Poivre Noir by Serge Lutens (Thanks Tom!)
Hey Posse. Remember a couple of months ago Tom did a post on Serge Lutens’ Poivre Noir? Well colour me lemming. I’m not sure why but the release of Poivre Noir kind of passed me by. I knew it was out but it held no interest. Oh yes, another pepper perfume. Yawn. As if you didn’t already know: Tom is so bloody eloquent and I’m so bloody gullible. I was doing an order and guess what made it into the cart and then past the checkout point? Yep, you guessed correctly. Here I am with 50ml, finding it incredibly more-ish and thought it best to share my experience.
Poivre Noir by Serge Lutens 2022
Serge Lutens gives these featured accords:
Black pepper from Madagascar, Nutmeg, Cedar
It’s really warming up here in Sydney. We are having 30°C+/86f+ days and today while having lunch with mates at the Sydney Fish Markets I think the heat overwhelmed me. Instead of going on to have drinks with other mates and then see my beautiful and talented god-daughter Lola in her end of year play, it was home to loads of cool water and a lie down. Tragic.
While I know you have hit cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere, Poivre Noir could be the weird assed lean into the cool with a heating pay off that you never knew you needed.
First spritz gives us PEPPER! Just cracked. Also bell peppers, freshly sliced. ALSO chilli and ginger. The opening is a bright, scratchy, cool and wet delight that has “freshie” mixed with “warming” in such a surprising way. Poivre Noir is an aquatic, but NOT like any water perfume you’ve ever tried. It does wink at the 1990s version of the genre but races past it in sophistication and energy.
The woods, when they arrive are green and twiggy, not the usual pencil shavings expected and more like fir or even pine UNTIL about an hour in. Suddenly the pencil shavings arrive and then manage to weave in and through the heart to dry down.Still with that cool, moist breeze blowing off a lake vibe. Invigorating and so elegant.
Totally unisex but leaning towards a masculine tradition. Honestly, it’s a bit too far fetched for the run of the mill guy. This needs a thoughtfully presented human who skirts the edges of fashion and perfume-ista. Love the ride.
I bought a 50ml tester from FragranceNet but at time of writing they only have the 100ml currently. Still under US$80.
So, have Tom and I convinced you?
Portia xx
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