Mortal Skin

Zoologist Black Mamba, is that you? Inspired by the viper snake, this scent could very well be a part of the Zoologist perfume line (which is a compliment and a full-bellied glowing endorsement). In fact, with its primary ink note, Mortal Skin is highly reminiscent of Zoologist’s Squid: these two could be sister scents. Except, whereas Squid is a marine scent from the oceanic depths, Mortal Skin is more woodsy and fruity with its blackberry note, which stops just short of entering gourmand terrain. Similar to Squid, the ink is front and center here, and it spills across your mortal skin like a heavy, wet, delicious, black stain. Yet, Mortal Skin proves to be an entirely different animal from Squid, given the additional notes of blackberry, resin, and the faintest hint of iris. Ink, fruit, and woods: Mortal Skin is an enigma and challenging to describe. But let me tell you this... This scent still fucks. It’s art, and it's the definition of niche perfumery. It’s sex in a bottle. It’s masculine and sleek, like a serpent’s scales. It’s like being thrown into the Indiana Jones snake pit - except that pit is a black pool of watery ink with black mambas and blackberries skimming and floating on the surface like black rose petals. The only problem is that pool goes dry quickly, as the longevity on this is quite weak. But above all else, Mortal Skin is tempting. It’s the snake in the Garden of Eden, flicking its tongue against your ear and daring you not to eat the apple, but rather the blackberry. "The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice," the snake hisses. As you give in and spray this, biting into that poisoned berry, you can feel the sweet black juice oozing and dribbling down your neck and wrists, as your eyes turn pitch-black and vampiric. Then the snake wraps its coils around you further, and it tempts you to pull out your credit card to drop $230.00 on this bottle of precious venom. Go on, give into your basic instincts and buy the bottle. Both sin and skin never smelled so good. In five words or less: Squid, but make it viper.

Mortal Skin is a passage. The moment it touches skin, it doesn’t greet you; it confronts you. An unrelenting blast of smoke, ink, and something herbal hits like an invocation. There’s a piercing green sharpness in the form of tarragon, maybe, or something even stranger; cut by a deep, inky darkness that smells more like squid ink than inkpot. It’s pungent, feral, even alien. And yet, just as you steady yourself, blackberry (dark and macerated) rises through the smoke like a memory. It’s uncanny, almost spectral. As minutes pass, the tempest quiets. What was once bold and confrontational becomes soft, spiritual. The smoke clings to the skin, no longer rising, but glowing. Incense mingles with herbal shadows and vegetal musk. The scent no longer leads, you lead it. You become the wearer, not the worn. It transforms from a spell into a second skin. Where Myrrh Shadow 403 leans smoother and more vanillic/structured; Mortal Skin walks barefoot through forgotten forests. It doesn’t offer sweetness or familiarity, but seduction born of mystery. Myrrh Shadow whispers across a candlelit table. Mortal Skin murmurs from the tree line. This is a scent for the solitary sorcerer, not the social poet. Its projection is intimate but with purpose. It invites only those close enough to listen. It doesn’t broadcast, it beckons. Yet, it doesn’t inherently challenge those unfamiliar with its accords. Instead, it seduces. I’m still learning its language, but after just one full wear, it’s clear: Mortal Skin is among the most original and emotionally resonant fragrances I’ve ever tried, point blank. For those unafraid of the dark, this is where the journey begins.

My husband writes calligraphy at times, and he always uses a fountain pen for general writing. One of the inks that he uses is a brand “Iroshizuku”. The colors are rich; the ink is smooth. The bottles are simple and elegantly beautiful. When I wear Mortal Skin, I think of the darkest colors of this ink. A kind member sent me a sample of Mortal Skin quite some time ago. I was smitten, but the price at that time was something that I’d only spend on a rare Guerlain... maybe. So, for many months, I kept stalking online sites with a wild hope of finding one I might afford. As good fortune would have it, another member with whom I’ve traded several times had an almost full, with total presentation bottle for trade. I hemmed and hawed, and cursed. She kindly accepted my trade offer of a very HTF bottle. I sighed a bit, and then danced for joy! Mortal Skin is not similar to the other Stéphane Humbert Lucas fragrances that I’ve tried. In my opinion, this is the nicest one. Unique in its’ stark beauty. I adore the ink note that underlies the scent throughout its’ wearing. If there were such a thing as Blackberry Ink, this would be it. The other notes that talk to me are the myrrh, incense, artemisia (yes, a faint whiff of absinthe), and cardamom. I wouldn’t be surprised that ambergris contributes to the mix by joining everything together beautifully. I find MS to be a serene, peaceful scent that speaks with an Asian tone. Sillage is moderate, but definitely noticeable, dry down is long-lasting and mesmerizing. The bottle speaks for itself... I hope I never empty my bottle.

