Of the two new Bois 1920 Eaux de Toilette, Vento di Fiori and Come La Luna, I was sure that Vento di Fiori, a green chypre, would be my favorite. After all, the combination of citrus, galbanum, flowers, oakmoss, and patchouli is irresistible, especially in spring. Come La Luna, on the other hand sounded kind of ordinary. I discovered that while Vento di Fiori is nice, I've fallen for Come La Luna.
The Bois 1920 website describes Come La Luna as "citrus-spicy-amber" and lists its notes as Sicily mandarin, Sicily sweet orange, rose wood, pink pepper, coriander, Indonesian patchouli, amber, and incense. The combination sounds good but not particularly remarkable. On skin, however, Come La Luna shows itself as an aristocratic wood scent: serious and elegant, but with a vein of coriander running through it that registers as intimate and slightly naughty. Picture an immaculate mahogany end table, the aroma of the orange oil used to polish it still in the air. Now imagine a naked woman sitting on it, and you begin to get the idea. Amber, which can overwhelm some fragrances, is subtle here and doesn't weigh the fragrance down at all. Come La Luna has average sillage and lasting power.
Come La Luna's versatility is remarkable. A fragrance that smells like it would work as well when you meet your fiancé's parents as it does when you sneak down the hall into his room later that night is a real achievement. It is also friendly enough for day but interesting enough for night, and light enough for spring and fall but substantial enough for winter. Too often a scent that is good at being sexy or elegant or businesslike or "fun" is a one-trick pony. (Yves Saint Laurent Opium at the office? Lanvin Arpège on a hike? L'Artisan L'Eau de L'Artisan on a hot date?) Come La Luna shows that a fragrance can be versatile without being boring.
Although Bois 1920 markets Come La Luna to women, it isn't particularly feminine — note the lack of flowers in its list of notes — and if I hadn't read the web copy I would have pegged it as a masculine. Come La Luna's flexibility would make it an ideal signature scent for a man or a woman, or a good bottle to take on a trip when you only have room for one.
Bois 1920 Come La Luna only comes in Eau de Toilette, and only in one size, a 100 ml Eau de Toilette ($160). For buying information, see the listing for Bois 1920 under Perfume Houses.
Oh, Angela, Angela…. Someone just yesterday shipped me a decant of Vento di Fiori since (as you mentioned) that one sounded like the more intriguing of the two new Bois 1920 fragrances. Now you’re telling me that THIS is the one? Ha! Well I refuse to be seduced by the wonderful review! I plan to LOVE Vento di Fiori. Are you convinced?
Thanks for the review – maybe I’ll get around to sniffing Come La Luna at some point. Can we also look forward to at least a mini review of Vento di Fiori someday? Have a great week!
(Uh oh, also noticing that there is no “preview” mode for these new comments — I hope none of us make any mistakes!)
Vento di Fiori was terrific–it seemed well made and fresh and crisp–but I have so many green chypres stashed away that it didn’t knock me out. Still, it’s a lovely scent for spring, and I’d love to know what you think of it.
I love seeing everyone’s gravatar! It adds a whole new dimension.
Great, another bottle for me to lust over! I think I was actually drooling by the time I got to the end of the article! The words ‘citrus-spicy-amber’ trip some sort of Pavlovian trigger in my nose-to-cerebrum-to-wallet brain center…..just what I need as I eagerly await a bottle of 31 Rue Cambon to arrive!!!! Have you NO MERCY????
Believe me, I feel the pain, too! To make matters worse, I ordered the sample set from MDCI perfumes, and I’m aching for at least two of them. And they are expensive! Where or where is my sugar daddy?
Forget the sugar daddy—I need me a money tree!!!
That’ll work, too!
even a largish shrub would do…I’m not picky…
I am enjoying this too much ! Okay, am pulling out the credit card … LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that’s to buy a sample! Enjoy it.
oh yeah, and no preview button…egad….I was bad enough when I had the button….without that to help me out, well it’s gonna be bad, real bad…
Oh, don’t worry about a few typos. I don’t (in case you can’t tell).
I’ve smelled both, and I actually preferred the Vento di Fiori… it was less sharp/bitter than Come la Luna on my skin. It really did smell like “flowers in the wind” on a Capri hillside. Reminded me a bit of Carthusia.
