Dark as Wood

Olfactory Experience

Dark as Wood opens with a surprisingly decent iris, though it's not as refined as Guerlain's Bois d'Armenie. You get a pink pepper zing and a whiff of incense, but the incense lacks the original's depth. The heart shifts to a benzoin-heavy sweetness, almost bordering on cloying if oversprayed. The guaiac wood is there, giving a slight smoky touch, but the overall effect is less nuanced than Bois d'Armenie. The drydown is where the difference is most apparent. This clone leans heavily on white musk and a somewhat synthetic patchouli. The copahu balm is barely detectable. Overall, it captures about 88% of the original's DNA, but the cheaper ingredients become noticeable as it dries down.

Performance Reality Check

Longevity is surprisingly good . Expect around 6-7 hours on skin, maybe longer on clothes. Projection is moderate for the first hour, creating a personal scent bubble. It quickly settles closer to the skin after that. Don't expect beast mode performance.

Final Thoughts

Dark as Wood is a solid attempt at Bois d'Armenie. It’s a decent option if you enjoy the general scent profile but can't justify the hefty price tag of the Guerlain. It's a good everyday scent, but not something I'd wear to a special occasion where I wanted to project sophistication. If you're a serious fragrance enthusiast, the original is worth the upgrade for its smoother blend and higher quality ingredients. But, for the budget-conscious, Dark as Wood scratches the itch.