Seriously? Bread, apricot and immortelle? Did Serge wake up one morning and think – “What notes could I put together to make Patty deliriously happy?” Well, I already have deliriously happy because my big, stinky double-bloom daffodils are opening in my indoor pots. When I was in Paris in January, a flower shop had pots of them outside, and I walked by, stuck my nose in and tried to figure out how to get them home. Well, yeah, I couldn’t figure it out, but now I have my own that I can stick my nose in every day 17x a day. And I do that at least that many times.
Bread, pancake syrup and apricot jam are the three things most likely to make my toes curl. That we get servered our bread toasted and a little nutty – think L’Artisan Bois Farine – just gives some extra curl to my already seriously extended toes. While it’s all over the foody territory, this in drying down isn’t a sugary treat, there’s a milky quality to it, along with a bouncing resilience that isn’t normally in gourmands. By that, I mean it pushes back. Most gourmands, you sink into, giving yourself over to the comfort of them, the places that go ahhhhh. This one, you sink into, and it shoves you back hard. And it has some serious staying power. I wore it out to dinner the other night, and it was still hanging around the next morning. For breakfast. How fitting. You know, kinda like that guy you took home that seemed really sweet -almost too nice – and you get up the next morning with someone that’s much more rugged and male and jaggedy and not too nice in the least. That’s a great surprise because usually it works out the other way – super-stud turns into mealy milquetoast. My bias toward rough around the edges men is showing, I’m afraid.
Jeux de Peau is a much more editorial perfume than he’s been doing with some of the last few exports – excepting Boxeuses and a couple of others. It’s not as difficult to wear for me as, say, Arabie (oh, hush, all you Arabie swooners), but it won’t be wafting all over the ladies who lunch either. I don’t know that it will be widely loved by the perfumista crowd. I mean, maybe, but I think it will be a mixed bag of reviews, even though the early blog reviews seem to be good. Every now and then I can sense a scented swerve near the cliff on me that could turn this into a really bad International Pancake House incident. But luckily, it hangs onto the edge of that ruinous syrupy road and finds a much more mellow nutty, woody place to ride.
This is starting to remind me of my headstands, which, btw, I am continuing with, decided to do them every day for Lent. Along with hero’s pose, which I hate, detest, loathe. That’s the one where you sit on your heels. I used to do this all the time as a kid, but somewhere along the line I scarred the crap out of my ankles and they became quite inflexible, but Hero’s pose has shown me that the inflexible are flexible after all, you just have to apply time and pressure. The good news about doing this every day is my uber-heels now work for me, as I pranced out in my Bottega Venetta FM pumps last week. So bring the pain if this will also get me into my Laboutins and Guccis.
The list of notes from Luckyscent – Bread note, spices, licorice, apricot, immortelle, sandalwood, woody notes, amber.
We do have winners from last weeks’ draw of MDCI’s Helene. And I’ll do a draw for two samples of this new Serge, just drop a comment.
Okay, four MDCI winners are: Jemi, Kelly, jirish, and KathyT! Just click on Contact Us on the left, send me your address, remind me what you won, and I’ll get a little bit of this sent to you!
Please, enter me in the draw for this one. Can it really be, immortelle? I’ve heard other reviewers mention bread, butter, apricot jam, and I felt interest, but with immortelle I am more than interested. Very intrigued.
LindaB, you said you were thinking of ordering samples, could someone clue me in on how you do this? There are no Serge Lutens near me so I’d love to order some. So far all I have is a Chergui sample.
Patty, I had to laugh at your review, it was great! You’ve made me eager to try this one just to see if I fall into the Hallelujah chorus or the “scrub this spawn of satan off me”. It seems people have such extreme reactions.
If the drawing is still open, please enter me!
I’m getting into bread scents as well – curious about this one, now.
Toasty bread, apricot jam and maple syrup, with spikes of licorice & ginger? By Lutens?? Intriguing, very intriguing! Even though it’s probably going to end expensively, please sign me up for the draw!
Love apricot. Please enter me in the draw!
I do love a bread-y perfume. enter me please :)
Yeast? Apricot? Maple? Yummm-eeee. I’ve always been afraid to get into the Lutens’ offerings, they are expensive and I may love them…this sorely tempts me.
Suggestion for Virasana? Sit on a block, either the first or second height depending on your flexibililty. Knees together, ankles pressed into the sides of the block, toes facing straight behind you. Before you sit, press the flesh of your calves away to either side with your hands – it gives you more space. Sitting on the block puts less pressure on the knees, allowing them to release gently (I’m a yoga teacher).
This sounds like one of those Serges I will either find uncomfortably seductive, like La Myrrhe, or ghastly (see Serge Noir). Therefore, interested in trying, of course.
I do wish someone would create a perfect daffodil scent. there are many narcissus perfumes out there but I have yet to encounter anything that smells like those rambunctious blooms!
I’d love to try this as many compare this to Like This, which I love.
I’ve been dying to try this one too, even though my last experience with immortelle ended badly with that Histoires de Parfum Tuberose Animale #3 thing: I loved it at first, then one day (on my way to a memorial service where I knew I’d be hugging people all day) it suddenly turned into cat pee. I never got back to whatever had smelled good at first, and March’s review with the Bloom County image of the cat looking down his shorts is all that remains. It’s good for a laugh, anyway.
