There is a reason why I don’t review Serge Lutens perfumes often even though I wear many and like many of them (wouldn’t mind owning practically the whole line).
I just never seem to be able to find the words to describe exactly what I smell – that happens with other perfumes as well, but nowhere am I so strongly aware of it as with SL perfumes.
So, I’ll try and do my best ut in the end, as is always the case with Uncle Serge perfumes, the reviews won’t really prepare you for what you smell in the end. 🙂 (I find that a great thing myself)
Notes: sandalwood, cocoa, Arabian attar rose, honey, spices
I’ve sampled and worn Santal Majuscule many times over the weeks I have it and still, each time I smell it, I find another facet of it to be revealed. I went through so many ideas of what this perfume smells like and each time I smell it again, half of the stuff I thought it smelled like aren’t there but there are new things I smell.
Until I saw the notes, cocoa and rose never entered my mind but once I saw them, I knew they were in there, I even remembered exactly at what point the cocoa comes to play.
Before I start describing what it smells like to me, I should say that the most obvious thing I get from it is that it is a combination of perfumes that already exist in the line. I don’t mean to say by that that I think it’s not good or smelling differently, it’s just that there are familiar accords jumping out at you at different times.
Sometimes it’s the idea of sweet, sticky, spiced (and even boozy) fruit of what I’d like to think as Arabian market variety the first thing you smell, soon to be followed by the teasing wafts of how Jeux de Peau starts, following with opening of Santal Blanc until sometimes you come across barest hints of Ambre Sultan hidden in the murky depths of this perfume.
Because there ARE depths to it, you can smell them from the start. But try as you might, sniffing at close proximity won’t get you anywhere near those depths.
So, what I smell in the beginning is described in the previous paragraph, warm, spicy, boozy fruit with the general feeling of seriousness and darkness (there’s not frivolity to this fruit as the feeling is dry and not sparkling and happy) with cocoa underscoring the darkness and warmth and sandalwood making you swoon.
Now I know it’s there, I can smell the rose appear and the fruitiness slowly disappear. At this point is where I feel a smile blossoming on my face. It is also where I feel the resemblance to Santal Blanc is most prominent.
Being true to my smelling practices, after enjoying this phase for quite a while, all I can say about the drydown, is, it continues to dry in the vein it smells.
Honestly, I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m really not a drydown person. My attention dissipates by that time.
So, for the minuscule draw I have two samples from my bottle, tell me why you think you might like/love this or why not? Both will work. 🙂
Tagged: give-away, Santal Majuscule, Serge Lutens, World of Perfume
All I am - a redhead 
I love anything sandalwood so I know I will love it :)(Hope I win the giveaway sample) 🙂
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I absolutely adore you for this : "Honestly, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm really not a drydown person. My attention dissipates by that time. " 😀
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Well, Ines, you had me at "warm, spicy, boozy fruit"!(The only thing that scares me is your mention of some resemblance to Jeux de Peau at one point, since I don't get on well with that one.)I'd love to be in the drawing, if I may. 🙂
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Sandalwood, cocoa, rose, and spices, what is not to love. It sounds like the very thing I would love.
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please, enter me the draw-I may love it, a lot
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You're in and good luck. :)Loving sandalwood certainly works toward loving Santal Majuscule.
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Hi,hi,hi, it just can't be helped.:) I tried, I really did, but I can follow a perfume for about 3 hours, after that I stop paying attention unconsciously.
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Hmm, Suzanne, now I'm wondering whether you will like it or not. I don't always get Jeux de Peau reference – that's what I find intriguing about SL perfumes, you never know what might await around the nose even though you think you're familiar with it.Of course you're in! 🙂
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Tatiana, now you put it that way, I agree. Really, what's not to love?! 😉
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Ok, Irina, you're in. 🙂
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It's a SL, even if I don't LOVE it I will admire it greatly =) and ditto above, your comment about drydown is hilarious.. let me just say wait until you find that one perfume that surprise you with its drydown by making you take notice after 3 hrs!
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This sounds gorgeous. Is the Jeux de Peau reference immortelle or honeyed bread? Please add me to the draw
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Hi Ines; thanks for the review…and the draw! Although I haven't tried this opus yet, I like most of what the great Serge brings out, plus the list of notes sounds right down my alley, so I'd be surprised if this one didn't take my fancy. Also, I'm very intrigued when you say that the fragrance keeps showing different facets…fingers crossed my name comes out of the hat! ^_^
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No need to enter me in the draw, but I enjoyed reading your take as always. I have not tried this yet, and I love the picture you paint of it as something that is complex, but smelling it up close won't help you pin it down. I like perfumes like this, even though they frustrate me too. Thanks for the review!
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Womo, I know, I've been recently surprised like that by Seville a l'Aube – the drydown is the part I love the most in that perfume. But unfortunately that doesn't happen often…
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Alityke, I'd say both, it's that strange opening of Jeux that makes it unique and very recognizable.You're in. 🙂
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Hi Laurinha, I'm always interested in what Uncle Serge comes up with, and now I'm eagerly awaiting the gardenia one to come out in September. :)Good luck!
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I hate it when blogger plays tricks on me and now my reply to you is at the end. 🙂
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Thanks Natalie!Good point – perfumes sometime frustrate me too. 🙂
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Ines, I enjoyed reading your review.Do not enter me into the draw: I really want to but I hope I'll be able to test it soon at a store.
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It sounds like a mix between Badgley Mischka and SL's Arabie. That's why I'd like it.
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OK, Undina. I hope you get to test it soon, I wonder how will you like it though…
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Joan, you're in and I'm off to announce the winners. 🙂
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