Des Clous Pour Une Pelure

I remember this segment that showed on Sesame Street with this pear-shaped, Grimace-shaped, Durante-nosed cartoon character who approaches a column with an orange and proclaims "Oh! Orange." He then proceeds to thoroughly suck all the contents out of the orange, leaving it withered. The orange then utters defeatedly, "Oh....." Our protagonist (or antagonist?) was sampled on Board of Canada's track 'Aquarius' from their album Music Has the Right to Children. As soon as I smell this, I am that gluttonous orange fiend responding with "Oh! Orange." This opens orange with a big round O, juicy, fleshy, pithy, rindy, zesty, peel-y. You want oranges, we got oranges! (I for some reason heard Rita Moreno saying that in her best Electric Company voice). (Collar me, don't collar me) I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush As Des Clous develops, it's as if we pan out and see that there are in fact several cloves and we have ourselves a pomander, I see (wiggling mustache and focusing with a monocle). Orange and clove - mmmmm, then the nutmeg that would make Cacharel Pour Homme blush. But still, ORANGE! But wait, orange? This juice is a deep teal, which also reminds me of the tones on the faded photograph that graces the cover of Music Has the Right to Children. This could very well be the photo negative of the orange hue that one would expect from this curiosity. I personally enjoy a good head scratcher to go along with my smelling experience. This can be worn in any season, any time of the day, on any occasion. I love it. Now go listen to Boards of Canada, the aforementioned album is a seminal masterpiece.

Serge always knows how to make a weird one. I actually think this is awesome but this will not be for everyone. Apparently the inspiration for this is Pomdaners which are clove studded oranges. The name translates to something like "Nails of a Peel" but I believe there's other translations or interpretations of the name. Going from one language to another never gives you a complete full picture. This is what I love about Serge, even if you don't like a certain fragrance you really get what they were going for with the back story and name. As for the fragrance itself, it's kinda right up my alley. Orange is my favorite and that opening is banging. It's almost youthful giving off a sweet orange candy like smell. Surprised Serge went for that. I love it though. It gets alittle spicy as it drys from the cloves. The cloves gives off a sort of sharp, aftershave like smell. I've seen some people comment medicinal or dentistry like smell. Yeah cloves can do that. You really do get the "nails and peels" imagery in your head. Personally I really like this. But don't blind this, sample because it definitely won't be for everyone. Christmas vibes for sure but you could rock this all year around.

I love this, there's something fresh and sunny about it, a little bit of body skank and a warm nutty base. To me it's not christmassy, it's joyous and springtime-esque. I don't always want beast mode perfumes, so this is perfect for times when I want a little spritz here and there with a few minutes of bedazzlement before it becomes polite and discreet. The orange note smells like Baptême du Feu, but this quickly dissipates and the scent becomes totally different to BdF, although I'm assuming those who like one would like the other. This could be the daytime scent before applying BdF for nighttime devilry. This also reminds me a lot of children's chewable multivitamin tablets from the UK growing up in the 80s and 90s. Absolutely impractical colour, more than any other perfume, but it dissappears quickly on skin (I dare not see what happens on clothes). Update: OK yes, it dissappears after one hour, but I'm OK with that as it cost me peanuts.

This is a great fragrance, it’s simple and beautiful. It smells exactly like what you’d expect if you have ever smelled those clove studded oranges before. The opening is amazing but it dries down quickly and remains a fairly intimate scent afterwards for up to 4 hours. I don’t know why it’s such a crazy blue green color, it’s pretty but I’d expect it to be a golden orange or light amber color for what it smells like.

A really nice perfume! Memories of a Christmas, but an ancient Christmas, evokes memories, special moments of joy and serenity. The orange is definitely very evident but i can also smell the cloves, this is a perfume to have in your collection, because in my personal opinion it is a perfume that deserves. Beautiful! Sillage: 7./10 Longevity: 8./10 Scent: 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10

Lovely, orange-y festive juice. This would be perfect for anyone who thought Orange Sanguine from Atelier needed just a liiiiittle more pizzazz. Really unique take on citrus, as opposed to the freshie-ginger combo that's been done millions of times.

