La Myrrhe

One of Lutens’s first releases, and still, even today, a bit of an oddball. Three points to get out of the way: 1) If it weren’t for the aldehydes, it wouldn’t be that weird at all. 2) It has more to do with being a jasmine amber perfume than a myrrh-forward perfume. Even if you don’t care for myrrh, you may still like this perfume. 3) Quite a bit of the character has been lost in reformulations over its 30-year lifespan, which might lend to my last statement in point number two. The oddball nature starts with the opening, when a brace of aldehydes and mandarin orange swirl like pixie dust over the woods of a magical forest. This doesn't really work, but it works well enough to pique your attention. Yes, the mandarin is supposed to be representative of myrrh's fruity aspect but it's a bit too literal for an immediate and natural connection in your nose's mind. Lying in wait, quietly but still quite present even in the opening, is the resinous incense and woody plinth that is the foundation of La Myrrhe. Aldehydes over fruit and/or florals was/is hardly anything new, but aldehydes over resins and woods certainly was and still is pretty unusual to this day. In typical SL style the opening drops off quite quickly but not immediately to the heart. There are time and distance between them while the top fades and a big jasmine heart slowly but assuredly builds. They are well choreographed in their exchange of places on the amber plinth, but, sure enough, the jasmine builds itself up to be large, citrusy, and certainly white floral. There is a bridge between this luminous white floral note and the resinous base in the form of heliotrope, adding a bitter and metallic sheen - the light glinting off of myrrh resin - to make sure the plinth, and the jasmine upon it, are all the more contrasted. The jasmine and heliotrope are dripped with a light, bright, Arabian honey sliding in little drops down the petals. In new formulations this jasmine heart is quite a bit louder than the original formulation. It gets big enough to nearly drown-out the amber base - but that's also due to another matter, which we'll get to in a second. At any rate, here we have La Myrrhe's true nature: a jasmine amber. It's achingly pretty, and though it is fairly loud, and the contrasts pretty stark, there is a calm and meditative character to it that always gives me a feeling of peace. Despite being a bit out of balance these days, enough of La Myrrhe's DNA is intact for it to still be, unequivocally, La Myrrhe. The dry down to the skin scent is when the titular character makes itself more known. Don't reach for this perfume expecting myrrh smoke at any point in the perfume's life, you won't find it. After the jasmine departs the heliotrope bridge remains and leads you to the resinous myrrh, sandalwood and balsams, i.e. general amber notes. The myrrh is there - slightly medicinal and a little funky, resinous and sticky - but it's an accent to the sandalwood amber, which I've always pulled more out of this perfume than myrrh. Another difference to the original formulation is that the base is compressed. The original had a broad-spectrum hum, where the myrrh and woods were bigger, and it gently but powerfully vibrated like your teeth would do when you hit the right frequency of an Eastern prayer. In this new formulation, the vibrating and penitent hum is more of a din. The same can be said for the perfume as a whole, and it is generally the direction most of the original Lutens line-up have gone in the last decade or so. Like Feminite du Bois, La Myrrhe used to have a large range of harmonic and choral frequencies: ringing treble, warm and supple mids, and an aching cello like range at the bottom of both tenor and baritone lows. Today, the classics like FdB and LM are a bit less ringing treble, far less tenor and baritone, and focusing more on the mids - and, noticeably quieter in volume. This change to the Lutens classics seems to coincide with when Lutens shifted the direction of his brand to lighter, quieter perfumes and began the Eauxs line. The classics have gone from a warm, dynamic vinyl recording to a highly-compressed mp3. How much of this was by choice or by force, or a combination thereof, would have to be answered by Lutens and Sheldrake but to some degree it would be due to both factors. So, a fair bit of criticism and disappointment levied here, but is La Myrrhe still any good? Yes, of course it is. It's still stunning. This peevish codger is letting nostalgia get the best of him, even though my disappointment is valid. If you have never smelled an original formulation you would still think this is a masterpiece. Despite the natural heft and the odd juxtapositions of the materials and accords presented, La Myrrhe has always had this ability to put me in a meditative state, like I've been quietly, calmly, and gently pushed into mind-warping territories by a spiritual sensei - passers-by having no idea that this man sitting cross-legged and statuesque on the floor, eyes shut, is having a revelation.

It's time to review this work of art... after one year of having it, I find myself as impressed with the smell as confused about what to say about it... so I guess it won't change in the future. I loved La Myrrhe right from the start even though not in the usual way one says "This is great I'll wear it often!". It was more of a surprise as in "How have they been able to make such magic potion?". I had read people saying it is hard to wear and I wanted that not to be true but indeed there is something about La Myrrhe that makes it a bit too much for casual use. It strikes me as a masterpiece given its ethereal vibe which is a mix of a few elements that are so perceivable on their own (almond, aldehydes, soft tangerines candy and above all myrrhe) but so well blended that create a deep and complex mix. I don't agree this is linear at all. It drives you through many different stages which are not opposite amongst them though so it is however true that once you enter this cloud, you get trapped there and it can suffocate if you don't meditate twice of the occasion to experience it. One example: this is just annoying in summertime because it lasts for AGES, with huge sillage and all those smells here mentioned (bath bubbles, cleaning products, sweet soaps, etc) will convert this transparent cloud in a hail storm. Also: don't be cheated by the apparent softness of the mix, this is one of the most potent Lutens and it must be applied lightly. The myrrh takes over and it can get really oppressive if overdone. Like having applied all of your luxurious soap on your body without rinsing it out. Talcy nightmare. Now, I believe this is a unisex fragrance, I think it is memorable on a man if he uses it correctly and lightly (well dressed and charmingly, with soft fabrics) and on women I tend to see this for the older crowd... maybe because the only people ravishing about this have been my friends' mums and grandmothers. One of them phoned me 2 weeks after applying some on her scarf to confess she wouldn't wash it until the strong smell wear off. She may be still waiting. It smells fabulous and unique in a perfume concept but I highly advice you to go for a sample since otherwise you may have that bottle until 2050. And even if this sounds obvious, let me say you must LOVE myrrh on its own since this is the deepest it can get.

