Our take
What does Bois des Îles smell like?
Coco Chanel and Ernest Beaux released Bois des Îles in 1926, a few years after No. 5. The house calls it the first woody fragrance for women. In 2007 Jacques Polge reissued it in Les Exclusifs de Chanel. He rebuilt the effect of Mysore sandalwood with modern materials, since the original wood is now protected and scarce. The opening carries Beaux's signature. Sparkling aldehydes and a little coriander lead into a floral heart. Jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang melt into an iris that powders everything. Then the sandalwood arrives, creamy and milky, backed by vetiver. Tonka and vanilla give it a gingerbread note that fans spot right away. The sandalwood lingers for hours as a soft skin scent, warm and a little sweet. Softer and woodier than No. 5, it shares that aldehydic halo. Guerlain's Samsara, the other great sandalwood, feels heavy beside it.
When to wear it
For winter evenings, dabbed lightly on the neck and wrists. It stays close to the skin, so you can wear it to dinner without bothering anyone.
It belongs to the Floral, Woody family. Bois des Îles is one of 45 creations by Chanel in our encyclopedia.
