Fragrance Review: Classic 1920 by Bois 1920

Picture this: you are in Florence, Italy wearing your best suit and sipping an Aperol spritz. It is mid-afternoon on a clear summer's day. The sun's rays warm your cheeks as you tilt your head up. You catch a whiff of your cologne; the citrus, spice and everything nice Classic 1920 reminds you that sometimes the best joys in life are simple pleasures.

Classic 1920 by Italian fragrance house Bois 1920 is a modern take on vintage fragrances. It contains a blend of classic, familiar notes as well as some more modern bold ones, helping it stand out from other colognes on the market. If you are looking for an inoffensive scent with some character, this may be for you.

Note Breakdown: 

Classic 1920 is an eau de parfum

Top notes: Apricot, bergamot, basil, nutmeg

Middle notes: Jasmine, juniper berries, lavender, osmanthus, rose

Base notes: Amber, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver

"Dulled feelings reawaken, Classic 1920 is a fragrance that sets desire and mystery to rhythm. The fragrance is built in the wake of harmonious spicy notes that are smoothed by a complex flowery bouquet and elegant fruity nuances. At the end, green and boisé base notes of Vetiver from Haiti and Cedarwood from China slide gently into the exotic enchantment of Sandalwood from the Antilles." 

Packaging: 

Classic 1920 comes in a simple cardboard box. The front is decorated with a gold border similar to a fancy picture frame. Inside the border contains the name of the house, fragrance, concentration and size of the bottle.

The back of the box features the same fancy gold picture frame with a small write-up of what Bois 1920 wants you to envision while you wear it.

The box opens from the top. Inside you will find a black box with a removable lid that bares the name of the fragrance house in gold lettering. Removing the lid reveals the bottle of fragrance nested inside.

The fragrance comes in a clear, frosted glass bottle with a black wood-grain textured cap. The cap fits snugly onto the atomizer. The projection from the atomizer is wide and has good coverage.

Opening:

Bright and captivating, Classic 1920 opens with an invigorating mix of zesty citrus and stone fruits. Juniper berries and basil add a herbaceous complexity to the composition. The juniper berry note reminds me of botanical gin, slightly sweet with a hint of pine needles.

Some may find the opening too sharp or fruity, but it dissipates within a few minutes giving way to a beautifully balanced, fresh blend of florals and woods.

Development: 

Lavender moves up to the forefront, joining stone fruit and juniper berries as the main notes. Both apricot and osmanthus are listed in the note breakdown meaning stone fruit will be a common note throughout the fragrance's lifespan.

Silky woods emerge, specifically cedar and sandalwood. Both of these notes, combined with a faint hint of baking spice, move this fragrance into a more masculine scent profile.

Drydown: 

Apricot and lavender remain the focal point during the dry-down. It was here when I discovered a few more unique notes not listed in the note breakdown; there is a wisp of aldehydes that makes me think of vintage barbershop soapiness, similar to No. 89 by Floris. This would make sense that is what Classic 1920 is trying to accomplish.

At times I detected sweet pipe tobacco. There are no tobacco notes listed in the breakdown so perhaps this is a mix of floral sweetness and woods. Regardless, it adds more depth to the composition.

Performance: 

I applied 3 sprays of Classic 1920 directly to my chest. It radiated well beyond an arms length for about half an hour. After that, it became an arms-length scent and remained that way for roughly 2 hours. The projection began to fade and after about 5 hours it became a skin scent. After 8 hours, the fragrance was barely noticeable.

Although Classic 1920 is labeled as an eau de parfum I find the performance to sit closer to an eau de toilette. But sometimes it's nice to have a fragrance that fades by the end of the day, allowing you to wear something else without having to wash up.

When To Wear Classic 1920 By Bois 1920: 

Classic 1920 is, in my opinion, a great 3-season fragrance. It is best suited for spring and summer, but I believe it could be worn on warmer autumn days. Because of its citrus and floral composition, it is best suited for daytime wear.

This is a fragrance can be worn both dressed up or casually. It has a familiar composition to other popular colognes on the market today, but there are some differences that make it stand out from the competition. This means it could be worn as an office fragrance or on a first date.

Who Is This Fragrance For? 

Although Classic 1920 is labeled as a unisex fragrance it leans masculine. That being said, it would be most appreciated by someone middle aged who has some experience with fragrances and can pick out the subtleties and nuances.

Classic 1920 would make a great first fragrance for a younger gentleman who wants to stand out from the sea of Dior Sauvages and Bleu de Chanels.

Overall Thoughts On Classic 1920 by Bois 1920: 

I find Classic 1920 to be a classic fragrance with a modern twist. The citrus, lavender, and aldehyde notes remind me of vintage fragrances while the fruits, spices and other floral notes brings it into the modern age. It is almost like finding a vintage Ferrari in a barn owned by your grandparents; timeless then and still timeless now.

Interested In Other Fragrance Reviews? Check Out:

Upper Class by Royal Crown - What Cary Grant would wear if he was alive today.

No. 89 by Floris - The original James Bond fragrance. A timeless classic perfect for any gentleman.

Liqueur BPM by L'Orchestre Parfum - Imagine walking into a fine cigar humidor with a cognac based cocktail in hand.

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