I’ll keep ya’ll out of suspense on how I feel about the Serge Lutens La Vierge de Fer – I hate it. Until about 3-5 hours in or so. Not sure how long because we were running around Paris, and I wasn’t paying enough attention after I decided I hated it.
La Vierge de Fer means “Iron Maiden.” I read the press release on this, and I’m not copying it here because I am pretty embarrassed to do so. It’s like teen vampirfic – over the top confusing prose, which I wouldn’t mind thaat much if the darkness of it matched the fragrance. Sorry, I just can’t even pretend to get it. I’d be more forgiving if the scent – lily – was something a little iron or tough yet tender. Instead, I get…
fricking soap. Not just me, but my two travel companions as well. Soap, soap, soap, soap, soap. No virigins, no toughness, no poems, no Cain and Abel. We were not amused. Now, when we sat down to rest our feet from a hard day of shoe shopping in Galleries Lafayette, swilling down a well-earned glass of red wine, I sniffed it again and did not hate it, and I’d wear it, but it was just a nice lily at that point.
That’s all I have to say about it. I’ve read Victoria’s review, and she likes it well enough. Maybe the lack of darkness and more shadows threw me, but I stand by my soap proclamation, but reserve the right to change my mind They were out of stock at Serge, so I couldn’t get a bottle to mess around with more right then, and I may decide it’s not all that bad if I can spray it and soak in it, but the dab on my wrist was inexpressibly sad.
Miss you guys, I’m heading home as you read this! So should Serge have attempted another lily after the beautiful Un Lys?
Well maybe if you get soap I will get something awesome since my skin is contrarian. But note so Serge, we’re so over tone poem perfume. We crave baroque complexity.
I rather like it, and it doesn’t smell soapy on me. I get a metallic lily smell, which is very intriguing and pleasant. Looking forward to getting a bottle.
Maybe the real inspiration was a young Margaret Thatcher.
From what I’ve read about the scent both here and at BdJ, it sounds like it’s definitely not going to be my thing. But I gotta say the LE bell jar makes my inner goth girl happy. Too bad such a cool bottle has to had to be wasted on a tame scent.
Hi, Jennifer — I think that LE bottle is just way too cool — now I wish we could just buy it empty, ha!
Jeeze, if I want soap I can buy that at the grocery store. We all want/expect more out of a Serge. Will console myself with my newest favorite lily, Ford’s Shanghai Lily–gorgeous stuff.
Amen, Tiara! I love that TF lily as well, and was just going to comment that I am happy enough with that one. Glad you’re a fan of it as well.
Yuck…I hate soapy smelling scents! Damn. On a sort of related note, I found out that I really like mixing Tonka Imperiale with a spritz of Fille en Aiguilles…..it smells like a caramel campfire. Which may not sound all that appealing but it somehow works. Glad you’re back…we’ve missed you too!
Actually that does sound appealing. I haven’t tried Tonka Imperiale but I love me some Fille en Aiguilles, so I might have to try that out. Sounds great for fall. Thanks for the tip!
Oddly intriguing combination – thanks for the heads up, Samantha!
Caramel campfire sounds pretty nice for fall. Don’t have either of these, though, so I’ll wait until someone makes the scent itself. 🙂
AHHHH SHIT! Could someone please tell the people in charge that we want fabulous. When I want a pretty lily, and for about one quarter of the price, I’ll wear Cartier’s Baiser Vole. GRRRR! I had huge expectations of this.
Ha ha ha! End rant. I still want to try it
Portia xx
Soap and a little lily? Ack! There are lots of lovely lilies out there, from Baiser Vole’ to DK Gold to Un Lys and Un Lys Med. We sure don’t need a soapy lily…sounds like this perfume was created for a different market, with all the Goth hype and the super clean scent. Was it intended for the Asian market, where they like clean scents, but the manga and anime is dark, dark, dark?? The only other soapy Serge I can think of is Bas de Soie, which I love, because it’s a twisted little gem that actually does have some darkness.
You’re not alone there! It’s definitely nothing like I’d imagined it to be, and is very tame indeed! Bad luck!
What a downer. Soap? All that hype for soap? I hate when the names are edgier than the scent too. Although I bet with lots of the general public liking those clean scents this will probably do well.
He, he, he! I’m still chuckling over Musette’s comment …. What I need to know is why perfumes get given the weirdest names that have nothing whatsoever to due with the actual juice? The companies producing them just set themselves up for ridicule/poor sales when we get to smell the ‘fumes and are disappointed when “Armpit of the Devil” smells like rose and lily of the valley.
No virgins? No Cain?
Dang. Serge needs to get a grip!!!
did you bring me a croissant?
xoxoxoA