Perfume Review: Bois d'Argent by Christian Dior

Bois d’Argent is a part of the collection of three colognes created for Christian Dior under the guidance of Hedi Slimane, the designer responsible for Dior’s men’s division. The author of Bois d’Argent is the very talented Annick Menardo, the perfumer behind such scents as Bvlgari Black, Le Labo Patchouli 24 and Lolita Lempicka. You can find some more background information on the cologne trio in my review of Cologne Blanche. I will just note once again that although these scents are intended for men, they are most definitely unisex. Bois d’Argent is soft, subtle, delicate and eminently wearable on a woman as well as on a man. As in Bvlgari Black and Patchouli 24, Menardo masterfully combines here the seemingly incompatible or, rather, the extreme opposite elements: the dry, austere leather and incense and the soft, sweet notes of vanilla, iris and honey. The result is a gentle, velvety fragrance, perhaps the most subtle of Menardo’s creations, yet its subtlety does not make Bois d’Argent indistinct or pale. The incense, which is most prominent in the beginning, does not completely disappear till the very end, beautifully complimenting the woody accord and, in the drydown, adding a certain dry pepperiness to the sweet notes of honey and vanilla. The leather is barely a hint here as is the patchouli; rather than being the central players in the composition, both notes serve more as a counterbalance to the sweetness of vanilla and honey, and I must say that they certainly succeed in their function, since the scent is neither too dry nor too fluffy and sweet, but is just the right balance of both. On my skin, Bois d’Argent is a delicate harmony of soft woods, gentle incense and the wonderfully subtle blend of honey, iris and vanilla. This is a smooth, soothing and quietly beautiful fragrance. It feels light and stays close to the skin but lasts quite a long time. I am going to reach for it very often this summer. Bois d’Argent is available at Neiman Marcus, $115.00 for 4.2oz.