Category Archives: Christopher Sheldrake
Serge Lutens Baptême du feu: initiation process
I just sampled the new Serge Lutens and as it usually happens after smelling a Serge Lutens on your skin for the first time, one has an Ahhh….! moment. That’s what uncle Serge meant! The quote that teases into Baptême du
Serge Lutens Baptême du feu: initiation process
I just sampled the new Serge Lutens and as it usually happens after smelling a Serge Lutens on your skin for the first time, one has an Ahhh….! moment. That’s what uncle Serge meant! The quote that teases into Baptême du
Serge Lutens Chypre rouge: tricked and treated
I first saw a Richard Moss photo a few months ago and I was shocked by the power of his creation. It wasn’t the photo featured here, which might seem like a whimsically photoshopped version of a digital collage. It
Serge Lutens Chypre rouge: tricked and treated
I first saw a Richard Moss photo a few months ago and I was shocked by the power of his creation. It wasn’t the photo featured here, which might seem like a whimsically photoshopped version of a digital collage. It
My nose is still alive
I haven’t posted here for what seems like ages but this is to confirm that it is not for lack of interest. I have been sniffing around and I continue to be amazed by what fragrance means to me and
My nose is still alive
I haven’t posted here for what seems like ages but this is to confirm that it is not for lack of interest. I have been sniffing around and I continue to be amazed by what fragrance means to me and
Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule: Mysore goes Bollywood
How many tales can sandalwood tell? Serge Lutens has already given two versions of it, the Indian bazaar Santal de Mysore and the neighbouring Santal Blanc, less spicy, more floral. Both explore the sweet, buttery side of sandalwood. For me
Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule: Mysore goes Bollywood
How many tales can sandalwood tell? Serge Lutens has already given two versions of it, the Indian bazaar Santal de Mysore and the neighbouring Santal Blanc, less spicy, more floral. Both explore the sweet, buttery side of sandalwood. For me
Serge Lutens Une Voix Noire: Gardénia déguisée
So it seems that Serge Lutens has abandoned the Orient as a source of inspiration and has now turned to icons of Western culture to “materialise” into perfume… After Oscar Wilde, Billie Holiday. Both tormented and creative personalities who lived
Serge Lutens Une Voix Noire: Gardénia déguisée
So it seems that Serge Lutens has abandoned the Orient as a source of inspiration and has now turned to icons of Western culture to “materialise” into perfume… After Oscar Wilde, Billie Holiday. Both tormented and creative personalities who lived
Serge Lutens Gris Clair…: this used to be my playground
Lavender is a primordial ingredient. It has been there since the beginning of using nature to scent life. Abundant, useful to keep linen scented and moth-free, soothing, calming, masculine, infantile. Simple and reliable. You will not find many people raving
Serge Lutens Gris Clair…: this used to be my playground
Lavender is a primordial ingredient. It has been there since the beginning of using nature to scent life. Abundant, useful to keep linen scented and moth-free, soothing, calming, masculine, infantile. Simple and reliable. You will not find many people raving
Daim Blond: the perfect leather for autumn
One of the first Lutens perfumes that I tried was Cèdre and I absolutely hated it. The ones that followed were also difficult for me but then came Daim Blond and it was simply stunning. It provided the key to
Daim Blond: the perfect leather for autumn
One of the first Lutens perfumes that I tried was Cèdre and I absolutely hated it. The ones that followed were also difficult for me but then came Daim Blond and it was simply stunning. It provided the key to
Douce Amère: Saudade da Infância*
Douce Amère is a strange one. I am not sure I like it but I love wearing it. Another one of those scents where what I smell has nothing to do with what most people will tell you it does.
Douce Amère: Saudade da Infância*
Douce Amère is a strange one. I am not sure I like it but I love wearing it. Another one of those scents where what I smell has nothing to do with what most people will tell you it does.
Testing at high altitude 3
Back to Athens tomorrow… I will love to be back home but I will miss the cool breeze of the mountains, the humming of ancestral scenery speaking words I have never heard before but always make sense. Red Aoud, Montae
Testing at high altitude 3
Back to Athens tomorrow… I will love to be back home but I will miss the cool breeze of the mountains, the humming of ancestral scenery speaking words I have never heard before but always make sense. Red Aoud, Montae
Serge Lutens Clair de Musc: tender is the musk
My first impression of Clair de Musc was that it is an unnecessarily expensive version of Bodyshop White Musk. After that it has been sitting in my perfume cabinet neglected until I decided to give it another try. My initial reaction
Serge Lutens Clair de Musc: tender is the musk
My first impression of Clair de Musc was that it is an unnecessarily expensive version of Bodyshop White Musk. After that it has been sitting in my perfume cabinet neglected until I decided to give it another try. My initial reaction
Serge Lutens De Profundis: the mystery remains
I finally got my hands on a decant of De Profundis. I was looking forward to it because it wasn’t received with the usual enthusiasm and this sort of reaction always attracts me. I cannot say that I have deciphered
Serge Lutens De Profundis: the mystery remains
I finally got my hands on a decant of De Profundis. I was looking forward to it because it wasn’t received with the usual enthusiasm and this sort of reaction always attracts me. I cannot say that I have deciphered
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille: Ceci n’est pas une vanille.
