As the sun’s first, golden tendrils crossed the horizon, the flowers started to come to life. With a nod and a jerk, the chrysanthemum slowly unfurled its tight bud, quivering in the slow warmth that turned the blue-black sky into shades of purple and pink. Droplets of dew flew across the field as it straightened its sleepily curved, bright, green body. The droplets landed on the freshly tilled soil below the flowers, turning its earthiness moist and fresh, loamy and sweet.
Source: Onlyhdwallpapers.com
The pink-gold light continued to spread across the purple, morning sky, triggering a chain reaction in the fields below. The dahlia rose leaned over to poke the white lilies who tapped the peonies who gave an awakening jolt to the slumbering violets who gave a kick to the white chamomile who came to with an indignant shake. In a chain reaction, the flowers opened their tight buds, issuing forth a tidal wave of sweet, dewy, delicate florals, mixed with the brightness of spring green notes and a light hint of earth.
Sunset meadow via freewallpapers at travelization.net
They carried hints of the woodiness of the slumbering trees encompassing the meadow, the dryness of the bales of hay at the edges, and the smoke rising from the shepherd’s cottage in the distance. As the sun rose higher and higher in the sky, the notes rose in strength, becoming less dewy, fragile and fresh; turning more potent; and carrying a little hint of soap. All too soon, it was late afternoon and the woody floral scent awoke the tall trees whose mighty trunks shook with a quiet murmur as they came to life. The trees were creamy and white, as soft as taupe suede in their touch. When the sun started to set over the Spring meadow, they extended their branches protectively over the fading, sleepy flowers and took over the night shift. It was their turn to stand guard.
Sunrise to sunset in a Spring field of flowers, touched by creamy woods — that was my experience with De Profundis, a 2011 creation of Serge Lutens and his favorite cohort in olfactory adventures, Christopher Sheldrake. It’s a lovely fragrance — matched by an even lovelier purple juice in the bottle — and one which is quite ethereal at times. De Profundis is described as a chrysanthemum soliflore — a scent devoted primarily to one single flower — but it is much more than that in my opinion, and far more than the mere “chrysanthemum and incense” summation provided on the Lutens website. I’ll leave the rest of the Lutens description for now, because I truly don’t think the back story for the fragrance really applies to De Profundis and it may, in fact, be a little misleading as to what scent you should expect.
Serge Lutens rarely provides a list of notes, so it’s a little bit of a guessing game as to what De Profundis contains. Compiling the elements from Fragrantica and the Perfume Shrine, the list would seem to be:
chrysanthemum, dahlia, lily, violet, earthy notes.
The Barneys‘ website, however, says De Profundis contains “chrysanthemum, hazelnut, and incense,” (hazelnut?!), while Surrender to Chance includes:
chrysanthemum, gladiolus, dahlia, chamomile, peony, woods, hay, violets, incense and candied fruit.
Judging by my own experiences, I would say the list of De Profundis’ notes may be closer to this:
chrysanthemum, dahlia, violets, lilies, peony, chamomile, hay, incense, woods, green notes, ISO E Super, and earthy notes.
The real key is chrysanthemum, a flower which has a dry, woody, sometimes hay-like undertone to its florals, along with a definite green side. It can sometimes smell a little like marigolds, in my experience. In contrast, dahlias can often take on a rose-like accord, while peonies can sometimes be like a mix between roses and lilacs (to my nose). That is definitely the case, here, with De Profundis.
Source: wpapers.ru
De Profundis opens on my skin with a fragile, haunting and delicate bouquet of flowers. There is chrysanthemum with violets, green notes, white lilies and sweet, wet earth. Lurking at the edges are the peonies, chamomile flowers, incense and green notes. The chrysanthemums are the core base but, at this stage, the top notes really smell (in order) like white lilies, violets, delicate, light roses, and purple lilacs. The incense is interesting because it doesn’t feel like churchy smoke but, rather, more like something sweet. Perhaps, myrrh with its lighter touch. I also detect the smallest whiff of ISO E Super, the aromachemical that is often used as a “super floralizer” and to give longevity to floral fragrances.
The fragrance feels ethereal and very much like a call to Spring. The green notes dancing in and out, alongside the wet earth aroma that a gardener would know so well. The flowers feel incredibly dewy and light, almost tender and soft. It feels as though they are just waking up, releasing the airiest of delicate floral scents. De Profundis is, at the start, a slightly cool fragrance; it’s almost chilly in its delicacy. As time passes, however, the floral aroma becomes stronger, more robust, almost as if the flowers have fully bloomed in the sunlight. The dew has evaporated, the petals unfurled, and the meadow floor comes to life with earthy softness, light smoke, and every bit of green around. The peony and dahlia combination adds some warmth to the dryness of the chrysanthemum and to the coolness of the lily notes. As the incense recedes, the bouquet feels even sweeter.