I’m sorry the Come La Luna was bitter on you–or maybe not sorry, since sometimes it’s nice when something doesn’t go on a lemming list. Vento di Fiori really is nice, and I can see why you like it. On me, Come La Luna is a great blend of traditional quality and feel with a slightly funky vein that worked well on my skin.
I’d start this w/a snappy interjection in Italian but don’t know any — but am rapidly using up my sample of Come La Luna! Just love it and love your description about the table. I’d received it in a sample set w/several other frags and it really grabbed me. PS – love your gravatar!
Since I don’t know much Italian, it’s a good thing you didn’t lead with it! I’m glad you’re enjoying Come La Luna, though.
I like your gravatar, too (I love love love my own pooch).
This sounds super yummy and is going on my list! Nice to be here in the new digs.
It’s a good one to try. It doesn’t veer wildly in any direction, which makes it a good “foundation” sort of fragrance.
Ciao! This sounds perfect, and your article is evocative as always. Grazie!
I need time to come up with a gravatar – these decisions are not idly made.
Believe me, I know what you mean about the gravatar. I was stumped for weeks and still don’t know if I made the right decision. Plus, so many images are copyrighted. My gravatar is a hastily taken photo of a 1940s pastel drawing I bought at a thrift store years ago.
I really like it. It resonates perfectly with my sense of your persona. How’s that for a subjective statement?
Thanks!
Sounds absolutely perfect for me. I love woods and spices and have lately developed a thing for citrus. And to top it off, I love the Bois 1920 bottle. I think I’m doomed. But since I just got a couple of shipments of samples, I think I can hold off for a bit.
I’m sure the Come La Luna will still be there when you’re ready.
I’ve discovered that I really like orange and mandarin, probably more than I like lemon and bergamot. Lots of Italian fragrances seem to have orange, too.
Both of these sounds need-able. I’m not a giant floral fan, but a hint of floral on a breeze. . .oh, who am I kidding? I really want that citrus-spicy-ambery waft. Time to go toss the couch pillows for coins–in someone much richer’s house!
Yes, Donald Trump’s couch might do the trick!
Mmm…yum.
Worth a try….
This was the one that struck me as intriguing. Typically, I find my taste (thus far) to be a good match to the writers here on NST, so I tend to take your recommendations to heart (I can’t smell the musk in Omnia either…it disappeared after, quite literally, two minutes…but what a glorious two minutes). I will have to add this to a sample list…
If you do try it, I’d love to hear what you think.
Angela, the description of the woman on the table… I know exactly how it smells, strange, or?
Skin and wood and orange oil, softness, darkness, wow! Wonderful description. Thank you.
I’m glad you understood what I was getting at with the description. I’d say it’s interesting without being overly skanky. I like it.
Everything is so shiny and new, like moving in to a new house!
Where do you go to upload a gravatar? I foolishly thought it would be under “edit profile”. Forgive me if this question has been asked leventy-leven times already….
It figures–as soon as I asked the question, I stumbled on the answer!
Oh good–can’t wait to see your gravatar.
It’s a crowflower!
Maybe crowflower will be the next big perfume note—move over, pink pepper!
Perfect! Yes, it’s time for pink pepper to get a move on, so bring on the crowflower.
Angela, this sounds fabulous! I wonder if it is anything like PG Bois de Copaiba, another sexy, juicy wood scent. Have you tried that one? Any comparisons?
I just dug around in my sample drawer, and of course I can’t find my sample of Bois de Copaiba now. But, if I remember correctly, the PG was more sweet, and as you say, juicy. Come La Luna is more woody.
That is some gorgeous bottle. Hands over eyes: Cannot – smell – bottle! stupid idea! sigh. And I loved your description of wood and orange and nude skin. Unfortunately, I’m still scraping up the cash for some PdeRosine Rose d’Ete… or possibly a decant of Matin d’Orage… cannot even begin to manage Bois 1920!
I just tried my new (used, from ebay, $3) bottle of Rumba last night and loved its slightly-naughty-drydown that eventually turns into beeswax and hot dust. (Yes, yes, a light hand on the sprayer, I promise! man, that sillage is monstrous!) All thanks to the lovely review of the Balenciaga sisters, Rumba and Talisman… I have to quit reading these old reviews, on behalf of the ol’ bank account.
Your hands over the eyes must be quicker than my hands….cuz I saw it…and I want some!