One of the most peculiar perfumes from Serge Lutens is La Myrrhe. There are days when I love it and days when I don't, but I can't deny its uniqueness and beauty. I also feel that, unlike most perfumes from the house, La Myrrhe is among the few who suffered the most over the years, scent-wise. For these reasons, I could not part with it. It fascinates me. It is a perfume of strong contrasts. Warm and inviting, cold and spiritual. Effervescent and diffusive, deep and grounded. And as the name suggests, the main protagonist here is Myrrh. Over the years, I have found that few perfumes managed to capture the array of flavors this resin exudes. Often paired with other stronger resins as an adjuvant and plenty of times, improperly showcased. Here, justice has been done. The full spectrum of the resin is captured and integrated into a composition cleverly put together. The issue with the post-2010 bottles, I find, is that the base feels thin in comparison to the older versions, shifting toward the incomplete spectrum for me, while the other notes seem to compete against the myrrh note, specifically the jasmine. The latter feels significantly stronger with the modern iterations. The version I am acquainted with feels resinous, deep, and grounded, throughout the entire time. Sheldrake decided to play this game of contrasts on top of the thick myrrh base. Cold, diffusive aldehydes lead the opening, shortly supported by a spicy mandarin accord. A dispersive mass of spicy and cold facets, with a sharpness piercing through. Like a silver dagger stabbing through the mist. In the heart, it becomes more balanced, as a lotus flower accord unfolds with its characteristically soft and green, almost watery odor. From diffusive and sharp, to translucent and serene. A pastel-like honey note caresses the florals, and just a tinge of metallic and bitter almond helps to keep the contrast alive. Finally, the myrrh takes over the last stage, with a wide spectrum of flavors that is usually attributed to this material: nutty, bitter-sweet, resinous, smoky, spicy, and root-beerish. It becomes deep and grounded, starkly contrasting the previous stages, their colors and textures. A fascinating take on the note of Myrrh. Even though not everyone's cup of tea, it's hard to deny its beauty. IG:@memory.of.scents

Early on in my perfume journey, a kind fragrantician sent me a decant of La Myrrhe as I was interested in the house of Serge Lutens. My very inexperienced nose was not precisely ready to fully appreciate this scent. Still, I did enjoy it and would very occasionally offer myself a single spray. It was soapy and reminded me a bit of Chanel No 5 which, to that point, I'd not yet been able to reconcile my olfactories! However, this autumn, La Myrrhe has begun to serenade me with her siren song. There are few fragrances I've experienced which equal the warm sophistication found in La Myrrhe. Did I say warm? Yes, and yet there is also something cold and aloof about it at the very same time. At the outset, La Myrrhe is a strong soapy blast, reminding me of aldehydes, but this quickly fades. I don't recommend more than one or two of the briefest sprays of this elixir unless you are hoping to faint. As soon as that initial blast fades, I am rewarded with a sweetening. Yes, there is a medicinal tinge, but it is quickly to be followed by the honeyed orange, softened really. And then, before I know it, this fragrance has seduced me. I'm lost, unable to keep my arm from my nose. It is intoxicating. I'd expect to catch whiffs of this on a classy woman in a tailored red suit, black accents with a stunning hat with a wide brim, her hair neatly at the base of her neck in a chignon kohl lining her eyes and red gracing her lips. She's beautiful, staggeringly so, yet unapproachable. She catches your eye and offers a private smile, then off she goes in the waiting jaguar on the curbside.

On my skin, this smells like slightly soured yogurt and bubblegum - and I love it! It's definitely a strange fragrance, but a beautiful one. In contrast to a lot of Lutens' scents, which are more opulent and heavy, this one is transcendent and shimmering. I agree with others who say the aldehydes are stunning here. I'm not usually a fan of aldehydic fragrances (Chanel No. 5 and I are famously frosty), but here they work to give the whole fragrance a gorgeous lift - taking notes that could have been weighty, medicinal and all-too soapy and giving them an expansive radiance. There *is* a sort of soaped-up cleanness to this fragrance, but no one could mistake it for an out-of-the-shower scent. Rather, it smells/feels a little like the cleanness of snowfall on an early winter morning. I think the 'yogurt' I get on my skin is an effect of the mandarin but honestly, weird as it sounds, I really like this aspect. It makes an otherwise other-worldly fragrance seem more human and fit for skin. I'll never be able to write a review that does this justice, so these ramblings will have to suffice! Edit: I passed up a chance to swap for this fragrance (because I thought the swap was biased in my favor - and it would have been!), and I've been kicking myself ever since. Next time it crosses my path, I won't be so foolish!

