Écrin de Fumée

I must confess that I got the intention of Ecrin de Fumee wrong during the initial sniffs after application. At first, I thought I was getting massive and billowing tendrils of incense smoke, a combination of frankincense, myrrh, and white wood smoke, but quite quickly I realized that was not the case. It was the richest and weirdest combinations of chocolate, and sweet oaky alcohol of something like rum or bourbon, both hovering like a dense cloud over smoking pipe tobacco. Within about 30 minutes the boozy, chocolatey, smokey notes are gone and Ecrin de Fumee settles into gear for a long-haul of large, rich, vanillic, unlit pipe tobacco. And that's about all she wrote, folks. In keeping with Lutens's particular style Ecrin de Fumee is pretty straightforward. I've said this a handful of times in other reviews that Lutens's perfumes are more like bases than they are complete compositions with well-staged tops, hearts, plus bases, but I've also said that's a bit unfair because a great Lutens perfume is like a brilliant quote from a brilliant mind: yes, that quote likely came from a lengthy literary composition of some sort from that author, but you don't need several pages to get the point because the quote is so perfectly stated that being succinct and to-the-point does not weaken the message. Ecrin de Fumee is Lutens and Sheldrake in that top form. As a perfume whose purpose is to deliver an accord of pipe tobacco, I believe Ecrin de Fumee is probably the best out there. Part of the reason for this is because, rather than rely solely on tobacco - fresh green tobacco, cured tobacco, or otherwise - Ecrin de Fumee seems to put one foot over the line into amber territory. Tobacco and amber are far from being a new idea, but it's usually amber plus tobacco, not tobacco plus amber. The balsamic and vanillic amber very nearly pushes Ecrin into the gourmand genre, and I'm sure some wearers will say that it is well-over the line in that genre. Those "amber sensitive" noses have a valid point, but, to my nose (which is amber sensitive) it never loses that tobacco centered purpose. Though a bit less common but far from being new, the way Lutens and Sheldrake manage this tobacco+amber concoction with beautiful materials and near-perfect balance is what makes it stand out. It is so rich, complex, smooth, well-rounded, and endlessly evocative and addictive to the point where I cannot stop raising my hands and arms to my face for one more smell. I'll say it again, if you want a perfume that showcases rich aged pipe tobacco, Ecrin de Fumee is probably the best.

Lutens Santal Majuscule had a similar cocoa note in its spine. Smell a nice dark chocolate and you'll get it. It's an opening note and it lasts about 15 minutes on my skin and the rest is a monolithic dark sweetish boozy-ish amalgam where a handful of notes have been melted together. Fragrance pyramid can't explain the feeling. Strange how in compositions like this rum plays the brightest voice. But you know what's also strange? I smelled it one day suddenly realizing I couldn't remember the notes at all. What I clearly smelled then was nicely aged and a bit animalic leather, and the distant echo of rubber soles. A shoe store, right? Not really. Too easy. Smell of new shoes doesn't bring me emotions like this. But that was my decoding until I remembered - oh yes, rum and tobacco, oh yes, Chergui probably. Still, Chergui also never excited me that much. I can't never remember its smell and I think it's more complex and multifaceted. This one brings a somehow simpler statement and really insists on it in a more minimalistic fashion, as if Occam's razor was strictly applied to everything that could possibly make things more interesting but would also distract from the main theme: a cuddling darkness that doesn't dominate you. No literal smoke here, but I imagine the smokescreen mentioned is that heavy, overly sweet spicy-ambery-gourmand all-at-once trend that dominates the market for some time now, the need for Elixirs and beast mode projection hiding one's personality and vulnerabilities as much as possible. Ironically, it's a couple of Lutens perfumes that probably pioneered this style decades ago, given Serge Lutens has always spoken about personal memories and fragilities.

