Fumerie Turque

Steamy, skanky, smoky shisha bliss sweetened up just the right amount with some extra aromatics. Makes me think of the overheated harem-fantasy paintings of Ingres or Delacroix - it's still very much a Frenchified, perfumed-up, more feminine and less authentic version than the Middle Eastern reality, but the overwhelming sensuality and beauty make it a gorgeous imaginary world of its own. Fleshy and femme and just verging on kitsch. No doubt about it, there's a definite, dirty, nearly urinous tinge in the first hour or so, but the herbal/floral notes are lush and fragrant enough to waft you through it. There's enough sweetness from the rose/vanilla/tonka tinges that I got lost in the haze and wondered 'lavender' for a minute, but no it's not there. Very very Lutens, very big, and won't be for everyone. Powerhouse stuff - its intensity might get a little much in really hot weather and if any of the main notes (honey, tobacco) are awkward for you, this might suffocate. I already have a lovely, gentler and much cheaper honey/tobacco in Phaedon's Tabac Rouge, so don't feel the need to chase this one, but there's no dispute the Lutens is leagues more complex and interesting - those little tangs of redcurrant and juniper are masterful touches. Upscale option for a very upscale price, then, but I'd jump on a discounted or partial bottle in a heartbeat. Unisex for those who love both real strong tobacco and powerful sweetness. Performance is really strong at first - great billowing clouds of that humid redolent leaf - but the sillage does die back to less-befuddling levels within 2h. Hangs around as skin scent and on fabric for ages. If someone else footed the bill I'd like to spend rather a lot of time lounging around on this fantasy divan in my finest Turkish silk smoking jacket and slippers soaking in the louche luxe of it all. Absolutely swashbuckling. ETA: got lucky to bag a partial (and probably quite old) bell jar, which might have ripened and got even fleshier, bossier and more urinous over time - but is killingly gorgeous and has lost none of the top notes or the intrigue. It's HUGE and lasts all day; but definitely something I wear for my own pleasure only and wouldn't inflict on people at work. Recently got a tiny black official sampler, which must be of the new formulation, which is much much milder (?weaker?) and gentler, more acceptable all round, but doesn't have the sheer voluptuous heft of the vintage. Be warned - if my nose don't lie, the new formulation is still a great scent but doesn't have such a great big fleshy bottom. and yes the pun is intended.

I love this fragrance and the whole backstory of it. Now that it has been let out of captivity again, after being locked up in the Palais Royale for many years, the juice seems different to me. Now in the Gratte Ciel collection, then when it was available in the old bottles. Even before it went back to the Bell jars. The smokey notes seem more pronounced now and its sweet but softer. Sweet Juniper berries, red currant, is that what enhances the tobacco? It is better quality. Am I imagining that? I don't think so. It has been years since I tried it. And when I tried it before, then it wasn't memorable like it is to me now. I liked it but it didn't impress me like now. No shade intended, I am just speaking from my experience of trying it all over again a few weeks ago. It was like I had never tried it before. I love the scent of tobacco and hookah. And how he recreates the illusion of Opiates with this one. This is truly outstanding. A masterpiece. My second thought after trying this one is remembering the Cartier Ouds. Oud & Oud, Oud & Musc. If you ever get a chance, compare this one to those two. I swear its the same DNA. (The only difference is those were about $600 Canadian. I purchased them the year they came to Ogilvy in Montreal). My second thought was actually, "Are Mathilde Laurent & Christopher Sheldrake sleeping together? Whispering secrets in each others ears at night?" Because they have eerily created fragrances quite similar to each other but different enough to not be exact copycats. Is this just a happy coincidence? I'm not sure, but I have loved the Cartier "Oud & Oud" for a long time! (Even though it is a very light Oud). There is no Oud in this, but compare them. You will find that they both, well all three smell like luxury to me. But it's the sort of luxury not everyone "gets". Some people think old gypsy woman, some people think sexy Arabic man. It takes a while before it sinks in and you either grow to love them, or you still don't understand them. But yes, they are quite similar. I am holding back from saying they are the same.

Some words to describe Fumerie Turque: rustic, wistful, enchanting, sepia-toned, erotic. The sweet decay of autumn, the deep freeze of winter, the early stirring of spring—the textures fit all of these seasonal phases. In fact, on this chilly winter day, I opened the windows in my office, if only for a bit, to complement the aroma that fills the space. The crisp, biting air complements it; a counterpoint to its honeyed warmth and plumes of sweet tobacco smoke. Brrr, that's enough, closing the windows! Enough cold air has been captured to sustain this effect, and now I detect something that reminds me of dormant cranberry bogs; the scent of dried sweet grass under the sun; cups of hot chamomile tea for a weary mind. The aura is robust but never heavy and certainly not oppressive (for that, see Naxos). This one has shadows of raw realism and almost tactility (something Christopher Sheldrake often captures so well). Further in, it even turns more incense-like, particularly with the combination of benzoin and styrax. I agree with another reviewer that this imparts the feel of Papier d'Armenie and its slow, stirring burn. The tobacco is saturated and throaty, with hints of red tea and damp herbs. It is the stirring carnal undercurrent further into its development that attracts me the most, however, as if a warm body after some salty sweat and toil needs some good old grubby passionate lovin.' I imagine the foreplay that commences would smell just like this. Mmmm.