This one intrigues me, and I am curious to hear if anyone else has experienced this. After the initial scent opening, about a minute after applying, I couldn't smell anything. Strangely enough, I knew it was there. I could "sense" it, so I tried to be careful and not put too much on, but I have no way of knowing how others around me felt about this fragrance, if they even noticed. I couldn't smell it! I've never had this happen to me before. I could feel it, however. It glides onto the skin, onto one's pulse points like silk, like a golden sunlight silk, and almost tingles (in an "emotional reaction" way, not allergic reaction, lol), like a veil has brushed past your skin...to put this on is to truly anoint yourself. Hours later I could finally smell it, and it was a soft, sweet and mellow spice with a hint of tangerine. How interesting. I am not sure but is this what is meant by "anosmic"??? I think I like this. I am grateful for the experience!

It took me some time to figure out what this one reminded me so strongly about. Now I`ve finally get it: The bubble bath`s of my early childhood! To be specific, around 1980-81. We had a pink bathtub (supercool at that time) and I remember that I loved the sight of the bubbles but, got disappointed when I tasted them and/or the stinging in my eyes. I have some of the same feeling with La Myrrhe. It fascinates me in a way and it`s something in there that attractes me only, it is too harsh and soapy on my skin. Bet it is beautiful on somebody else! Update 3/9 2012: Don`t know what has happened, maybe my sense of smell has developed, or that my change of diet is the reason, but I absolutely love La myrrhe! The harshness I felt before is gone and it strikes me as a kind of a crossover between soapy and dark/spicy. Have never smelled anything like it!

A melancholic and dark scent, heavy, very iridescent, like a precious stone. It's warm and cold at the same time. I like how it opens up in the cooler months. In warm weather it loses a bit of its zest and can become tiring. Of course, this is personal preference, but it seems to make bad weather days beautiful and that's when it reveals its essence. My bottle from 2018, but i first tried it in 2013, right around the time song "I Appear Missing" by Queens of the Stone Age came out, and now these two pieces of art are tightly linked in my head. It's literally this song in a bottle. Such outstanding quality will never raise questions about the high price. There are so many new fragrances now, your eyes run up. And in order to maintain the bar and not drag mediocrity into ones house, it is worth reminding yourself more often about such masterpieces.

La Myrrhe opens very familiar; classic, clean, aldehyde (Chanel 5), gradually melting into musky citrus fruits (Piguet Baghari). The orris/powder note is replaced with myrhh; sharp and clear, resinous star of the composition is paired with recognizable Lutens' menthol note (Tubereuse Criminelle), leading the way towards the spicy jasmine sweetness and sandalwood oriental base. The way I see it, the (in)famous menthol note is a turning point of the whole composition, dividing it on two very different parts - aldehyde and oriental - making the whole thing appear very striking, somewhat rough in transition and modern/simplified with a twist, hence typical Lutens. Classic aldehyde fragrances fans might enjoy, but quite as much dislike this. Opulent floral-oriental fans friendly. Different and bold interpretation of a classic.

I adore Myrrhe...I have Myrrhe Ardente and enjoy it! I just received this. It is all and more than I thought it would be. I do with Lutens were a little stronger and lasted longer. I have heard that this one is love or hate. For the life of me I cannot understand how anybody could dislike this! It blows me away. I see that people also post that it is hard to wear? HUH? To me it is a breeze! I even have the urge to add it to other scents when I put them on. I am upset that I cannot easily go out and purchase this one in the United States! This is beautiful and mysterious and wonderful! Thanks Christopher Sheldrake! This is a "go to" scent for me. Another masterpiece!! <3 <3 <3

i had been looking forward to this for some time and had a certain idea of what it might smell like. bought the jar totally blind and, well, hit the aldehydic jackpot! it does soar but the soil/mineral earthiness of the myrrh really gives it true simultaneous duality. this is quality art in a bottle and what longevity (with ideal sillage)! i don't really get the connection to No.5 beyond the initial aldehydes. la myrrhe is a masterpiece of simplicity, concision and contemplation. it's a scen i always want around for that once in-a-blue-moon occasion when purity and transcendence are in order.... merci serge!

Gorgeously different incense scent. The scent opens with aldehydes, mandarin, pepper and spices. The heart is the central myrrh note surrounded by hints of lotus, almond, honey, and jasmine. The perfume settles on a bed of synthetic musk surrounded by hints of sandalwood and amber. The perfume is a master work of blending and immediately evokes a feeling of peace, contentment and reverence. The unisex scent has moderate sillage and projection and very good longevity. Yet another masterpiece from Serge Lutens. Enjoy!

Serge Lutens La Myrrhe (1995) - resinous aldehydes - #christophersheldrake along with his expertise working with Chanel, creates a different take on the famous No 5 and Myrrh as an ingredient. This isn’t a smoky and resinous amber that most would recognize, but a sparkling and spicy aldehydic perfume. I also get different smell facets such as root beer, jasmine and almond on a base of Sandalwood and White musk. One of the best Sheldrake has created and even after being created in the 90’s, still modern and unique.

