We get this question in DMs more than almost any other niche pairing: EDP or Extrait? Both are Quentin Bisch's work for Essential Parfums, both share the same bones, and both are genuinely good. But they're not the same fragrance turned up louder — they're two different moods wearing the same name. We've got testers of both in stock, so here's the honest breakdown.
Bois Impérial EDP (2020) — the original
This is the one that put Essential Parfums on the niche map. 16% concentration, built around Akigalawood — a synthetic wood note that reads bright, mineral, and almost metallic — layered with basil, vetiver, timur pepper, ambroxan, and patchouli. It's aromatic and fresh rather than heavy, with a clean, confident sillage that doesn't ask for attention but holds a room anyway. This is the daytime version: sharp, modern, and easy to wear from a work meeting into the evening without feeling like you overdid it.
Bois Impérial Extrait (2024) — the nocturnal reinterpretation
The Extrait isn't the EDP dialed up — it's a genuine reinterpretation at 32% concentration. Top notes shift to pink and black pepper, rose absolute moves into the heart, and the base goes darker: balsam fir, Atlas cedar, and labdanum replace the airy mineral quality of the EDP with something resinous, leathery, and warm. Where the EDP is bright, this is nocturnal — built for cooler weather and evening wear, with noticeably more depth and staying power.
Side by side
- EDP: Akigalawood, basil, vetiver, timur pepper, ambroxan, patchouli — 16% concentration, bright and aromatic
- Extrait: Pink pepper, black pepper, rose absolute, balsam fir, Atlas cedar, labdanum — 32% concentration, dark and resinous
Which one should you buy?
If you want one do-it-all fragrance that works year-round and doesn't demand much thought, the EDP is the safer, more versatile pick — and it's the more affordable entry point into the line. If you already know you lean toward woody-ambers and want something with more presence for fall and winter, the Extrait is worth the step up. And honestly, if you can swing it, they're different enough that owning both isn't redundant — EDP for day, Extrait for night.
Try before you commit
Both are available as Bois Impérial EDP and Bois Impérial Extrait testers right now — the easiest way to figure out which mood fits you before committing to a full bottle.