Louve

I recently suffered a bad fall and hurt myself; soon thereafter I decided that a bottle of Serge Lutens Louve might help speed my recovery. How did I know how it would make me feel? I can't say. And thus my first encounter with this masterpiece began. My very first thought after my first whiff was, "this is what a caring person should smell like". Not in a medicinal way, but simply as a state of being. And then cherubs began dancing around in my head, Raphael's "Sistene Madonna" cherubs, on clouds of confection, playfully taunting each other while bouncing around on sugary pillows in the sky. And then almond biscotti and tea. London. And cherry almond Jergens, the kind my mother wore when I was little. Paris. I began to realize, this scent is a masterpiece like no other. It's not simply gourmand, or almond, or cherry, or vanilla. It takes its wearer to a new state of being. It's not a place of discontent, nor is it a place of elation. It's simply a state of heightened emotion. Recently on a trip to Madrid I viewed a Mark Rothko painting "Untitled" at the Thyssen Museum. I sat in front of it and stared for awhile. At first, I didn't see anything but a purple outline and green box. But after staring at it, watching it for awhile, I started to see that underneath the green box, things were happening. A storm was brewing. Tears were falling. A war was being waged. This masterpiece, that at first glance looks like a green box, began to evoke emotion in me. I could feel that I was going to cry. Serge Lutens Louve is to perfume what "Untitled" by Mark Rothko is to art. At first, it may seem simple. Perhaps misunderstood. Compared to all the others. Cherry. Almonds. A little sugar. Maybe some rose. But it evolves into a deep, emotional piece of art. It simply makes me feel. I never wear fragrance to bed, but tonight for the first time, I will spray on some "Louve" before I go to sleep. It will certainly take me to a place of calm, peace and tranquility. I never understood perfume as art until today. This piece of art in a bottle has redefined what perfume is to me. This is truly a masterpiece. And as with all works of art, you may understand it and you may not. But a masterpiece it remains.

What an interesting scent, all the more so for its inclusion in the "Between the Storm and Clear Skies" (now known as "Mohair") collection; sharing its home with L'Orpheline, De Profundis, Iris Silver Mist, Gris Clair et al. This is a crystalline almond fragrance which hits a few unusual beats. On the opening spray the scent is awash in unadulterated benzaldehyde, almost caustic in its white almond potency. It's sweet, yes, but it hovers somewhere between a baker's almond extract and an industrial paint stripper. This, I suspect, is the hardest part of the fragrance to take and I understand why people are getting medicinal facets from it. Despite its ferocity, however, I think it's perhaps my favourite part of the scent, because it shares the stark, pellucid philosophy found in its 'Mohair' brethren. Tough to justify when smelled right off the skin... but if this was wafting out from beneath a cosy jumper it would be extremely alluring and comforting. Almonds and cherries are closely related trees and are very often paired in foods (like Cherry Bakewell tarts) but I get more a suggestion of cherry than an obvious note in this scent - I think it's a synthetic almond posing as an almond/ cherry blast. I find it's not quite as sweet as Amaretto but feels just as likely to take the lining off your throat. The scent does soften up a little as it goes on, gradually gaining in powderiness, edibility and rosy floralcy over the first hour until it reaches a more serene, gentle (and likeable) standstill, but still maintains its aggressively white exterior. It's soft fruit, oceans of almond flour and roses from hour one until its rose-tinted musky death around 6 hours in. To compare briefly to Rahat Loukoum, Louve is crystalline, 'whiter', colder and less overtly edible. Rahat Loukoum's scent is more gelatinous and maintains a powdery feel just like Turkish Delight; it's sweeter and has more rose.

It starts strong as a combination of black cherry liquor and old sherry. Not very sweet, neither too alcoholic. I rarely love gourmand fragrances, fortunately this one has something more than that, there is a sensual- velvety note: musk. I also love the resin touch. It is not much, just enough to save it from being another common almond scent. Floral tones? I don’t really get them. I suspect they get lost between the almond tones and add more complexity to them. Like it or not, this is not a common fragrance. As in many other Lutens, you can feel the creativity and the sophisticated nose that tried to bring individuality to his work. The amber adds a gold-ish, liquor-ish feeling to the whole construction. It becomes stronger in the dry down and is very well balanced by the vanilla note. Sometimes I feel a soft powdery tone as well. I guess another face of the almond oil. I am not sure I could wear it as it doesn’t work with my personality, however it is a “must experience” kind of fume. Heavenly tempting. 8.0/10 PS The floral notes are more noticeable after 2 hours. They are still hard to define and feel more like a veil.

