Cannibale

Cannibale presents as an inappropriately exquisite scent. Macabre and intriguing. Its opening evokes a mixture of white wine vinegar and ancient medical cabinet, unsettling and highly acidic. After 2-3 hours' initial dry down, Cannibale gradually settles down to a steady smokey, incensy leather, with a hint of the sweetness of rotten fruits and bouquets. Extremely poignant, dark and savoury. Imagery: He wears a seamless human suit. With impeccable manners and countenance. Yet behind those maroon rimmed eyes there are something deeply unsettling, a lethal elegance——by the time you realized, it's already too late. Although not with the best price-to-quality ratio, Cannibale is indeed a complex and unique scent with good longitivtiy and appropriately moderate sillage. Highly recommend to try it if you are into Gothic and generally dark fragrances, but the question remains, do you really need 50ml of Gothique darkness? My major problem with it is about the occasion, this is one of the "having old friend for dinner" scent. Will be reaching out when in the mood of reading Nietzsche or Hannibal, or maybe... Edit: and yes, after ruminating for a year, I caved in for a mini. What keeps you awake at night? The scintillating and decaying scent of the quintessential Cannibale. A personal observation: he turns to a warm floral lightly dipped in vinegar in the fall and winter season.

Wow. Breathtaking perfumery and I consider myself very lucky to have gotten a full bottle prior to this line's discontinuation. Supposedly, Serge himself said that *this* is him in a bottle. Fitting of a perfume that is oriental, unapologetic, daring and bold. And if L'incendiaire is Ambre Sultan in which some aspects are set aflame, this is the final evolution of that - where everything from the florals to the raw resins are set on fire. This fragrance evolves various times, but for simplicity, in the first half you have the brighter facet of this DNA, with the rose, florals, resins, vanillic amber touches - all alive and perhaps even deceptively inviting. Shortly after - perhaps this Cannibale - pours this tart/acetic liquid (ie. the vinegar) over the entire hamlet and sets it ablaze. WOW. The remainder of this fragrance are these formerly flourishing notes now trying their best to escape the flames and dense smoke (ie. the second half). Plenty of folks insist they only smell sweet florals. I cannot understand how this could manifest in such stark contrast on my skin. On my skin, for majority of this fragrance's life, I get burnt incense, charred flowers, that suggested burnt "sap" accord, and faint ambers subdued by thick smoke. If I had to pick one, the burnt "sap" is most prominent in the dry down. Piece of art to be cherished.

This is a fragrance you need to give some time to test, I would NOT blind buy this. Cannibale is one of the most complex fragrances I have smelled, and I have smelled easily a thousand fragrances... I have never been so pulled constantly between a love/hate relationship before, and Cannibale manages to capture that. (Although I am now officially in love and broke down to buy a bottle) This is Ambre Sultan without the herbal opening, shoved in ambergris that's been set on fire, with rice powder, burnt rose and vinegar sprinkled on. Sounds weird, right? It is, but it is also reminiscent of a very dark amber, more along the lines of Amber Absolute but with a big twist. The dry down, to me, is heaven- a high quality, dark vanilla with ambergris and still flickers of burnt rose. This fragrance manages to be dark and contemplative, yet sweet and powdery. A very intriguing fragrance that a Serge Lutens fan should immediately try.

An ode to vinegar...and sweat and musk, an effervescent and dank polarizing fragrance to be sure. Replicate of maybe sweat and heat and a go in a floral field on a hot and humid day. If I may say so, imo this qualifies as a sexual potion in that it's just that. It pushes off of my skin like it amplifies my own musk as it were. I'm just going to lay down and let this scent wash over me, my goodness this is exquisite, and just when I thought perfumery had hit a wall this comes along. Forget Muscs Koublai khan, this is what you're looking for.

A gorgeous sourish floral wood from Serge Lutens, this is a decadent and dark offering. The perfume is centered around a rose which is surrounded by burnt resins and flowers, incense, and plant sap. If there is a perfume that captures the aura of a femme fatale right, this is the one. Beautifully blended with moderate to strong projection and excellent longevity. The asking price is a joke but available on the grey market for a substantial discount. Very evocative. Enjoy!