Passage d'Enfer L Artisan Parfumeur for women and men

I don't get it...Why could many people detect the incense note but me?
For me, this is a purely Lily perfume, nothing else.
When I first spray it, I could smell a whole bunch of freshly cut lilies; however, it soon turns to a soapy scent for a long long time, very sharp and somehow synthetic.
Much later, it goes back to a pretty nice lily scent.
*longevity: 8/10
*Sillage: 7-8/10

The name of this fragrance initially bothered me; I didn't want to smell like the gates of Hell. Then, L'Artisan stated that this was the name of a street instead of a scent-painting of a particular place; ok, I thought. I'll bite.

What transpires after applying is one of the best incense scents I've ever smelled. It seems that there are three different kinds of incense rising and wafting around you (one of these is the lillies, I'm sure); they are equal in strength, each balanced against the others. None predominates. The effect is one of otherworldly timelessness and a sense of rising above/beyond this transient existence. I've never had a fragrance lead my thoughts that way before. Very cool.

Now, some will protest that the scent doesn't evolve from its initial aroma, and that's true. What you smell like initially is what you will continue to smell like. If you don't like it at first, time to scrub. Me, I don't mind linear scents.

It lasts six to eight hours, gradually decreasing in sillage along the way. Speaking of that, the sillage is never overwhelming, but just a pleasant, medium level (five feet or less).

Passage L'Enfer is a unique, interesting, quality fragrance. On the fragrance report card, it scores an A.

微微发甜味的乳香 从头到尾都有清清的木质 很喜欢的感觉

To me, the name conjures up imges of the Hell’s Gate canyon in southern British Columbia, a rush of churning whitewater down in a deep gorge at the point where the Fraser River passes through the narrowest point in its course.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from this EdT - an aquatic based on my own peculiar associations with the name, or strong, smoky incense based on things I’d read. In any case, it wasn’t musk, but at first, musk is all I smell. Then gradually there appears a soapy floral note along with a hint of the incense I’d been half expecting. It’s never smoky or goth-y, always light, clean, upbeat and pastel-tinted, staying close to the skin. I don’t really recognize lilies in the floral component, which just seems like a floral-scented soap. The light floral-incense-musk mix stays fairly linear until it fades away after 4-5 hours.

I like Passage d’Enfer, but it reminds me of bland classical music played at very low volume in an upscale restaurant - something to provide a pleasant background ambience rather than something to actively listen to.

The same thing happened to me as happened to Armchair Sailor. I put on what I thought was a generous amount and seriously, within a few minutes I could barely smell anything. I thought there was something wrong with me, but I see someone else has had that experience too. I wish I could smell what everyone else is getting. I didn't even have time to name what I was sensing. Maybe a very very vague pipi du chat. I guess I'll try again.

It might be the best perfume in the world. But here's what happened to me: I sprayed it on my left wrist (on the right I had Dzongkha) then I came back to the university in time to smell them properly before a lesson. Guess what? Twenty minutes after spraying it, Passage d'enfer was gone. Completely. So, I have a vague idea of what it smells like, as I've smelled briefly when sprayed. I remember spices. Sort of. It seemed interesting.
But fifteen minutes of persistence? No, thanks.

Heverton you described it wonderful:) I agree with you letter by letter.
In the time searching your PATH, maybe reading "The Shack", trying to go down deeper and deeper is the best having the smell of Passage on you. Taking you to a calm and balanced world, where you should not meets requirements of others.
I understand that it is not for everyone.

Passage d'Enfer is the most spiritual fragrance that I've had the opportunity to meet. We don't have here the pure abstraction of the environment inside a church, as in Avignon, but instead, a full transposition to a rite of passage.

L'artisan was able to capture with this scent, the end point of every life, death, especially it's religious aspects.

This scent opens with a cadaverous smell, similar to the smell of bodies as being veiled. That distinctive smell of flowers combined with incense, a mysterious opening where Lily is fully present along with a very characteristic aroma of myrrh.

