Manteuse

Patchouli usually disappears on my skin, but in this one, I can smell it. Between that and the pepper, this jaggedly grabs your attention, like its namesake's pincers. 48 hours staying power on skin, with consistently powerful sillage throughout. Despite the notes described, and the fact that the vanilla is fairly background, this is still a very pretty feminine scent IMHO. I dont view it as a mankiller perfume, more of a 90's nuvo-hippie turned professional feminine executive decades later. Some days, my S.O. loves this on me and other days he hates it...so I have taken to asking him before I put it on if it hits the spot for him. I wear it when I want to feel confident, innovative, and a little bit avant guarde. That said... I loved the sample, but there is something about it in full size that isnt quite the same...perhaps because of the atomization process, as this comes with a spray nozzle. The sample still gets a 5/5 from me, but the full bottle is probably a 4.5.

Known for big bold orientals, Stéphane Humbert Lucas created Manteuse, best described as a 90s style floral bomb—and a big departure from his regular work. One thing is for certain, the man can mix. Nothing stands out here as the individual notes meld and create a beautiful honeyed floral musk. Surprisingly linear, but that’s never been a deal breaker, a soft powdery cloud will announce your arrival and follow you out the door hours later. All that loveliness, and Manteuse comes in the SHL cool as f*ck packaging. What’s not to love? x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x This review—and my reviews over the upcoming two weeks—are first impressions as I sample my way through dozens of scents in a traveling Fragrantica fragrance box.

You know when you find a fragrance house that just clicks with your own olfactory preferences? Well for me, that’s Stephane Humbert Lucas. I can’t fault anything that I’ve tried thus far. Manteuse is another example of perfume blending perfection. It’s a creamy, woody musk that’s smooth ‘n’ sweetly sensual from honeyed-florals. On my skin I get honey, orris, sandalwood, labdanum, musk and vanilla. An in-depth review is required for this precious poem of perfumery. I’d love to experience Stephane’s secrets when creating such beautiful blends.

Ordered a few samples from SHL777 and Manteuse is one of their top one in my opinion, I liked it although I typically prefer sweet, feminine, floral scents. On my skin it smell very green, airy yet leathery and sensual. First hour you get a fresh green bouquet and it dries down leaving a pleasant animalistic trail over time. I don’t know if it’s the blend of musk/white flowers/patchouli that makes it smell “green”. It’s elegant and delicious, however the smell is a “déjà-vu” for me, probably from Dyptique (candle collection) or some French brand I can’t recall. A little overpriced, leans more masculine/unisex. _____ Sillage & Longevity : 7/10 Originality : 6.5/10 Quality & Value : 4/10 6/10

I have this, recieved as a gift, where do I get the HONEY from? On my skin it is like a floral, leathery and honey scent, something reminding me of an old lady( not in a bad way). Very little powdery. This reminds me of the new launch of Dior, Miss Dior 2021, but this one is more “old” or just not that sweet and girly, very very unisex. It’s a heavy one tho, not a save blind buy. 😍 2025- I AM NOT SEELING this:)). And also the Honey note was not listed here I swear, when I commented!!:))

What a rare find! I got this at a big discount and decided to purchase it blind. Very interesting fragrance to say the least. White floral honey, vanilla and realistic musk with a subtle animalic touch. Smells very exotic. This definitely will be a polarizing fragrance but it is unique and a wonderful addition to my collection. Also the presentation is gorgeous. 4/5.

This is so very well blended!! I feel like I can smell all the notes, but nothing is jarring; rather, everything just melds beautifully together. I am not a fan of a leather note, but this one is the perfect amount for me. A very nice scent, which I could imagine wearing a lot--I am really pleased with this sample, and a bottle might be in my future!

Comes off stale and balsamic. Leathery amber with a neat mix of white flowers and resins. A natural vanilla note sweeps in and takes over. Turns into a decent vanilla forward mashup. Unique take on a vanilla frag.

SHL has a very impressive portfolio with absolute masterpieces like O' Hira and Black Gemstone. The latest offering, a magnetic floral woody musk perfume designed as a homage to the female praying mantis, is an attempt to depart from his usual Oriental style and create a more straightforward feminine scent of the nineties. The results are a bit mixed to be candid. The perfume begins with a whiff of aldehydes, leather, jasmine and bergamot. The heart contains honey, orris, sandalwood and labdanum. The perfume settles on a musky note with the synthetic animal musk shangrilade, patchouli, vanilla and opoponax. The perfume (previously called ‘In the Wood for Love’ prior to market release) exudes a feminine musky warmth and is very well blended with moderate sillage, projection and good longevity. Where this falls a bit short is that it doesn't seem particularly novel as a juice to warrant a niche price except for its luscious usual SHL packaging and the sophistication of the juice. In the big scheme of things, this is one of his weakest offerings but still eminently wearable and also his most mainstream and safe offering. Enjoy!

Musky sweet over honeyed white floral! Milky sweet vanilla honey musk is what i got first as i thought i had the feeling that MINT was there when i first spray it on giving that cooling breeze that wrigley's extra sugar free gum gives, but i believe there isn't! maybe there is and it's tricking me somehow! i am feeling some bubble gummy with mint flavor as i am getting (after 4 minutes in) that same exact feeling when chewing on a mint sugar free gum! WTH is happening! this is confusing! let me state the notes again... Vanilla milk, white floral (most probably it's the magnolia & lily) honey, honey, and honey, then hints of hazy mint, sugar free mint bubblegum, musk, and opoponax. I'm not detecting any patchouli, orris, or bargamot rather than sandalwood. This is a cute, but sometimes i feel it's over-cooling and bit of irritating. fair.

This is one of my new favs. It has the curious quality of being both sweet and warm in a way that draws one in, but remains cold, beyond one's grasp. The heat is faint, diffused incense woodspice smoke. The cold is one of the purple winter flowers, violet or iris. Persistence without overwhelm, it really lasts, wears close to the skin, and therefore intimate. The Woman from Sherlock Holmes comes to mind. I wear a lot of big weighty scents with a flair for drama, so it took me a couple wears to notice the understated appeal of this "cool Hitchcock blonde" of a frag. Top to bottom it is exquisite, I enjoyed every minute. The bottle is a stunner but it might be a red flag next time you bring home a date, so bide your reveal.

Based on the note reviews I was expecting a honeyed leather, but no. This is a musky woodsy floral. I'm getting Shem el Nessim (Grossmith) vibes. Powdery, posh boudoir smell, I feel like this should be in a tall stripy glass bottle with a hand pump. It's fairly soft on me, and I'm completely missing the leather and the honey. Top notes to my nose are: A sweet powdery orris, vanilla, white florals and sandalwood. ** Lots of this niche samples up for swap - UK - pm me! **

Manteuse is an ode to Magnolia. Real Magnolia, not those synthetic-rubbery-magnolia that they use today. Then comes a huge dose of opoponax to remind you that this is a real Stephane Humbert Lucas perfume! A honey note, a beautiful leather and a sweet vanilla behind it leads the composition to the Occident. Manteuse is a possible olfactory bridge between the Orient and the Occident. Be careful, you can levitate!

A very sensual woody and musky fragrance, a green scent that bewitches and a mix that becomes sweet and powdery over the hours. An expensive niche perfume from the modern French school.

Scent: 8/10 Quality: 9/10 Originality: 6/10 Sillage: 8/10 Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 Price VS Size: 6/10