La Myrrhe is truly a strange structure: "A dressing table of No. 5-type aldehydes" "Here it is, Serge Lutens Cathedral" First half: Chanel No. 5's phantom zone The aldehydes are strong. Second half:Serge Lutens scent (official) You feel like you're back! Sandalwood, incense, and amber all combined to create a dark chapel-like scent with warm wooden floors. It's like a "talisman melting on the skin"...it's addictive.

All Serge Lutens scents are marvellous, but they lack staying power, sillage. I wish this could be corrected, but perhaps it is the politics of Shiseido - Japanese women are sensitive and dislike "strong" scents, but since the company took over Serge Lutens, too much water has been added to the expensive bell jars. I regret this infinitely because the perfumes themselves are unbeatable.

I see the references to Chanel No 5 and No 22 - and maybe that's what draws me to this scent. I was a No 22 wearer for decades. Alas, thanks to IFRA, the scent is no longer what it was. Then I discovered La Myrrhe. I had a small sample; the vial of which I continued to bring to my nose long after the contents were gone. It must be the aldehydes. They get me every time.

I'm not exactly sure how to describe this one. It's definitely aldehydic, and I get myrrhe, but it's definitely a unique interpretation of it. Maybe cola-like? I think it's the medicinal facet of myrrhe I'm getting with that vibe. It's strange but I love it, I'm definitely going to try to get a fb of this. Weird and wonderful.

I adore this fragrance! I always think of it as a Chanel no 5 flanker. Something like “no 5 - l'eau sacrée”. Aldehydes + myrrh = heaven!

I love the myrrh and i tested practically all perfumes based on myrrh on the market. Over time i have identified three myrrh which I believe are absolutely the best on the market: Myrrhe Ardente by Goutal, mostly myrrh and nothing else (beautiful). Fahrenheit Absolute (excellent), non a pure "myrrh scent" but a scent where myrrh has a central role, a "floral myrrh". And finally The Myrrhe by Lutens, a "fruity myrrh" (mystical). La Myrrhe (Lutens) is therefore one of the three best scent based on myrrh the market. As we have said, is a fruity myrrh. It 's a smell of extreme elegance, so that wearing it could cause a sort of discomfort. It 's a crystalline fragrance, but dark. Evokes the image of a crystal vase on a beach surrounded in the night. La Myrrhe starts at the top notes with a blast of aldehydes that recreates the smell of a chinese mandarin, after few minutes a clear notes of almond emerges blended with a superb note of pure myrrh. In the middle/heart notes the myrrh is enhanced by delicate hints of musk and spice. In the dry down the scent becomes sweeter and resinous, with myrrh that is blended to an elegant note of honey and oriental spices. The sillage is discrete, the longevity (lasting power) is very good (up to 8 hours). La Myrrhe not evolved much, but it is a superb fragrance. Hard to wear, it's clearly unisex (its fruity sweetness makes it feminine, but on the other hand the power of myrrh makes it masculine). La Myrrhe with its extreme elegance and its aura of mystery rises to the rank of masterpiece. Surely the most mystical fragrance created by Lutens (and Sheldrake). Vincenzo F.

I came into La Myrrhe wanting and expecting to die of love, which unfortunately wasn't the case. But that certainly doesn't mean it was even remotely bad. Just a personal disappointment. La Myrrhe does something with Myrrh that I've never experienced before. It's fruity! The aldehydes here are delicious. The orange peel sweats in a summer heat. It's mysterious and mystical. I agree with a lot of the reviewers here, this is a lot like Chanel No 5. Some strange surypyness evolves out from the orange, something sweet which morphs the myrrh into something I hardly recognize. It's hard to describe. It smells unwearable. But still manages to create magic that keeps you pulled into it. I'm stumped. There is a heavy load of spices in the back of my throat as well, you can almost taste it and with that elusive bite you almost burn. I'm so enamored by Serge Lutens. Everything I have tired is a journey. This is no exception. Perhaps a fan of orange would have more love for the scent, but that isn't to say I dislike it completely. It's so ideally composed it would be impossible to really dislike. 7.5/10 I think. It's above the rest, but just not for me. Edit: Came back to this after some time letting it settle. The myrrh rises nicely and it's warm and creamy. The orange turns into something like dessert and it's so comforting. It took a while to get there though, and that journey wasn't always inviting. But it lands in a place worth visiting. I wish the dry down that comes 2 hours later was the show runner to begin with.

This is a pretty bizar scent. I do not actually dislike it, but it has a rose-y, sugary sweetness to it which I consider very unexpected. Also I get nougat (the almond?) About sillage and longevity concerning the Lutens house: There are many that have great or even heavy sillage and endless longevity. Examples: Cuir Mauresque, Ambre Sultan, Cèdre, A La Nuit, Fille en Aiguilles, Fleurs de Citronnier, Fleurs d'Oranger, Miel de Bois, Louve, Datura Noir, Serge Noir, etc. Also there are some with medium to soft sillage and medium to short longevity: De Profundis, Féminité du Bois, Five O'Clock au Gingembre, Fumerie Turque, etc. About La Myrrhe, I consider its sillage medium, longevity will be reported later, as I sprayed 15 minutes ago. About the scent: Louve comes to mind, being an overly sweet, soli-almond scent. La Myrrhe is more an orange and (soft) spice scent being dominated by almond and myrrhe. I have not decided yet if I like or dislike, but I doubt it is a winner for me. Edit: I do not know about the longevity, wanted change into Private Collection..