Underneath it all, however, there is an odd metallic clang. There is almost a cold, tin-like aspect under the delicate bouquet and it grows in strength as the incense and wet earth notes fades. I think it stems from the ISO E Super, though I’m relieved that it is minimal and completely in the background. I do admit that it adds a very velvety touch to the base of the flowers, but something about that metallic note is also a little discordant amidst the delicate, ethereal flowers.
Dahlia. Source: Flowerpicturegallery.com
By the end of the first hour, De Profundis is almost like a photo-realistic bouquet at the florist, complete with the freshly cut, green stems. Lilies tinged with a delightful undertone of almonds dance a duet with the chrysanthemums that feel like a steely mix of roses, earth, and dry woodsy notes. There are elements of hay, peppery ISO E Super, dahlias and a hint of violets. There is also a light soapiness underlying the mix; I’m not normally a fan of soapy notes, but it’s extremely soft here and quite muted. But the mesmerizing thing to me are the green notes that undulate in frequency and strength. Sometimes just a hint, sometimes more, they always feel as though a florist just took shears to some thick green stems and cut them, releasing that lovely, wet, greenness.
Perhaps the greater beauty lies with the woodsy notes and their development starting at the 90 minute mark. The wood accord feels as soft as buttery suede. I actually do imagine suede: creamily taupe, almost velvety, with the brown hue coming from the woods that protectively surround that spring meadow in my mind. De Profundis’ breathy, dewy, fresh opening has been replaced by a supple smoothness and sensuous softness that is incredibly elegant. As time passes, that note is supplemented by surprising hints of dry almonds and creamy vanilla. Incense returns to join the mix as well. The flickers of smoke feel almost like the black vanilla bean flecks in almond ice-cream. The combination sweetens the wood note, turning it into a cross between sweetened hay, white woods and suede, atop the merest suggestion of vanilla.
At the start of the third hour, De Profundis is a skin scent of chrysanthemums, incense, buttery smooth, suede woods, and a hint of soap. The floral note almost smells like carnation at times, but I wonder if that is the merely the power of suggestion as carnations and chrysanthemums are often linked together in the West for funereal purposes. Speaking of which, I suppose now is the time to bring up the perfume’s back story.
De Profundis was created at a time when Serge Lutens was supposedly thinking of retiring, and it’s a perfume whose story is all about the twilight years and death. There is some argument as to whether the perfume’s name came from the 130th Psalm or from Oscar Wilde, but either way, Serge Lutens’ press release is all about death. From Fragrantica, a small portion of the lengthy, morbid soliloquy reads as follows:
When death steals into our midst, its breath flutters through the black crepe of mourning, nips at funeral wreaths and crucifixes, and ripples through the gladiola, chrysanthemums and dahlias. […]
What if the hearse were taking the deceased, surrounded by abundant flourish, to a final resting place in France, and leading altar boys, priest, undertaker, beadle and gravediggers to some sort of celebration where they could indulge gleefully in vice? Now that would be divine! […]
Turning gravesites held in perpetuity over to Life – a familiar of these haunts – the chrysanthemum invites Death to leave the cemetery and offer us its flower.
I intentionally held off the company’s back story for De Profundis because I think it creates a very misleading — not to mention, depressing — context for the fragrance. I truly don’t visualize any of this when wearing the beautiful purple juice. And, despite the frequent mental association of chrysanthemums with funerals in the West, I don’t think you’ll think of such dark, grim things while wearing De Profundis. Even in the final drydown — when the perfume smelled a lot of carnations, with light smoke, a dash of soap, and amorphous purple flowers like lilacs or hyacinth — it never felt funereal or somber. So, I urge you to put the whole thing out of your mind and not let it dissuade you from trying the fragrance.
Perhaps the lovely review from Bois de Jasmin will help:
[H]aving learned of the origins of De Profundis, one might expect a somber composition of funereal darkness. Nothing could be further from the truth—De Profundis is a soaring, ethereal vignette of green flowers, full of surprises and such magic twists that I once again have to take off my hat to Lutens and his perfumer Christopher Sheldrake.
On skin, the vivid violet juice of De Profundis (a brighter and lighter shade than that of Sarrasins) explodes into a mass of green petals and delicate tendrils. The floral accord has a springtime delicacy reminiscent of bluebells and hyacinths. A bitter green note that oscillates between the freshness of rose buds and the spiciness of carnations anchors the initial dewy impression. The filigree effect of floral notes and the cool, polished character of the early stages are reminiscent of Bas de Soie, but the flowers of De Profundis lack the detached, metallic artificiality of the latter. Embellished with subtle indolic accents, the floral notes assume a lush, nature-like quality. […]
[T]he genius of the composition for me lies in its marriage of surprising elements. On the one hand, De Profundis has a classical woody oriental structure where the incense and woods create a mysterious, sonorous effect; on the other, its crisp green floral accord has a radiance and freshness of Balmain Vent Vert, Jean Patou Vacances, or perhaps even more so, Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps. As the composition develops, the velvety richness of incense fills the spaces in between the leaves and petals, while the dewy bluebell impression that I found so captivating persists into the late dry down.