This perfume reminded me immediately of Magritte’s question: is it a pipe if you can’t stuff it? Is an image of a pipe the same as a pipe? The treason of images… Vanilla fragrances are not on my radar because
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille: Ceci n’est pas une vanille.
This perfume reminded me immediately of Magritte’s question: is it a pipe if you can’t stuff it? Is an image of a pipe the same as a pipe? The treason of images… Vanilla fragrances are not on my radar because
Bas de Soie: Silk Fetish
Bas de Soie is one of the latest controversial Serge Lutens releases. They have been controversial because they mark a an incredible departure from the dark oriental style of the house. Or, according to others because they are linear and uninspired. Bas
Bas de Soie: Silk Fetish
Bas de Soie is one of the latest controversial Serge Lutens releases. They have been controversial because they mark a an incredible departure from the dark oriental style of the house. Or, according to others because they are linear and uninspired. Bas
La Myrrhe: a sculpture of liquid light
La Myrrhe was a calculated blind buy. I love myrrh but in the obvious association with incense it creates the atmosphere of an Orthodox church for me. It is an olfactive memory deeply rooted in my childhood years. All Greeks
La Myrrhe: a sculpture of liquid light
La Myrrhe was a calculated blind buy. I love myrrh but in the obvious association with incense it creates the atmosphere of an Orthodox church for me. It is an olfactive memory deeply rooted in my childhood years. All Greeks
L’Eau and L’Eau Froide: Scottish Shower with Serge Lutens
The controversy about Serge Lutens launching the anti-perfume L’Eau Serge Lutens is already old. The prince of darkness decided to dive into clear waters. L’Eau received lukewarm reviews and many reviewers thought inappropriate the addition of a clean fragrance in the
L’Eau and L’Eau Froide: Scottish Shower with Serge Lutens
The controversy about Serge Lutens launching the anti-perfume L’Eau Serge Lutens is already old. The prince of darkness decided to dive into clear waters. L’Eau received lukewarm reviews and many reviewers thought inappropriate the addition of a clean fragrance in the
Feminité du Bois Extrait: no cracks here
I have recently received a decant of Feminité du Bois Extrait from my very generous friend Saif. This was extremely kind of him because this is not a perfume one comes across easily. I think Feminité du Bois is a
Feminité du Bois Extrait: no cracks here
I have recently received a decant of Feminité du Bois Extrait from my very generous friend Saif. This was extremely kind of him because this is not a perfume one comes across easily. I think Feminité du Bois is a
Muscs Koublai Khan: don’t fear the reaper
All previous week was marked by a horrible flu that has kept me in bed and crawling on the floor with the most exhausting cough, runny nose and tiniest fever that makes all your body ache, sends shivers up your
Muscs Koublai Khan: don’t fear the reaper
All previous week was marked by a horrible flu that has kept me in bed and crawling on the floor with the most exhausting cough, runny nose and tiniest fever that makes all your body ache, sends shivers up your
Feminité du Bois: Fruit, cedar, spice and everything nice
If ever a fragrance managed to include all the warm and cosy notes in the world in one bottle this was Feminité du Bois. Initially released in 1992 as a Shiseido release, it joined the Serge Lutens line in 2009, when
Feminité du Bois: Fruit, cedar, spice and everything nice
If ever a fragrance managed to include all the warm and cosy notes in the world in one bottle this was Feminité du Bois. Initially released in 1992 as a Shiseido release, it joined the Serge Lutens line in 2009, when
Serge Noire: Rasputin’s Christmas
The holidays are here. Another year is preparing to make an exit. What better way to celebrate this time of the year than remembering and wearing my ultimate mood enhancers for the holidays. Serge Noire holds a very special place
Serge Noire: Rasputin’s Christmas
The holidays are here. Another year is preparing to make an exit. What better way to celebrate this time of the year than remembering and wearing my ultimate mood enhancers for the holidays. Serge Noire holds a very special place
Tubéreuse Criminelle: criminally genius and a Freudian footnote
Polianthes tuberosa is a plant that doesn’t grow in Europe. It’s not an ingredient you can see in its natural form, smell the flower and be able to recognize the note in a perfume. However it is one of the easiest
Tubéreuse Criminelle: criminally genius and a Freudian footnote
Polianthes tuberosa is a plant that doesn’t grow in Europe. It’s not an ingredient you can see in its natural form, smell the flower and be able to recognize the note in a perfume. However it is one of the easiest
Memory Of Scent 