You don't know how, but you and your friends found yourself in a speakeasy cigar bar while downtown. You grab a table, a cigar, and a shot of spiced dark rum to start the night. The smell of the ashy and smokey tobacco with the spicy and boozy rum is literally and figuratively intoxicating. A fancy waiter brings you all dark chocolate with the logo of the speakeasy. You just MIGHT be in a little over your head, and you don't wanna know how much that shot and cigar cost, but when in Rome. The heat of the summers night heats up the old wood deck, the smell of long trapped sweet pipe tobacco drifts through from a generation prior of friends. As you all joke with each other, the evening begins to fall into night. The lights of the city begin to all turn on as you look down at the glitz of your next stops from the rooftop bar deck. Life is good. A beautiful opening of biting smoke and bitter cocoa powder that fades into a mixture of ashy tobacco, smoke, dark chocolate, and spicy rum. The mixture of ashy and smokey tobacco, dark chocolate, and spicy rum is amazing. Fall and Winter nights is probably the intention, but I could see this being really sexy under the summer night heat if you spray accordingly. Super sexy up close, and even better in the air. Leans masculine to my nose, but wear what you want. I would wear this while going out or dressing up, but someone 25+ could pull this off consistently in my opinion. Want a full bottle or decant soon, I can see this becoming a 10 with some full wearing's. Long lasting on my skin and projects well for the first like 4-5 hours, but becomes within arms reach for the remaining 5-7 hours. 9/10 Song vibe - Perm by Bruno Mars

I tested this on a paper and it was amazing!! I was completely in love with the dark cacao and tabac notes. But then I tried on my skin... and what a disappointment, it turned kind of sour, chemical, and I could only feel the alcohol note. I checked my clothes and they were absolutely wonderful, smelling exactly like on the paper. I am so sad 😭😭. I am super jealous of those who have the right skin chemistry for this scent, because this is a piece of art ❤️ Edit: I gave it a second chance, and I understood that what I was feeling was actually the rum note, which was new to my nose. Now I started to understand the booziness, and feeling more the cacao and tabac on my skin. I have a feeling that soon it will come an edit2 saying that this is the best winter scent I’ve ever felt haha Edit2: I’ve ordered a new, fresh decant of this scent. The other times I was testing it in a department store. I think maybe the bottle was standing there in the light and heat for way too long. The new sample doesn’t have the sourness, or I got used to it, I am not sure, because it doesn’t bother me anymore. I feel now just the beautiful booziness, cacao and sweet tabac notes. I find it happens often that I have to try a SL fragrance multiple times to fully understand it. After some trials, I fall in love with it, and everything else becomes boring! And every time you wear them, the perfumes still surprise you. I personally find Ecrin de Fumee much better than Chergui (sorry!). This will probably become my default winter scent ❤️

#1650 in my “Tour de Fragrance” Got this as a sprayette from scentswithsense.com, but if I had blind bought a bottle of this I would be content. It fits in with one of my all-time discontinued favorites, Thierry Mugler “Pure Havane”, three of my all-time still available favorites, Les Indemodables “Vanille Havane” and "Cuir des Abysses”, Pierre Guillaume “Anti-Blues”, and the not-bad-for-a-cheapie Reyanne Tradition “Insurrection II Wild.” Rum, chocolate and tobacco (with a somewhat powdery character). It’s a note combination I didn’t expect to like when I first encountered it, but I actually do like it a lot, and where this scent differentiates itself is it doesn’t drown out those marvelous notes with an overdose of vanilla as all those others do. This not a heavy scent and so a safe go-to for car poolers, elevator riders and anyone working in a tight spaces office. Really any use and environment. Moderate longevity and projection. I’d probably respray at lunch. I think in the age of Versace “Eros”, Dior “Sauvage” and BDC, scents like these can come off a bit dated, but I don’t much care. I would expect anyone who wore this would also happily wear Bentley’s “For Men Intense”, Paco Rabanne's “1 Million Prive.” For myself, I think it’s worth owning for date nights. Good Luck and Good Hunting!

A handful of unsweetened cocoa powder mixed with dry leafy tobacco, thrown on wood coals on a dark night. The smoke note here is perfect. That probably sounds weird! But this is really smooth and enjoyable. Often smoke can really take over and obliterate other notes (Gateau Blackout, I'm looking at you). So much so, it makes me nervous about even trying a fragrance with a smoke note. Maybe "smoke" is a cheap chemical in perfumery or something? Maybe it hides a multitude of sins. I have no idea. But when I see smoke in the list of fragrance notes, I know there's a good chance that smoke, smoke, smoke is all I'll be smelling in the dry down. And that's why I like Ecrin de Fumee. This smoke is beautifully balanced; it's never louder than the wood or tobacco or cacao. The smoke doesn't chase you, you have to find it. I feel like an expensive pirate when I wear this. Leans a bit masculine. It's full bottle worthy and I'm going through mine too quickly. I may have to take to the high seas to procure another one soon. Ar Also, I bought a sample of Vanille Havane to compare it to Ecrin de Fumee. I'd say yes, they are similar, but side-by-side Vanille Havane has very strong boozy note that almost resembles clove. You couldn't go wrong with either but Ecrin de Fumee is my preference.