I find De Profundis exquisitely beautiful and serene, rather than overly cerebral and dark.
I fully agree with Victoria. In the rest of that review, she describes De Profundis as being effortlessly elegant, “spellbinding” and captivating. She’s also correct about the sillage and longevity, writing: “[g]ossamer, yet long lasting and possessing a great sillage, De Profundis is a floral composition for those who like their blossoms more abstract and complex.” Where I part ways with her is on the issue of the incense. On my skin, it was extremely light and subtle, while a number of commentators on Fragrantica never really experienced it at all.
Speaking of longevity, De Profundis lasted approximately 6.5 hours on my perfume-consuming skin. It was actually a surprise, given that I’ve read reports of it dying on some people after quite a short period of time. Its sillage is always low, though it didn’t become a skin scent until just after the third hour. And, though it’s an extremely airy, lightweight, seemingly sheer fragrance, De Profundis is much stronger than you’d suspect if you bring your arm to your nose.
Like Victoria, I think you’ll be disappointed in De Profundis if you’re looking for a dramatically intense, diva-like floral. I also think you’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for a pure floral. De Profundis is not a bouquet of flowers but, rather, the whole damn meadow and adjoining forest — from the earth to the green stems to the suede, buttery woods. It’s a discreet, unobtrusive, but haunting scent, and I think a very wearable one, too. Not all Serge Lutens are thus, since they can sometimes be more akin to abstract, olfactory art (Tubereuse Criminelle — I’m looking at you!), but I can easily see De Profundis as a fragrance that you’d wear to the office, business meetings, a walk in the park, or tea at the Ritz. It may not be a date-night fragrance, but its elegance and those buttery suede woods may surprise you.
“Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight” – by John Singer Sargent.
Most of all, I think you will find De Profundis to be an introverted, haunting, slightly melancholy, cool fragrance that is always elegant. It truly evokes purple twilight and Spring flowers. Try De Profundis, and take a walk in the meadows or in the Luxembourg Gardens at twilight.
Nice review. Generally speaking I’m not a big fan of Lutens fragrances (I find them more educating that wearable) so I’m not gonna search for a sample of this one on purpose
I agree that a number of them are a bit like wearable art, as opposed to actually being widely and easily wearable. But I truly don’t think this is one of them. I actually think you’d find it incredibly beautiful and harmonious. It has almost an iris-like feel to the velvety nature of its florals and soft woods. If you happen across a sample, then give it a try. But, believe me, I understand all too well about how certain houses just aren’t a good fit for one, so I won’t blame you not seeking it out. 🙂
Thanks for recommending. When I have a chance I probably will give it a try but as I said, I won’t be especially searching for a sample of it.
So far there are only two Lutens that I can wear easily.
I have a sample of this that I’m going to have to revisit. I remember it being very flowery and I think the backstory made me expect something completely different than what I was smelling. It seemed cold to me but more of a morning chill type of cold as opposed to a funereal one. I’ll need to give it a spritz later to refresh my memory a bit more. I think I must have liked it because I remember thinking it was too bad it was one of the exclusives and not more widely distributed. Also, it’s really a great looking shade of purple.
A morning (or twilight) chill is a lovely way of describing it, Poodle. I’m glad it didn’t feel funereal to you, either. That backstory certainly can lead one to a different set of expectations with this one. I think Uncle Serge was in a very dark mood when he wrote it. LOL. As for the limited distribution, it’s a shame, isn’t it? I think I would like a small decant of this one, and will have to try to get in on a split or something.
I dug out my sample and tried it again. It smells like mums so maybe that’s why he gave it such a depressing story. I would imagine anyone who only associates mums with funeral bouquets might get that impression from this. I have mums blooming in the garden in the fall so I don’t instantly connect them with death and funeral homes. Actually some rose scents remind me more of a funeral home than this one does.
I’m excited to try this! Thankfully, I have 5ml coming from a SL split on FFF, as well as 5ml of a bunch of other scents. Beautiful review – I actually joined the split without really looking into any of the fragrances, but I figured I could always swap them if I don’t like them. I love a gamble. 🙂 Anyway, this review makes me very excited for this one. I’m finding I really love florals and greenery these days. Can’t wait for my split to arrive, though. 🙂
I think you’ll like it, Kevin, though I suspect the sillage will be a problem for you given how your skin eats up projection.
