Encens et Lavande

Encens et Lavande smells like a sobering realisation, a moment of nascent clarity emerging out of an otherwise extreme sadness (or, at least, solemnity). A bath for the mind (albeit one with cold water), it opens with a very austere but nevertheless relaxed lavender note. Here, sitting translucently above the incense, there is a faint impression of lavender soap, but by degrees the lavender fades to reveal more of the incense. Indeed, I find the more attention I pay to EeL the more incense I get, but if I go about my day I rediscover the lavender soap in occasional cooling breaths. It's such a living thing in this way, I find it flat as all hell on paper but on skin (or at least my skin) it twirls and dances like a sky of soft grey clouds. Indeed watching and appreciating this series of gestures is a big part of the enjoyment for me here. The incense specifically cannot be readily categorised into olibanum or myrhh and so is likely a blend of the two; with no sweetness, fruitiness or rubberiness, instead only gently sublimating smoke. It's so utterly tranquil and still that it would appear lifeless if it weren't for the constant subtle shifting of nuances, like watching a thousand rivers of incense sand of various shades of grey pooling in the centre of some existential hourglass. I get good longevity of around 5 hours from very tiny swatches from my 1ml on skin, and I'm confident that a full bell jar would last and perform better still. Bottled serenity, it would suit anyone man or woman. Encens et Lavande is a caress from a cold hand, and a puff of bluish smoke. Update: I have since gotten a bell jar of this and have been wearing it for several months. What a gorgeous scent this is, truly an antidote to our current age of constant stimulation and excess information. When I wear this, it's almost as if time stands still, with only the dust slowly shifting around, winter sunlight shining through the clouds and a soft, cooling breeze in total silence. So much peace loaded into so simple a fragrance

I have loved this fragrance since first smelling a small test decant over a year ago. I got lucky and someone I buy from on Ebay was going to Paris and offered to pick me up some perfumes. Of course I wanted a bell jar of Encens et Lavande. I know some folks think this is too simple a scent. However, as a lavender lover for years, I must say it is quite difficult to capture a true lavender this perfectly. Lutens lavender is fresh and lovely, like walking through a lavender field in the evening when everything has dried a bit in the sun. This is a living lavender scent, not a bunch of dead dried lavender sachets, which you get in so many fragrances. The incense is beautiful, just enough to keep the lavender from going over the top, but not enough to make it bitter. This is the quintessential lavender scent and I plan to wear it every night and most days as well until it's used up. For those who think this doesn't last, it does if you spray generously. I sprayed it on my pillow this morning before I left for work and 12 hours later I smelled Encens et Lavande when I walked into my bedroom this evening. Simple does not mean crudely or badly made. For me, simplicity is perfection in this gorgeous scent. Perfect for a man or woman.

Smoky with a hit and a half of lavender and even a hint of celery (I know, sounds odd but I get celery). This is typical SL - compelling, heady, sexy and addictive. Perfect for cold weather, I could happily wear this at Christmas-time. UPDATE: I am wearing this at the moment (free sample from SL) and I cannot stop catching the perfume as I type - tested on the back of my hand - OMG I need (and I mean NEED) to buy this! It develops fantastically well on my skin, I am completely hooked. For me, it's the equivilant of cat-nip for humans.

Beautiful unisex lavender! A tiny bit powdery but more photorealistic than anything. The lavender is sexy and dreamy. Church incense starts coming out at around 10 minutes, and when I say church incense, this is Mass on Palm Sunday, and I was raised Catholic, so this is visceral for me. At that point it is 3/4 incense, 1/4 lavender. The thickness of the incense and lavender put in the fall/winter category. This is potent stuff that lasts a long time-- like Catholic guilt! But I'm into this and have been smelling myself all day!

Heartbreakingly beautiful powdery aromatic that represents one of the most loveliest interpretations of the lavender note. The perfume opens briefly with notes of juniper berry, clary sage and rosemary before going into the firm lavender heart. As the perfume dries off one can detect the incense (a combination of myrrh and frankincense). The unisex scent has moderate sillage and very good longevity. A masterclass in perfumery. Enjoy!