It starts off quite rough, it opens up with the rum note dominating everything else and the other notes weren’t mixing smoothly in the background at first so at first i thought this is gonna be another unwearable pungent scent, but 10-30min after the booze note starts to fade into the background, and the cacao and tobacco note starts to come out and becomes the main character after that, it becomes quite dark, chocolaty but the tobacco note is also there next to it, kinda like the tobacco in tobacco vanille i guess, and from then on until the dry down it’s pretty much just this scent, it’s quite nice, definitely not mass appealing and probably shouldnt wear it in hot weather although the sillage isnt very strong, performance is ok for me Might give it some more time cuz this didnt give me a good first impression tbh but im starting to rethink, i hope the booze note is toned down at least in the opening because it rlly is pungent at first Edit: ok wtf recently smelling this it felt a lot more wearable and soft in a good way, like it felt like jazz club on steroids, the booze and tobacco makes it so seductive and i swear there’s some vanilla or tonka in this

One of the most unique perfume I've ever smelt and since the very first sniff, I immediately know it would become my signature scent. It might come a bit irrelevant but as a dark coffee connoisseur myself, the intense, heavy even yet comforting richness, darkness and bitterness of the cacao element in this bottle is done extremely magnificiently. First spray smell like freshly grinded cacao powder with a hint of booziness coming from rum. After 30 minutes-1 hour, it dries down to a beautiful combination of cacao, rum and tobacco which is heavenly seductive. This ends with an image of a middle-aged man, well-dressed and classy, sitting on a sofa near the fireplace enjoying his cup of dark cacao with a cigar on the other hand. It will not be an exaggaration to say this perfume is a winter masterpiece. Old money vibe while still maintaining its gourmand attractiveness. It will not be a blind-buy safe though, it will lean towards ones with a more mature sense of smell. On me though, this perfume absolutely rocks. Rating: 10/10, will gatekeep the hell out of this for the rest of my life.

At first when I tried the frangrance I couldn't get -the place- where I would set this frangrance. And then I saw the promo pictures and yt videos talking about South America's jungle and the problem was solved. The smell is a beautiful cacao, rich and deep, with a hint of mystery. The mystery is like an anticipation of what will happen next how does the frangrance evolve, how does your day unfolds, how the discussion you lead will develop and so much more. This woody/alcoholic anticipation compliments the cacao and elevates it. The fragrance is for someone who can "work" with this mystery that the fragrance gives off in any way from being THE person in the room that leads, to being THE person that is here to bring mayhem, the choice is yours. A disappointment is the longevity. It can't hold this mystery for too long and even the dry down (2-3 hours) is very subtle aromatic smoky wood that reminds the one who smells it of something big that happened but wasn't there to witness it. Nevertheless it is a pleasant smell that captures attention if someone has the ability to recognise it.

I think this is what I wanted Side Effect to smell like. I can’t explain it. I still really do like Side Effect, but this feels like a more grown up version somehow. The drydown smells even better. I’m getting whiffs of a sexy sweetness that feels like a dark raspberry or plum. It smells dark red. Absolutely intoxicating, though I wish the cacao note stuck around much longer. When I had my partner smell it for the first time, she thought I sprayed Chergui, Feminite du Bois, and Five Oclock au Gingembre together. While I dont fully agree with that description, I can see how she came to that impression. Every SL perfume I own layers well with each other. I LOVE IT. Anywho, Im currently sitting and enjoying being enveloped in it. This, in my opinion is one of SL’s must-haves for the fall/winter. Ive smelled Vanille Havane and not entirely sure why THAT is the first thing people are comparing it to because theyre definitely not that similar

Just recieved my bottle of Ecrin de Fume and I must (Respectfully) dissagre with folks who are saying this is more "Designer like." This smells FANTASTIC imo! Im getting that Slightly powdered, bitter Cacao, a bit of Smokiness, that "Chergui style Tobacco" which to me almost smells like a cherry-tobacco, and a slight booziness which all make for a BEAUTIFUL, dark-smokey fragrance! I haven't spent much time with Ecrin de Fumé as Ive only spritzed some on my arm for the very first time only about an hour ago, but Im pleasantly surprised enough that I immediately came on here to give my initial thoughts. Now, I will say that if there's just ONE "Designer Fragrance" that id compare Ecrin de Fume to, it would have to be Zadig & Voltaire's-This is Him, but only in the FAAAAAR Dry-down. Then again imo, This is Him smells super "Niche" and quite unique as well! Be back later for a more in depth re iew, ut for now Im loving what Im smelling!