La Myhrre opens up with a sharp jazmin which reminds me of Chanel #5. Very feminine. However, after 5 minutes other scents begin to kick in. The myrrh begins to kick in, some amber and citrus begin to surface, as well as a wood, which may be sandalwood. After 15 minutes the strong feminine vibe begins to fade and the fragrance becomes more unisex. There is a sweet spice that kicks in with the almond which sweetens La Myhrre very lightly and nicely. The almond, the myhrre, and the amber are a nice trio in this one, with the rest of the notes playing a supporting role in the background. But obviously myrrh is the star. Very nice. 8/10

This is very beautiful, less spicy than some others in the Lutens' line, but very warm, sweet and sensuous. The musk is very light. I felt quite comfortable as a woman wearing this fragrance, and it did not give me a headache as some "heavy" perfumes can. There is a candied orange note which blends really beautifully with the myrrh. I would probably try to buy this fragrance if it wasn't for the fact that I find El Attarine even more gorgeous. And of course, they are both fantasy purchases until I can travel to Paris, which is the only place to get a full bottle!

I’ve been wearing my 10 ml spray sample daily for 3 days. The aldehydes are superb, but in no way whatsoever do they—or anything in this fragrance—resemble Chanel. Instead, the sweet bubbly aldehydes with myhrr and honey and spices smell precisely like a delicious dark cola. In fact, this smells like a high class version of Tabu. This is a compliment! Smells exhilarating! Sadly, longevity, sillage, and projection are on the low end, which is surprising for an oriental/amber, never mind one at this price point. Very classy cola.

It's interesting but I can only stretch to a like at best. There almost seems to be as much musk, orange as Myrhh which was disappointing for me. The musk does ease off a bit with time but not enough to make me happy. The orange and spices are evident all the way through. You just about pick out the flowers and woods at the back. On paper this looks like a success but on me something odd must happen. I suspect my skin amps up the musk too much. The result is not good. Good longevity and moderate sillage.

This is certainly unique - it doesn't smell like anything else I have tried. It opens with a blast of aldehydes and they stay on for quite some time. There seem to be an anise note and then myrrh. Later on, florals come to the fore with a slightly woody base. At this point it becomes more feminine and stays like this for a long time. I appreciate the uniqueness and quality of the composition. One of the best of his exclusive Paris collection.

I just adore this brand they never fail to impress me. I am not a myrrh fan, nor a chanel 5 fan and indeed it is very similar to it. But it's better. The myrrh is smooth and resinous not root beery. Quite soapy but creamy and powdery musky and smooth. Really enjoyable even for someone who - just looking at notes and comparisons - would not really go for this. Its the brand they make amazing blends that are aleays so pleasing to the nose.

This smells amazing, so unique. I think it's the myrrhe, mixed with the sweetness of the almond and white honey. It almost smells a bit like coca cola to me, a bit fizzy...overall a very interesting, good scent. Not one I might wear often or necessarily buy but one I definitely like. I have 100+ niche samples for swap within Europe - get in touch! Updated spreadsheet of samples on my profile.

Super thick scent with pleasant but old-fashioned soapy undertones. It’s a beautiful classic composition. Radiant boozy (slightly medical) herbs and spices with rich balsamic undertones. It reminds me of a cooler bolder (and less floral) version of Chanel n5, indeed. Follow me on IG: scent.guide

For me it is "Chanel No.5 Intense". I do not really feel a lot of myrrh, but definitely a lot of aldehydes. The difference with Chanel 5 is that La Myrrhe has a much denser base and less ylang and flowers. Otherwise another masterpiece by Serge Lutens and Christopher Sheldrake

It is very similar to Chanel N 5, except for the missing civet note, that i don't like very much in N 5. I am not impressed with this one. Yes it is well made, but to my nose and on my skin, it is too similar to N 5.

La myrrhe is not unfortunately for me, it's too balsamic and too overpowering. It smells like church and projects a bit too intense for me!

The juice is bright red, and so is the smell. It’s kind of like Coca-Cola crossed with some kind of old-school drugstore product? Some people say it reminds them of hairspray. There’s a sweet-medicinal effect too, in a way that’s common to a lot of Lutens scents, like a highly concentrated syrup of some potent botanical. There’s a kind of lotion-y effect as well, both in scent and texture. Very cold, very white, old-fashioned skin cream. The almond might be playing a role here. Overall the effect is this red, transparent, intense “Coca-Cola herbal syrup” thing, somehow simultaneously feeling like bright-white lotion. It’s one of the Lutens classics and at the time it was a brilliantly original take on myrrh. Instead of the usual heavy, dark setting for the sweet-spicy resin, La Myrrhe goes light and bright with sparkling aldehydes. But the thing about Lutens is, once you get over having your mind blown by the uniqueness, you either want to wear one of these stained-glass minimalist Orientals or you don’t. And these days, I’m a sucker for perfumes with layers of texture, not these one-note potions. La Myrrhe does its “transparent cool-spicy Coca-Cola lotion” thing, and it does it all day, and if you’re waiting for it to do something else, you’re out of luck.