To me Louve is definitely a gourmand: it's pure cherry marzipan, quite syrupy and so sweet that it borders on sickly (without quite getting there, luckily). As time goes on it becomes dryer and softer, the syrupy quality calms down a bit, but on my skin the core scent remains the same, and very edible, all the way through. It takes some getting used to, the almost medicinal sweetness may seem a bit too much at first, and I can easily imagine it being nauseating in hot weather, but after some wearings on colder days I like it very much. It's the most straightforward Lutens I've tried so far, but who needs layers of depths and distinct phases when the original smell is so nice and comforting? "Comforting" is a word that I've used to describe every Lutens that I've reviewed, but it's true, and this one is no different: a comfort blanket in a bottle, to wrap around you all day when you need it, without being at all childlike for all that. Another one to add to the "perfect for fall, winter and general emotional support" pile!

I expected to hate this, but I don't. It is the second Serge Lutens I have tried, and the second strange, public-toilet-air-freshener opening. Is this a thing? This is a peculiar cherry-almond odor that reminds me of state-park restroom hand soap. It's an aggressive clean that suggests profound filth. Since I'm not presently IN a state park restroom, I am intrigued, rather than disgusted, as in "Ok, man, I'll stick around to see where this is going." It goes briefly to Cherry Heering before settling on Luden's cherry cough drops-- in particular the weird, addictive comfort of them, as they ride the line between candy and medicine. A few hours in, there is still the cherry-almond note, but the rose and iris are coming up, with the odd effect of walking into an old mom-and-pop pharmacy with a soda fountain inside. It's Jergen's hand cream and Rose-milk lotion and fountain cherry Coke. I'm not sure where I would go in this perfume, except a on a Sunday drive down memory lane, but I'm surprised how much I like wearing it.

Enchanting, mysterious and intoxicating fragrance! Most of all I feel the almond note in it mixed with the tender floral notes and the sweet vanilla note on the warm amber base. This fragrance brings me associations with an almond liquor beautified with the lovely floral petals. It reminds Amaretto a lot smelling almonds and apricot stones. And I really like how it's called. Smelling this fragrance, my imagination draws a wolf standing on the mountain top at night and earning on the moon. Impressive! It smells intensive, deep and natural. And it's really complex. The lasting power is very good and the sillage is very intriguing, by the way:) I really like Louve a lot. It's my favorite by Serge Lutens, despite sometimes it seems to me sickly sweet.

An almond perfume. A cherry perfume. A sweet perfume. A clean perfume. An amaretto perfume. A powdery perfume... no matter how I slice and dice, Louve remains elusive and shape-shifting. Sometimes it's almost too loud, too sweet, too much "something", but it stops right before trespassing the boundary. Granted I haven't sampled all the famous almond perfumes out there (e.g. PR Confetto, Dragee, KM Loukhoum) Louve to me is the most realistic bitter almond I came across, without the adulterations by vanillin or coumarin but a tinge of fruity cherry. On clothes it lasts for days, and on skin a good 12 hours. For reference - Prada Candy Gloss provides a similar vibe despite a little bit more brash and high-pitched.

Soft, pillowy, comforting. On me, it smells like almond oil (more specifically the almond body oil from L'Occitane en Provence) mixed with baby powder and rose soap. A truly beautiful, cozy, sweater scent. The name is perfect too, louve stands for the female wolf, but it also symbolizes the mother who protect her children. This juice brings you that feeling of being protected, nestled in your mother's arms, wrapped in a wram, fuzzy blanket. I agree with the previous review: during the first 10-15 minutes, the almond notes is very bitter, a bit harsh. But it goes away fairly quickly. If you love almond notes and powdery scents, this one a must try.

