HUGO BOSS
BOSS BOTTLED ELIXIR

2023

PERFUMER
Annick Menardo
Suzy le Helley

frankincense
cardamom

vetiver
patchouli

cedarwood
labdanum absolute

‘With Boss Bottled Elixir, the popular signature fragrance conquers the premium category. The icon is reimagined as a bold statement, promising an unprecedented intensity and an immersive experience that inspires confidence, courage and ambition. Absolute intensity: In the top note, frankincense and cardamom essence provide warmth and dynamism, while vetiver and patchouli give earthy traits in the heart note. The base note of Boss Bottled Elixir is then determined by cedarwood essence and labdanum absolute. They give the fragrance an intense, woody radiance with noble accents and a clearly masculine character.’ – Hugo Boss

Straight away, this is the best Boss Bottled rendition that I’ve tried. Which isn’t saying too much, given that I’ve disliked Bottled since having the original Boss Bottled EDT as one of my first perfumes just short of 20 years ago. But I was pleasantly surprised with Elixir.

This is far removed from the sickly sweet, apple-tinged cough syrup I knew. Instead, here it’s much more of a woody, forest-like sensation with an underlying sweetness.

This goes in a familiar direction with some smoky spices. Cardamom is listed, I get oregano-like green hints as well. Someone on Fragrantica mentioned the Amouage Interlude Man DNA and that’s definitely what I picked up as well. I think it’s a more easy going take on that DNA and I prefer the Boss over the Amouage personally in the opening.

Patchouli starts to take over, although almost in a spicy direction. It’s earthy, but more so woody and not all that dark. There’s a brightness and sparkling sensation up top here, with a flatter deeper sweetness underneath.

The sweetness is kept subtle enough, although it builds, especially in comparison to some other Boss/Bottled releases. Elixir stays on the greener, woodier and more mature side. The late drydown is very ambery, but not completely and it’s not cloyingly sweet.

I find what actually ‘ruins’ this is a bit for me is that fresher, brighter facet. It’s like a splash of an aquatic designer freshie on top of a composition where it doesn’t belong at all. I guess this is where some of the links to Sauvage Elixir come into play as well, with its shampoo-like air.

I think if Boss Bottled Elixir dared to lean fully into the darker, heavier side, it would’ve been more to my liking. For now, it’s still better than I expected and a solid to great, men’s marketed designer release for 2023.