Woods / Icelandic
Designed by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour in 2021, Woods / Icelandic targets enthusiasts who prefer raw outdoor woods over polite office scents. It suits crisp spring mornings, cold rainstorms, and autumn hikes when you want clear forest air on your sweater. Top notes of ginger and myrtle cut through chilly air before giving way to smoky incense and nutty guaiac wood. Oakmoss and ambergris anchor the tail end, offering a unisex profile for anyone drawn to damp soil, lichen, and bitter woods.
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Performance Metrics
53 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity averages 6 to 8 hours on skin, stretching past 10 hours when sprayed on wool outerwear. Sillage pushes arm's length for 90 minutes before settling into a 2-foot bubble. Cold spring mornings and foggy autumn weather bring out its cleanest earthy facets without letting the incense get heavy.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Woods / Icelandic presents a cold, textured woody composition built on contrast. Top notes of bergamot, ginger, and myrtle provide a crisp, damp sparkle before shifting into smoky incense, hazelnut, and dark guaiac wood. The base settles into earthy oakmoss, dry cedar, and salty ambergris, leaving a green, slightly soapy trail on skin.
Main Accords
7 MAPPEDThe primary woody accord feels dry and raw, driven by cedar and guaiac wood. Ambergris adds a subtle marine saltiness beneath the smoke, while oakmoss brings a wet, lichen-covered soil texture. During the middle hours, hazelnut introduces a faint roasted warmth that prevents the damp violet leaf from feeling entirely frosty.
Community Data
112 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 spring and fall. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Opens with a sharp, refreshing blast of bergamot and fresh ginger.
Realistic oakmoss and incense give an authentic outdoor forest vibe.
Created by master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour with clear note separation.
Performs very well in cold spring air and damp autumn weather.
Distinctive hazelnut middle note adds unexpected warm roasted texture.
Unisex character sits comfortably between fresh green and dark woody.
Projection remains polite enough for indoor office and casual wear.
Unique cold moss aesthetic stands out from typical warm amber woods.
Maintains strong presence on clothing for over eight hours.
Great choice for enthusiasts who enjoy earthy niche compositions.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Violet leaf dry-down can turn soapy on certain skin chemistry types.
Opening bergamot and ginger fade quickly within forty-five minutes.
Not suited for high summer heat or humid tropical climates.
Niche distribution makes finding local retail samples difficult.
Smoky incense center may alienate buyers looking for bright citrus.
Lacks the heavy sweetness some look for in winter fragrances.
Price point per bottle feels steep for a moderate projector.
May feel overly dry or austere for lovers of creamy woods.
Single-digit community review consensus makes blind buying risky.
Base notes lean heavily into earth and moss rather than smooth amber.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Brand No More Woods / Icelandic Review: Cold Moss and Smoke”
Brand No More released Woods / Icelandic in 2021, handing the creative reins to renowned perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. The initial spray delivers an immediate wave of cold mountain air. Bright bergamot and zesty ginger lead the charge, supported by the bitter green edge of myrtle and dark black currant. It smells damp, cold, and energetic, like stepping onto lichen-covered rocks early on a foggy spring morning.
As the initial citrus sparkle calms down after twenty minutes, smoky incense and raw guaiac wood emerge from beneath the fruit. A subtle hazelnut note adds a quiet, roasted dryness that keeps the heart from turning harsh or abrasive. Violet leaf introduces a fresh vegetal greenness to the middle phase, though this is precisely where the scent shifts direction depending on your specific skin chemistry.
On warm skin, the dominant woody and mossy accords spread out smoothly over the middle hours. Oakmoss provides a wet earth foundation, while salty ambergris adds subtle marine depth beneath the smoke. However, as the scent moves past the three-hour mark, the violet leaf can project a soapy clean texture that competes with the dark forest notes. That contrast will either charm you or break your immersion.
Performance is dependable for a cool-weather niche fragrance. You get roughly six to eight hours of wear on skin, with strong sillage for the first hour before it recedes into a comfortable two-foot bubble. It thrives in fifty-degree weather, crisp autumn fog, and light spring rain. Wear it with a heavy wool sweater on a morning walk or in a relaxed office setting where heavy gourmands feel intrusive.
