Perfume Review: Rousse by Serge Lutens
Rousse is the newest addition to the Serge Lutens export fragrance line due for official release in February of this year. Rumor has it the scent was inspired by the finale of Mylene Farmer’s show “Avant Que L’Ombre”, particularly her haute couture dress designed by Franck Sorbier (”rousse” meaning “red-haired”). True or false, it makes no difference to me as there’s nothing particularly evocative or noteworthy in that finale neither does Rousse conjure up images of redheads. On the contrary, it’s a scent of honeyed, golden hues, very much in the spirit of Serge Lutens.
Rousse is all about cinnamon. Not as gourmand and vanilla-heavy as, say, Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium or Fendi’s Theorema. In Rousse, cinnamon is first illuminated by mandarin, enriched by carnation later, and polished by amber and sandalwood in the drydown. Picture Feminite du Bois by Shiseido minus the dried fruit accord and slightly less cedar. As much as I love Serge Lutens fragrances, most of them have a conceptual appeal (which simply means I find it hard to wear them). Rousse seems to be the exception. Not only does it strike me as wonderfully blended and very much wearable but also takes the first place among the latest Serge Lutens offerings, i.e., Chypre Rouge and Mandarine-Mandarin.
Rousse features the notes of mandarin, cinnamon, carnation, cedar, sandalwood, violet, vanilla, amber, resins.
Image source: www.femina.fr
22 comments January 14th, 2007