SERGE LUTENS - FUMERIE TURQUE To better understand and appreciate this masterpiece of perfumery, you might have to visit one of Turkey's eastern neighbors. Those of you who are familiar with incense paper, also known as "Papier d'Armenie", will understand, as this is really what Fumerie Turque is all about.. This aromatic, smoky oriental incense paper is definitely the cornerstone to this fragrance. At first spray, you are immediately transported to that corner of the globe, evoking a smoking lounge with a thick cloud of fruity tobacco smoke, mixed with the true star of this delicious aroma, which is the styrax. The use of the benzoin here feels leathery and dry, almost like cacao powder floating in the air while the dense smoke dances around you.. Once the initial blast calms down, the honey joins the pyramid, alongside the sweet, aromatic chamomile, further projecting us in a peacful, blissful, appeasing place.. I have never traveled to Istanbul, yet this is exactly what I imagine a quiet, early evening smoking lounge would smell like, while the fruity tobacco and incense paper fill the air, and the whiffs of the baklava shop next door come to visit once in a while... A rich, evokative, smooth and memorable journey into one of perfumery's most underrated fragrances.. Definitely a must-try any oriental incense fragrance lovers. This is truly a gem, and perfect for any weather a soon as the sun goes down..

When I first bought it, I was disappointed because it was not as good as I remembered it. I wore it nonetheless, but the more I wore it the more I liked it. After a week of feeling so and so about it, I started really liking it. Now, a month after my purchase, this has become my HG and my most used perfume. I can't say how much I love this perfume: it's cosy, calming, serene and addictive without being sweet or cloying. I can't stop smelling my wrist while wearing this and it lasts and lasts all day, although it stays close to the skin all the time. All I can smell is tobacco and vanille and just maybe a hint of honey. It's certainly not the most feminine of smells, but being a person who doesn't like to smell like others do or as others would expect me to (I certainly look like a florals' person) I find this my ideal perfume. The only other perfumes that have moved me as much and stuck with me for months were Passage d'Enfers and Ambre Fetiche. Definitely worth trying more than once, since it might require some time to get used to. Surprisingly too, others have liked it on me from the start, as it reminds them of an elegant, classy and very slightly masculine soap. This is all I wanted the Chergui to be, which alas is way too sweet for me to love.

Fierce, sweet & savoury oriental enrobed in veils of smoke. If you are looking for the pervasive perfume of a Nargile lounge you have found it. An almalgum of old-fashioned, rose-scented powder compacts, club smoke machines, pot pourri, old church pews & dust assaults my senses on first blast. My initial view of this scent is far from favourable - but wait, the magic is yet to begin! Within minutes a curl of smoke snakes from my skin - I can almost feel the dry heat from the burning coals. It is intense, realistic & I love it. Can you powder puff charcoal smoke? I believe Christopher Sheldrake has succeeded! FT settles into a more tame, smokey, balsamic scent of sweet tobacco, hay, candlewax with a touch of refined (not animalic) leather & warm skin. The sillage is inoffensive but the lasting power is good. If you don't do somersaults for intense smokey scents - steer clear. I adore the scent of bonfire on my skin, love the smell of smouldering charcoal before the BBQ begins & the sweet, fragrant smoke from a Hookah pipe. This fragrance has my nose a-twitch. In summation: truly a "'fume", an ode to the Nargile. A dense, dry, smokey scent with a touch of brown sugar sweetness & spice. Magic, daggers, smoke & mirrors - hooked.

I got my bell jar in 2016, so I am not sure whether I have a reformulated version or not, and IDK whether it was ever reformulated...in any case, this is by far the loveliest tobacco perfume out there. It’s unusual in that it’s so delicate. To me it’s not rich, there’s no vanilla, it’s not syrupy or full of spices. There’s a really subtle wisp of smokiness in the top and heart. It’s a light, sweetened tobacco with a tinge of red berry, or maybe red currant. In the drydown traces of leather and dried culinary herbs float to my nose. It’s not a big fragrance, it’s somehow clean, refined and delicate. The opposite of Tobacco Vanille. It makes Tobacco Vanille seem flashy, like something worn by guys to a club, while I can imagine Fumerie Turque on Prince William as he discusses world events with a foreign dignitary in an oak paneled room. They’re holding brandy snifters, and the Prince’s demeanor is fairly reserved. Fumerie Turque is wonderful as soon as the weather cools down and will take you into the Holidays very nicely. Sillage is cozy and personal and won’t infringe on others’ personal space. Lasts the entire day on me with one spray to each wrist (I decant my bell jar into an atomizer). One for tobacco aficionados.

