearing this very clearly knows his fragrances and knows who he is and wearing it makes me feel as well put together as this fragrance is. Layering suggestion: I went through a stage of layering it over Oud Wood by Tom Ford and my bottle is down to its last inch or so, which would tell you all you need to know. It would go even better over something like Santal Insolent by Molinard I think, just for the lovely rich and dark sandalwood and spices. Three Word Summary: Fresh Wearable Almonds Scent - 8/10 Drydown - 8/10 Sillage - 6/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 6/10 38/50

this is a very well made, sweet but classy sweet almond fragrance. it's not as sickly sweet as Tom Ford's Lost Cherry. and take the cherry out of that one too, then you have something like Bois d'Amande. to finish it all off with a bit more colder vibe than the very warm one that has. I don't get a very unique type of vibe from this scent, but it's very pleasing. could be the scent of a motherly and very classy young woman. in her 30s. comforting. elegant. sophisticated. always wearing tweed jackets with shoulder pads. never gets her hair cut short. definitely has blond tones in her long hair. and glossy curls almost every time you see her. with very neat and minimal make up just to accentuate her features and look neatly groomed. I personally don't associate myself with that vibe so I wouldn't get a full bottle of this. just got a sample size of this today within a sample gift set as I got myself a full bottle of Moonlight Patchouli by the brand and I'm leaving this review based on that sample. I'm a huge fan and admirer of Bois Doré instead, as that one is more smokey, boozy, and tobacco in that one is a very soft spot of mine. I plan to get that one too before the year ends. I just got to have it. this one is worth being gifted to a lovely, lovely lady. I find it leaning more feminine than unisex or masculine. this is the high earning, corporate manager woman who also bakes cookies on the weekends for her loved ones. definitely a great perfume to gift to those angelic ladies instead of the ones who have rough and sharper edges, and who dare standing out with the choices they make in their daily lives. who love red lips, and smokey, smokey eyes.

This fragrance opens with a clear and balanced almond note—not overly sweet or artificial, but pure and smooth, leaving a pleasant impression from the very first spray. The almond is blended with a light touch of vanilla, which doesn’t overpower the composition but adds warmth and harmony. I didn’t clearly detect cedarwood notes, though the overall performance of the fragrance suggests a subtle woody base that supports the scent’s depth and longevity without dominating its character. The sillage is excellent; I tested it when my brother sprayed it during an evening outing in an air-conditioned space. It was clearly noticeable to those around us without being intrusive. The scent carries a high level of clarity, making it enjoyable for anyone who smells it. This isn’t a daily or office fragrance in my opinion. It’s better suited for winter evenings or cool spring settings, especially in indoor environments. It offers a rare balance between sweetness, creaminess, clarity, and solid performance. The fragrance delivers a unique and distinctive take on almond and vanilla—unlike anything I’ve encountered before. I had tried it previously in the car, and my friends instantly turned to ask what it was. They all wanted to spray it themselves. It makes a strong impression and stands out. If you’re a fan of almond notes, this perfume is one of the purest and most refined expressions you’ll find. Excellent longevity, moderate yet clear sillage, and a refined character without pretense. – Omar | Honest Nose

Fun fact: When I was strolling in a store, I saw Van Cleef perfumes section and approached to try one of the testers. I picked up this one immediately, thinking it's actually Bois Dore (which was recommended by some of youtubers and I was curious to try) and soon came to realise it wasn't. I instantly fell in love with the smell, took the tester paper with me to see it's performance throughout the day. During the day, I smelled the tester paper like a junkie and amazed by the longevity and the evolution of the smell. It's not a very complex scent but is a perfect balance of almond, vanilla, musk and cedar (I don't get any citrus) and it projects amazingly clean, sweet, gourmandy, creamy, woody, even a bit soapy, OMG I can't even put the words for this. I just fell in LOVE. Surprisingly enough, I thought I might have found "the one!" and immediately ordered a bottle. My quest for a signature scent is a never ending process and every time I love a perfume, I usually think about the next one that might overpower the current loves and I really want my signature smell to be unpopular among people around me. But this one is going to keep its place for a loong time and I hope stays low profile enough so that it doesn't get popular, but loved enough so that it doesn't get discontinued ever. I have sampled it from the bottle at home as well. And not kidding, even the room smelled amazing whole day, although I sprayed it on my wrist once only. Longevity - 10+ hours Sillage - enormous!

