Bois du Portugal by Creed Men’s Cologne Review

Another one of the fragrances that I revisited upon my excursions to the Creed boutique in Las Vegas was Bois du Portugal. This men’s cologne takes a different turn than other scents in the Creed family and offers a much more woodsy scent. It can also feel much more formal than even the other luxury fragrances offered by this boutique brand. In this post, I want to give my thoughts on this cologne, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy. Check out: Creed Tabarome Review and List of All Reviews from this Site

What does Bois du Portugal Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, sandalwood, bergamot, ambergris, lavender, vetiver

Click here to try: CREED BOIS DU PORTUGAL by Creed EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 2.5 OZ

My Full Review

I retested Bois du Portugal for one day with a few sprays on my arm. The opening is a familiar bergamot note from Creed which is similar to the one found in Green Irish Tweed as well as Silver Mountain Water.

This opening blast of citrus blended with the sandalwood, is just a phase for perhaps the first 20-30 minutes or so; before it begins to transition away from something familiar to a more refined and mature cologne. There is this interesting, but very slight spice, during the opening act. Not very overt, but it is there.

As it wears on a bit more, Bois du Portugal takes on more of the cedar and lavender notes and the bergamot begins to take a back seat. This is where this cologne begins to shine, in my opinion. At this stage, its a smooth, woodsy, and warm aroma that somewhat recalls the spiciness of Tabarome. Sitting underneath, is that famous Creed ambergris, which isn’t all that prominent in this perfume.

This scent is so wholly classic and doesn’t feel the same as many more modern fragrances for men. At the same time, the sandalwood and lavender provide a touch of sweetness, that doesn’t allow Bois du Portugal to stray too far in either direction.

Like most other Creeds, this one is blended superbly. I do enjoy getting bursts of aroma, from individual notes. A sharper cedar here and there. Then, you get a nice vetiver, emerging from the creamy sandalwood. It’s got enough depth to be interesting, but never feels overly complicated, just refined.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, it feels pretty moderate. It isn’t a complete sillage beast, but it isn’t weak either, which allows it to be a completely safe bet. Decent amount of power, up top, but that fades into something much more middle of the road.

Longevity is also really good on this as well, I think I got 8-9 solid hours out of Portugal and a couple more when it was in a much more weakened state. So, the performance is very good as a whole, just not an extreme or ‘in your face’ sort of fragrance.

The woodsy scent, lends itself well to the cooler months of the year. Luckily, it isn’t too heavy, that it cannot venture into slightly warmer weather. However, I probably wouldn’t wear it during the summertime.

Also, it fits for office, casual, and dressed up events. Though, not so much for clubbing or going to school. I don’t know that there’d be a large percentage of younger guys, who’d be into this scent. It is mature, professional, but never feels dated to my nose.

Overall Impressions of Bois du Portugal

Overall, would I rate this a buy? Yes, it is one of the best options for Creed. However, one needs to understand that, it comes off as a mature and more serious type of cologne. Younger guys should probably stay away, unless you have a very refined style or go to lots of upscale events.

Bois du Portugal is a classic and should be treated as such. It is a really great scent for those who enjoy woodsy and elegant fragrances.

The bergamot opening is fine, but this scent really comes into its own, during the dry down. The wood notes are the stars here. Each of them brings something to the table, for a really great cologne. The performance is solid, just not extremely bold. If you want a refined woody fragrance, Bois du Portugal should be on your list to try out.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.