A dichotomy of warm and chilly. I was actually quite nervous to try this one. The reviews were crazy, the ink note was strange, and of course the bottle looks intimidating. However, it was much more subdued than I imagined. After smelling ink in another scent and disliking it, this one put some fear into me, but I was just too curious to resist. This scent combines what I can only describe as a chilled blackberry with a warm myrrh. The blackberry almost feels like it's mixed with mint, but I think it's actually the ink note that's giving it an odd chill. Pair this with a gorgeous, resinous cloud of myrrh and the scent is unique for sure, but not necessarily unusual. I don't find that this feel venemous or intimidating at all. I'm quite surprised at how well the blackberry/"ink" combo mixes with the myrrh...it doesn't feel too disjointed. You can still pick them out as two distinct vibes, though. Like all other reviews of this, I don't think I can do this justice. It's not a matter of whether or not this is good, it's just a bit indescribable...but in a subtle way. I was not bombarded with a bizarre ink note, overly-sour berries, or sickly sweet resins. It's all quite subdued and intriguing. If your interest has been piqued, try it. No review can convey exactly what this is like. I don't say this to hype it up as some ingenious work or masterpiece, it's just unlike any combination of notes I've smelled before, and I'm surprised that it works so well. It's worth trying at least once, just to see.

W̶h̶o̶ What are you? If Stephane Humbert Lucas told me that there's a real snake hidden inside Mortal Skin, I would believe him. The fragrance seems to shed skin and present a different side of itself each time I wear it. Sometimes it opens with a beautifully dark and cold blackberry that is spiced up by cardamom, and dries down a wonderful buttery iris laying on a bed of myrrh and almond. This variation reminds me a little bit of Bois d'Argent and Rolling in Love. And sometimes, it has a venomous and photorealistic opening of ink that is made even more bitter with artemisia, and dries down to a robust concoction of resinous opoponax with an animallic touch of a combination between musk and ambergris. This variation reminds me a little bit of Tobacco Oud. A dark shadow of incense looms over the composition regardless of which variation decides to show itself that day. Mortal Skin is what I consider to be my favorite type of estoric niche perfumery, where the artist creates a unique and engaging fragrance that will not only intrigue your olfactory senses, but also pleases them. That's what I love about Mortal Skin; is that all artistic merit aside, it smells GOOD. Unlike many other "niche" fragrances that think they are the pinnacle of innovation just because they reek of fecal oud and other novelty notes.

A 2015. év egyik legkülönlegesebb hipnotikus művészi alkotása, nem egy hétköznapi viselet... egy brutális, de mennyei utazás kezdete... Meztelenül állunk egy kristálytiszta térben, az abszolút sötétségben, bőrünkön érezzük a világegyetem, az örök éjszaka lüktetését, a távolban égő haldokló csillagködök lassú hullámzását, melyek csak az ionizált anyaguk miatt világítanak. A halandó bőr és egy összeomló távoli csillag feszültséggel teli illata... Az utazás mesésen indul, fekete tinta füstös tömjénnel párosul, egyesülésüket a kardamom is támogatja, mindehhez a gyanták kellő meleget kölcsönöznek az írisz fagyosságával szemben. Finom füst lebeg mindenfelé, olyan érzésünk támad, hogy mindez az élet törékenységéről szól, melyet körülvesz a nyírfából, szantálfából és cédrusból készült erős keret. Mindehhez nagy koncentrációban csatlakozik a parfüm tökéletes egyediségét biztosító, pézsmába és forró tintába mártott szeder igen különös illata. A háttérben egy száraz, illuzórikus zúgó erdőt hallunk, amely tényleg csak egy káprázat, hiszen valójában az erdő egy sima üvegre festett kép csupán. Ez nem az a fajta parfüm, amelyet egyszerűen csak viselünk, ez olyan, amit akkor kívánunk meg, amikor olyan emberrel találkozunk, akivel érdemes együtt lenni, és amikor felnézünk az égre, tudjuk, hogy nem vagyunk egyedül.