Something about Louve reminds me of Galerie Lafayette in Paris, and I can't figure out why. It has the same powdery almond thing going for it as a slough of loukhoum-type perfumes, but Louve is different. The "fruity" note smells like cherries to me. I can't smell any flowers. Out of all the perfumes I own, including various CHANELs, this is the only one that takes me right back to Paris. When Louve dries down, it smells like honey nougat with nuts and just a bit of dried cherry. It's very gourmand. My brother "borrowed" this from me. It smells amazing on him! I might never get it back. Guys should try this one!

Extreme rose water loukhoum Turkish Delight. (Such an amazing sweet compared to the horrific lollies that obesified the west.) Has lasted all day on me, getting rosier, more ‘powdery’ (a weird descriptor that I usually don’t recognise) and even, muskier. I keep thinking it reminds me of the new SL rose, but atm I’m too lazy to find my sample. Rahat Loukhoum is much more poisonous bitter almond and inedible. I haven’t smelled the dupes that came after these pioneering genius creations. compositions.

Sweet smashed cherries with almond syrup. It's subtle but beautiful. Very powdery after the opening. I do not get the name Louve. There is nothing animalistic here. It's gentle and kind, motherly even. 5 hours later. I'm in love. It is shockingly long lasting although will sit very close to the skin. 5 hours after application I was catching delicious powdered cherry/almond whiffs.

Is it weird that I find Louve cute? It's sugared floral, marzipan, and light powder. Sweet but not syrupy. The almond dies down quickly for me. A light "purple" scent just like its juice color would suggest. I wish I could catch the musk, but sadly no. Lovely and uplifting, but I'm not dying to get some, especially now that it only comes in the (expensive) bell jar.

I use this fragrance when i wanna feel comfort, warmth, love it so much. To me it smells like delicious sweet Amaretto, can't understand how people say it smells like cherry syrup (???) synthetic, the quality and uniqueness of this fragrance is superb in my opinion. Hard to find, i spare my beloved Louve for especial occasions.

Louve is the scent of baking almond oil. It is the most prominent, but the effect is powdery thanks to musk and vanilla. Out the flowers we have a rose - very much a Turkish delight one, processed with sugar. Very wintery and quite strong yet with medium sillage. Lovely creation, reminds me of Loukhoum series by Keiko Mecheri.

It is one of the mysteries of perfumery not understand why the kernel suddenly smells like a cherry candy. In a Nutshell Smells Like These Shoulders Of Heart and I Love This ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ I love The comprere soon will be my first niche fragrance ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Straight up I'll tell you that I am a huge fan of Rahat Loukoum, which is one of my all time favorites, but not easy to wear. Louve is like a gentle, wearable Rahat Loukoum. It reminds me of a very expensive almond soap--clean and ladylike--acceptable to wear everywhere that Rahat Loukoum is not.

This is one of the best almonds ive tried. My only more loved one is the KIlian Rolling in Love version. But I did love Louve a lot too. It's just softer than Kilian's or Xerjoff's versions. Their versions are more sweeter and intense and more "in your face", this one is just soft and musky!

Oh, I can't believe I never put down my two cents on this fragrance. I own it, I love it. And Germany sums up my thoughts precisely. I love gourmand fragrances. This one sits right up there at the top of them! Do try if you can, you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful almond scent. And lots of candied Cherries , I love this smell ,its quite addictive. Like marzipan and amaretto cocktail cherry smell. Oh so good!!! I will always need a bottle of this around. Great for cold winter days.

I have the gratte-ciel 100mL version and to my nose this smells like the way a Ferrero Manderly tastes minus the chocolate and more floral with rose. Great longevity and projection. I see this as a perfect Valentine's Day scent.

very very soft;long lasting,all ninght in skin.Almond,musk,amber fragance.I fall in love whith it!!! Thnks!!!!!Lutens!!!

I love this. Beautiful almond & vanilla.