I just got a full bottle, the tall black bottle. The website says last chance, not sure if that means it will be discontinued, but it definitely pushed me to pull the trigger. I definitely get some tobacco, but don't let that deter you if you don't like tobacco, because this is sweet enough to be enjoyed by anyone. This is not a vanillin bomb, but the vanilla and honey are present. It doesn't smell artificial at all. It definitely has that soothing chamomile effect, but it is dosed with patchouli. I sampled this before I bought it, because I generally hate patchouli. It smells like a dirty hippie. This doesn't go that way at all. It's tasteful and well blended, IMO. I would say the main accord breakdown is extremely accurate and this is for sure blind buy worthy. I have 200 or something fragrances and this would definitely go in my top 30, top 5 if we're talking about sweet fragrances. I would not say this is a gourmand. It goes in the direction of le Male Elixir, but this is for sure an upscale version. This doesn't smell of anything artificial at all. It is very photorealistic. 9.6/10

Version: Palais Royale (not the newer one with "SL" icon). My nose was overwhelmed with honeyed baby powder, upon first exposure, making me feel ready to cast this off and chalk it up as another SL fragrance that does not appeal to me. But thankfully I gave it time. Valuable time it needed into the dry down, where the powdery note fades off to reveal the honeyed tobacco & vanilla with floral accompaniment. There's just the slightest animalic quality for me, which seems to be an accord (not a literal animalic note), so I can't understand why it would be perceived as a civet bomb by some people.. Patchouli is nearly silent in its support of this composition. I can sort of pick up on the juniper berries, but wouldn't have known they were there without seeing them in the list. It's deceptively simplistic, until you let it macerate in your nostrils. For me, it's the best and truest "fresh dried tobacco" scent I've ever experienced. This is a wonderful fragrance that I'd say feels like it deserves a spot near two other phenomenal SL fragrances: Chêne and Muscs Koublai Khan . Rating: 9.3/10

This fragrance feels grand! This is something people in the Middle East would wear to a wedding or a very important social function like a reception at the Royal palace. It reminds me of my childhood in the Middle East, as people really care about appearances there. It's even reflected in architecture, where the biggest and most lavish room in most homes is the "Guest reception" or Saloon as it is called. You want to impress and dazzle the guests with generosity and endless dishes, while they sit in luxury furniture adorned by gold and situated on top of Italian marble. It can very well be the only room/section in the home that has Italian marble floors. That's how important appearances are back home 😁 Back to the scent, It's grand and unapologetic, and the tobacco in it is warm, aromatic and so vivid! It is definitely one of the best tobacco fragrances, if not The Best. The resinous styrax and the honey gives it warmth and such coziness, it's guaranteed to warm your soul on a cool autumn day. 🍂🍁 A video review is also available on my YT ▶️

This was a blind buy for me when I saw a good deal on a bell jar. I was not expecting to love it because of the varying reviews, but it is absolutely amazing. Super complex, and, like smoke, deep and rich yet airy. The perfect balance of honey-tobacco-vanilla. I honestly think this blows Tobacco Vanille out of the water (and I own TV and love it). Also, it is perfectly unisex- I could see both men and women pulling this off. As a fan of feminine sweet scents, I do not feel this is too manly for me. But my boyfriend also loves it and he doesn't care for girly fumes. This seriously has had me glued to my wrist all day.... HIGHLY recommended. Funny thing is though, I could swear I've smelled something extremely similar to it. And I have-- Andy Tauer's new Vanilla Flash is VERY close to it, at least as far as my perception goes. Worth checking out if you like this fume.

I so wanted to find this for a while, and a couple months ago I managed to find it at Barney's. The good news was that they had it, though it was the last bottle and opened. I tried a sample and within minutes I was completely captivated by this. It was the sweet smell of honey and spices along with tobacco, and really captures the essence of a hookah bar. This was the most robust yet sweet smell I could imagine, a truly gourmand tobacco scent. The combination with tonka bean, suede, rose, spices, juniper berries and red currant is one of a kind. This is a simply gorgeous and elegant scent, reminiscent of a gentleman's club with worn leather chairs the the smell of fresh tobacco from a pipe. What an adventure! This is a fragrance that will have you smelling your wrist all day, reminding you and transporting the wearer to a fabulous journey.