The review below is the reason you don't trust reviews, But don't worry you can trust me, at least that is my opinion. This fragrance is stunning a gem ! so good I would give it a 10. the blending of the notes is done masterfully you get the cocoa powder hints mixed with a smoky incense, although I would not indentify thi fragrance as a smoky incency type, instead the tobacco, the whiskey accord, the woods undertones give the cocoa powder plenty of depht and character. Sexy yet so elegant, not a gourmand for sure though, but defenetly something you would want to put on to feel refined and sexy. i don't know why people rated the performances so poorly, on my skin It lasted 12 hrs with moderate projection, still I have a very oily skin with is not the best for longevity and yet this one persisted like no other. All and all I will most defenetly buy a full bottle and you should too, this is a 10. Masterpiece.

I tried it a bit before reviewing it because it is not a simple perfume. Here I see that it is associated with Chergui and Borneo, also by Lutens, and in fact it resembles both but in my opinion it is inferior to both despite being very good. It opens with an alcoholic note of rum Quite settled, together with chocolate. It is not gourmand, the cocoa is more powdery, bitter (a bit like in Borneo but also in Santal Majescul). The cocoa note is the protagonist from start to finish. The tobacco makes its appearance later and is a bit sweet in the chergui style, before becoming acidic and smoky. Overall it could be a less heavy and more modern version of Chergui. After so many disappointing releases Lutens is finally back with something really well done and unique. I highly recommend trying it. Certainly the launch in March is not the most appropriate, it seems to me an autumn or winter perfume

The moment I tried Écrin de Fumée, I was captivated. It opens with a dark, striking burst of dry cocoa powder, enriched by a boozy rum accord that adds depth and warmth. As the scent develops, I couldn’t shake a sense of familiarity. Then came the sweet, tobacco-like undertone, and it hit me—this feels like a fusion of Chergui and Santal Majuscule, but with an added layer of "darkness." This darker element is a fascinating blend of smoky incense, a metallic edge (almost reminiscent of blood), and an enigmatic, chameleon-like quality. It’s a beautifully complex and mesmerizing fragrance that keeps you coming back for more. My only critique lies in its performance. While the scent itself is a masterpiece, I wish it had greater projection and sillage. With better performance, this would undoubtedly be a 10/10 fragrance. 8.5/10

Bloody amazing. I get the same booziness of the rum mixed with vanilla, cocoa and tobacco as I do with Vanille Havane, but this isn’t as sweet, it’s alot more smoky. The chocolate smells like dark ganache balls covered in powdered cacao. You will find the chocolate note that’s here act different through the stages of the fragrance. It’s very unique and it smells different each time. The opening to my nose is very boozy, I love the opening with the rum, and that booziness sticks around for a while. There’s a powdery similarity to Chergui, but that’s where it ends, they’re not similar in scent. The smokiness feels cold against all the warm notes, but the overall blend and scent is fantastic. Easily one of my favourites from year. I highly recommend this.

Intoxicating is the only way I can describe this. I cannot stop sniffing myself when I wear this. The opening is...odd. Not off-putting, but just odd. Like a burst of smoke in the distance. Probably won't be a "love at first sniff." But give it a few minutes and then you get the rum. Give it a few more minutes and then you pick up the cacao. After an hour or so it's a beautiful bouquet of slightly powdery rum & cacao with a hint of sweet tobacco at the finish. This is a Serge Lutens masterpiece. And contrary to popular belief, not just for winter or cold weather. Easily wearable year-round. If you love a cacao note and want a different profile from, say, Bond No. 9 Tribeca (also a scent I LOVE), you must give Ecrin a try,

Just wonderful! Serge Lutens really knows how to blend magic. None of the notes compete which I’m grateful for as I’m not a huge fan of smoke, tobacco, or too much booze (no I’m not a nun if that’s what you’re thinking, just prefer different fragrance profiles haha). It’s rich, intoxicating, interesting but still polite and gentlemanly/gentlewomanly. It’s a beautiful and unique scent overall, but not too unique in terms of the Lutens house. I already own and love Chergui and Santal Majuscule, and this almost smells like a mix of the two (sharing common notes) but with the addition of a smokiness and more tobacco. EDIT - as it develops it gets smokier and distinguishes itself from my earlier comparison.