Kafka- You have made this perfume sound so beautiful…the buttery suede caught my attention as well as the reference to it being an introverted, haunting, slightly melancholic fragrance…
great review!
I think you’d love it, Brie. It’s hauntingly captivating but also very serene at the same time. Almost soothing. Yet, it has that wonderfully velvety feel underlying the middle phase. So lovely.
Introverted and haunting is how I would describe De Profundis too. It’s one of my favorite bell jars. Hazelnuts, huh? Hmmm, would never have said that about DP, but the power of suggestion . . . maybe not roasted hazelnuts, but raw ones?
Well, the Hazelnuts is Barney’s addition to the mystery ingredient list. I can’t say I smelled it at all! I’m so glad you loved De Profundis too. It’s quite haunted me since I tried it and the last time something did that for me was my beloved Alahine which I ended up getting a big bottle of.
The whole meadow? Green and woody vs powdery? Violets, dahlias, lillies, and mums? I think I need this and yes, I would absolutely wear it on a date with my beloved. I am so glad you rewrote the story behind it Kafka, for with a milestone birthday approaching and a tendency to depresiveness I’d rather see the day in the woods, the meadow and the flowers 🙂
I think you’d find De Profundis to be incredibly soothing and serene, Vicki. Of course, it may depend on your mental associations with chrysanthemums/mums. I don’t find them to evoke negative things, but I also found the perfume to be more than just the Chrysanthemum scent, too.
As for the backstory, the full text from Serge Lutens is pretty grim, imo, even if he seems to think otherwise:
Oy vey! In all honesty, none of that comes to mind when I wear the perfume. It’s truly Spring meadows for me, both at sunrise and at twilight. Oh, and to answer your question, not an ounce of powder on my skin. None! 🙂
I`d love to get a bottle of De Profundis for myself! Its such a serene fragrance and definitely captivating and one of a kind. Great review, Kafka!
“Serene” and “captivating” are perfect ways of describing it, Ross. So, do you think you’ll succumb to a full bell-jar or will it have to wait in line until after the new Sahara Noir from Tom Ford? 😉 I truly wish it came in a smaller bottle because then I’d really be tempted to get one (as opposed to a mere decant) myself. Anyway, I think this would suit you well when you’re in a contemplative mood. 🙂
I guess you are right. Its for very special moods one. I wouldn`t wear i t a lot. Well most Lutens are, although some of them are more “versatile”. As for Sahara Noir is should arrive Tuesday~ Wednesday 😀
I like this perfume very much. I plan to write my story about De Profundis one day and I’m glad that you did this detailed review – now I know what to link to when I’m ready.
I think it’s a very beautiful perfume – the color, the scent, the bottle. And its price in Europe is much more reasonable – EUR125.
Ha, first the Rubj and now the De Profundis — we’re almost on a roll in the unexpected alignment of our tastes. 😉 I’m so glad you love it, too, though I’m not surprised one whit. It is such an elegant, harmonious, soothing, serene fragrance with an incredibly creamy, velvety base. It seems very much up your alley. I’m looking forward to your De Profundis story and hope it comes out soon! 🙂
Lovely review, Kafka and the perfume sounds like it is worth a try. I am hesitating slightly because I am one of those whose scent memory of flowers is associated with funerals, specifically my grandmother’s when I was six. There were so many floral wreaths that the smell of flowers permeated everything and everywhere.
I don’t know if it helps, Hajusuuri, but on Fragrantica, people vote violet as the primary note that they smell. Of course, if one has negative associations with the chrysanthemum, then even a small amount may be too much. But you’re in NYC, so if you’re close to the store, I would definitely try to seek out a free sample and give it a sniff. It’s worth the effort because I think De Profundis think it’s much more than a chrysanthemum soliflore. Even your scent twin, Undina, thinks its beautiful! 🙂
I can’t help but think I’ve smelled this at Barneys but I will make it a point to do so…along with Bas de Soie. I’m still hankering after Boxeuses though and will need to ask scent triplet Undina about the Paris scent mule who could acquire a bell jar for a more reasonable fee than pay Barneys’ almost 85% mark up.
I want a perfume mule to bring me the De Profundis at a cheaper price!! 🙂 lol. At the very least, I’m now determined to hunt down a decant of this from some group or another. I truly loved it that much. I found myself thinking about the smell LONG after it was gone, even days later and again tonight. I’m not normally one who is drawn to hugely serene scents, but this one was almost haunting to me.
