Our take
What does Songe d'un Bois d'Été smell like?
Thierry Wasser created Songe d'un Bois d'Été in 2012 for Les Déserts d'Orient, a trio of scents at Guerlain. The name promises summer. The perfume says something else. It opens on bay leaf, camphorous and herbal, with a little neroli lighting the skin for a few minutes. The heart thickens fast. Saffron and cardamom bring dry heat while jasmine stays in the background and patchouli leans on cedar. Then come oud, leather and myrrh. The base is smoky and balsamic, and very dry. Some wearers find it too masculine and wish the jasmine spoke up more. We share that wish a little. Next to Tom Ford's Oud Wood, which is smoother and easier to like, Songe d'un Bois d'Été feels rougher and more leathery. It lasts a long time and projects well.
When to wear it
Keep it for cold evenings and nights when you want to be noticed. One spray at the base of the neck is enough.
It belongs to the Woody, Spicy family. Songe d'un Bois d'Été is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