I really like this. I was really hoping for more clove and a little less orange. Overall a very nice quality juice. TRY before you BUY.... Enjoy!

It's an odd duck for sure. Can't quite figure out how a scent so genuinely redolent of Christmas-pomander orange and cloves - which sounds like the recipe for a deep, warming, spicy-gourmand treat for winter- instead ends up as a rather sharp, fresh, cool, wet thing. It's not bad at all: the zest is indeed zesty, the cloves classic and aromatic ... and like Eau de Paille, it exceeded my expectations, because the Les Eaux collection often gets so much hate for not being the usual big and bombastic Lutens house style. But it's still somehow ... thin, even borderline aquatic or aftershavey (?hence the blue theme and the unusually reasonable price?) - a fizzy diet soda rather than a steaming full-fat eggnog version on the pomander theme. Very wearable overall but that blue-freshie tinge seems to swing it a little more masculine to my nose. Doesn't actually smell anything like JM Orange Bitters or Lutens Mandarin Mandarine, but does pull the same trick of taking orange peel on a striking swerve in a really new and unexpected directions. A puzzled half-like... yet I sold mine on, so I could save for a Mandarin Mandarine, which is much pricier, but also richer, rounder, more satisfying for oddball citrus than this one.

Really just sweet orange juice with its rind, clove and nutmeg. The orange is a bit artificial, but the rind prevents it from becoming too artificial. It can be very balanced between the orange and spices, but sometimes my nose detects the spices as heavier than the orange. A less metallic and shrill Baptême du Feu without the scrumptiously sweaty animalic funk. They are similar but not quite the same. This is a much more linear, simple, basic and straightforward spicy orange; more casual and more suitable for day time use. Baptême du Feu is deeper, richer, more complex, day and night versatile and definitely more unique. They are different enough and serve different needs. You could definitely have both.

"This invigorating and spicy fragrance traces its roots back to the medieval tradition of clove-studded pomanders. A purifying scent that reveals the full extent of its powers in an intense emerald composition." Agree with many reviewers here, even if they seem to contradict each other. This is like a soda, like a type of root beer, fuzzy and spicy. This is a Christmas memory. And it's also kind of aquatic and medicinal. Also I get the bubblegum dry down. I see what Serge is doing here, and I appreciate it. The top notes last for ages. It sinks down into a very attractive sweetness. 7/10

The orange note smells like a freshly squeezed grapefruit to me. You would expect the clove and nutmeg to warm this up into a fall/winter fragrance and they do come across as a pepper-y, spicy note but the way they combine with the "grapefruit" makes this a much fresher scent than you'd expect. For most of its life, at least. Think of it like a spicy fougere background to grapefruit that dries down into a pleasant enough but much less interesting clove/nutmeg.

Light festive fragrance from Serge Lutens meant to evoke the smells of holiday confections. The main player here is a very delectable orange which is accentuated by slight spice (clove,nutmeg) and sweet powdery synthetic musk. Although it is very slight by this brands standards it is still quite lovely. The unisex scent has moderate projection and longevity and exudes a warm happy aura. Enjoy!

I nearly bought this on the spot at Harrods because it’s so beautiful! But I decided to try a sample at home first to test the performance - I’m glad I did because it costs £110 for the eau de parfum yet it only lasts four hours. Undetectable thereafter.

A very melancholic and meditative christmasy scent with a lovely nutmeg drydown. The presentation adds so much to the experience! I love the subversive blue color of the juice.