Imagine you're nosing a really good traditional bourbon. You swirl it in your Glencairn glass and take a whiff. You're hit with the smell of alcohol but also this lovely brown sugar, molasses sweetness. Now replace that brown sugar note with chocolate and amp that chocolate to 11. That's what this smells like - rich, complex, dense with even a hint of smoke like whiskey peat (I know the notes say rum but that's how it feels!) This one blew me away. I imagined for a long time what it would smell like. I knew for a long time I'd like it. But I could not have guessed this. I could not have guessed how much I'd like it. For the very depth of winter - the colder the better. Masterpiece 10/10

You go into this wanting tobacco; remembering Chergui. But, wow. This is its own thing. Opening is delicious. Warm, boozy baking-chocolate tobacco. As it dries down, it gets more demure. Rather than expanding, it folds and fractals inward (?) Still warm, stays smoky, speaking softly. But it does speak. Like that quiet guest who, whenever you hear what they’re saying, strikes you by the beauty of their voice and the brilliance of their thoughts. Wearing this at the office on a cool, sunny February Monday. 5 hours in, and little check-ins with it on my wrist are nice. And, it’s still a comfortable and comforting presence with me as I travel into the afternoon.

I received a sample of this when I ordered Un Lys. I had zero expectations and was pretty sure I wouldn't like it, as I don't enjoy cacao as a note, and it's at the top of the pyramid here. Leave it up to Uncle Serge to create the first cacao fragrance I actually enjoy! Granted, it gets a lot of help from tobacco and a touch of rum, but whatever accord he has created works for me. As for purchasing a fb, I doubt I will, as it runs a little too masculine for my tastes, but will enjoy my sample and try to get my hands on a decent sized decant. As I write, the rum is coming on stronger, and it's lovely and very smooth.

A warm, textured scent that wraps you in dark rum, dry cocoa, and smooth tobacco. It’s rich but never feels heavy as the kind of smokiness leans on elegance, never ashy or harsh. I really enjoy how the gourmand opening softens into something more woody, smoky, and quietly powdery. Wearing it feels like stepping into a quiet lounge, leather chair, low light, and a glass in hand. It’s introspective, even a little nostalgic. Not flashy, but magnetic. Exactly the kind of atmosphere I like to wear when the evening slows down and the air cools. Found here a refined kind of darkness, done masterfully the Lutens way.

I don't have much to say except that this is the only fragrance to date with a large cocoa presence that I really like, and may potentially love. I can only attribute this to excellent blending, as I can't smell the bitterness I normally get with cocoa. It's a really nice fragrance from Leuten's less expensive line, with decent longevity and decent sillage. Looking to purchase a full bottle. PS - I just pulled the trigger and bought a bottle. I don't know if it has or is discontinued, but can't take a chance, as my favorite Luten of all time was quickly discontinued and now sells mostly on eBay for $200-300.

شروع این عطر بسیار تند و تیز و غلیظه که آدم رو پس می زنه اما باید کمی بهش فرصت بدید تا خودش رو نشون بده. استارت کار با فضای مشروبی غلیظ و شربت طور هست که توش وانیل و شکلات حل شده و یک وایب رز گون بالزامیک هم به وضوح داخل اش احساس میشه که پایداری نسبتا زیادی هم داره. بوی تنباکو سوخته و حس دودی که گاهی هم طعنه ای به عودی بودن می زنه اما بسیار زیبا و حساب شده اجرا شده. و پایانی دلربا از چینش حساب شده نت های شیرین وانیلی-کاکائویی که بسیار برای زمستون جواب میده. ارزش تست و خرید بالایی داره به نظرم. ********************** scent:8.5/10 longevity:8.5/10 sillage:7.5/10 purchase value:5.5/10 ********** overall:7.5/10

This reminds me of a combination of Ambre Sultan ,Dior Homme Intense and Chergui. Quite pleasant. This is not spicy. Not like Full Incense, Incense Avignon, Spice Bomb Extreme or Bois Mysterieux. Not even close. I detect a slight makeup scent. Almost as if they added Iris and Ambrette in it. It's not listed in the notes. It sort of has a light Dior Homme Intense EDP to it . But it's light. It is however more boozy than Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. There is Incense in this but it's light. The Cacao is very detectable and delicious. Out of all the Serge Lutens this is it.