I am very conflicted and somewhat upset. I have a sample of La Myrrhe that is very old. I have had it for at least 12 years, and it has been dispensed from an old Palais bell jar. Today I got my second hand bell jar dating back to 2013. They are very different. Older version is much heavier on, well, the myrrh, it feels softer. It has a beautiful mandarin note. Newer version is very heavy on aldehydes and is indeed reminiscent of Chanel No 5. The myrrh note is drowned out by spices. New version is certainly more potent. Honestly, if I didn't know, I wouldn't have guess they were the same perfume, they are only slightly similar. I adore the old La Myrrhe, I am not a fan of the newer one. This is a revelation to me in a way, because I thought the reformulations did not hit until after SL was acquired by Shiseido in 2015 or 2016. Well, I guess the hunt for The La Myrrhe continues, but now I am looking for a palais bottle only.

I'm going to have to try this for a 3rd time. The first 2 times turned my stomach at the opening, and continued to do so as I caught whiffs throughout the entire wear. Chanel 5 and Gold don't do this to me. La Myrrhe smells like a wooden heirloom chest, finally opened after a century. I do NOT objectively think it's disgusting or terrible, despite my physical reaction, yet I can't find any words to praise the scent. It is what it is, to me: A wooden heirloom chest, opened for the first time in 100 years to reveal vaguely scented letters, dried flowers, moth-eaten linen and lace dresses, a dried out bottle of perfume, and gently used silver candlesticks. I'm not saying it *reminds me* of these things - I'm saying it *smells like* these things. La Myrrhe is disturbing to me, that's all I will say. I don't put a lot of stock in physical reactions to perfumes, because one of my favourite perfumes of all time, that I love to wear, Carillon Pour Un Ange, turns my stomach at the opening, although not quite so severely as this Lutens does.

I got a sample of this from TPC and have tried it repeatedly and much to my disappointment I can't agree with the positive reviews below. I love aldehydes and I love myrrh, but whatever is going on here, I can't really identify either of those in this composition. Perhaps my sample has turned, but after multiple wears in three separate seasons (late summer, winter and spring) I am thoroughly unimpressed. All I get from this is the smell of a public restroom with a very powerful pink air freshener (you know the ones with the cartoon skunk on them). There is no evolution of scent, it smells the same from beginning to end of indistinct florals mixed with sour and animalic notes. Its the kind of smell that makes you want to wash your hands with lots of soap and hot water. A underwhelming offer from Mr. Sheldrake.

La Myrrhe doesn't work on my skin. It gets sharp and almost sticky. On paperstrip or on my friends arm it smells beautiful. I would like to say I think this one is almost uni-sex. On my skin I get sharp Myrrhe, to much Sandalwood, a Punch of Pepper and lots of Orange. No flowernotes at all. La Myrrhe funkar inte på mig. Den blir skarp och nästan lite stickig. På pappersremsa eller kompisens arm så doftar den underbart. Jag tycker att denna är Uni-sex. På mig får jag skarp Myrra, för mycket Sandelträ, en rejäl smäll av peppar och massor av apelsin. Inga blomnoter alls.

Opens with a blast of soapy aldehydes, supported by orange. Half an hour in, the aldehydes tone down a bit, letting an honeyed jasmine move forward. In the base, a dry medicinal spicy myrrh appears, with a hint of vanilla. As others have said before, it's a piece of art for sure, but not an easy one to wear nowadays. To my nose, the strong aldehydes and florals remind unmistakenly of No.5, making this one hard to pull off in public by men, given the famous scent profile. Beautiful, but absolutely not a safe blind buy! Colder days, 30+

La Myrrhe opens like some big classic perfumes. Like other said, it resembles Chanel #5 a bit, but not that complicated. There is a deep aroma of amber-honey mix abstract floral with some metallic notes on the middle. The same dry down, but much more softer and delicious. It doesn't have silage or lasting power on Chanel's, but it is the same idea, done in a modern, wearable, Serge Lutens way.

The purpose of my buying La Myrrhe (in a decant version) was because of my recent interest in ancient fragrances. Myrrh is one of two of these we know, the other being frankincense. Myrrh is the harsher of the two, smelling of, based on reports, a dark licorice or astringent/medicinal quality. If you read the creator's comment on the release of this fragrance, it says, "Forgive this fragrance, because it knows not what it does! You know about myrrh and the Three Kings. What you don't know is that, here, myrrh takes on the fragrance of the night. I make it sparkle and fizz like champagne, sustained by a base note of mandarin orange." Read: this is a floriental. This is NOT a myrrh fragrance, or you will be sorely disappointed. I agree the opening is aldehydic. Much like others thinking Chanel No. 5, I got more of a wintry almond, more along the lines of the opener of Estee Private Collection before the florals hit. After that 10 minute opener, make way for a homey, citrus, floral cinnamon oatmeal scent. In comes something that I get from 1980's florientals, Raffinee and Coco Chanel "Coco", something like a lovely coca-cola spruced up with gardenia or jasmine, some beautiful complex floral with strong herbs. Alas, I do not detect any myrrh at all. If you want a floriental that is beautiful that travels and like emily7 says, has a surprise elemental twist, I encourage you to try this. Unfortunately, you want myrrh? You're out of luck. Try something else, maybe I'll do the same. For purposes of a FLORIENTAL, this one is going to be YOUR STOCK IN TRADE! You will smell delicious BUT NOT LIKE MYRRH! ETA: I am also scratching my head of how you would brag AHEM about making a myrrhe into something that sparkles or that is heavenly without taking away that very thing? So yeah, it does sparkle, it's slightly heavenly but I just don't think it's fair advertising to say this is myrrh. Final ETA (hopefully): Put your head shop's myrrh essence oil under this and you will have a very balanced resin under everything else that's working on (like I said, a light airy floral and maybe a Coca-Cola) and you'll have something that lasts all day and is very intriguing. Still Floriental, but with so much resin you won't feel like you are in a department store, but you'll feel like you reached into an ancient crypt locked for a thousand years, still and dark.