I do enjoy smoking water pipe (hookah) once in a while, and the top notes of Fumerie Turque is so realistic that I even feel the taste of pulverised charcoal in my mouth. Very smoky, interesting and still both soft and lingering opening. I feel like I ́ve just enjoyed a great, tast turkish dinner and ends the feast with smoking hookah and eat loads of turkish bakery, baklava and much to much of turkish delight, loukhoum. I ́ve sit back on soft, velvet pillows and there is candles and insence burning and gold laced glasses filled with hot and sweet turkish tea. Like being a part of romatic and adevntourus orientalic story, like Thousand and one nights, maybe... but not as good as Sherazadeh to tell stories, even tough Fumerie Turque help my imagination a lot on the way. Have you tried it? No? What are you waiting for, get a samples asap!

equilibrato e complesso, questo profumo, ormai pressochè introvabile se non nella boutique parigina di SL, a ragione è considerato una pietra miliare nella profumeria di nicchia. per me è IL profumo al tabacco, e di tabacco al miele sa. le prime note dolci, ma non vanigliate, sono sotenute da un bouquet legnoso/aromatico ancorchè resinoso (probabilmente per la giustapposizione tra storace, ginepro e fave di tonka). timidi si fanno strada sentori leggermente floreali accompagnati da impressioni di cuoio che scompaiono rapidamente. la nota predominante di tabacco al miele rimane comunque ben distinguibile per tutta l'evoluzione, senza che sia in alcun modo edulcorata dal resto ma essendo, piuttosto,lo sfondo su cui spuntano e spariscono altre essenze accessorie. ottimo.

Fumerie Turque should be set apart from the many fine tobacco fragrances that garner more attention and often share many of the same same note profiles. What sets Sheldrake's masterpieces apart are notes like juniper berries and camomile. It is, as a result, fruitier and more subtle. Sure it has vanilla as do many tobacco heavyweights, but styrax and suede are other uncommon notes. Like so many Lutens scents, this one is also special because of its blending. This can be worn in any season, day or night. It has moderate silage and good longevity. It leans male but not by much. I encourage more people who love tobacco scents to seek this one out. It is pricy but so are some of the other more name brand tobacco scents.

Dirty Tobacco, some honey, a bit of leather, smoke and maybe a spit or two...that's what I feel Fumerie Turque is. I like the scenes that this smell makes me think of. I agree with those who think of jazz clubs at 4 a.m., when musicians are getting drunk on the tables with their leather suitcases at their feet. Waiters are cleaning glasses, hookers looking for their last client and a writer watching the whole scene with a bottle of bourbon on the table, a shortened pencil and a dirty moleskine notebook in his hands. I think this is a scent for enjoy by yourself while reading a book at home or writing something in a Starbucks imagining some kind of dirty story. One of the best Lutens' I've tried.

A masterpiece. Art in a bottle. The first spray I witnessed how realistically it transforms into a pure smoke. You can smell it but cant see it. It brought a smile on my face. Its the best smoke perfume ever. Dried fruits and beeswax are delicious and lend a gourmandic feel to it. Very nutty as well. Sweet but not cloying at all. Smoke keeps it light and airy yet complete and strong. Tobacco and leather give this a body. A very well balanced perfume. I quickly got my hands on a bottle after trying a sample and learning it won't be available anywhere except their boutique in France. It lasts for days on fabric. This smoke does remind of a smoking hookah pipe. Splendid. Verdict: Really?! 10/10

Oriental...almost barbershop kind of a scent. The Suede, Patchouli and tonka bean give this scent a warm but retro kind of feel, and the Chamomile, honey and vanilla offer sweetness as well as brightness. The honey, chamomile, juniper berries make this scent slightly powdery and floral. The tobacco is more of a hookah tobacco, combined with styrax and rose makes this composition gentlemanly and masculine. Well suited for fall and early winter months. One of the best tobacco fragrances I've tried. I would love to see an intense version of this. Only draw backs are a bit with the performance and the price. This is harder to find and expensive. I suggest getting a sample

I only received a sample of Fumerie Turque with another Lutens product, and now I feel the need to buy a bottle of my own. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. Upon first spray I was put off by what seemed like a powdery, mature incense. However after trying it again, the honey took center stage (without being sickly) and the incense dry down feels sophisticated, warm, elegant – yet unpretentious. The powder notes are welcomed now. I would trust and be curious about whoever wore this around me. I feel more confident on days I wear Turque. It is definitely more of a winter/fall/early spring fragrance. Lucky for me, winter is hanging on in Southern California.

I Feel like I am in a Delacroix painting wearing it(sometimes Femmes d'Alger, sometimes La Mort de Sardanapale). The only fragrance that truly tells me a story, I can't stop smelling it, this is almost like an obsessional poison. Nothing like this one. The fragrance is about honey tobacco, smoke, velvet cushion, beautiful flowers, silk and satin, opulence and serenity at the same time. A beautiful goddess with gold on her wrists, fingers, ankles, her hair smells like incense, hookah and a little bit of dust too... The longevity is forever on clothes and hair, very long on the skin. If someone sell the 50ml version, I am very interested!