Bois Imperial

Bois Imperial, inspired by Essential Parfums Bois Impérial (2020)

Timut pepper sets the tone, a pepper berry with a fruity, citrus-like edge, and Thai basil adds a green, faintly aniseed freshness. Neither lasts as long as the woods. The core is Akigalawood, a material made by fractionating patchouli, which smells peppery and dry rather than earthy. Haitian vetiver and Indonesian patchouli deepen it, while Ambrofix, an amber-woody molecule, gives the base its smooth, mineral finish.

About the original

Bois Impérial launched in December 2020 as an eau de parfum from Essential Parfums, the French niche house. Quentin Bisch composed it from a brief by founder Géraldine Archambault, who drew on memories of her Vietnamese grandmother and a house on the Mekong. The brand describes it as a contrast of light freshness against deep woods. An Extrait version was added later, and a limited collector's edition marked the scent's fifth anniversary.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Essential Parfums stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Wearers who reach for vetiver or dry woods will feel at home here, whichever gender section they usually shop in. It has almost no sugar and no florals to speak of, so someone looking for a cosy or ambery woody may find it lean.

Related scents

• Nishane Sultan Vetiver
• Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
• Hermès Eau de Basilic Pourpre

Notes of the original fragrance, as given in the launch information.

Top notes: Thai Basil, Timut Pepper

Heart notes: Haitian Vetiver, Petalia

Base notes: Akigalawood, Indonesian Patchouli, Ambrofix

Peppery timut and green Thai basil make the opening lively and herbal.

Haitian vetiver comes through next, grassy and slightly smoky, with Petalia in the background.

The drydown is Akigalawood with Indonesian patchouli and Ambrofix: dry, peppered wood with a clean amber shine.

Is this based on the Bois Impérial eau de parfum or the Extrait?

Our reference is the original 2020 Eau de Parfum. Essential Parfums also sells a later Extrait version.

What is Akigalawood?

A fragrance material made from patchouli oil with the heavy, earthy parts removed. It smells peppery, woody and a little like agarwood.

Is Bois Impérial sweet?

Hardly at all. It is built on pepper, basil, vetiver and woods rather than vanilla or resins.

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.

Essential Parfums and Bois Impérial are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Essential Parfums 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.