Haha! I love the idea of a perfume mule 🙂
I didn’t realize just how much extra we pay for the Bell Jar in the US! If I really like it, I may ask for my friend to pick some up for me. I can’t remember if she’s living in Paris or Italy at the moment, but if she goes back to Paris before I see her for my college reunion, I may need to make her mule for me. If it’s the case that I fall in love, I will surely split with you, K! 🙂
YAY! I’d gladly pay you for half. I can’t wait until you get your decant and for you to see. But you’re such a die-hard Chanel-ist that I know little can compare for you. Let’s hope this is one that makes the cut. And I’m not talking about merely liking, but actually loving. 🙂
Well I will let you know 1) if I love it and 2) whether she’ll be in France before I see her. Not sure either will be the case but I will let you know!
Did I mention I tried this? And loved it! However, it lasted a very brief period on me (about 3 hours). I will keep trying to see if maybe my nose was just stuffed, but I was so sad. For me, it had this really surprisingly alluring, haunting scent of the water in a vase – but before it goes totally rancid. I usually don’t like that smell at all, or of decay in general, but it worked so well for me on this one. I just wanted it to last longer. If it had more longevity, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Ug, of all the things with no longevity, why did it have to be one I love! 🙁
No, you never told me. What a shame about the longevity! And you don’t have particular problems in that area, the way I do. So sad. It is definitely a haunting scent and I can’t stop thinking about it myself, even with its iffy longevity on my skin. I still want some which is quite unusual for me given that I don’t normally fall for florals. What do you mean exactly about the water in the vase? Floral-scented water or pure water?
No, like the smell of the water you throw away after a bouquet has died. Obviously, not that pungent or rancid – floral, but in a slightly decaying way. I truly can’t stop thinking about how glorious it smelled, I positively loved it.
Ah, murky, brackish water. Got it. Has to be the chrysanthemums. Well, perhaps it will last more on your skin in cooler weather? It’s such a delicate fragrance that I’m sure it would have better life with cool to cold temperatures. :
That is my lingering hope – that in the cooler weather it will truly shine. But my GOD, it’s beautiful. Truly. Probably my favorite Lutens I’ve smelled thus far. I’ve really come around to loving a lot of florals, and this one is pitch perfect.
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You are totally right. I will LOVE this. Must find some right now….. (It’s half 11 at night here)….
De Profundis is a scent that will wrap itself around your heart in such a way, you’ll feel transported and utterly HAUNTED by its beauty. It is like every purple-hued floral siren in the world calling to you. Its beauty is so exquisite, any attempt to really explain it and capture it (including my own) is simply inadequate. There is something about De Profundis, something ineffable that one can’t pinpoint or explain, and it’s all the more beautiful for it.
It doesn’t last particularly long on my skin, which is a pretty big deal for me, but the lure of De Profundis is such that I’m pretty sure this is the bell jar that I’ll buy when I go to Paris this Fall. Ask on FFF if you can buy/get a sample from any of the British members. I don’t think you’ll be able to get samples from the usual British sites like Les Senteurs, etc, since it is one of the Paris Bell Jar exclusives.
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Do yo think it’s good for a man?
I think it will really, really depend on your tastes and style. What sorts of things do you like in terms of genres, and what are some of your favorite fragrances?
I think De Profundis would work for some men, but most may find it too delicate. For something much more masculine, much stronger, but in the same vein, I would recommend Chypre Mousse by Oriza L. Legrand. Less floral, and more herbal, mushroomy and mossy, with a tiny leathered undertone and resinous vein, but it has the same mood and feel as the Lutens, minus its delicacy.
I hope that helps. Feel free to look up the Chypre Mousse articles, or to ask more questions if you have any.
Thanks,
I read your review on Chypre Mousse. I’ll receive my sample soon. I am very curious about it, but I have lot of expectation for Trayee.
I try this week Chypre Palatin, I think it’s a work of art, but not suitable for me. Maybe this fact can give you an exemple of what I think it’s better for women.
I really like Memoir Man, Jubilation XXV, Encre Noir, Black Afgano, Fille en aiguille, but I am searching a fragrance more delicate, more smooth, more organic, more light, for doing meditation or let me be inspired.
Best regards
Simon
If you tell me how Chypre Palatin manifested itself on your skin, I’ll have a better idea not only of how your skin chemistry may work with notes (amplifying, hiding, or detracting), but also the notes that you struggle with. That would be a help. Thank you for the list of things that you like, as that is also useful. You clearly like smoky, plummy, vetiver, deeply resinous and/or woody scents, while simultaneously not having problems with aromachemical synthetics (JubXXV, Black Afgano, and the very ISO E Super Encre Noire).