Named gates of hell, I was expecting the same as knightz expected. A pungent scent, extremely strong, invasive, and even repulsive, representing to me within it's evolution, the nine circles of hell as described by Dante Alighieri in hi's most famous work The Divine Comedy, instead we have in this smooth scent(and no less remarkable), the final part of Purgatory, with the removal of sins committed by Dante in life and thus the subsequent ascension into heaven.

Passage d'Enfer is the embodiment of the liturgical chant Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy on us). A spiritual masterpiece. Definitely a scent that is not for everyone. When you have the opportunity to smell this fragrance, track it's progress by watching this video on youtube (watch?v=L1lz7JAXe54&feature) and so you will understand the perfect image that Giacobetti Olivia was able to capture with her creation.

Oh eck, sample tested on my arm 3 hours ago and still making me feel exactly as described by Cereza below, an accurate observation..
I ADORE many aspects of L'artisan's range and admire their eccentricity and creativity but this is creepy, musty and unfortunately long lasting.

Bless me Father, for I have sinned...
I would call it a spiritual perfume. It's a serious perfume, just like the spiritual path. Life and death. Not for everybody, and certainly not liked by everybody. Yes, the incense, the lilies, the musk, and the ginger (hence the soapy character) are all there. What I really enjoy is its ethereal nature (like all L'Artisan creations), which makes it wearable and enjoyable, and on me unlike others it lasts around 8 hours!
A wonderful fragrance, which reminds us that maybe in order to earn our paradise, we have to go through hell...

Light but pretty run-of-the-mill incense with a few flowers thrown in. I would have loved more lily as it is a note I really enjoy. I honestly cannot say this was anything special on me, and not long-lasting either, but I can appreciate its well put-together recipe and obviously other reviewers have had more positive experiences, which is great for them. I cannot say I dislike this one, but felt it didn't live up to my expectations.

Yes, I agree with Cereza's review. This fragrance creeps me out. Yes, I get the faint odor of death and funeral homes. Lifeless bodies. Morbid. The lillies. The ghosts. Won't wear it but will toy with my sample.

I have a problem with Lily in fragrances, that flower creeps me out. Really. It reminds me of funeral, of death, cemetary, sadness and emptyness. I have no idea why it it's like that.
Passage d'Enfer is all about lily and woody notes. I can feel dry cedar, there are bits of incense, but not too noticable. The scent itself is enjoyable, but this creeps me out. No wonder it's called "The Gates of hell".
Sorry, really, it reminds me of the way dead people smell when they are prepared for funeral. Not bad, but creepy. Not something I'd like to smell like...EVER.

I'm enjoying wearing this immensely, although the smell of "Passage d'Enfer" is unfortunately evaporating so fast. Subtle and spicy all in one, really comforting fragrance. And isn't it true that a way to hell is such a comfortable and welcoming one, while a way to heaven is tiring and hard?
The incense here isn't as strong as I remember from catholic masses, than it was overwhelming. In "Passage d'Enfer" it's so subtle and wonderful with a hint of lily's sweetness.

After reading about how good it was I finally ordered my own sample bottle. I got it this morning and from the moment I sprayed it on me I absolutely loved it!!! It's delicate, sweet, fragrant like a cologne but the musk and the incense in it make it sublime, refined. It makes me think of a wonderful sunny day in Spring when it's still cold. I think it's elegant and sexy. The only down factor that I can find is that on my skin it disappears after about 4 hours, but I think that I'll buy the big and expensive bottle and will just reapply during the day...Passage d'Enfer is definitely worth the money!!!!

Ho trovato la grande somiglianza con un profumo d"Erbolario "Mirrhae",la stessa combinazione di legno e resina bruciati assieme con l'incenso.Pero' quello di l"erbolario e' piu' forte e durevole, e per di piu' a basso costo :)
Entrambi profumi non sono gradevoli e non sono decisamente per tuttti.

Passage D'Enfer. The description given by L'Artisan Parfumeur is:

"A light and enveloping incense water awakened by musky notes. A pure and hypnotic blend, that carries you off to seventh heaven."

