Bois Dore

Bois Dore, inspired by Van Cleef & Arpels Bois Doré (2017)

Black pepper and a mineral accord meant to suggest sun-heated stone give Bois Doré a dry, almost dusty start. Cedarwood follows, and tonka bean, with its hay-and-almond sweetness, gradually fills out the middle. Vanilla and white musk soften the base without turning it into a dessert. The overall effect is golden and smooth, with the wood always in view.

About the original

Van Cleef & Arpels launched Bois Doré in 2017 as an eau de parfum in its Collection Extraordinaire, and it is credited to Fabrice Pellegrin. The brand's own description names tonka bean, almond accents and woods; the pepper, stone, vanilla and musk come from press and retail descriptions. It is still part of the collection, which also includes Bois d'Amande and Bois d'Iris, two different scents with similar names.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Van Cleef & Arpels stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Though our store files it under men's perfumes, the brand presents it as unisex, and it sits comfortably on anyone. The tonka and almond give a noticeable sweetness, so lovers of austere, bone-dry woods may prefer something sharper.

Related scents

• Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar
• Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Notes: Tonka Bean, Almond, Cedarwood, Black Pepper, Mineral (hot Stone) Accord, Vanilla, White Musk

At first it is peppery and mineral, with black pepper and the hot-stone accord over a cedar backdrop.

Tonka bean and almond then come through, adding a nutty, hay-like sweetness to the cedarwood.

The base is smooth and slightly sweet, with vanilla and white musk around the tonka.

Is Bois Doré for men or women?

Van Cleef & Arpels positions it as unisex. We list it with our men's scents, but it suits any wearer.

Is Bois Doré the same as Bois d'Amande or Bois d'Iris?

No. All three belong to the Collection Extraordinaire, but Bois Doré is the tonka and cedar scent from 2017.

How sweet is Bois Doré?

Medium. Tonka, almond and vanilla give it sweetness, while cedar, black pepper and the mineral note keep it dry enough to read as woody.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Van Cleef & Arpels and Bois Dore are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Van Cleef & Arpels in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.