I think Trayee may work well for you in terms of something more meditative, but lighter. It has “hefty weightlessness” to coin one reader’s description for Bertrand Duchaufour’s style. A much more austere, much drier, less complex scent that you may want to consider is Naomi Goodsir’s Bois d’Ascece. It is a very, very different kind of smoky woody scent, and quite simple at its heart, but it may suit for what you’re looking for. As a side note, given the choice of perfumes that you like, I would suggest trying Olivier Durbano’s Black Tourmaline as it fits very much into the whole Fille en Aiguilles, Black Afgano vibe. It didn’t work on my skin at all, as the pine notes went very south, but that’s a skin chemistry issue and others have had more luck. I still don’t know what your skin does to scents or particular notes, but look up Black Tourmaline for another dark, woody, smoky, incense scent.
My difficulty in making other suggestions is that I don’t know what your definition of “delicate” and “more organic” may be, especially as something suitable for meditation or general inspiration is such an individual, personal matter. I hope you will come out of lurkerdom and give me a chance to know your tastes and style better. For now, I would suggest staying away from De Profundis, as you don’t seem to be the floral sort of chap, and that really is the heart of the Lutens. Perhaps in terms of something lighter, but also woody, incense-y, and warm, you may want to look up SL’s Fourreau Noir? It is lavender, incense, patchouli, and amber. In terms of deeper, richer scents, there is the magnificent Amouage attar, Tribute, but I don’t know how light that would be for meditation. The smokiness of that one though…. it’s worth trying as a general matter!
Honestly, Trayee may be your best bet, then perhaps (depending on your personal goals or tastes) Naomi Goodsir’s Bois d’Ascece.
What I get from Chypre Palatin is a lot of castoreum and sort of moss (i am not sure of the note), blended with floral in top notes. Sometime one note evoke in me an idea of metalic, I don’t understand what it it’s, but it’s not so pleasant. I think it’s something in the base that I don’t like. Maybe he only give me a similarity with one perfume of my mother (I thinks it’s Niki de Saint Phalle, it’s oakmoss dominant note). This base blended with some floral don’t inspire me. Associated a fragrance with my mother it’s fun, but not a good thing with a fragrance on me.
In my imagination, what I gets with Black Afgano it’s something of a wet tobacco, aoud, sort of resin and little of incense. It’s raw green, like a dirt swamp with something sweet or just nice to sniff.
I have got something similar to your description «If you’re lucky, then you may be surprised at the loveliness of the chewy, dark, incense-y, tobacco-y, nutty labdanum and cola, oud opening. You may really enjoy the soft patchouli, vanilla, and ambered sweetness of the drydown»
What I like of this fragrance, it’s his feelings he give me, sort of: grounded, raw, heavy, natural and sophisticated at the same time.
From Fille en aiguilles I have got lot of pine with incense. Firt he remind me Avignon incense type but with pine dominant note; maybe too much pine (Pine Sol or other bas association). It’s an art fragrance for me, not one to wear often (poor versatility).
For Memoir Man, it’s one of my favorite, my signature scent. I got Incense, well blended with fresh note of sort of mint. Very complexe on my skin, sometime I can have a lot of leather, or be hit by tobacco, and other notes. To this day, they fit really well with the image I giving to me. It’s meditative, complexe, strong and subtle, contemplative.
For Jubilation XXV, mainly I got a lot of dry fruit with incense feeling, blended with others notes who I still don’t know. This intensity make give me a real jubilation. It’s a pure joy. A fragrance only for my pleasure, I think it can be disturbing for the others.
Encre noire giving me a lot of vetiver, with cypress and wood. I like de wet feeling of it. Sometime I sniff a note who I dislike, but this don’t stay. It’s organic for me.
I also really like Lyric Man from Amouage, I got a lot of rose petals with some green notes. I like this kind of floral.
Now, my expectation for De profondis, I search a fragrance more floral, more subtle with more gleam (lots of my frags are dark or heavy). I want it floral, but more like a garden than only petal flower. I want to smell leaf to, the green, the warmth of it.
I don’t want a floral who smell like synthetic or like a candy.
I want he give me a feeling of warm, beautiful, delicate and raw nature.
In the other hand, I have a question. Black Afgano is hard to find, do you know a fragrance who can give me a similar feeling: «grounded, raw, heavy, natural and sophisticated at the same time.» Maybe Slumberhouse Norne or Black Tourmaline??
Sorry for my english, I speak french and I use google translate to help me.
Best regards
Simon
Ne t’inquiétes pas, Simon, ton anglais est vachement bon, meme avec l’aide de Google. Mon français est completement rouillé, alors pardonnez mes erreurs, okay? Je n’ai pas essayé Norne, mais mes copains avec un goût pour JubXXV, Black Afgano, etc, l’aime beaucoup. Mon suggestion: peut-etre Private Label de Jovoy pour une version de vétiver avec un forêt fumée. Tu peut également essayer Lonestar Memories d’Andy Tauer pour un parfum avec beaucoups cuir fumé, boisé, profond, balsamique et un peu fruité. En considération de ton information sur le pin en Fille en Aiguilles, tu dois peut-etre rester loin de Black Tourmaline. Sur moi, le Pine-Sol était fou.