There's obviously some sort of symbolism here, especially given the floral note in the composition. Lily has been often used to symbolize purity, chastity and virtue (The Virgin Mary). One could conclude that the name of the fragrance is the point of ascension, based on the given description and the symbolism of the one floral note.

Addressing some of the perceived sexual connotations of the fragrance: the lily flower is also a symbolism of fertility in ancient Egypt and sexuality in ancient Greece.

Whatever the case is, I'm glad to have it in my collection!! Though sillage is moderate and the lasting power will vary on different people, it becomes a delightful skin scent after about 5 minutes. I love how these notes are blended and you can detect every single note listed by Fragrantica. L'Artisan Parfumeur has created an interesting fragrance in Passage D'Enfer which aromatically and symbolically appeals to both religious people and pagans alike.

When I saw Giacobetti's name on this I knew two things: I would like it, and it would be short lived.

Yes to both. Most before me are describing a nice 'hanging on your clothes' scent, and i agree with that too.

What I find interesting here is the lily note, which my chemistry lifts up (and sinks the musk). As a result I get a very fresh, spring floral wrapped in incense. It's a gentle, pleasant combination; not at all harsh, sexy, or suggestive.

I too wish this lasted longer, which is the only criticism i give it.

Good scent for sure like all L'Artisan fragrances. BUT like most of their stuff, this is too light without sillage and duration. Last only 2-3 hours on clothes!
Sad cause they have great smelling things out there...


7,5/10

This is a scent with a big edge. If i ever decided to wear latex or leather suit with the metal chains and heavy rock boots, I'd wear something like what is Passage d'Enfer in the beginning . The first notes are the eyes of thousands of devils in the pits of fiery hell, where the main feature is not the heat but redness and smell of metal - a cold smell of cooking metal, if it makes sense. After that all this changes into the shaving cream. I'm in the middle of trying now, but I don't expect the fragrance to change back to that firmament-inspired piece of artwork in the end. I have mixed feelings - the beginning to very good, later it disappears.

I bought this expecting the most sexy, carnal fragrance, but after buying it and realising it wasn't, I read that this perfume (Gates of Hell) was named after the street address where L'Artisan Perfumes is located in Paris.

It has nothing to do with any religious theme. I love it, but many of my friends dislike it. It does smell very 'churchy' to me and that's a wonderful feature of the parfum. I see it more as a masculine fragrance, but have never smelled it on a woman's skin before.

This storyline is a quoted from Osmoz.com - "Created in late 1999 and first featured on curled paper, the Passage d'Enfer eau de toilette (Rite of Passage) was designed by L'Artisan Parfumeur to celebrate the "passage to YK2."
After this original and light incense eau enjoyed great success, L'Artisan Parfumeur packaged it in a flacon to add it to the Jeux d'Ambre universe.
Passage d'Enfer hugs the body and floats up to the sky with a scent of spellbinding musk. It is a symbolic fragrance, a peace pact between spiritual and carnal. It is a universal eau that shrouds and dresses the skins of men and women of the new millennium."

I'm unsure which story to believe now ....

With the name this possesses I was expecting hellfire & brimstone - instead this is has a nice soapy incense smell to it. This perfume also suggests the smell of fire & smoke that has caught in my hair after I've burnt brush or wood in my firepit outside , which I like that smell by the way , it agrees with me.

This also smells alot like my home after I've dusted the furniture using lemon oil, I also burn all kinds of incense in my home, including the natural resins like frankincense & myrhh, so these smells mix really nice, kind of like an old church smell - or temple..which is the effect I get in the mood for when I want to chill out for a while.

This is no road to Hell to me, but more of a quiet sanctuary smell , with all the incense & smokiness - there's also a dampness to this perfume which futher evokes the idea of an ancient temple still being used for some kind of worship.
This is a very atmospheric fragrance, makes me think of songs dealing with dark creatures,I'm thinking Sarah McLachlan's 'Building a Mystery' (I love the lyrics to that song!) & then even darker, Type O Negative's 'Black no 1', perfect soundtracks for this fragrance!
Not harsh smelling at all, this is very evocative of dark ,ancient places of worship,this is what the lingering smells of ritual in those places would smell like.
I love this!