An anomaly, myrrh turned cold (aldehydes fruity jasmine myrrh heliotropin sandalwood) I love myrrh as a note, I regularly heat up myrrh resin during the cold months of the year. If you know you know, myrrh has a certain ‚glow‘ to it, Dechaufour uses it ubiquitously, Sheldrake apparently loves it too. Imagine the smell of warmth itself condensed in a resinous cloud. The caveat is the musty dark earthiness it comes with (see Les Indemodables Oriental Velour for reference), particularly myrrh oil feels quite filthy almost fungal compared to the raw resinoid. La Myrrhe is the only example I am aware of where myrrh truly feels cleansed done to the core, its signature candle light ethereal resinous hum separated from the dirty musty body. It’s, in a way, encased in Chanel No 5 type aldehydes, like some one took a chuck of myrrh resin, warmed it up just to the point of glowing impeccably and then dropped it in a vat of frosty aldehydes and clean linen like florals. It’s quite impeccable in execution, truly a mystical wearing experience. That being said it’s quite a bizarre wear. First you are greeted by a blast of hairspray aldehydes that make you grit your teeth. Once the cold shower passes your hand starts to „hum“ with the aforementioned myrrh ‚isolate‘, before slowly fizzling into a soft ambery sandalwood base. Not something I would wear out as a man, but I occasionally spray on at home to experience and ponder about. Is this perhaps the strangest Lutens out there?

La Myrrhe is a study in the distillation of both the sacred resin of Commiphora myrrha and the agency of aliphatic aldehydes to broaden its presence. It begins with these aldehydes, dialed in to a near perfect timbre, effervescent and soapy, but also, to Sheldrake's credit, revealing their more nuanced ethereal qualities that are often overshadowed in many aldehydic-heavy compositions. Mandarin and aldehyde derivatives further this effect, with the sweetness of a drop of honey serves as glue from the top to heart it seems: the transition to its floral heart (here, classic Chanel No. 5 ylang ylang/aldehyde synergy is replaced with a sheer jasmine) already reveals the bitter, deep, dark woodiness of the myrrh. The slightest phenolic, medicinal element also contrasts with an almondy benzaldehyde during this point of the development, which of course makes me swoon as I am so keen on the spectrum of cherry-almond-heliotrope whenever it's discerned. Here, its interplay with the myrrh, especially as the florals wane, reaches fully into the spirit of La Myrrhe. True myrrh is laid bare and vulnerable, real and raw, resinoid, essential oil, every profile of its multifaceted mystery honored and esteemed: its cola, its root beer, its bitter tonic Moxie, its liturgical solemnity, its thorniness, its unctuousness. We are edified with myrrh, we are here now, at this very moment, in its embrace. Sublime.

I just don't know what to make of this one. I flit between "wow, what an interesting myrrh" to "ugh, too much, get it off me!" Whatever you do, do not blind buy this one. It needs numerous wearings for you to decide what you think of it (and if you're me, even that won't be enough). The citrus is very strong here. The mandarin demands attention from beginning to end. When the myrrh starts to make its presence felt (after about half an hour on my skin), it brings the honey and almond with it. Now, this sounds like a dreamy combination, but the bitterness of the honey and the mandarin being allowed to show off as it is gives it a scent akin to some kind of soft drink from childhood (I think another reviewer mentioned this too, I agree completely). It's not as spicy as I'd hoped. The mandarin and honey stop the spices from ever really shining. All this probably sounds as though I hate this scent. Thing is, I don't... sometimes. Sometimes it smells like a luxurious, fresh myrrh, sparkling with citrus and dreamy with honey. Other times it smells like something cheap and synthetic that my nose just can't handle for too long. This has the strongest sillage of any Lutens perfume I've ever worn. I sort of wish it didn't because I think I could get used to it better that way. Hmmm... I just don't know. But something about it makes me want to keep trying. Sorry I can't be more definite than that.