from first spray until about an hour in this is pure, damp, wet-concrete-gray, only slightly sweetened cashmeran. do with this knowledge as you will. I find it intoxicating, which captured me about this fragrance to begin with. if your nose doesn't pick up on cashmeran much, this is a very bland, almost nonexistent almond sugar, woody somewhere deep down with a BREATH of lemon and vanilla. if you DO pick up on it, it's a lovely, if straightforward progression. starts off damp as can be and dries both literally and figuratively over its weartime. by 5 hours in it's a classy, but casual skin scent. the almond is somewhere in the distance in the beginning, sure, but the way it slowly uncovers itself more and more from under this heavy, stormy cashmere musk as the hours pass is just heavenly. bois d'amande isn't a symphony, more of a concept album. I still think you need to hear all the way through in order to truly enjoy it, but if you're a fan of one or two songs (almond, but not cashmeran, or the other way around), I suggest steering clear.

Bois d’Amande is a last bite of a lemon almond cookie—the one you let melt on your tongue just a little longer, savoring the warmth before it’s gone. Except here, the cookie was never really there to begin with. Just a whisper of golden sweetness, soft and powdery, hanging in the air like the memory of something baked hours ago. The almond is shy, more powder than paste, dusted with heliotropin’s soft-focus glow and zested with the sour tang of lemon. Not a sticky marzipan, definitely none of that sugared density—just the lightest touch, rounded by vanilla that’s more airy than creamy, barely tethered to the skin by a suede-smooth trace of sandalwood. It lingers, floats, fades, giving you an oh-so-effervescent whiff of a sweet delight every know and then. Like baking the most balanced gourmand cookies, diet edition. Silage? Hardly. But somehow I don’t mind! Sorta like leaning into a scent that refuses to be caught—fleeting, delicate, almost imagined. That’s what makes it so beautiful.

Quite the little gem this one for me. A scent for every day use, unpretentious and very cosy. Smooth vanilla gelato, topped with roasted almond flakes and a drizzle of lemon syrup. Enjoyed on a beautifully constructed and comfortable ceder deck on a day with a gentle but refreshing breeze. ...What's not to like...? ❤️ On different days for me the experience can differ some, highlighting one or two notes more than the others. I can't make out if it's temperature or humidity that's the reason for this. ...Nothing negative though in my opinion, as I very much do appreciate versitility, and an element of surprise. ...Long lasting on my skin with moderate projection after applying 4 sprays. The prospect of compliments increase exponentially if you go wild, splurge, and do the doubble amount ;o) ...I recommend. Much love ❤️ And 200 kittens to the People...!!

Bois d’Amande is one of those fragrances that immediately feels right. From the first spray, you get a soft almond note blended with smooth woods and a gentle touch of vanilla. It’s slightly sweet, but never gourmand or heavy, everything is balanced and refined. What really stands out is how comfortable it is to wear. It sits close to the skin, creating a clean, warm scent that feels natural and easy in any setting. It’s the kind of fragrance you reach for without thinking, whether you’re at home or heading out. As it dries down, it becomes even smoother, with a subtle creamy warmth that makes you want to keep smelling your skin. This isn’t a loud or attention-seeking fragrance. It’s quiet, elegant, and incredibly wearable, perfect for anyone who appreciates subtlety and comfort over projection. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7.5/10 Projection: 6/10

I smelled this on the paper stick first and instantly was hooked. Asked the store assistant to spray on my skin and I was addicted! love at first smell for me. I got a very creamy vanilla/almond smell from here, very cozy just like me lol, comforting in a way, also imagined this on a girl Gonna purchase this after tasting the rest of this line Edit: tried others in the line as well today - Ambre Imperial and Moonlight Patchouli on my both hands right now, I kinda prefer MP over AI for it's different smell, first time I liked Patchouli based fragrance. AI smells kinda weird Amber/Tonka mix for me. Also Bois D'iris (very very light scent, I couldn't even smell it from the paper), California Reverie (smelled like Colgate to me), Santal Blanc (same issue as Bois D'Iris), Orchid Leather (this smelled too feminine for me).

