The Woods Beginning
Crafted by perfumer Mark Buxton, The Woods Beginning is a dry woody scent featuring a distinct absinthe heart. Accompanied by fresh mandarin, thyme, and warm nutmeg, it offers a green, aromatic experience for men. It is a refined, natural choice for daytime wear in cooler weather.
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Performance Metrics
49 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Expect four to six hours of longevity on skin with a moderate projection that quickly shrinks to a personal scent bubble. The fragrance performs best in cool, mild autumn temperatures.
Notes Pyramid
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A dry, green woody blend featuring prominent notes of bitter absinthe, fresh mandarin, peppery thyme, and warm nutmeg. The texture is dry, aromatic, and resinous, settling into a clean musk and amber base on skin.
Main Accords
8 MAPPEDThe amber and warm spicy accords behave in a dry, restrained manner on skin. They are balanced by the bitter green freshness of absinthe and thyme, preventing the scent from becoming sweet or heavy.
Community Data
53 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and spring. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
A highly unique and natural-smelling dry woody scent profile
Designed by renowned perfumer Mark Buxton for a refined character
Bitter absinthe note adds a sophisticated touch of green complexity
Excellent option for close-quarters office wear due to polite projection
Combines fresh mandarin and thyme for a bright opening sequence
Warm nutmeg and myrrh create a dry, comforting autumn dry-down
Avoids the synthetic, cloying sweetness of mass-market designer releases
A great alternative for fans of discontinued woody classics
Priced fairly at seventy Euros for fifty milliliters
Clean musk base ensures the woods never feel heavy on skin
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Longevity is limited to moderate performance on average skin
Quickly fades to a skin scent within the second hour of wear
The bitter absinthe note may be polarizing for beginners
Not suitable for cold winter days due to soft projection
Lacks the sugary sweetness that attracts compliments from crowds
The citrus opening note disappears within fifteen minutes of application
Hard to find in physical retail stores outside of Europe
Does not project well enough for loud outdoor evening events
Too dry and herbal for hot, humid summer afternoon wear
Requires reapplication if you need it to last all day
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Brooklyn Soap Company The Woods Beginning: A Civilized Bitter Green Wood”
The Woods Beginning opens with a surprisingly sharp burst of herbal energy. Fresh mandarin orange provides a brief citrus splash, but the real driver is a dry, peppery thyme note. This initial blast is green, crisp, and slightly medicinal, immediately setting a natural, outdoorsy tone. Unlike typical commercial designer openings, there is no sugary sweetness here to cushion the blow.
As the citrus top notes evaporate, the heart of the fragrance reveals its true character. The bitter, herbal qualities of absinthe emerge, wrapped in a warm, dusty blanket of nutmeg. Mark Buxton manages to keep this transition smooth, avoiding any harsh chemical edges. The bitterness of the wormwood note is prominent, giving the scent a sophisticated, slightly intellectual feel.
On the skin, the fragrance dries down to a dry, resinous base. Myrrh and amber provide a subtle warmth, but the overall texture remains dry and airy rather than thick or sticky. The musk is clean and light, ensuring the woody accords do not feel heavy or suffocating. It behaves like a quiet, comforting shield of green woods and dry spices.
Performance is where some enthusiasts might hesitate. The scent projects moderately for the first hour, creating a pleasant personal bubble, but it quickly settles close to the skin. You can expect about five hours of total wear time, making it a fleeting companion for long days. It is suited for mild autumn weather, as extreme cold makes it disappear, while high heat ruins the dry wood balance.
This fragrance is built for the man who prefers subtle, natural-smelling scents over loud, synthetic blockbusters. Its dry, bitter green profile makes it an excellent choice for office wear or casual daytime activities where you want to smell clean but distinctive. It has a rustic, grounded charm that feels authentic and unpretentious.
Ultimately, this is a successful first fragrance for the brand. By steering clear of mass-market sweetness and focusing on a dry, herbal wood structure, they have created something civilized and unique. While the longevity could be improved, the quality of the composition makes it a worthy option for fans of dry green perfumery.
FAQs
What does The Woods Beginning smell like?+
This scent opens with a bright splash of mandarin orange and fresh thyme before shifting into a dry, bitter absinthe heart. Warm nutmeg and resinous myrrh add a spicy woodiness that keeps the composition grounded on skin.
How does the fragrance change from opening to dry-down?+
The initial spray is quite bright, showing off peppery thyme and citrus. Within twenty minutes, the citrus fades, allowing the warm nutmeg and bitter absinthe to dominate. The final hours leave a dry musk and amber skin scent.
How long does The Woods Beginning last on skin?+
You can expect moderate performance, usually lasting four to six hours on skin. The herbal top notes dissipate quickly, leaving the warmer resinous base of myrrh and amber to carry the fragrance through the afternoon.
What is the projection and sillage of this scent?+
This fragrance projects moderately, sitting about an arm's length away for the first hour of wear. It quickly calms down to a polite skin scent, making it an excellent option for close-quarters office environments.
Which season is best suited for this fragrance?+
The dry woodiness and warm spices make this scent ideal for cool autumn days. The bitter absinthe and resinous myrrh shine in crisp air, whereas high summer heat can make the amber feel heavy.
For what occasions should you wear The Woods Beginning?+
This is a versatile daytime scent, perfect for casual weekend wear, office environments, or smart-casual dinners. It is subtle enough to wear to work but has enough spicy character for an evening out.
Does this scent lean masculine or feminine?+
The brand markets this directly to men, and the bitter, herbal wood accords lean traditionally masculine. However, anyone who enjoys dry, non-sweet herbal blends like absinthe and thyme will find it highly wearable.
Who is the ideal target audience for this cologne?+
It suits enthusiasts who appreciate dry, green, aromatic blends over modern sweet designers. If you like classic, forest-like structures with a bitter, herbal twist, this Buxton creation is tailored specifically for you.
Can you layer The Woods Beginning with other fragrances?+
Yes, its dry amber and clean musk base makes it suitable for layering. Try pairing it with a simple citrus cologne to extend the bright opening, or a vetiver scent to amplify the dry woodiness.
How does this compare to Gucci Pour Homme or Dirty English?+
It shares a dry, woody backbone with those classics but behaves in a more civilized manner. It dials back the heavy incense, choosing instead to focus on herbal absinthe and clean mandarin orange.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREIt shares a dry woody signature with classic scents like Gucci Pour Homme and Dirty English, but presents a cleaner, more civilized herbal profile with less heavy incense.
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