I caught up with a fragrance friend this weekend, balancing plates of chocolate cake and mugs of chai precariously around the bottles and samples littering the coffee table.
There’s nothing quite like spending time with someone who shares your interest and being able to immerse yourself completely in it, no filters, no reservations.
I particularly like catching up with this friend because while our tastes have a small overlap, for the most part they’re wildly different. Hearing someone talk passionately about something not in your immediate sphere of preference is such a beautiful way to expand your horizons.
Here are my favourites of things she gave me to smell.
Serge Lutens, Chergui and La Fille de Berlin
How have I never tried any Lutens scents before? Chloe, one of the hosts of the Nose Candy podcast, has mentioned several times that she’s a Serge girlie through and through and now I can say I GET IT CHLOE. I’M SORRY I EVER DOUBTED YOU.
Chergui is thick, sweet and spicy. It doesn’t smell like Tobacco Honey, but same *vibe*. I was googling where to buy bottles of it within 5 minutes.
La Fille de Berlin isn’t something I’d normally pick up based on the notes but this smells like a rich, sweet, rose-hibiscus ice tea.
There’s a thick richness to both of these scents that is blowing my mind. They’re luxurious, yet moderately priced. Modern yer somehow classic and nostalgic.
Lush, Turmeric Latte
I’ve peripherally noticed plenty of chatter about this one but after an underwhelming in-store smell session, never paid much attention to Lush perfumes. I do wish I’d grabbed a small bottle of this before it was discontinued though! It’s another spicy sweet one. Less complex and sweeter than Chergui, but they would probably fulfil the same function in a collection.
Meo Fusciuni, 2# Nota di Viaggio (shukran…)
This one grabbed me by the throat and hurled me back 20 years to my Nonna making me mint tea. Strong black tea served in the small glass cups, fistfuls of fresh mint leaves and a spoonful after spoonful of sugar.
Turns out that scent memory is spot on- when I looked up the inspiration, it’s Moroccan mint tea.
This scent is sweet, earthy tobacco lurking behind STRONG sweet mint. As it dries down, some bright and zippy lemon verbena comes out. It is strong, refreshing, and comforting. I love it.
(Side note: I think it’s time I stop telling people I’m not really into tobacco notes.)
Akro, Ink
Ink smells like one of those giant old office printers after someone accidentally hit ‘print all’ on a spreadsheet and it’s spitting out page after overheated page of blank squares. After a while, it settles into a distinct ballpoint pen smell. The blue Bic ones, specifically.
Okay, I actually didn’t like this one. But I respect the artistry and it tickles my brain to come across perfumes clearly made for the sake of it. It feels like curiosity and playfulness, the two key ingredients for creativity.
I was happy to take home some decants of Shukran and Chergui, plus a handful of other samples to play with.
What’s the last fragrance that was completely unexpected for you?
I was also late to the SL game. I had a few on my radar. And honestly for the value of the classic line you can do a lot worse!!! Ambre Sultan is really great. And I have enjoyed all the fresh ones that come in the white/cream clear bottles. Chergui is great, I would follow that with santal majuscule and orange flower. The ginger one is lovely too
I am lucky enough to have acquired tuberose Criminale, Fils de joie and Arabie. Iris silver mist is the personification of its name. Imagine the smell of silver, hovering in a field of fog, that is dark and cool but not freezing. It is an outstanding piece of work, but I left it behind at the boutique because it is a fragrance to be marvelled at and admired but not necessarily worn often. I went with it's opposite, an ode to Moroccan souks of spices and dry fruits. Arabie is a great companion.
Now that you’ve entered the Serge Lutens world, you’re in for a treat! There are so many incredible ones. My personal favorites are Santal Majuscule, L’Eau Froide and Fleurs d’Orangers. But I have to stop here or I’ll have to list 20 more 😄