Santal Majuscule (and a minuscule draw)

There is a reason why I don't review Serge Lutens perfumes often even though I wear many and like many of them (wouldn't mind owning practically the whole line).
I just never seem to be able to find the words to describe exactly what I smell - that happens with other perfumes as well, but nowhere am I so strongly aware of it as with SL perfumes.

So, I'll try and do my best ut in the end, as is always the case with Uncle Serge perfumes, the reviews won't really prepare you for what you smell in the end. :) (I find that a great thing myself)

Notes: sandalwood, cocoa, Arabian attar rose, honey, spices

I've sampled and worn Santal Majuscule many times over the weeks I have it and still, each time I smell it, I find another facet of it to be revealed. I went through so many ideas of what this perfume smells like and each time I smell it again, half of the stuff I thought it smelled like aren't there but there are new things I smell.

Until I saw the notes, cocoa and rose never entered my mind  but once I saw them, I knew they were in there, I even remembered exactly at what point the cocoa comes to play.

Before I start describing what it smells like to  me, I should say that the most obvious thing I get from it is that it is a combination of perfumes that already exist in the line. I don't mean to say by that that I think it's not good or smelling differently, it's just that there are familiar accords jumping out at you at different times.

Sometimes it's the idea of sweet, sticky, spiced (and even boozy) fruit of what I'd like to think as Arabian market variety the first thing you smell, soon to be followed by the teasing wafts of how Jeux de Peau starts, following with opening of Santal Blanc until sometimes you come across barest hints of Ambre Sultan hidden in the murky depths of this perfume.
Because there ARE depths to it, you can smell them from the start. But try as you might, sniffing at close proximity won't get you anywhere near those depths.

So, what I smell in the beginning is described in the previous paragraph, warm, spicy, boozy fruit with the general feeling of seriousness and darkness (there's not frivolity to this fruit as the feeling is dry and not sparkling and happy) with cocoa underscoring the darkness and warmth and sandalwood making you swoon.
Now I know it's there, I can smell the rose appear and the fruitiness slowly disappear. At this point is where I feel a smile blossoming on my face. It is also where I feel the resemblance to Santal Blanc is most prominent.

Being true to my smelling practices, after enjoying this phase for quite a while, all I can say about the drydown, is, it continues to dry in the vein it smells.

Honestly, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm really not a drydown person.  My attention dissipates by that time.

So, for the minuscule draw I have two samples from my bottle, tell me why you think you might like/love this or why not? Both will work. :)

Celebrations!

I like the fact that my birthday falls at the beginning of the year, so lately it started to feel like my new year starts with it.

I'm feeling very positive and optimistic regarding the year ahead, January has passed (it feels like a dead month to me), we are experiencing spring weather here (in the middle of winter) and I'm supposed to be getting a Kindle for my birthday (in a  few days). It really feels like a good start to a new year for me. :)

So, I want to celebrate it with you with a little give-away of some of my latest acquisitions - 5ml decants of SL Boxeuses, Shalimar Ode a la Vanille and Worth Courtesan for one lucky commenter.

Celebrating year one with a give-away!

I can't believe it's already been a year since I started with this blog. :) It is definitely one of the smarter things I did in life - the happiness and friendship that run through the blogosphere are incredible.

I want to thank everyone who found their way here during that year, for reading and commenting and enjoying my perfume journey with me. I just know there are better things to come for all of us.

And in order to celebrate this first anniversary I want to give away the following:

1. A bottle of PdN Eau Turqouise with some 15ml left (I will not decant this but send the bottle).

2. 10ml decant of Ambre Gris by Balmain

3. 10 ml decant of Tanglewood Bouquet by Crown perfumery

If you have a preference, please say so in the comments, and this will run for a week (meaning until next Saturday, 27 March) when I'll announce the 3 winners.

I want to wish you all a wonderfully scented spring and here's to another year of new perfume discoveries!

Pics by: http://www.timetogetstarted.wordpress.com/ and http://www.istockphoto.com