Essential Parfums · 2021 · Quentin Bisch
Bois Impérial
Mid-range$$, 2 of 5
| 100 ml | about $105 |
The houseUnisex
VersionEau de Parfum
Crushed Thai basil, grapefruit and timut pepper over earthy vetiver and cedar, settling into spicy patchouli woods and ambergris-like warmth.
Essential Parfums says
You’ll smell Thai Basil, grapefruit, Nepalese Timut Pepper absolute, Haitian Vetiver oil, Georgywood, petalia, Akigalawood, Indonesian Patchouli oil and Ambrofix.
More from Essential Parfums’s description
It also mentions Haitian Vetiver, Georgywood (new Variation On Cedar Wood), Indonesian Patchouli, Basilic thaï, Grapefruit (pamplemousse), Black pepper (absolu de poivre de timut nepalais), Huile de vétiver haïtienne and Essence de patchouli indonésienne.
Wearers say
From 6 Reddit threads · Read what they say
How far it carries
Across a room
How long it lasts
9 to 12 hours
When to wear it
Spring, summer, fall
Where to wear it
Office
Mass appeal
Divisive
What’s inside it
What Essential Parfums names
What the label names
4 scent ingredients on the label, familiar names first.
A label must name certain ingredients, most of them ones that can cause allergies; some houses print more. It is never the whole recipe.
1 citrus1 herbs & lavender1 spices1 powder
Heart1
as it settles
Dry-down1
what stays
6 more lines on the label, not there for the smell
Wearers say
Wearing it
Bois Impérial is an airy, diffusive woody fragrance driven by Quentin Bisch's signature Akigalawood. It offers monster projection, lasting all day, though its sharp synthetic profile divides wearers.
How far it carriesAcross a room to arm's length
Perfumers call it sillage.
Wearers describe it as an intensely diffusive, room-filling fragrance that projects effortlessly without feeling heavy.
“Projects for its full 10+ hour duration and has that airy molecule soft quality.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022 · 6 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 2 quotes
Some say
Some wearers find that its airy sillage carries across large rooms and corridors.
“On top of that it’s one of the most diffusive scents I have.”
Reddit comment, r/Fragrances, 2026 · 1 vote
“You could smell her 20 yards away. It did smell nice, but I found it overwhelming.”
Reddit comment, r/Perfumes, 2026 · 4 votes
How long it lasts10+ hours on skin
Longevity is universally praised, enduring easily beyond ten hours on skin and surviving all day.
“For me its really fizzy in the summer, almost like i'm drinking something carbonated, very refreshing and lasts all day on my skin”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022 · 4 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers report that it persists for ten or more hours on skin.
“this is an easy, simple, clean scent with really good longevity.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022
When and where to wear itAll seasons and office settings
Highly versatile across all seasons, it shines as an affordable daily driver and professional office scent.
“It would make a great everyday office fragrance, and is very affordable.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022 · 4 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers find it ideally suited for the workplace and casual daily use.
“It's perfect for any situation.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022
Who it suitsUnisex; for fans of airy woods
It is broadly worn by both men and women, though its sharp peppery woods lean slightly masculine to some.
“I personally recommend it for people trying to dip their toes in to more molecular/mildly conceptual scents.”
Reddit comment, r/Fragrances, 2026 · 6 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers find it completely unisex and an excellent entry point into modern perfumery.
“I would say it leans slightly masculine but only very slightly and would not consider if off putting on a woman.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2026 · 4 votes
Appeal and attractionCompliment magnet with polarizing synthetic edge
While wearers frequently receive enthusiastic compliments, others find its synthetic sharpness grating or insecticidal.
“Its a really safe scent for day to day activities, i have yet to find a person to tell me it smells bad or overpowering.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022 · 4 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers report receiving more genuine compliments on it than any other bottle in their collection.
“Out of all my perfumes this one, far and way, gets the most compliments as well as the best compliments.”
Reddit comment, r/Fragrances, 2026 · 1 vote
As a blind buyPolarizing blind buy requiring sampling
Hype often tempts buyers into blind purchasing, but sensitivity to Akigalawood causes frequent regrets and resales.
“Very synthetic and abrasive. No such thing as a safe blind buy, always sample!”
Reddit comment, r/Perfumes, 2026 · 5 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 1 quote
Some say
Some wearers caution that synthetics can be abrasive, recommending sampling first.
“I bought it instead of Ganymede and realized I didn't like it as mich as I thought so I sold it and purchased Ganymede”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2022 · 1 vote
LayeringCitruses, tea notes, and fresh florals
Wearers layer it as a woody anchor under fresh citrus, tea, or floral perfumes to extend projection and add depth.
“Wulong cha and Bois imperial”
Reddit comment, r/fragranceclones, 2025 · 5 votes
More from wearers · 1 theme, 2 quotes
Some say
Some wearers pair it underneath citrus or tea scents to create fresh, long-lasting hybrids.
“First bois imperial, then turathi blu on top.”
Reddit comment, r/fragranceclones, 2025
“aqua di gio with bois imperial is chefs kiss !”
Reddit comment, r/fragranceclones, 2025 · 1 vote
From 6 Reddit threads.
Wearers say
Smells like it
For about the same
Terre d'HermèsOn your shelfHermès · Some wearers say the two smell alikeFor more
GanymedeOn your shelfMarc-Antoine Barrois · Some wearers say the two smell alikeWearers also liken it to Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. We hold no page for it yet.
What wearers say, set beside the price each house asks. Noses differ.
Our match of the notes
Shares its notes
Hermann à mes côtés me paraissait une ombreEtat Libre d'Orange · shares black pepper, vetiver, rose, patchouli and 1 more
Intense OudGucci · shares black pepper, agarwood, patchouli, ambergris and 1 more
Matched by the notes each house names. A shared note is not a promise they smell alike.