It would seem, I am one of the few who smell the lily stronger than the incense in this one. To me this is a lily fragrance for grown up women, nothing sweet or innocent about it. I guess it's the incense's work, which for me adds this darker, mysterious, cooler tone. I absolutely love it and wear it, mainly in the summer, on its own but also layered with others -usually florals- as well. The lasting power is awesome, a whole day on me, even if the sillage is not that great. I've run to the middle of my 3.4 oz bottle in less than 6 months, with over 20 FBs in my collection, so that should tell you something. A very unusual fragrance, so simple and yet so unique. Try before you buy though; it's either love or hate with this one.

yess finally got a chance to try it,there is much incense indeed and it reminds me church smell its sexy tough.. not sure if i want to smell like that :-p, its slightly similair to galliano but more floral..longlasting as well
just my luck they stop selling it in the store were i want to buy it :-(
it was a hard choice between lady
vengance and gates of hell.. if it was for me i bought both!
glad i could get a sample!

I am in love with Passage d'Enfer. With a first spray it's incense I lusted for, many times found in other perfumes, but not enough amount for me. It's like sacred aura- it's not very strong sillage monster, but it's trail is intriguing. All way home I sniffed my wrist and thought that I found one of my top loved perfumes.
Some people may find it too much real to wear or it would recall burial stuff (especially if russian orthodox church pope attends and while he prays he shakes that stuff with burning incense).
It's suitable cold day, rainy day, whatever type of day even today, when it's hot, it's perfect.
I picture dark church or cathedral which was rebuilt many times and bears signature elements of passed eras such as gothic and others. There's old benches and they are saturated with incense.
Now updated, more accurate description:
First spray and immediately it's incense with a little lemony note, that you will rarely ever notice, because it's hidden as undertone and sounds/suits it well. At first, for some time, it reminds me the dry spices of Timbuktu, the edible smokiness of Dzongkha. But it's incense, incense- true, even something evil about it. I won't picture any light, sunny church, more sounds like medieval or older time one, that hasn't been touched by minimalism and has it all- uber decorated, it rather screamed - Fear!- to average citizens :3
It's different, yet brings me some comfort and makes me feel more confident.

UPD. So. Opening is very resinuos,you know? Smells exactly like resin from pine tree. It has alittle lemony undertone, but it's alive to death. Next is hot, burning smell of incense and lily that settles down into incense + musk aura-like smell. Simply divine. It kind of sometimes I think 'Where do that Narcisso Rodriguez comes from?' It just is musky combo from PdE. So they share something common right there. At start it used to have headaches from it, but then it went away.

Lasting power is great- not only I can feel it all day (feels like some kinda aura, as it's not overly intense, but you will notice it around), I tried to put it on before going to bed and next day woke up and immediately felt it around.

P.P.S. Proud owner of 3.4 bottle :P

Passage d'Enfer?? strange name for such a lovely gentle fragrance, unless this is a trap!
I'm wearing it today and I can only see a small piece of heaven! It's kind of experiment for me, because this is not my kind of scent at all when it comes to personal scent or signature. I think it's more of a confort scent for me. The smell is veeeery pleasant to my nose! I smell mostly incense from the beginning to the end. On my skin it's definetely an incense scent, I would say a "soliflore" of incense. Other notes are there just to compliment. They add a good woody vibe. No sandalwood is listed. Strange. I can smell sandalwood here and it reminds me of Tam Dao. I can't smell any flower in a distinct way. The musk gives some depth. It's such a clean fragrance! It's a little cold/brash for the first seconds then it slowly warms up, gently enveloping the person in a soft aura of protection and well-being.
No Hell here unless Hell is cosy warm place that reeks of delicate incense! Who knows?
I think this is very unisex and it probably melts differently on each skin. On my skin Passage d'Enfer is very delicate and contemplative. It reminds me of beautiful Acqua Santa by La Via del Profumo. It's a scent for the soul and for skin, but not very mundane. It's not sexy nor attractive in a frilly way, still it has some attractiveness.
It would be nice to recover into a small temple far from the mading crowd wearing this and a simple confortable cloth, maybe in company of a Buddha statue. If you need an escape wear this and put a board on your back "Gone to Heaven, not sure I'll be back, take care"
This is the feeling that Passage d'Enfer gives me at first. Sure, after 1 hour of smelling this on my wrist I could end up anywhere, maybe even a Kamasutra session. Mmmm... making sense about the name!