Another amazing 777 concoction... One of my favourite left field scents. Sweet not too pungent ink/blood with a sweet damp grass... I can imagine (actually have experienced) a snake living in a glass tank soiled with urine dead insects, damp humid greenery and dead tree limbs and the sickly sweet anamalic scent eminating creating an impression of an earthy den and a snake waiting to strike! That’s what it represents when you know the packaging and the story. When you don’t it comes across as a gorgeous somewhat dark sweet resinous syrupy ink with dark berry - slightly vanillic even (despite notes). Mysterious, animalac, dark and brooding on a male (something a well dressed gentlemanly vigorous vampire would wear). On a woman - gourmand, sultry, elegant - she’d be wearing a figure hugging dress and sensual and then like a Preying Mantis would sink her teeth into you during copulation. Think Eva Green in Dark Shadows. Not for whimps - which is why Escoteric I guess has a problem with it. It’s borderline left field - phenomenal performance and a great bubble - the bottle design is also a statement deserving a place on your mantle as well. Don’t over analyse this though - for some this is will be just a gorgeous dark sweet gourmand.

Mortal Skin. Stephane Humbert Lucas can be counted on to provide intrigue, masterful blending and a story. I love this opening of sweet blackberry ink and rock rose reminiscent of the amber used in O'Hira. The incense and myrrh swirl around to add interest yet something is familiar. The polished cold-sweet iris rises in the heart much like Iris Fauve by Atelier des Ors. The slight forest like apparition reminds me of Galaad by Lubin when it is in its woody myrrh notes. There is a leathery nuance, and ambergris marine note as well keeping this dark, cool, smooth, animalic and supple. The notes could suggest a heavy beast however the delivery is light, lithe and clean. I suppose its because the synthetics are wielded very adeptly in this story. Out of all the fragrances mentioned..Mortal Skin rises above them all for me in terms of wear ability. Silage is light to moderate, an exemplary fruity iris woody oriental. Longevity is excellent. Sexy Intrigue in a bottle. If you want something unique, artistic and wearable.. Mortal Skin.

#1757 in my “Tour de Fragrance” This may in fact be the pinnacle of the perfumer’s art. I love nearly all of his creations, but this is the best of the best. Everything I love in one scent. Very few in this price category that I think is worth the money, but this is. Everything about this scent works. Enough oil to make your skin shine and hangs on. Good initial silage that’s inoffensive in tight spaces, but I could wish for more. Same vibe as one of my other all time favorite iris scents, Amouage "Interlude Black Iris", but this is warmer, smoother, more well rounded and unique, definitely the better of the two. Somehow the ink note really sets this apart. Note to self: explore more scents with ink notes. Never blind buy something in this price range. Lucky scents has spray samples. But hard to imagine anyone not being blown away by this awesome scent. Good Luck and Good Hunting!

Once in a blue moon I come across something so unique that it's difficult to describe and put in a bucket with similar fragrances. Mortal Skin does not smell like anything I've tried, so there's no point of reference but I'll try. Opening and middle I get mainly blackberry, ink, and incense. It smells very cold, very complex, and mysterious. Beyond that, musk, orris, and unique suede comes out. A friend described this to me as how he would imagine a snakes skin to smell and I agree. It does have a snake/alligator skin vibe. If I had to compare, it reminds me a little bit of Etat Libre D'Orange Rien, little bit of Tom Ford Fabulous, and Jubilation XXV mixed together. Very interesting option for the cold weather. This is art, but also wearable art that smells good! There's something addictive about this one one. Absolutely bottle worthy.. Scent 9.5/10 Performance 7/10

Mortal Skin is one of the more unique creations from Stephane Humbert Lucas, tying in an array of strange and unusual notes and yet has housed them together beautifully. All in all this is a resinous incense-based fragrance; the thick, chewy nature of myrrh, opoponax and styrax mingle to create that incredibly dark yet alluring smoky feel. Alongside this is the dominant note of blackberry, with its sweet juiciness subdued by a heavy dose of thick black ink. This juxtaposes the delicious aura of the blackberry with something far more bitter and brooding. A leathery labdanum and smooth woody base finish this scent of to perfection. This scent is a fantastically though-provoking creation, definitely a fragrance to stand out from the crowd. I’m not sure it’s exactly my style but I can appreciate the creativity and passion that’s gone into making this.

