I’m a fan of Maître Parfumeur et Gantier; I wear, or have worn: Route du Vetiver (my favorite vetiver fragrance), Jardin du Nil, Parfum d’Habit, Iris Bleu Gris, and — a top compliment-getter — Baïmé. I’ve been looking forward to Bois de Turquie’s release and wondering what makes wood smell Turkish.

Bois de Turquie contains bergamot, tangerine, orange blossom, Laurus nobilis, geranium, iris, jasmine, ginger, cinnamon, sandalwood, patchouli, myrrh and frankincense. Bois de Turquie is smooth and semi-sweet on application; its citrus notes, both fruity and floral, are warm, not cold or bracing. The mid-development of Bois de Turquie smells a bit herbal and “leafy” (bay leaf and geranium become apparent). A powdery iris-jasmine accord follows the leafy stage and gives Bois de Turquie a quiet, lazy vibe; on me, this floral accord lasts longest. As it develops on skin, Bois de Turquie’s floral accord softens and merges with mildest incense and sweet resinous notes.

Bois de Turquie does not conjure up Turkey for me as Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque does; there is no overdose (or adventurous use) of an ingredient, and there are no unfamiliar notes/accords present. Smelling Bois de Turquie for the first time was like encountering someone I had already met…long ago, or noticing someone with a striking resemblance to a friend. It took me a day before one word sprang to my mind: DZONGKHA, but when I tested my “theory” (wore the scents side by side) I noticed differences between the fragrances — L'Artisan's Dzongkha is sharper, livelier, and has a clearer focus (it also smells more masculine with its leather, incense and vetiver notes). I would describe the two fragrances as sister (Bois de Turquie) and brother (Dzongkha), with iris as a prominent shared “feature.” The two fragrances complement each other and I like them both. Maître Parfumeur et Gantier’s take on Turkish wood(s) is ethereal, comforting and familiar.

Maître Parfumeur et Gantier Bois de Turquie is a unisex fragrance; its lasting power and sillage are average. It is available in 100 ml Eau de Toilette for $112. For buying information, see the listing for Maître Parfumeur et Gantier under Perfume Houses.

Note: first image is Sultanahmet Mosque Oblique Shot...by Kıvanç at Flickr; some rights reserved.