Ode to the almond! If you like ultra-sweet, honeyed marzipan & amaretto with a raw & smokey edge then you have to try Louve. The first punch is amaretto - sweet, sharp, loud! Then the smokiness arrives, a touch of "Deep Heat" muscle rub, a dash of burning pine. For me this is the most interesting phase of the scent - here nature has tamed the marzipan monster & created a wild beauty, fearce & abstract...sweet, raw, edgey & unique. Gradually softer aspects of almond come to the fore & tame this nasal assault, rounding off the corners, dusting you with baby-powder, fluffing up the pillows, settling you down for the more generic, gentle part of this perfume ride. Sweet, soft rose & musk mingle to create a now milky, powdery almond...slightly bitter, toasted & tossed in burnt carmel...the medicinal note now tiptoeing in & out of the honeyed fog. Overall, it reminds me of Kirsch & Amaretto liqueur shots.....thick, dark Manuka honey (that touch of tea tree).....bakewell tarts with cherryaid....swedish almond biscuits dusted with icing sugar & studded with boozy fruit & glace cherries. Louve has a golden hue - an almond amber of the sweetest, boldest design that will make your mouth water & your senses feel drunk. For me the smokey, earthy part that held my interest near the start is far too fleeting to merit buying a whole bottle, but it is an enjoyable scent to road test for the few hours it holds to the skin. To be worn by bold, cherry-lipped vixens who are dark & daring on the outside but soft as kittens on the inside. Very corruptable.

For once, I would have to say this scent is more suitable for evening or night wear, fall or winter (although I am wearing it currently in daytime with full on tropical heat albeit in an airconditioned office). When first sprayed on, it has a very resinous and balmy attitude, the almonds intially are very bitter. Subsequently, it drys down to creamy, more sweet though still burnt almonds but I don't find this too much of a gourmand, definitely not along the lines of KM's Loukhoum. It stays in the bittersweet range for it's lifetime on me. It has a melancholic air and makes me feel pensive but not depressed. That's why I said I would mark this as a night/winter fragrance-the way it makes me feel. It's beautiful in any case although I can imagine it's opening would put off many and my description of it being dark would put off even more who are looking for a candy-gourmand scent. I would purchase this again and again. It makes me think of Ophelia. I would wear this walking alone by the Seine or the river Thames or anywhere in atumnal Europe, with chestnut leaves floating by me in Hyde Park or St Stephen's Green, where the air is cold and brisk. Where I feel most at peace.

Louve starts really sweet and almond-y. It is a lovely literally really sweet start. If you like a gourmand perfume with some depth, Louve is the one to try, it is sweet but does not have the ‘la-la look over here I’m a sugary girly perfume’ kinda smell which most new released commercial perfumes have. After several minutes, Louve gets a little bit softer, warmer, rich and velvet(I think I can smell silky rose scent here, like the type of rose from Paris spring editions), somehow I find it a bit pink, but not the type of fruity floral girly pink, but a more refined, Victorian lace floral dress kinda pink. Later on, a peculiar tuberose-like scent comes in, it’s not loudly there at all, just a glimps of its essence there, which makes the rose+almond sweet velvet combo even more lovely. The final dry down is of the type of clean inky musk which you can find in Lanvin Jeanne Lanvin and some other perfumes, personally I adore such clean musky dry down.

Serge Lutens LOUVE is a loukhoum perfume in the spirit of the Keiko Mecheri LOUKHOUM triplet and Montale SWEET ORIENTAL DREAM. Apparently le Grand Serge has his own officially labeled LOUKHOUM perfume launched about a decade before this one (in 1998), but I have not had a chance to try that one and do not know whether it is still in production. LOUVE falls somewhere in the mid-range of sweetness as far as these perfumes go. They all have a significant almond component which can easily evoke memories of marzipan. I also find a cherry facet. But what links loukhoum perfumes above all in my olfactory memory bank is the scrumptious alkaloid facet, described by zoka (below) as "almost medicinal". Yes, he's right! It's an acquired taste. You either like it, or you don't. I do, I do, I do!!!!