My first SHL in my collection....damn this is good For some reason this is a very comforting scent to me. Beautifully nuanced with the blackberry, ink, myrrh and cardamom notes standing out the most to me. This bottle is so freaking cool too. My new favorite bottle in my collection (sorry, Electimuss) My only wish is that it projected more off the skin but maybe I have to let this macerate. Don’t listen to the review below me. This does not smell like plastic at all. Test it on your skin and see the beauty of this unfold. A reminder to always take negative reviews with a grain of salt. Some people here don’t properly test fragrances or have very weird skin. Idk, but this is not a synthetic or ‘fake’ plastic smell at all. Scent - 9/10 Bottle - 10/10 Longevity - 8.5/10 Projection - 6/10

First off, this is the best SHL fragrance in their offering. None of the others besides for maybe O Hira or Taklamakan come close to the beauty that’s within Mortal Skin. Second, some of the reviews below are a bit annoying because of how they portray this fragrance to be ‘dark’ and ‘smoky’. It is absolutely not a smoky fragrance and it is not really dark either. Go test Beaufort London Terror & Magnificence if you really want something dark, smoky and ashy. This is simply an aromatic amber fruity fragrance. It’s very hard to describe the actual smell because of how much is going on but it’s just out of this world. I could not recommend enough to try this one out. And the longevity is very solid as well. Let this one macerate!!!

9/10- The scent of Maleficent. Scent nature is Dark Fruity Balsamic (Clubbing category). I'd use the words Alluring, Mysterious, and Poison to describe this scent. 100%, Maleficent would wear this, I'd actually expect this juice to be bottled within Dior's Poison. Opoponax and Blackberry give the seductive sweetness which I find to be more mysterious than the Raspberry sweetness in Tuscan leather. Mortal Skin might smell juvenile for men over 40 while still being suitable for women of all ages. Note: The Inky note is quite discrete from the inkiness in Encre Noire, and the fragrance is not smoky but incensy which is more like an incense accord you smell from an ambient candle than burning actual incense.

Mystical,hypnotic and powerful! beautiful its evolution, beginning with a powerful note of ancient incense,followed by a well-known of this ink and blackberry... the initial phase drags you with him .... after a couple of minutes continues enigmatic transformation. Fragrance impact,cold and captivating! Beautiful fragrance,to try and find out...this one stands out a lot. In the bottom it evolves slowly, as does a snake while the strip, goes slowly towards a base almost "rubbery"..the incense note is always there,very nice!! The sillage is great,very good longevity! Medieval Sillage: 9./10 Longevity: 8.5/10 Scent: 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10

I really love this scent. It's true to its blackberry notes, rich and sweet but not sugary or synthetic. The ink is certainly present as well, something cold and resinous. Reminds me of when I'd take apart pens as a kid and stain my fingers with it. Those subtle, musky notes on dry down (mostly iris and myrrh to my nose) are just gorgeous and do not overwhelm the profile. To me this a truly luxurious perfume, rich and layered without being overly produced. Not showy, not strong, rather mysterious and complimentary to most anyone's natural smell.

What can i say about this absolute piece of art? I must admit i always have a sort of hesitation in wearing this fragrance, a sort of awe. It intoxicate me, it drives me out of mind in an olfactory trance. Its pure aesthetic seduction, an illusory mask of grandeur, a venomous ephemeral beauty, a mysterious force that commands reverence. Maybe its just narcissistic madness or edonistic vanity. I dont know. Anyway this is by far my favourite fragrance. Its overpriced? I only know i would pay any price for this drug.

This is so good, my favourite La Serpent SHL777 fragrance by far. Has a sort of "baloon" type of smell on my skin, which probably stems from the leather note. Really well-blended woody/leather fragrance, with some freshness from the Ink & Blackberry note, although not very prominent. Very well suited for date nights, as the cardamom and leather come across the highest for me. Very seductive, not too dark and will generally be more mass-appealing than other fragrances with similar scent accords.

A gorgeous skin-like void that gives way to peppered touches over blackberry leather and smoke. Kaleidoscope-like once the void of the ink blinks. Like walking through the house in the dark you sense things as the light hits or sometimes your toes...a study in black white and grey. Stunning, thought provoking and truly unique. This is very moreish... Returning to this sample in winter after trying it last year. So good!

It's awesome and relaxing. Will catch yourself smelling from the bottle frequently. I wear it for rainy days or church. Very powdery so some people will catch that before anything else. Yeah man it's great. I love SHL scents and this one definitely sold me on the house. Banger for the first fancy date. 9.4/10 price is absurd and you're gonna be stressing trying to find a good discount that's legitimate. still love it