Serge Noire by Serge Lutens

Mihail

So Drakula could smell:-) Involves with the gloom. Aroma of philosophical mood.

libertybelle

Umm, can smell the cinnamon and cloves right off the bat. I loved it. Then came the amber and a muskiness that reminded me of a dirty man. But not too disgusting, just rank enough in a good way like your lover had just spent the day working hard outside. I got a sample in a swap so unknown if my sample has aged and lost it's oomph, but I don't get anything disturbing as it reacts with my skin. I think it's totally wearable and enjoyable.

Marangoni

This is a rare perfume. I knew I could not leave the store without it. Totally wearable, excentric, requires a dramatic amount of confidence, it definitely is a different statement. I can't say it's seductive, it's more...intriguing, very intriguing. At one point it made me think of those smoky scotch single malts, aged and expensive...thinking of Laphroaig...old wet wood and smoke in a deep forgotten basement...wind outside...and all the promises of the World ahead of me. Love it!

guest_A. Rose

Enchantingly dangerous, untamed-sexy, hypnotic and darkly disorienting---ahh, so this is what it feels like to be wooed by Heathcliff on the windy moor or a beautiful vampire in the shadows--maybe "Dorian Gray" in a steamy boudoir! Upon opening, "Serge Noir" bursts into something like an old-school camphor rub--think "Tiger Balm" or some other herbal skin rub, but not something particularily medicinal in the way newer anaglesiac rubs are--it smells like a very elegant camphor; this is a young gentleman's herb-steeped oil-rub, something to invigorate the body before a romping exercise of some kind (we'll say "fencing" or "boxing" or "wrestling", for all intents and purposes, here). The camphor deepens into an ebony-woody sweetness, touched with a hint of rosemary, smoky clove, dried sage and darkly velvety-sweet, scraped cinnamon stick. The ebony becomes very polished, contrasted against untreated wood, evoking a grand piano inside and out. Then, any moisture dries into something salty and sweetly windswept, evoking frayed, dandied frock coats of the 1800's; beautiful men standing on the decks of ships in their weather-worn overcoats and leather boots. I'm a young woman and if a man ever approached me wearing this, I'd struggle against myself not to conume the air in his personal space, making every effort to trace my nose along his neck and infuse his scent into my fantasies. Women can pull this off, just for the experience of evoking the late days of autumn; however, "Serge Noir"--like some magical potion made to transform when touched to male skin--develops differently on guys; it's leathery-sweet, smoky and intense, with charming masculinity at its core, reminding ladies of why some men will always be romantically successful, despite our best intentions. A very foxy, spellbinding scent by SL.

memechose

Serge Lutens deliver a unique fragrance.( love the name which is a double entendre; serge noire is also the translation for a black cloth used in uniforms in France).

At first, Serge Noire seems slightly familiar, as if it was a cross between Bvlgari Black and Gris Clair. On me, the smell of rubber opens the scent, before anise and cinnamon take over. I detect patchouli and camphor. But there is an odd sweetness that counters the more earthy and astringent notes, an unusual blend of vanillin and spice notes, benzoin and styrax on my skin.

The company lists the top notes as “Ethereal Notes”, (I have no idea what they are) and the heart notes are Patchouli, Camphor, Cinnamon and Spices, with base notes of Woody Notes and Amber.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts; Serge Noire distinguishes itself with an unusual drydown. There is this Chet Baker quality…

Not too oriental, nor too spicy-dark (this is a bit of a relief). It fades in and out, this melancholy---alternating with something hopeful and promising. It’s enigmatic. I believe you will debate back and forth, “Do I NEED Serge Noire? “and I bet that you will find it too tempting to resist.

pimentosugars

Oh. My. God.

Can someone tell me, what happens at night at Castle Lutens in Gothylvania? When the moon shines bright over the mountains, and a far off she-wolf howls in the snow, the Master rises from his crypt, feeds the vampires, translates his oldest copy of the Necronomicon into latin...then goes and settles in his favourite leather (I hope it's leather; some kind of hide at any rate) armchair, waiting for me to arrive while he drinks the darkest claret. When I get there, his favourite niece asking her wicked uncle a favour, he'll give me excellent advice, especially if it's about corrupting cardinals or sewing cadavers together to create life. And all the time, he's wearing Serge Noire!

Lutens as always challenges me, makes me think and dream. I love this incredible incense-laden camphor/clove combo, thick and dark and (to my mind) incredibly masculine. I have not dared it on my skin yet, because I am a little woman and this perfume is in danger of entering a room streets before I do! I tested it on a piece of paper which I then put in my jacket pocket. The smell permeated pocket, jacket, and me for hours like old school medicine. It's lovely. Now all I have to do is convince the men in my life to try it. Someone somewhere must be able to wear this gloriously gothic creation!

PR

it smelled to me of the contryside's damp ground and soil, some campfire near and strange grass mixed with herbs. Warm-ish softness with dampness and something spicy/herbal trying to sneak out from the underneath.
Can't say if I'm getting it wrong, but it reminds me of some L'Occitane en Provence's gents' perfume, eau de Vetiver, perhaps.
I don't know where I would wear it,actually I do prefer not to wear this anywhere, but those who like it shouldn't be getting short of ideas, because this is an unobtrusive fragrance and if you like it near your skin, why not

Just thought of the word that it triggered and it was 'lurking'

zenzero

The name of perfume is Serge NoirE, with "e" at the end, which is - obviously - refered to a brend "SergE Lutens".
It is described as "gray oriental". The fragrance includes notes of patchouli, cinnamon, amber and black woods.

mihailo_vukoicic

wearing this scent is a religious feeling. I expected SO much and I kinda doubted it was gonna be able to rise to the occasion, but it did. dualistic: dark, yet sparkly. comforting and disturbing.
a dream/nightmare come true.