Someone hand me a crown for I am surely the Lemming Queen.
Mals– Rose d’Ete? Have you sniffed the Zeste de Rose? yum yum yum hey, tell me when you are looking and I will help you search out the best price…50ml or 100ml ….seems I saw it somewhere and thought “that’s a great price” –I’ll go back thru the notes…yes, that’s right: I take notes, stop snickering
Hey, if you stumble on a good price on this one, let me know…
Zeste de Rose test scheduled for this afternoon. (Have been busy with DSH roses over the past week – Rose Vert is gawgeous – and just got started on my Rosines yesterday: Rose d’Amour was more chypre than I thought it would be and reminded me a bit of Rive Gauche – nice, but I don’t need it.) I think I’m testing Zeste on one arm and Rose Vert on the other; their notes are similar.
And I take notes on buying sources/$ too! Found Rose d’Ete for, lessee, I think it was $59 for 50 ml. I was just holding out to see which of the Rosines I want most…
Good luck! Nothing like a bargain.
Well, I guess that just shows how excessively GREEDY I am….I’m always lookin at the biggest bottles available! Oh, that is sooo me.
I’ve found the 100ml for 62.99….5.99 shipping …..How about: buy the big one then do a split or two to make up the difference in cost…you get yours and someone else gets a decant at a good price….that’s become my motto…..this morning I listed 31 Rue Cambon… which just might be my Holy Grail scent….but it would be selfish to not offer up a little bit.
Off to check scent splits… you Queen of the Big Bottles, you! PM me on the Rose d’Ete!
M, wow, what a deal on Rumba! It definitely packs a punch–Rumba is a party in a bottle.
I like the Come La Luna bottle, too, but I’d take the juice in an old Sprite bottle if I could get it.
I agree on the bottles: Not As Important As The Juice. Seems my scent lust and my bottle lust are two different things.
And whattadeal on the Rumba, eh? Very bombshell. The CEO is recovering from a stomach bug and didn’t comment on it… but he will sooner or later.
Ooh, Rumba and a stomach bug might not mix well. But once he’s recovered, I’m sure it will be a hit!
awww, sorry about the tummy bug…poor CEO.
But I completely agree about the bottle…lol, Angela…I’d take a sprite bottle (full, please) too! In fact I’m sorely tempted to order a bottle…good thing it’s not available yet….Like I said before…
Daisy= Lemming Queen (no bowing necessary at this time)
I have samples of both of these and I like them both! Very different but both are lovely. I do wish they lasted a little longer, or I had the money tree so I could bathe in them. They would both make wonderful candles. I think I am leaning towards the di Fiori.
The new format is wonderful Angela.
It’s true that they don’t last a long time, but that’s o.k. for me since I like to switch fragrances during the day if I can.
Isn’t the new format great? I love seeing the gravatars. I feel like it gives me a whole new view of the NST community. I love it that a few people–including you!–have chosen flowers.
And here I was thinking nothing would stir me out of my (hopefully temporary) perfume ennui… lovely review, Angie! Come La Luna sounds right up my alley, and it’s got the added bonus of being versatile. I think I’ll start with a sample though, maybe explore some of the others from the line, too.
Oh and, I love your gravatar!
Thank you! And now I know what you look like. Adorable.
Perfume ennui must surely be a sign of a greater ennui. Hopefully spring will knock it out of your system.
How funny that based on the notes, you preferred Vento di Fiori, while I’d dive headlong into Come la Luna scent unsmelled based on those notes.
Maybe I’ll end up preferring Vento di Fiori once I get to smell them.
The nose is fickle! I think part of it for me is just that I’m awash in fragrances similar to Vento di Fiori right now, so Come La Luna had the whiff of novelty.
Late to the party on this one, but this review has left me practically lusting over this fragrance. It sounds like exactly what I look for in a perfume. Something very Mediterranean, incense-y, and the description of it being like a naked woman sitting on fine mahogany. Be still, my heart.
On top of all that, the bottle is just gorgeous. I love the understated Old World elegance of it. It looks like something from an alchemy lab.
Not in the market for any buys at the moment due to already neglecting four recent purchases, but this is definitely going onto my list.
It’s been so long since I’ve smelled it now! I remember thinking that it reminds me of Bel Ami, and now that I have some Bel Ami, my lust for Come La Luna has died down a bit. But I’m going to hunt out that sample…