I think this is absolutely stunning. It's possibly the best find of the year for me, rivaled only by Ylang Spirit. I exclaimed when I first smelled it... an eyes-rolled-back kind of moment. The opening is lemony- but not zesty, sharp citrus- this is more earthy, a bit bitter- like the pith of the fruit. Then a note that feels to me almost like petrichor slides in. It seems that depending on your skin it may read as mildew. But on me it is grounding and soothing. I love it so much. I get very little musk, but a robust woods note at the base. The whole thing evolves throughout, ultimately drying down to a comforting buttery toffee-like scent that is somehow, surprisingly, non-gourmand. Instant love, BUB worthy. The best find of the year (next to Ylang Spirit).

Gorgeous perfume! I love the combination of almond and lemon, on me this lemony breeze lasts for quite a long time. Overall on my skin the perfume lasts around 6-7 hours but on my clothes it lasts even longer.I would say it’s perfectly unisex but I tend to say that about most perfumes that aren’t overwhelmingly floral and not overly barber shop like. The perfume is very deliciously sweet but not sickly. I would eat it if it was a dessert. It doesn’t project or last as long as Orchid Leather from the same collection but considering Orchid Leather lasts for days, this isn’t a negative really. It will last you for the day and evening if you spray it on your clothes. If you want compliments this is one that will attract attention.

utterly delicious. My first wearing I wasn't sure as the top notes reminded me of something else however as soon as my nose began to pick up the undertones as well it drew me in. I have nothing like it, it is snuggly but fresh, creamy yet nutty, it has a slight woodiness on me the right amount in my opinion. A really lovely blend that is totally unisex not being girly or masculine. I love it, I feel it is quite a personal scent not announcing itself before you enter a room but it is intriguing and moreish and a complete wrist sniffer for me. It is blended the way Orchidee vanille is into a truly beautiful perfume, I don't wish to smell like a particular thing, I just want to smell amazing and I personally think this does that.

Almond wasnt my first thought upon testing on skin! It reads more leathery to me but very light and shiny. It has a crystalline feeling for me so I could see how it reminds people of Baccarat Rouge but honestly just in that one aspect are they similar to me. It’s very sophisticated and polished of a scent profile! If there was a scent that i think rings very similar it’s Vilhelm Parfumerie’s Faces of Francis! Like take that and turn the leather dial down a bit + lift the sweet nuances by a bit and you’ll get Bois D’amande. It’s great scent but not for me! Leathery scents make me nauseous overtime but these lighter kind of leathery scents I can definitely appreciate even if I won’t get to wear them :)

I can definitely smell the almond and the vanilla in it because they are the most prominent ones that my nose picks up usually. as you can tell from the list even the blend is super simple yet it manages to smell so rich, savoury that makes you feel confident in your skin, the more i smell it the more i love it. the almond is really nice in it almost the type you would taste in a cake. i will get this for suuuuuuure. also super strong like all of the van cleefs perfumes mostly sweet but powdery and musky, a heavy perfume to those who know how to wear a strong fragrance, this could outwear you if you are not that confident

Sampled this and Bois Doré in store. I don't understand why do people say this leans kinda masculine? I do not get anything masculine from this, as for Bois Doré I can say that it leans 10% more masculine than being a true middle ground unisex fragrance. This smells like heaven. It's creamy almond and vanilla. I wouldn't say it's too sweet, but it is on the sweeter side of fragrances. On my skin it lasts for 6+ hours, however I'd say it's more of a skin scent, but I did get whiffs throughout the day (same with bois doré). Both fragrances are nice. I went with this one, because it's a tad bit lighter than bois doré.

