He Wood (DSquared2)

By Dane

I admit, I had low hopes for He Wood...the ugly bottle, the cheesy play on words, what could this possibly be but bad? Well, I'm pleasantly surprised.

He Wood starts with a lovely, dewy violet accord. A green violet leaf note follows, and to my surprise, the volume remains at an acceptable level, never hitting you with the cheap, synthetic amber that most new men's releases rely on. Coming from the likes of Dean & Dan Caten, the homegrown Canadian Keeblers, a quiet floral was a bit of a shock. I half expected Rihanna's 11-foot legs to squirt out and put me in a choke hold, but the composition is smooth, subtle and crisp (although not very woody).

It all made more sense when I saw that Daphne Bugey created the composition. Between Le Labo's Neroli 36, Kenzo's Amour, and the perfume in question, Bugey's style is understated and elegant, and is quickly becoming a name to watch.

Year: 2007
Perfumer: Daphne Bugey
Notes: Violet, Violet Leaf, Vetiver, Cedar, Fir, Amber, Vanilla, Musk