Hoping for better with Jeux de Peau.
Jeux de peau is an altogether wonderful name for a perfume, and I’d be so grateful for the chance to smell like toast and jam.
How come doing Hero’s pose makes you able to walk in high heels? That is the best selling point ever!
I love daffodils!! Triumphant return of spring!
Yesterday I layered Apres l’Ondee and muscs Koublai Khan, and it was perfect– came in like a lion and a lamb together…
Hey, Patty!!
Put me pout of my misery…is this the same biscuity, bready thing as is in that Mugler Mirior ‘Envies’, the one that gets described as hazelnut???
I love it (and several of the others in that series…)
What about Luca’s late lamented Le Feau de Issey???
As far as Serge goes, my only OMG get it off get it off is Serge Noire.
And I’ve FB’d the humungous Meil de Bois and Chypre Rouge. Who’da thought that celery could be a great top note??
P.S. Can only do ‘jonquils’ here in the subtropics, but assume that daffs smell similar…they have a downright carnal sexy smell to me, really funky lovely.
No need to enter me. I tried it already, I got the smell of what Jelly-Belly buttered popcorn tastes. Not pretty..
Please enter me in the draw! I love Serge scents and I’m only able to smell them because of the kindness of strangers.
Wow, Bottega Veneta, Louboutin, and Gucci heels… I would do yoga 5 times a day if it meant I could have some of those :) and Jeax de Peau, of course
Please enter me in the draw! I love Serge scents, even though I feel like they sometimes have to be manhandled and tamed.
I’ve kind of been playing with the idea of “Like This,” but it doesn’t fully hit my spot — I’d love a sample of this one (maybe I can make a choice between the two…the Bread/Nut sounds interesting…you don’t mention the sandalwood – your thoughts?
Please enter me in the drawing! This sounds like a Serge that I would love!
Would love to give this one a try. Thanks for the drawing!
Ohhh…this sounded good until I saw licorice, that’s usually a dealbreaker for me. How prominent is the licorice?? Please enter me in the draw. Thanks for the review Patty!
I’d love to be entered in the draw – I love gourmands! and I love the scent of daffodils. I have a nice perfume from Sweet Anthem that has a daffodil note.
Yum, yum, yum! Sounds delish! Bread and pancakes alone put me over the top. I can’t imagine it ‘bottled’. Please enter me in the draw. Loved the review.
Your review just made me want to try this. Please enter me. Thanks!
this new fragrance sounding yummmmy good. please enter me in the draw.
I’m very intrigued by Jeux de Peau, so please enter me in the draw! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
I’m so scared of this one for some reason! I’ve almost ordered a sample like 3 or 4 times this week and then I freak out and don’t, lol. The bread part is worrisome, I think. I do love apricot though…please enter me in the draw. Thank you!
Please enter me in the draw, thanks!
I’d love to be entered, thanks..this sounds amazing!
Would love to try this…not sure about bread…are we talking about a yeast-like smell? I think I need to try it to understand…so do enter me in the drawing.
Hi Patty, slide over on the Jeux de Peau pew and make room for me, OK? Loved your review and have to agree that it’s got a little something to keep it from sliding over the IHOP cliff, as you say. I had a horrific cold last week that kept me from trying this, but now that I’ve mostly recovered, I’ve been on at least a three-day bender with it, so please don’t enter me in the draw.
And your daffodils sound lovely; so glad you’re enjoying them.
Is it similar at all to Un Bois Vanille? I love that one and 5 o’clock Gingimbre best from the SL line.
How strong is the licorice? I’m decidedly against this note, even in small quantities.
oh please include me in the draw I love the bready note of Lann Ael which with the apple and milk plays more like a bowl of fruitloops but still yummy. I like light gourmands for spring. Their is still some chill that needs to be soothed.
So far I seem to be among the small amount of people for whom the bready/caky note really doesn’t work. It is actually vile on my skin and I’ve had to scrub it off twice when sampling, which goes to show that it’s a really persistent frag indeed :)… The sweetness comes with a sort of odd, gingery/gourmand note I’ve not smelled before. I like a sweet perfume but this is a whole different kind of sweet.
It does get more tolerable for me in the woody, Lutens-like drydown but in general I just can’t wear it. I admire the concept of the perfume though, the bready note is the most authentic one I’ve ever smelled in a fragrance. For me it’s just more of a concept scent than one to really have on your skin.
(NOTE: I already have a sample so please do not include me in the draw!)
I’m looking forward to trying this new Lutens. I’m very intrigued by the notes and I have no idea if I will like it or not.
Please, enter me in the draw :)
I have not been so excited to try a scent so far in 2011. I may need to buy a bottle blindly.
Don’t do that!!!! Seriously. This one I think is a 50/50 and could be absolutely horrible or absolutely great. I guess it would be easy to swap if you hated it, though!