It smells very good at the beginning when it has a specific darker smoky smell. But this disappears within 5 minutes or so. Then it is a sweet kind of smell that reminds me Bvlgari's Man In Black or Guerlain's L'Homme Ideal (2014), maybe a bit less sweet than these two. Since they're both good I can't complain about it overall but I expected the "Fumee" lasting much longer. But even the last phase disappears quickly, within an hour maximum, even quicker from shirt. The colour of my tester is dark grey, a colour of a scent I've never seen before.

i will start of by saying that if you were expecting chocolate, you will be dissapointed, you're getting max some dark cocoa and that's generous. with that out of the way its a great smokey tobbaco and RUM(emphasis on dat rum) fragrance that lasts a good 7 hours(projects for 3). in the opening you will get a pretty alcoholic smell(rum, but a pretty cheap one), but NEVER judge a fragrance by the opening, since after half an hour the rum somehow develops into a rich one and it becomes a lot smokier. tobacco also pops up! beautiful blend

I just received my 1 ml today. I immediately ordered for 3oz...lol. I don’t eat chocolate but I love the smell in fragrance! .ecrin de fumee is chocolate dessert in my nose and I it’s so pleasant. Uncle Serge line has been in my bucket list for 2 years. I buy other perfumes but I don’t know what was stopping me. I sampled feminite du bois, amber sultan, chergui, la participle passe and ecrin de fumee.. i love ecrine de fumee and amber sultan. Amber will be in my cart for future purchase, no rush.

Sophisticated sexy gourmand from the venerable French niche line showcasing a smoky tobacco in all its glory. The central note is surrounded by a lovely cacao note and boozy rum in the opening and as the scent dries down, woody smoky notes and synthetic musk. The unisex scent has moderate sillage and very good longevity. Like its name "smoke box" is an evocation of western gourmand decadence. It is effortless smooth elegance from the granddad of niche perfumery and so well done. Enjoy!

Very dry, very smoky, very old-style Lutens (it's a good thing). Wood shavings, dark cocoa powder (does it really smell like chocolate to you? I only get dark unsweetened cacao) and tobacco. The sweetness comes from a note which I guess is supposed to be rum and meanwhile it is a little boozy indeed, it reminds me more of the super thin burnt sugar layer on top of a creme brulee broken into splinters. I think it smells great, to me it's perfectly unisex.

As a fan, blind buy of this brand are always safe for me, but this one is 100% to my taste. It feels like the best combination of all my favorite SL fragrances ever released. On my skin it has a luxurious train (gets me a lot of compliments! ) And an almost eternal longevity! Throughout the wear, it seems to envelop you in the feeling of a "fashion journal" Definitely my favorite perfume for any season, as long as the temperature is below +17/+20°C

« Joie de vivre » is how a very classy vendor in a Serge Lutens boutique in Paris presented it to me. I breathed the fragrance in and in front of my eyes, I saw classy women in beautiful dresses, with gloves on and curly hair... burlesque atmosphere, a party in a bar, with cigars, old rhum and wooden chair. Absolutely amazing, I also have some leather notes on me. Cacao is there but not stealing the scene. I loved it since the first breath!

You smell it, you buy it, I warned you! So, I just bought it at Palais Royal boutique. It’s a gorgeous perfect familiar Serge Lutens. On my skin it’s powdery with dry cacao notes and a subtle tobacco. The boozy vibes at the beginning dries down in a perfect cozy blanket. It’s stunning. It is worth Gratte-ciel collection! And it’s true that there is something from Borneo and Fumerie Turque in it.

I bought this and instantly fell in love with it. I then heard how Vanille Havane is the “premium” version of this perfume and excitedly ordered a sample. Well, I disagree. VH is a great scent, but I’d say it’s closer to a premium version of something like Boss Bottled Absolu than Ecrin de Fumee. I much prefer the Lutens over the other two. It’s not as dense, but it smells much more addictive.

