Bois Farine by L’Artisan Parfumeur
June 26th, 2006
Today I’m wearing Bois Farine by L’Artisan Parfumeur. It’s created by Jean Claude Ellena (who I’d most certainly marry were we both single), one of my favorite perfumers. To view his other creations, check the Noses page on Now Smell This. Here’s the background information on the scent, from the L’Artisan web site, “Created by Jean-Claude Ellena, perfume composer of great talent and international fame, Bois Farine (Wood Flour) is the product of his encounter with a magic tree in the Reunion Islands. Here, in a forest known as the coloured wood forest, surrounded by evocatively named trees , red wood, yellow wood, iron wood and milk wood, he unexpectedly discovered the fragrant white tree - a rare and nowadays protected species, reputed to have magical powers. This tree is specific to Reunion Island and its red flower smells like flour. Bois Farine is a single and unique fragrance, a magical union between witch wood and flower powder … As rich and fresh as flour rain.” I love that description - flour rain. Something you wouldn’t want to happen if it was wheat flour, in real life or in perfume. However, this is woodsy flour - a whole bunch of wood crushed to powder, mixed with the magical flower of Ruizia Cordata, fennel seed, and white iris. The effect is a milky, woodsy balm. Slightly powdery, slightly creamy. Bois Farine has been compared to both peanut butter and the famous chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella (in my case). I adore it and could never be without it.
Bois Farine can be purchased at Beauty Cafe, Aedes, Barney’s New York as well as directly from the L’Artisan online shop.
Image source: www.lartisanparfumeur.com
Entry Filed under: Today's Perfume
21 Comments Add your own
1. Patty | June 26th, 2006 at 10:13 am
I’ve had zero desire to try this until I just read that last sentence of your description.
BTW, you can’t marry JCE, I’m already committed to having his little gifted perfuming children should he or I magicially become unentangled with our current marriages.
2. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 10:17 am
LOL! Looks like he’s gonna be a polygamist.
But, oh my word, I can’t believe you’ve never tried Bois Farine?? What a major oversight on your part. Tsk, tsk.
3. IrisLA | June 26th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Sadly, Bois Farine turns to pure peanut butter on me. I’d like to smell it on someone whose chemistry brings forth this “flour rain.” Sounds lovely.
4. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Iris, I’m sorry to hear that! Skin chemistry is so unpredictable. But do give it another chance, you never know.
5. Marina | June 26th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Ah, the fantasy about marrying a perfumer is familiar to me…*sigh* Maurice Roucel…*sigh*
Not crazy about Bois Farine by the way. As Robin just said about Orchidee Blanche, it is “not entirely horrible, but certainly not necessary”
6. Victoria | June 26th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Ina, Bois Farine=love.
It is simply amazing, and I am already contemplating that I need a full bottle, since I already used up my samples.
7. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Marina, clearly, your nose must have been off when you smelled it. I simply cannot believe this! Not necessary? Hrmph.
8. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Yes, V.! Yes! You do need a full bottle.
9. Elle | June 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
This is one of the most perfect layering perfumes ever. And, yes, it’s divine on its own as well. If it were not that I’m still waiting for my adoption by Serge to go through, I might be rather troubled by your plans of marriage w/ JCE.
10. March | June 26th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
I can’t …. decide about this one. Will have to re-sniff, you made me. PS Got your package, thanks! I will get one out to you this week.
11. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Elle, I don’t think I’ve actually layered it with anything but now that you reminded me, must try soon. I thought you already knew about my marriage plans.
12. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
March, honestly, just make up your mind already!
13. March | June 26th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Hey, thanks for the Goldmund! That was the first one I tried, since it keeps getting mentioned. It’s gorgeous. It’s a little heavy for me this time of year, but I like the way it keeps changing. At first I found it spicy-ambery, but now something has dried off (vanilla?) and it is a spicy musk, which is delicious. This reminds me a little of Noir Epices, have you tried? Only less …. difficult. Although Noir Epices has this Guerlain-ish aspect that sends me over the moon.
14. Ina | June 26th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
Yeah, I can see how you get Noir Epices in Goldmund. If you just take all the spices out, especially the pepper, it has a similar feel.
15. Katie | June 27th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Ach, this is such a beauty. On me it smells nutty and creamy, so to me, it’s almost an almond milk scent. (Almost.) You get Nutella? Wow.
BF is such a nice choice on the right person for summer, no? Iit never smells too weighty or heavy even when it’s hot.
16. Ina | June 27th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
I agree! It’s never cloying or obnoxious. I get no almond but I definitely get the nuttiness.
17. Cait | June 28th, 2006 at 9:59 am
I forgot about this one. I think it’s marvelous in the way that some of the IUNX products were. It’s not “perfumey” but full of interesting layers.
18. Ina | June 28th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Cait, yes, it’s full of interesting layers.
19. Aromascope » New Re&hellip | October 11th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
[…] Hilary Duff With Love - mangosteen fruit, exotic spice blend, chai latte, mangosteen blossoms, cocobolo wood, amber milk, amber musk, balsam, incense. Quite a notable addition to the new releases, especially celebrity fragrances. What makes it stand apart is simply the fact it will actually stay in your memory as opposed to sniff and forget (SAF - a new abbreviation to our perfume jargon!) It’s excellently blended, and I particularly enjoy its milky-sweet, slightly bitter woody-ambery accord that’s somewhat reminiscent of woody flour/powder of Bois Farine by L’Artisan Parfumeur. […]
20. Elena | January 31st, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Does Bois Farine remind anyone else of JCE’s L’eau d’hiver for Malle?? To me it’s soooo similar—maybe a little less powdery….I’m in love. There’s definitely something about Jean Claude…..
21. Aromascope » Tagged&hellip | August 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
[…] on Mt. Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika - Bois Farine by L’Artisan Parfumeur. Warm, milky […]
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