Un autre avis, Amouage Interlude pour Homme. Ce n’est pas noir en couleur mais plutot vert, avec des éléments à base des herbes, de cuir, de l’encens, etc. C’est d’un elegance raffinée, mais masculin, avec un drydown fou de sandal cremeuse. Il a aussi un profondeur,
Pour un parfum floral commes tu déscris, je penses que le Chypre Mousse sera ton meilleur choix. Sans doubte.
Okay, that was far too much French writing after far too long. LOL. My writing was always the worst part, especially the bloody accents, so let’s stick to English for now. But I do hope that helped. Maybe I should have used Google too. lol The funny thing is that I could read the French in your English, through the references to perfumes like “he” etc. And it made me miss my childhood home. If I think of anything else, I’ll try to add to this.
Oh, I almost forgot, if you like deeply animalic, musky but smooth leather with woods, darkness, incense, and stunning REAL sandalwood, and if you are near anywhere that carries LM Parfums, my favorite new scent in years is Hard Leather. But that is a very difficult fragrance that really depends on skin chemistry, tastes and how animalic you like things. On some skin, the leather turns into barnyards cow smell. It doesn’t on me, but a handful of people have reported that for the first 15 minutes. They say it goes away though.
Also, if you like animalic notes (think vintage Kouros’ animalic undertone), you will want to try Opus VII from Amouage. Deeply, DEEPLY dark, woody, raw, musky, leathered, oud-y, and “skanky.” Hard Leather is softer, more sandalwood-y, more leathered, less foresty, and more incense-y. But they have a common feel. I adore, adore, ADORE Hard Leather!! But, again, it’s not an easy scent and isn’t for everyone. But if you’re in Europe, you can try it easily. If you’re in NY, Osswald NY may get it soon to add to the rest of the LM Parfums selection.
I ordered 5 samples of SL perfumes from Surrender to Chance and out of the 5 this is the one that is the most beautiful for me. De Profundis opens on my skin like a full orchestra of the most poignant beautiful flowers with a sharpish background which suits me perfectly! Love it!! Again on me – I likened it to Chanel 19 in the old days – sharp flowery and greeeeen….fabulous. I wore Chanel 19 (the new one) on one wrist and DF on the other and it was like comparing the school orchestra to the Philharmonic….what else can I say.
BTW Musc Kublai Khan was just awful – and I tried to like it but it was just poo and flat cheap flowers! Isn’t it strange the differences with each of us and our reactions especially with perfumes of Lutens range which are so complex – someone said earlier they are like wearing works of art – yes I totally agree – but I don’t always want to smell like someone’s concept of what perfume is. Cuir MAuresque was lovely – a bit heavy and a bit like a hippie shop of the 70’s – but it lasted for ages and the drydown was perfect. Borneo was patchouli heaven for me – with a drydown made of cream and chocolate overlaid with the BEST patchouli. So I will probably treat myself to a bottle of De Profundis – cheaper here in the UK than the US….a bottle of Borneo and possibly a bottle of CM….but I’ve yet to try Daim Blond – one that I’ve hankered after for so long – just gettting round to ordering samples is time-consuming.
Thankyou for reading this – whoever has……I love love love perfume – it brings me great joy…..and I suppose we are like a somelier…..sampling and smelling and discussing the nuances and notes of the perfumes that we try – but I believe smell is more complex than taste and has memories and connections far deeper than that connected to food and drink. I prefer perfume to wine and don;t really drink so that I can afford my next bottle – of a promise……
De Profundis is a favorite of mine, too, and one of the bell jars I own. However, I don’t think you can obtain it in the UK, let alone obtain it there cheaply. It is a Paris Bell Jar Exclusive and, to my knowledge, was never released even temporarily as part of the export line the way a few of the others were. The Paris Bell Jar Exclusives are not sold in the U.K., period. They’re not sold anywhere outside of Paris and no regular Lutens retailer is allowed to carry them. The only exceptions to the Paris-only rule are Barney’s stores in America and the U.S. Lutens website. The only reason why *they* are exempted is because the fragrances come with an 80% to 100% mark-up to maintain the exclusivity.
Thanks for your reply – I believe the whole range is available online here in the UK- thats what I meant. I’ve just received an email from Serge Lutens Paris with an offer of three 5ml miniatures and four 1ml samples with every order…..so I’m just deciding whether to order de Profundis or Iris Silver Mist….I have ISM on the left wrist and DP on the right…..decisions decisions!!
