Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Serge Lutens Bois de Violette

Today marks the first day of Un Jardin de Parfum Blog. As the name suggests, this is a blog dedicates to the love of perfumes, gardens and all things beautiful.
Recently I have ordered several perfume samples from Aedes De Venustas, including the much appraised and talked about Bois de Violette by the perfumers, Christopher Sheldrake and Serge Lutens for PARFUMS SERGE LUTENS. The perfume is only available at Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido in Paris, and few on-line stores carry. The notes include white cedar, violet leaves with hints of freshly cut grass. Initially it is quite woody and heavy, like entering an old Japanese Kyoto incense store atmosphere, dark, quiet, complicated and mysterious. But unlike the continuing strong force of Japanese incense sometimes makes me headache; Bois de Violette on the other hand, fades into sheer dark purple veil. The sugariness of the violet begins to emerge, the air becomes lighter, still full of intriguing, comfortably and securely separates us from the rest of the world. The fragrance wraps around the body with good lasting power ( 4~5 hours). This is the first Serge Lutens perfume I have ever tried. The perfume is truly beautiful and mesmerizing. Although it may not be love in the first sight due to its heaviness in the beginning, it has gradually grown on me. I am fully comprehensive why Lucas Turin commented the perfume, "to keep it as dark and transparent as humanly possible". Parfums Serge Lutens proves to be an extraordinary perfume house. Bois de Violette will definitely on my shopping list when I revisits Paris one day ! ( hope it will be soon ! )