This fragrance is absolutely beautiful!! I'm surprised no one is talking about it! So well blended, there's the slight but noticeable citrus component combined with the creaminess of the vanilla and almond notes! Superb! Then the drydown is impeccable, because as it is drying down, the woody characters emerge, intertwined with the soft musk, giving a pinch of an animalic vibe to balance those sweeter components. This is so good! In every move or sway of my body, I get whiffs of the scent--so sillage is great! V&A Bois d'Amande is an aroma therapy experience; ✨️ sexy, even!

Wow wow. Love at first sniff! Almond top note is delicious and reminiscent of some of L’occitanes almond products and le petit Marseille amande. Don’t really get any citrus or lemon but that doesn’t matter this is a true gourmand I wish I could eat it. If you like sweet woods like Margiela’s Replica ‘by the fireplace’ chances are you’ll enjoy this. Dry down goes Woody enough so that it doesn’t feel too feminine I found it lasted for hours on skin and daysss on clothes. Wish it came in 100ml instead of 75ml. I will definitely be grabbing a bottle when it hits sales.

A seductive fragrance with a daring and inviting aroma. As a pleasure seeker of the world, I've had the privilege to travel widely, and one thing I learned is that every place has its own unique scent. I fell in love with this one: a delicate, yet robust scent that marries sophistication with an air of whimsy. With a fresh and captivating scent, this perfume is for the discerning woman who knows what she wants. With top notes of exhilarating citrus and luxurious floral aromas, it will definitely envelop you in a certain aura of charm and seduction.

my nose picks up a lot of cedar in this fragrance!! the almond and vanilla is only noticeable if you pay closer attention to it, but i don’t mind that! it makes the perfume less cloying in my opinion :) i can tell why some people may think it resembles maison margiela’s by the fireplace, but bois d’amande quite obviously doesn’t have that smoky note + the marshmallow vibe is less pronounced, which makes it a little more versatile for other seasons other than winter. overall this is a likeable and incredibly beautiful fragrance for cold weather <3

I love this fragrance. It’s a linearly fancy blend of powdery (but not baby powder!) almond and gentle woods. The opening has a slightly sharper, almost bitter, almond blossom kick that softens quickly. I don't get the lemon. It’s comforting, it’s handsome, and I want to hold hands with it. Side by side, Bois Doré feels like the sweet birthday cake version. Yeah, it's a bit more complex, but to me it's not as compelling. (I already have enough cake in my collection). I prefer bois d'amande. If money were no object, I would get both, though.

The missing puzzle piece in my collection. Very distinctive, singular and cozy. I get toasted almond from start to finish, paired with a dry vanilla that adds creaminess, and a touch of lemon that brings a subtle mentholated nuance, giving a fresh aromatic lift to the cedar. Woody, but not screechy. The opening is almond–lemon, while musks and softened woods gradually take center stage. Projection is intimate but longevity is impressive. Stays with me all day. I was looking for an autumn/winter scent, and this has become my new favorite.

I just can't imagine anyone not liking this fragrance. Imagine a warm sunset melting onto your skin like golden amber. It is a gentle embrace of creamy woods and tender almond sweetness — like a silk scarf infused with warmth and quiet sensuality. It opens with a whisper of roasted almond — soft, nostalgic, almost like a memory of childhood comfort. Then, a velvety heart of Virginian cedarwood unfolds — not harsh or dry, but smooth and milky. Bois d’Amande doesn’t shout. It whispers. Feminine, delicate, but with undeniable character.

I received a sample of this beauty, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. It’s a beautifully crafted unisex fragrance, it’s smooth, and elegantly refined. This isn’t the kind of scent I typically go for, but something about it completely won me over. The almond note is creamy and slightly sweet, balanced perfectly with soft woods and a subtle powdery touch. It feels both comforting and sophisticated, never too heavy or overpowering. There’s a certain luxury to it, making it perfect for any occasion.