My most recent purchase after finding a bit of a bargain and reading the reviews here. I was intrigued. I love the smell of oranges, when they smell like sundown in rural Spain with the sweet orange blossom thickening the air. I once owned a bottle of Fleur d'Oranger which I bought from the beautiful Salon Du Palais in Paris along with a bottle of Ambre Sultan. I am a fan of Lutens but do tend to err on the spicy side. Upon ripping open the packaging in eagerness to sample the contents, I was struck by the oceanic blue colour and the half textured bottle, reminiscent of a Whitefriars glass vase from the 1970's. Both lend a pleasing aesthetic. The immediate notes are akin to a bowl of fruit salad, juice, orange, melon and green grape. Within minutes the clove introduces itself. I am though reminded of the times I have pulled clove oil out of the bathroom cabinet. It has a medicinal rather than a gourmand quality, I am whisked to the dentists waiting room. Close to my skin I smell a pomander, with bitter orange and cloves. The dry down does not offer me much more. I have dowsed family members in this scent and still, I feel it is an intimate scent that retreats into the aura of the wearer and lacks the complexity I would have expected. Nice, but I wouldnt purchase again, there isnt enough to keep me interested.

Full disclosure: I love the complex artistic Serge Lutens offerings and have actively ignored his laundry musk line. I have clean, laundry scents in my collection that I use at the gym, on hot steamy days, or with friends who are sensitive to perfume, but you can get that much cheaper. I go to niche and artisan brands for complexity. I only tried this because it came as a sample with purchase. My rant out of the way: This is a bitter orange note on a bed of laundry musk. Very light. Non-offensive. Unisex. Clean. Pretty aqua color. For high priced clean laundry scents I prefer Maison Francis Kurkdjian. For reasonably priced clean scents I like Bulgari tea scents or their Omnia line. For non-generic clean, i.e. nice refreshing cologne, I like the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria line and Parfums de Nicolaï edts.

I have a full bottle of this for sale, shipped anywhere in Canada or the US. This and Bapteme du Feu smell nothing alike. In fact - and despite Bapteme du Feu having a metallic gunpowder note, Des Clous Pour Une Pelure smells much more piercing. Personally, the cloves are too strong for me, though I love the bright and sweet orange AND the whimsical blue colour of the juice.

I pick up a carbonated orange soda. I think the marketing heads behind the Lutens brand decided to make this blue because there’s also an aquatic profile present, but I think they should’ve left it a light amber color. At least that would’ve reflected the feel of this perfume better. This is too much of a gimmick to be taken seriously.

Everything about this one is strange, from the packaging to the juice to the scent. If it actually smelled like a clove studded orange, it could be the fragrance of my dreams. Instead all I get is bubble gum. And two sprays on my wrist left a visible blue stain.

Opens up with a strong cotton candy aroma. Short lived then the cloves and citrus take over in about a 70/30 ratio. Not too long lasting but very unique. I might describe this as a "winter freshie."

the gatorade blue color reallyyy throws me off

Oranges studded with cloves, a traditional Christmas decoration dating back to the Middle Ages, were the original pomanders (from the French 'pommes d'ambre'), used to ward off evil spirits and to promote health. Serge Lutens' take on them in this fragrance doesn't work for me. The liquid has an off-putting electric blue tinge - like antifreeze, - which sets up the expectation of something icy (and poisonous!) The orange note seems rather artificial, more like a kitchen detergent than an authentic aroma. Beyond the initial impact of "Ooh that smells interesting..", there isn't actually much follow-through in the dry down. The overall impact is cold and unengaging, so I won't be stocking up with this for the festive season.

The orange and clove together give it a green herb feeling as it opens. It dries to an orange sparingly studded with cloves. The orange is prominent and the cloves don't have the punch I typically expect from cloves. Lasts under an hour as a meaningful scent. I'll give it credit that it doesn't smell like everything else, but it's not for me. My husband said he likes it much better than most perfumes. (He's not a floral guy. His other favorite Coffee Addict. This has little in common with Coffee Addict aside from being a gourmand and off the perfumery beaten path.)

This one is really offensive to me. Looks like Windex, smells like toilet refresher. Shrill. The worst is that it lasts quite a time. But if you love sweet, fresh scents, this perfume might be your go-to.