i'm surprised by the warm notes listed for passage. i get something very fresh and sharp from it with a touch of powder at most. it is very subtle and close to the skin. not bad only it is a little dull. i think that if it were louder, my eyes would be watery. ee.

I was looking forward to trying Passage d'Enfer, since I love incense and enjoy lily. After dabbing from a sample vial, I was greeted by a fresh, breezy pine scent, which was followed by a pleasant floral. Unfortunately, after that stage, PdE began to smell like... shaving cream. Yes, instead of incense and musk and woods, I got Freshly Shaved Guy. I really do not enjoy smelling like Barbasol myself, so eventually I had to scrub it off. I wish it worked with my chemistry, but it doesn't.

Slightly personal musk and creamy floral, almost like a lightly scented makeup. Very pretty, creamy scent. Delicate, smooth, a little bit sexy, but no sign of hell. Fades way too fast, though.

With a name like Passage d'Enfer (translates to 'The Gates of Hell'), I thought this was going to be aggressive, if not outright evil. It's not. It's a lighter and more simple scent than others by L'Artisan, not strong at all. It's not what I would call a 'light' scent, nor is it strong or heavy. Low to medium sillage.

It has a Lily note with Incense, very light Myrrh, and light Musk. Linear.

I like the stronger scents the best. Passage d'Enfer is more like an Eau de Cologne. A closer skin-scent, but it does have some lasting power.

I think it was the name that made me expect more of it. I would expect 'The Gates of Hell' to be strong, smokey, and full of mischievous and irresistible invitations, with a touch of untamed nastiness. It's not that deep.

I do like it very much. Many other L'Artisan fragrances are much stronger than Passage d'Enfer. Nice, and almost a 'safe' scent, but not my first choice, it's about my fourth choice in L'Artisan scents.

Oh, this is a wicked, wicked perfume. Be warned, fragrance fans; this is not for the faint of heart...

Now, dear readers, I must admit to a lifelong passion for deeply seductive musks; the ones that make perfume virgins hitch up their skirts and scream as they run in the opposite direction. Never for me the wishy-washy florals and oceanic breezes of my (then) teenage contemporaries. I have always lusted after animalistic incense, smoke and great fat clots of punchy patchouli. As long as it's the good stuff, the richly aged elixirs, absolutely NOT to be confused with cheap bottles of weave-your-own hippie types found mouldering in sadly faded New Age health stores.

No, my dears, I yearn for the kind of scents a courtesan may have worn. The kind that corrupt the innocent and beguile legions of men. And I am here to tell you that this is the Queen. This is , indeed, the road to Hell as it will ruin you for all other pretenders to the throne. From the first sniff I was hooked. And shocked. It actually shocked me how deeply subversive and naughty this smelled! And it's not just me and my dirty mind: others have commented using just those words. I was once at a party with friends (we were all dressed as Victorian Prostitutes - it was a Jack the Ripper theme) and I knew I had to wear this perfume as part of my costume. One of my friends exclaimed that someone "...smells absolutely wicked, so naughty!" and I had to stifle a smile. I knew it was Passage d'Enfer. She sniffed my neck and confirmed it, demanding to know what the perfume was and where she could get some.

This is what hooks me, what constantly surprises me, and what I have to be in the mood for: Intense lily followed by great billowing clouds of smoke and sweetly burning incense; a musky, powdery drydown that lasts and lasts.

As I say, I adore this but have to be in the mood for it, otherwise you can find it's one of those perfumes that can end up wearing *you*. Not an every day scent, then. Not unless you're Theda Bara.