What an underrated house. I’ve tried several fragrances from van cleef and all of them were impressive but bois damande was my favorite. Sweet and seductive almond and lemon at the opening that turn into smooth vanilla with woody and musky notes. Not loud but elegant and uplifting that gives the feeling of something very expensive. At the dry down everything blends perfectly together with the lemon much lighter then the opening giving space for the rest of the notes and mainly almond. Super classy!!!

I absolutely fell in love with this the moment I sprayed it on me. This is the perfume that has made me love scents with almond notes. Definitely something to wear during colder months, although I have worn this out on a cooler summer day and it wore well. Sillage is more than arm’s length, and lasted an eternity on skin+clothes. I did laundry today and pulled out a shirt I had sprayed this on last week and it still smelled AMAZING. As a gourmand lover, I’m absolutely obsessed with this scent.

This is one of my favourite winter perfumes, and it lasts such a long time ! It has a really great set of notes which are perfect for wearing in winter or late fall. I wear it night and day but think that its better to wear at night since its a little overpowering. It reminds me of a lot of Arab perfumes which I love, so I find myself reaching for it often during the winter or if I am in Arab countries. It's a really gorgeous perfume with a lovely dry down, and it's one of my top 5 perfumes !

This could be described as a more mature version of This Is Her by Zadig&Voltaire. Absolutely stunning! The opening is a very unexpected cheeky blast of citrus that doesn't last long. Still it's refreshing! The dry down is cedar almond and a soft vanilla, very well blended.The musky notes are soft too. It's like a warm sweet hug around me. After half an hour it becomes a skin scent but people near you still notice it. I love the perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur and almost all of her creations!

I’m in love.....again. I decided to try this yesterday as I am such a huge fan of Bois Doré. You know that feeling when you spray a scent for the first time and you instantly love it? Well, that’s what happened to me. Love at first sniff which grew steadily throughout the day. A gourmand delight with strong almond, vanilla and something fruity. The notes say lemon but it’s not obviously lemon. Soft and creamy - I adore this. Maybe even more than Bois Doré. I think this one has the edge.

This is a really lovely scent - creamy almond vanilla! I get the references to BR 540, but Bois D'Amande is smoother on my skin and doesn't develop the medicinal dentist smell that BR does. Like my other Van Cleef fragrances, this is low projection but does last all day. I layered it on one arm on bare skin and one on top of Escentric 01. Hard to say which I like better, but I've been happily catching wafts of it as I do my work. This was a blind buy and overall I'm very happy with it.

opens with a sexy lemon and almond note that I immediately LOVED. This is a date night, fall/winter fragrance that leans more feminine. As it’s dried down, some of the initial magic has gone and I’m left sniffing something rather familiar. Maybe a smoother La Vie est Belle? Definitely Lancôme coded. I waited two hours then I returned to the tester strip and oh my goodness, it has left Lancôme territory and became an utter masterpiece. Full bottle worthy

What a gorgeous perfume! The citrus balances out the sweetness, very sensual smell! Gets you addicted to It wanting to sniff more of It all the time, I keep getting a constant whiff though out the day. Lasts for days on clothes! Lasts hours on skin. Projection of an arm length. Might wanna let It sit for a few weeks after the first spray, the vanilla will do It's thing! This perfume a masterpiece! Projection, longevity and sillage are awesome.

Gorgeous! I get major BR540 vibes from this during the drydown. Not the same but both are going in the same direction. Bois d'Amande quite woody with more almond notes. Same high level of sweetness, but whereas BR540 is synthetic, this is natural and smooth. Complex and more masculine. I actually really love to layer with Molecule 01. Very warm and cozy. I will get a lot of use of this at night and during the cooler months for sure!

smells like a cool, fall day where you're out back with cedar sap sticky on your fingers. something about it is utterly intoxicating! absolutely beautiful fragrance, it's unbelievably comforting. whilst the almond doesn't exactly shine through for me, the cedar isn't overbearing like i've found in a lot of fragrances; it brings a warmth to the vanilla & almond, and prevents it from being overwhelmingly sweet.