Opens as a blueberry bubble gum, then I get medicinal cinnamon and spice. Smells exactly like the red tiger balm after a while.

I agree with some of the other reviewers-if this actually smelled like the notes listed I’m sure I’d like it. To me it smells like lemongrass with something camphoric in the top notes. I personally can’t stand it. And what’s with the blue liquid?! Edit-Smells much better on paper than on my skin. The opening still smells to me like lemongrass but it transitions quickly to orange. On my skin the smell I’m perceiving as lemongrass lingers. And on paper I feel like what I thought was camphor is maybe more like mint? Idk. I still don’t personally care for it & I don’t think it smells like Mandarine Mandarin. That one I really like! I hear they’re both going away.

Anyone remember the “Fresh Scent” that Old Spice used to sell years back? This kind of reminds me of it a little. It’s about 35-40% there for me. I’ve seen the Baptism comparisons as well. The DNA is there for sure, but Baptism is darker, warmer and more powdery...more stuffy, but not in a bad way. Like sitting in a rustic house near a fireplace. Des Clous is more cold, medicinal and sterile. Sort of reminds me of a stormy Atlantic ocean on an overcast day during the holidays. It’s probably the watery orange messing with me, giving me faint aquatic vibes. I’d wear this to a nice seafood restaurant on a cold and rainy winter day. Or if I knew a sea captain who wore one of those white captain hats with a black turtle neck, I’d gift this to him. I found more appreciation for Des Clous after putting it back on the shelf and forgetting about it for a year or two. I really like it now! It’s a grower!

This composition is a duet of orange and cloves, going in the direction of Eau del Cologne, which is not that typical of Serge Lutens mostly offering complex scents. The initial splash of sweet orange and the spicy undertone of cloves, within around 10 minutes, gives way to the sweetened cloves dominating the scene - not heavy, not melancholically sad, as they are normally are, but light, even breezy, slightly sharp, and matching the summer spirit (despite the traditional Christmas combination of the components). The Serge Lutens well done interpretation is worth trying by cloves lovers. For me, it is the second nice encounter with cloves (after Oeillet by Prada, which is quite another story and quite another mood). The whole experience, including the bottle having the beautiful azure color, which is in cool contrast to the warm sweetness of orange an cloves, is amazing. IG: perfumepassione

It feels like I’ve time-traveled straight into a 15th-century Christmas feast in Bamberg, Germany, where the air is thick with oranges, cloves, and nutmeg—mingling with the less festive aroma of dinner guests who haven’t bathed since last Christmas. Everyone at the table looks vaguely constipated. The Kaiser has syphilis. Still, we clutch our little pomanders, raise our mugs of mead, and prepare to dig into platters of fish and fowl. It’s disgusting. But it's also glorious.

-This has a medicinal quality to it, but unlike the gazillion medicinal/herbal scents out there, this one isn't 'dry'. -Has aquatic vibes to it, making it wearable in hot, humid weather without being cloying. -Not fbw, unless you're in a tropical climate and STILL want to smell like medicine/herbs year round. (-)

Isn't it a bit strange to release an orange and cloves fragrance in the beginning of spring? Cloves are so-so coupled emotionally with Christmas time. The color of the juice, on the other hand, suggests some marine scent. I just get confused.

let's clarify its meaning right away: Cloves in French = clous de girofle (girofle nails). It's typical around Xmas to put cloves on madarin or orange peel, so that the room smells of spicy orange. Thus its name: "Nails for a Peel".

Smells exactly like pomander - orange and cloves. Beginning is bright and natural, but more a room spray or candle type of scent. In 1 hour on skin I got clove boiled in water with couple orange peels - quite weak and diluted.

Strange fragrance, more like a parfum d'ambiance. Very Christmassy. I don't know if I'll wear it, but I'll certainly spray it around the place.

It really does smell like blue curacao lol. Orange clove. Opening is bracing then settles down a bit.

Smells like USSR new year Eve I remember 🥰