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Oh just another note – I’ve now tried Sarrasins and I’m blown away again!!! Oh what a beauty – you can all see which way I’m skewed at the moment – out go the overly sweet spicy heavy orientals and my new obsession looks like being the sharper/fresher end of the SL line – which are so beautifully done – so exquisitely executed – and in the end so so wearable – I think I’ve found my new perfume “home” – been looking for a while……thankyou Uncle Serge – for being a true Master of Perfumery! Just one more sample left to try and thats Fourreau Noir……..
Glad you’ve found some that you love, Katie. 🙂
Just ordered my first bell jar!!!!!!! De Profundis!!!!! Here in the UK we can order direct from SL in Paris …..sorry America:((
As I said in response to your comment in the Religieuse thread, Congratulations! That’s wonderful and I’m very happy for you.
Just wanted to share the experience of opening the Black Box from SL Paris which arrived this week. Inside were many layers of black tissue paper with a black envelope inside of which was a card which said in French and English “Choosing to be yourself is not without perils. Thankyou for taking the risk with us” My beautiful Bell Jar was encased in black foam together with a small black bag which had 7 samples for me to try. There were 3 five ml and 4 one ml samples which I chose when I ordered. The Bell Jar is sitting on the table as I write this – unopened – in its beautiful black box shining in the morning sun – waiting to be unveiled!!! Did I mention black?
I can just feel your excitement, joy, and the thrill of it all, Katie. It brought a smile to my face. Thank you for sharing the magic of opening your first Lutens “Black Box” and the joy of it all with me. I’m so happy for you. 🙂
i just received my decant of de profundis and have been hoping that this is the floral i can wear. green floral with dry dusty chrysanthemum, yes. but no one mentioned the awful laundry musk of the dry down. truly indistinguishable from tide or tom ford’s sandal blush. scrubber.
It sounds like the scent has been badly reformulated. And, in fact, there have been a few reformulation rumours that I’ve heard in the last year regarding De Profundis. Unfortunately, a number of Lutens have been altered to include a hideous, overwhelming quantity of laundry clean white musk, and it sounds like this is one of them. You should see just how bad Gris Clair is now. Horrifying and a total scrubber, so I sympathise enormously with you. As someone extremely sensitive to laundry musk, I can promise you that De Profundis was not always this way. I’m sorry for your experience.
I just tried De Profundis again (it was recently released in travel form), and was so surprised to smell white musk. I went back to reread your review to check if my mind was playing tricks on me, because there was no laundry musk the first time I tried it. According to the comments, they really did reformulate it? I’m so, so crushed. It was so incredibly beautiful. I checked French ebay in case there was an old bottle lying around, but alas. I was already completely heartbroken when they changed Chergui (they did, didn’t they? Or my nose is playing me) before I got a bottle. Why are they doing this to the brand? 🙁
They’re reformulating everything that has been out a few years, alas. Yes, De Profundis seems to be one of them from everything I hear, both in the comments to this review and elsewhere. In many of the reformulated Lutens fragrances, the white musk seems to have been amped up quite a bit, but De Profundis is too delicate a scent to handle it well, so I imagine the end result must be sharply and dramatically different from what it used to be.
Why they decided to plague De Profundis with that bloody white musk is beyond me. Its opening still has some appeal but the middle stages ruin it for me. I’m kicking myself for not buying it before they reformulated it. It was so, so beautiful.
(In other, better news, I finally caved in and bought Fourreau noir, which you strongly encouraged if I recall :). That one I’m still utterly in love with. I had to refrain myself from compulsively sniffing my wrist at work lest I should embarrass everyone in the room.)
I’m glad you bought Fourreau Noir before they did anything to that one! It’s only a matter of time, alas.
Hi Kafkaesque, do you know when did de profundis been reformulated? my bottle was manufactured in 2014, not sure if mine is reformulated or the original? Thanks!
Hello Brenda, welcome to the blog. 🙂 I think you’re safe because it was late 2015 when I first heard the reformulation comments via private email. In 2016 or perhaps a bit earlier, a few readers also left comments on my review regarding changes. Your 2014 bottle should be fine. Enjoy!
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oh WHY did I not re-read this before trying it on my skin? Because I was over-excited to see the travel spray in House of Fraser this evening, and skipped the testing-on-a-strip stage, plunging in to a skin test. This is now vile. I feel like I have been dunked in a vat of cheap bathroom air “freshener”, and wrapped in rolling waves of white musks that will never die. But just keep on radiating for all eternity. One spritz and it’s a giant, overwhelming cloud of headache and nastiness. Ugh.
(OK, the first ten minutes were rather nice, then BOOM: all the musk. All of it.)
I hear it’s been reformulated and, unfortunately, the Lutens reformulations all seem to involve a huge increase in laundry white musk. It’s a real shame as this was one of the prettiest scents in the line. But this, Chergui, Un Bois Vanille, Encens Gris, and so many others have been really badly changed.
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