This composition speaks directly to fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate earthy, atmospheric scents over mass-appeal crowd pleasers. It leans genuinely unisex, balanced between sharp citrus top notes and grounded oakmoss base notes. If your collection leans toward Comme des Garcons wood scents or pine-heavy niche compositions, this fits right into your rotation.
Woods / Icelandic delivers a vivid portrait of Nordic nature through Duchaufour's signature transparent smoky lens. The opening fifteen minutes alone justify trying it, even if the soapy violet tail end requires testing on skin first. Grab a small decant to see how the dry-down behaves on your wrist before investing in a full retail bottle.
FAQs
What does Woods / Icelandic by Brand No More smell like?+
Woods / Icelandic opens with sharp bergamot, fresh ginger, and herbal myrtle. As it settles, smoky incense, roasted hazelnut, and dark guaiac wood emerge before resting on a damp base of oakmoss, cedar, and salty ambergris. It feels cold, earthy, and atmospheric, reminiscent of Nordic forests after rain.
How does the opening of Woods / Icelandic differ from its dry-down?+
The opening is bright, zesty, and spicy with ginger, bergamot, and black currant. Over the next three hours, the bright top notes fade, giving way to smoky incense and violet leaf. The final dry-down on skin is predominantly mossy, woody, and slightly soapy due to the violet leaf.
How long does Woods / Icelandic last on skin and clothes?+
On skin, expect 6 to 8 hours of wear before it fades to a skin scent. When applied to wool sweaters or cotton shirts, the cedar and oakmoss base notes can linger past 10 hours. Cold spring weather helps extend its longevity compared to warm summer days.
How strong is the sillage and projection of Woods / Icelandic?+
Projection reaches about arm's length for the first 90 minutes after application. Afterwards, it settles into a comfortable two-foot scent bubble. It leaves a subtle trail of green oakmoss and incense without filling an entire room or overwhelming coworkers.
Which season is best for wearing Woods / Icelandic?+
Spring and autumn are ideal seasons for Woods / Icelandic. The crisp temperature highlights the ginger top notes and keeps the incense and oakmoss from feeling heavy. It also performs well on cold, rainy days when humid air brings out its wet forest facets.
On what occasions should you wear Woods / Icelandic?+
This fragrance fits casual weekend outings, outdoor walks, coffee runs, and relaxed work environments. Its dry woody character feels grounded and understated. Avoid wearing it to black-tie evening galas or crowded summer parties where sweeter or brighter scents dominate.
Is Woods / Icelandic suitable for men or women?+
Woods / Icelandic is marketed as a unisex fragrance and balances both masculine and feminine elements. The zesty bergamot and earthy oakmoss lean traditional unisex, while the smoky incense and dry cedar appeal to lovers of green, un-sweetened forest scents regardless of gender.
Who is the target audience for Woods / Icelandic?+
This scent targets fragrance enthusiasts and niche lovers who appreciate complex, atmospheric compositions from perfumers like Bertrand Duchaufour. If you prefer realistic woods, moss, and smoke over mass-market gourmand or sweet amber scents, this fragrance will resonate with you.
Can you layer Woods / Icelandic with other perfumes?+
Yes, Woods / Icelandic layers exceptionally well with simple citrus or amber single-note fragrances. Spraying a light bergamot or grapefruit eau de cologne over top brightens the dark incense, while a subtle amber oil adds warmth and tames the soapy violet dry-down.
How does Woods / Icelandic compare to other woody incense fragrances?+
Compared to L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu, Woods / Icelandic is greener and more mossy due to the myrtle and oakmoss. Compared to CDG 2 Man, it has less white pepper and adds a distinct roasted hazelnut note in the middle phase.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREIf you want a similar dry incense vibe with less soapiness, check out L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu or CDG 2 Man. For a darker, purely earthy forest experience without hazelnut, Lalique Encre Noire offers an accessible vetiver alternative.
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