At last count, I have around 16 bottles of Serge Lutens creations, and that’s not counting the bottles I used up, sold or gave away. I’m always surprised to find other Serge Lunten perfumes that I’ve never tested. This evening the honors went to Louve. First off, Louve is potent. I’m sampling from a traveling niche Fragrantica box and I’m shocked that the tiniest remains of an empty vial actual produced anything memorable; a soft but potent powdery, almond musk. I don’t get the bathroom cleaning product association that others do; I do think this smells like another era, specifically the 1970s. The almond / fruit notes makes me think of flavored medicine. That may sound odd but it’s also a retro, comfort scent. Anyway, this thing is memorable, and for that it’s a winner.

- This perfume is absolutely stunning. It's sweet, almondy, and resinous all in the best ways possible. It smells like almond with a hint of cherries over a mild vanillic base. On me this fragrance is subtle and stays close to the skin as love should. It's tender and makes you feel like your loved ones just made some lovely cookies. Imagine it's almost Christmas and all is right with the world. So it basically smells like family gatherings and Christmas to me. Wow my nose must be broken because I don't associate this scent with cherry cough drops/syrup. I guess I was a healthy kid. lol. It smells like sweet syrupy cherry but I'm not associating it with medicine. Rather It feels cozy and resinous to me.

I just received my "Beginner's Guide to Oriental Vanilla Fragrances Sampler Pack" from The Perfumed Court and the first sample I'm wearing is Louve. I remember that someone compared it to an Amaretto Sour - I couldn't agree more! That was my signature drink in my mid 20s and it definitely transports me back to my clubbing days lol. I've been wearing it for a few hours now and at first I really liked the powdery-cherry-almond-with-hint-of-rose smell, but now it seems to have dried down to a sweet-citrusy smell that reminds me of bug repellant or bathroom air freshner. My co-worker sitting next to me described it as cheap soap. Wish it retained more of the strong marzipan quality on me. **sigh**

Very sweet, almost smells like a bright sparkly cocktail to start with. Darkens and smooths out as it begins to dry down. There is some carmely notes, a very mature and well tempered sweetness. Very round, soft fragrance... It is so very comforting. This is the smell from your childhood, in your most relaxed moments, cuddled up in warm freshly cleaned sheets, candy by your bedside, sweet spring air coming through the windows. There is a nice light woodiness to it, a clean and fresh feeling musk beneath it all. Very lovely, very youthful and nostalgic. 7/10

This is not a negative review, or mocking one but here's what i feel : It just smells like the "Cléopâtre" glue ! (anyone who was at school in the 80's/90's in France will know what i'm talking about) So for the non French , i'm explaining : This glue is almond flavored , so that's the reason why Louve makes me think of it . If i had discovered Louve before the glue i would have found that the glue is "Louve" flavoured, i guess . Thus i wouldn't wear something which smells like the glue i used when i was a little girl , even if i loved the smell of it.

My first love when I'm talking Serge Lutens and the first niche scent I've tried. The almond, oh, the almond! What is probably the most precious thing about this scent for me? A memory of wormwood. My Granny's garden wormwood. And there's sweetness of vanilla that I can not only stand, but enjoy. Which is saying a lot because once I experienced a rather unfortunate amount of vanilin with sugar when I was a student and... let's just put it this way: I haven't been a fan of the sweet kind of vanilla ever since, but Louve is my love story.

For anyone who's tried Rahat Loukhom, this actually smells very similar. Initially in Louve I smell yummy marzipan, but within minutes it is joined by a light cherry scent and resins. It's all so delicious! About 2 hours later I realized that the sweet cherry/almond smell was toned down and had become the background to a rose and floral bouquet. It's a very nice fragrance for warm weather, and although it starts out with more sweetness, it's not too heavy or cloying. I love the smell of almond marzipan, I could easily fall in love.

Much, much softer than Rahat Loukhoum, closer to Keiko Mecheri's Loukhoum in strength and scent. Louve opens with a sweet, medicinal cherry, then quickly fades to hazy powdered sugar, cherry lollipops and almond marzipan. The scent is quite linear. Although soft, the embrace of Louve lacks warmth; the scent remains cold and poisonous throughout its lifetime. Sillage is low - this is a skin scent, only for those who get close enough to uncover the wearer's true, frightening nature. Is it worth the price? That's for you to decide.