I never even bothered trying this one as almond is a note I usually don't like. To say I was shocked when I first tried it is an understatement. It was love at first sniff! It's so well blended and it's a soft, creamy and slightly powdery vanilla with a hint of woodiness from the cedar. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. The perfume itself is perfection, but the longevity is very poor.

Incredibly blended with a woody almond accord. A sense of sophistication with each spray. Bois d'Amande truly reflects the imagery one gets as if being read off the note list. Sweet balanced almonds, cedar wood, vanilla beans, musk with an interesting lemon freshness. I find the freshness quite familiar. Happy that this has crossed my path may it never be retired or discontinued.

In my own category of fragrances, it would sit between Dior's Dolce Vita and Initio's Rehab. There's something bright, sweet, and carefree about it - like a bright new beginning, poetically speaking. It's comforting, classy, and fluffy, yet not a typical feminine fragrance... I love it! Very nice for professional (creative endeavors) settings...

Absolutely stunning blend of notes. The musk, vanilla, and almonds dance together and form a grey cloudy type of feel. The lemon and cedar wood take a backseat to support the ever so fragile and fluffy scent. It's versatile and not distinct as a perfume, but i think that's what makes the scent. A gentle cloud passing by on any given day.

esse perfume foi amor à primeira vista. particularmente, acho um cheiro bem sedutor, mas sem tentar. passa um pouco a vibe de cafeterias chiques, fácil de agradar, mas não é extremamente comum! ele é um pouco mais intimista, sua projeção não é tão alta, mas sua fixação ficou muito boa na minha pele, fica facilmente nas roupas!

A decadent gourmand. On my skin, the vanilla really stands out and above everything else. The rest smells secondary to me. This perfume reminds me very much of the candied almonds you can find in the mall...except I never felt the need to eat those almonds. If I were not Me, I would consider eating me. Lol.

I love, love, love this fragrance. An almond and cedar perfection. I’ve tried so many almond scents and this one captures that comforting, elegant and nutty scent I fell in love with the first time with L’Occitane’s Almond Body Oil. My number 1 almond fragrance among the many I’ve already tried. Bar none.

This perfume comes in like a flash of life and sweetness, without being cloying. It is youthful as well as mature. As daring and at the same time cautious with ordinary nuances. As the hours go by, the more "aggressive" notes fade away, giving way to the warmth of vanilla.

Soft and marshmallowy; it's beautiful but I don't get much almond, if any. It is absolutely addicting, though-- I can't keep my wrist away from my face. The more I wear it, the more I smell ice cream. I could see that aspect being a favorite for some, and hated by others.

The woody, gourmand delight with the soft, velvety sweet notes of almond and vanilla. Soft and creamy, warm and sensual! I adore this! A perfect balance of almond, vanilla, musk and cedar. I don't get any citrus. Longevity 12+ hours. Gorgeous!!!

Imagine vanilla almond cake frosted with lemony whipped cream. Lovely, long lasting, idulgence without being too sweet or too gourmand. This and Bois Dore are wonderful unisex fragrances from VCA. Gentle and Elegant. Quiet luxury.

Well done, sweet, and an easy blind buy. Perfect winter fragrance. It's unisex and will get you plenty of compliments.

What a good smelling, elegant, underrated scent. Kind of reminds me of Black Opium but in a quieter more elegant way.

Sweet, warm, lovely. Sillage was a bit weak but with sweet scents it's better for it to be weak than too strong

This is the one that I gatekeep! Such a comforting almond and vanilla. Just an underappreciated masterpiece.

It is creamy, well blended, sweet but not too sweet and just so yummy. I love it.

To me this perfume smells the way "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak sounds