Patty, no need to enter me in the pancake syrup/jam draw, but I wanted to ask you if Hero’s pose
is also known as Rock pose. I love this pose! Yes, it’s harder as an adult but I read once
that it builds amazing strength and concentration. I used to be able to do it for long periods of time.
Think I’ll start doing it again.
I want to get my hands on a sample of this more than anything. Please do enter me in the draw, thank you so much for your consideration. Deliriously happy, indeed! :)
Apricot jam? Licorice? sign me up!
Immortelle, that’s a tough note for me. But I think it was used well in “Like This”, so I’d certainly give the Serge a go. Is the strong stuff in the drydown the same substance as Denyse’s “spiky wood”, I wonder? Some synthetic woods smell different to different people. A popular synthetic, Safraleine, used in lots of things, smells just like jet fuel to me, yeek!
I’m not sure what’s in this one, but it could be that, and that note does hav ea tendency to try to veer off for me, and it usually succeeds, so if it’s that and it worked in this for me, then it’s an anomaly.
Please, please, enter me this draw- I so much want to try this.
thanks a lot
I have been dying to try this one, please enter me in the draw! And your daffodils sound gorgeous. :)
Bread, pancake syrup and apricots???? Honestly? Sweet guy with rugged edges? Are you serious? For and on me it’s diet crackers and herbal sludge, hawked by a sleazy guy in a mud-colored polyester suit and a ring imprinted in his oiled hair when he takes of his hat, trying to talk me into diet cracker sludge or himself into my bed…. “not that such a pretty thing would need it but this will keep your figure as beautiful as it is for decades to come…” HA!
On me it opens with an unpleasant plastic cracker accord, similar (but much sharper) to the openng in the defunct Lagerfeld scent for H&M. that’s followed by a marginally better potpourri of kitchen herbs and dust.
If anyone wants my bottle, just let me know. And please DON’T enter me in the draw!
Hi Dinazad, your post had me laughing so hard I spewed my tea and nearly wet my keyboard (gotta get a plastic cover for it when reading the Posse)!! I’m so sorry this didn’t work on you, but I am really grooving on it and have almost drained my sample, so if yours needs a new home …
Ann, m’dear, send me your address to convallia at yahoo dot com and I’ll send it over. Dwelling on olfactory mistakes just isn’t my cuppa tea….;-)!
OMG!
=))
xo >-)
I love hearing the opposite reaction to this! I can see how it could turn out that way for sure! There was a moment or two that i was already prepping to scrub, and then it was great.
hey that sounds good!
Wow! That is SO generous. Cant believe I missed this… what a lovely gift.
I’ve been wanting to try this…please include me in the draw !
I am psyching myself out way beyond reasonable expectation to try this. My rationale for such craziness? I love L de Lolita (imortelle), have D & G (I have heard this compared to jeux in dry down), want Like This (also heard jeux compared to it), and Bois Farine almost worked for me, except the part that other people describe as ‘peanut’ smelled to me like ‘posion.’ They drydown is lovely. I guess I <3 gourmands. Although, I don't think I have tried anything with apricot in it? Intrigued as to how that will play out.
Perhaps I should just say: please enter me in the draw, please please please!
Yikes!!! don’t get that psyched up. It’s just as likely that you’re gonna hate it. 🙂
I mean, I hate Arabie with a passion, and other people just adore it, and I sorta get why, but the thought of wearing that on my body just makes me shudder.
I have not tried Arabie yet, or many of the polarizing serges (only l’eau, borneo, and bas)–I’ll have to see what the fuss is about. Yes, you’re right, I should calm down.**serenity now**
I love bread, but bread doesn’t love me. Maybe I can have a long-distance relationship with it through Serge.
It sounds delicious. Please enter me in the draw.
Apricot is one of my favorite notes! Please do enter me in the draw!
(Ms) Christian, I think perhaps they haven’t gone out yet; I haven’t gotten mine yet, either, but I think Patty was traveling.
No need to enter me in the draw, but I am wondering if I am the only one just NOT get gourmands?
It’s not that I don’t enjoy the scents, but I just can’t get my little pea brain from wanting to separate my food from my perfume. The one exception, and it’s a big one, is pepper/clove/cinnamon, but that is about it. Don’t even like citrus or most fruits.
I want so much to find one to love, but I haven’t yet!
Tammy, do let me know if you haven’t gotten yours. I know we caught two last week because we heard from people that hadn’t gotten theirs, but for some reason that Xerjoff thing, I only got one winner originally, which was just weird, so I think something went haywire with e-mail about then.
Gourmands weren’t something I came to easily, and I don’t really think you need to get them. 🙂
No point in me entering for any samples. I never got the Xerjoff I “won” and I gave up.
Hi! If you or anyone else won a drawing and haven’t gotten something, just email me directly at pattywhite59 at gmail with a dot com after it. A lot of the Contact Us thingies wind up caught in the spam filter, and I have to go fishing them out all the time. I don’t know why. I know two of the Xerjoff thingies got there and only went out last week. What I’m doing from now on and just doing a quick response to those emails saying I got them. So if you send it and don’t get that response, I didn’t get it for any number of reasons. So e-mail me again and remind me what you won, etc., so i can get these out to you, they’re still sitting on my desk!