Just like the comments below....Really cant fault this....I was a little nervous, as its my first Serge Lutens and wasnt sure what to expect but really didnt need to be, as its very true to its notes....it has just enough rum, just enough gourmand and just enough tobacco to be very well balanced. I would say its suits an older person better (30 plus) but I would absolutely recommend....

This perfume takes me to a smoky brown café in Amsterdam or Paris. Woody, heavy, smoky, liquor can be smelled from guests' glasses, with some cold air whiffs infiltrating whenever the door opens. It makes me think of my favorite Amsterdam café, ***Cafe De Pels***, in the days people still smoked inside and you could sit around the big round table and contemplate life.

Rum, dark chocolate, tobacco, a dusting of ginger. This perfume has real character. I love Chergui and Ambre Sultan but this is even better. Probably best on cold days, or a posh but messy dinner at Boisdales or similar. At a stretch I could see a lady wearing this but my god its not for shrinking violets or girlies who like pretty boys and bubblegum gourmands. 5/5

I get a liquored tobacco. Such an incredible fragrance and one who has a cultured nose would love! I truly love this for a winter and Christmas fragrance. Very unisex. I get no vanilla, just a boozy tobacco! Serge Lutens is a such a phenomenal creator of fragrance and if you’ve been a fraghead as long as I have you would appreciate his creations! Excellent 10/10!

I am glad someone else referenced Black Gemstone. That is exactly what I felt in the first few moments. Then it develops into a chocolate boozy version of that profile. Great performance. Fantastic scent. This is certainly one I want in my collection. Probably not the best for the current heatwave. But, who cares. Wear what makes you happy.

There has not been a Serge Lutens fragrance that I haven't loved. As someone who loves whiskey and rums, this smells exactly like the most decadent smokey smooth aged whiskey. The sweetness becomes more prominent with time as the booziness wears off but it never becomes a simple gourmand. It feels classy in a femme fatale way.

it’s giving your dad threw a tire in the woodstove cus “who cares? no one will know” but in a good way. an excellent way. but do i want to smell like this? the antisocial contrarian in me says yes. gets a bit sweeter and boozier on the dry down at which point it becomes gorgeous. pulls masculine. sharp smoky rubbery

Boozy, woody opening. Dry tobacco and smooth cacao on the drydown. This literally smells like Le Labo Tabac & Diptyque Volutes had a lovechild - it's a better version of both Tabac and Volutes (I love both). Leans a little masculine but unisex enough for anyone to wear. Beautiful.

This is my favorite scent from the house. It’s boozy, smoky, woody, and incredibly good. It reminds me of stepping into a luxurious jazz club where the atmosphere is perfectly balanced. It’s a flawless fall and winter scent and I can’t wait to get a full bottle soon.

This is a fragrance that gives zero f#$ks. It is unapologetically strong and smoky, with that overarching scent of bitter, dark chocolate. I love it. It is very Lutens. Dark, enigmatic and unique. It is unisex and I can see myself wearing this in colder weather.

This took a few wearings to get my head around. At first, I couldn’t pick out any discernible notes, just amber/patchouli/incense? Now, it smells a lot like amaretto to me. Very distinct cherry/almond liquor note on top of dark chocolate. I love it.

This is gem! Imagine fancy club where you sit in heavy leather and wood chairs, smoking fancy cigars while enjoying glass of rum. It’s deep, dark and heavy. If you enjoy Black Phantom you will love this even more. Perfect for winter and nights out.

This is Jovoy Pavillion Rouge on steroids with a bit of chocolate smoke thrown in on a gorgeous powdery base. Absolutely beautiful. Instant top 5 for me, and certainly the best release of the year. Wish I'd bought the 100ml rather than the 50.

To me, this is a modern evolution of Chergui, more masculine but not by a lot. Not the same but in the same family. Darker and complex with a nice development over time. At first, boozy, then sweet tobacco and cocoa, followed by tonka/vanille.

opens as a photorealistic dark rum on me, very quickly turns chocolatey and delicious. reminds me of the chocolate truffles filled with jack daniels i bought myself for valentine’s day when i was 15 - this is a good thing

A masterpiece, it opens up with a blast of sweet cacao with some rum to balance it out. As it dries down the woods and smoky notes become more apparent while the rum fades out while the cacao is still a powerhouse. 9.5/10

Holy fuck this is good bruv I bought Chergui and got a sample of this. The more I try the sample, the more I think maybe I should have gotten this one instead Dark, mysterious and all that It might be a 10/10