I am a fan of amaretto notes in fragrances but apart from the initial boozy blast seconds after spraying, I don't get amaretto from this. It opens bittersweet with emphasis on bitter, almost solvent or lacquer-like, and then softens with increased wear time on the skin. It's sweet and pleasant but not overly so, the bitterness never dissipates completely. I also get a clear cherry note. Cherry liqueur. I wish the opening phase lasted a bit longer, I seem to prefer the bite of it to the soft drydown, but I still love it overall.

A delicate powdery dream of a scent very similar to smell of marzipan and similar confections. The perfume opens with notes of almond and dried fruit. The brief heart encompasses hints of rose, jasmine and musk. The perfume settles into a base of vanilla, amber and balsamic resin. This is a happy childlike scent designed to lift you up and take you to happier times and places and childhood memories. The feminine leaning scent has moderate projection and good longevity. Very easy to wear and love. Enjoy!

The sequence of top notes I get is almond and baby powder. The fruitiness appears a bit later. This note vies for position with an accord that I find similar to something in Bendelirious (Etat Libre d'Orange). Only Bendelirious performs a damn sight better. I enjoy wearing Louve and feel I'm able to pull it off with impunity. However, Bendelirious serves an exhibitionist mood far better. I don't get any molar-drilling sweetness, which is a relief. Recommended perfume, but not at full price.

The opening smells like cherry cordials or cherry liqueur and a strong dose of cooling menthol, then it quickly lulls into a gentle and syrupy baby powder almond. It's not really sultry and sexy and moreso just reminiscent of babies and bath products. I like it, but it is strikingly reminiscent of Jergens cherry almond hand soap, widely available at any Dollar Tree in America. A pleasant scent I've always loved, (as far as $1 hand soaps go), but not one I'd want to smell like.

I wanted to like Louve! Maybe I did! I don't remember! I remember, I bought it, after sampling many other fragrances in a beautiful store in Cologne, Germany. Sweet almonds and vanilla, sweet almonds and fruits, sweet almonds and resin....yes, maybe jasmine, and again almonds! I would like to swap for the right fragrance. My bottle is almost full. I am willing to swap even for a half bottle of any fragrance on my wish list or any good amber, rose or vanilla fragrance.

I tried Louve because I love Lutens Rahat Lakoum and was looking for something that I can actually purchase, since Rahat is proving extremely difficult to find. Louve is nice, definitely in the same family, but is more soapy and less sweet than Rahat. I don't particularly like soapy fragrances and I love sweet ones, so I definitely prefer Rahat Loukoum, but Louve will probably appeal to those for whom Rahat Loukoum was a bit TOO gourmand.

Went on like clean clear almond soap, then mellowed into a sweet powdery drydown. It didn't last as long as I would have liked, but it's very nice: sweet, clean, soft. I don't get all the notes listed but it's like using chic baby powder. All day and office wearable for sure.

This smells like a cherry almond biscotti dipped in warm milk. It's a very polite, sweet, powdery baby-like scent. Like freshly washed baby blankets. Not for me, but I adore it's innocent quality.

Wow, just put some on my hand and it smells just like baby.Probably because my skin chemistry.Like you "stick" your nouse in baby's neck and breathe in deeply :) ... you want just to cuddle.

Cheerful and sparkly sour cherry from beginning to end. I am trying to detect the almonds but they appear to be shy. Bold,lovely and sweet fragrance. A real treat in the snowy winter day.

inizio alcolico come sempre..stavolta amaretto di Saronno.. oltre alla mandorla ci sento soprattutto la rosa. molto buona la persistenza. piu' lupa che lupo.

Very nice feminine leaning almond scent. Quite complex and refined. But definitely overpriced, because it's now part of their "gratte-ciel" collection.

This is the epitome of a feminine comfort fragrance. The scent is quite sweet, but not at all cloying, the sweetness has a very grown up quality.

It reminds me of Amaretto, very nice! I've never smelled something like this before. Delicious!

Raw and gentle almond scent that hugs you. It's a powdery pure essence of motherly femininity.

I want to like this one, I love the notes but unshakable baby wipe association