La Myrrhe was released in 1995 and its name means, in English, "The myrrh". I've never seen a spray version for sale. I don't know if ever had, but today is only found in the exclusive collection of the House – The Palais Royal Collection – with its famous Bell jars. Serge Lutens defines it as follows: "Forgive this fragrance because it knows not what it does! You know about myrrh and the Three Kings. What you don't know is that, here, myrrh takes on the fragrance of the night. I make it sparkle and fizz like champagne, sustained by a base note of mandarin orange”. La Myrrhe has notes of Mandarin orange, myrrh, Lotus Flower, bitter almonds, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, amber, musk, chili, and spices. I was impressed with the scent of royalty that this fragrance showed on my skin. The magnificent opening with Lotus and Jasmine is really beautiful. So, magical notes of almonds, myrrh, and honey make this perfume something sensational. Its fragrance goes from the smell of an expensive soap to an extremely fragrant bouquet. However, I must admit that this is not a shareable perfume, but very feminine! No wonder its aldehydic side is compared to that of the iconic Chanel No 5. In my point of view, as some say, La Myrrhe has the smell of the rich and successful woman above 30 years of age. Contrary to what Serge says, is the scent of the woman who knows (and well) what she does!

This is a stunner. So beautiful I scarcely know how to describe it. It's like Memoir Woman or Dior Poison was distilled down to it's quintessence and the resulting concoction painted onto a canvas of bright white aldehydes. It's like the light falling through the stained glass windows of a medieval cathedral on a bright, sunny day. And, like the praying, black veiled woman it falls on, La Myrrhe is beautiful, mysterious and yet pure of heart. When I first tried this from a dab vial, it took almost the whole vial to get an idea of what it smelled like and even with copious dabbing I still didn't get any drydown. It sat for years in my "maybe" pile because I didn't want to spend so much for half a fragrance. After finally getting my hands on enough for a thorough dousing, I did smell a lovely sweet drydown upon pressing my nose to my arm. Sure I could complain about the pathetic sillage and longevity and ridiculous price. But, so what, just take my money. Wait, I have to go to Paris to get you to take my money? Maybe after I finish my decant. It really is a shame though that it's so difficult to get enough on to smell the true and complete gorgeousness of this frag. I wish it came in a body lotion because this is one I want to smell little puffs of wafting up off my body every time I move.

I couldn't disagree more with what 'VeronicaRoy' has written below. Out of all the perfumes I've tried Serge Lutens' have always been amongst the most intense and long lasting. (Usually at very least 8+ hours on skin, & on clothes easily for days on end !) So a longevity problem is certainly NOT something they suffer from. And as for the 'waterd-down' aspect she alludes to - I'd contradict that they're rather usually amongst the richest & most full-bodied compositions i've come across - knocking down most that are not familiar with scents of such intensity. ... Yes, he has been preoccupied with lighter more 'transparent' compositions of late, but even these still have better longevity than most 'mainstream' fragrances. They certainly don't fade quickly or feel watered down, (just more transparent/'ethereal' by design). Their superior quality to most is indisputable. The Shiseido perfumes themselves, (before Lutens took over), might've well been far lighter and quick to fade as she describes, as this was far more their 'style'. (But even then their compositions were far bolder than was more usual to the Japanese market) - BUT the Serge Lutens line itself is NOTHING like the rest of the Shiseido line and NOT at all like she describes !

As someone who desperately wants to love Chanel No. 5, but just can't ... Lutens' La Myrrhe gave me the answer. Turns out I do love aldehydes, I just like them Lutens style. The initial blast of the top notes is powerful, like a beautiful heady smelling salt. I always reach for La Myrrhe when I need a pick me up. As it develops, it moves from remedy to perfume, it softens, but never loses it's intensity (it's long lasting, which is testament to the quality of ingredients). It's a very complex, every changing perfume, which means that I'm still working it out - right now, I just know I love it! Update: La Myrrhe eventually conquered me - in the sense that I felt it was wearing me rather then I was wearing it. However, interestingly, I revisited Chanel No. 5 in the department store and amazingly I rather liked it - and it stayed on my skin and whispered lovely things to me during the day. I have no idea how this happened. As for La Myrrhe, I think she is is still a beauty, but I suspect that I'm simply not vixen enough to wear it! However, I'm happy to say another lady is now enjoying my bottle and smells ravishing!

This review is based on a decant. It opens up with a blast of bright soapy aldehydes (which immediately reminds me of Chanel No.5) with a hint of short-lived citrus in the mix. Once it calms down after about 10 mins or so, it moves closer to skin. As it dries down, rootbeer-like myrrh joins in together with musk in the background. It's fairly complex but simple (the smell) at the same time. Moderate projection and good longevity on my skin. Marketed for women, I kinda agree when the aldehydes is on top but once it calms down it's quite unisex. It's a myrrh scent with a twist. Definitely worth a try (for guys).

I thought this scent was going to be a little bit churchy and dark. It is very bright, and clean. Orange and resins with a little sweet soapy undertone. Very potent. It has a harsh note that reads metallic and is hard to tolerate. Almost like smelling an old coin. I guess I can feel satisfied that I had the chance to try it on my skin. My tiny decant will be more than enough, no intention to hunt a bottle of this. Do I like it? a little bit. It is not something I see myself wearing, but it's pleasant.

I understand the reference to Chanel's No 5, but to me No 22 is way closer. I'm being reductionist, but imagine a humongous bitter-resinous myrrh note inserted into an equally gargantuan aldehydic floral monster that it no 22. The result is equally harmonious and dissonant. Like a game of exquisite corpse, its parts are different but they are linked through a clear path.