Perfume Review: Rousse by Serge Lutens
January 14th, 2007
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
Entry Filed under: New Perfumes, Perfume Reviews
22 Comments Add your own
1. Marina | January 14th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
You said the magic words, Feminite du Bois. I must admit I was a little scared by all the talk about cinnamon, but now I can’t wait to try this! Thank you so much for the review!
2. Leopoldo | January 15th, 2007 at 3:36 am
I’m impressed by your ability to pick out individual notes (I’m crap at that, unless they’re blindingly obvious).
Suffice it to say, I’m finding this a truly lovely scent.
3. Judith | January 15th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Oh, dear! Must try. . . .
4. March | January 15th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Okay, I give up. Leopoldo sent me a squidge, for which I am very very grateful. Anyway, it smells more or less like Gris Clair on me! I get that dry, herby-lavender thing, with a tiny dab of honeyed sweetness. Didn’t get his apple pie, didn’t get your morphing cinnamon … sigh. I think I have two squirts left, will try again.
5. Elle | January 15th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Adore this scent. Was a little overwhelmed by the opening, but the dry down is irresistible. Am tapping my fingers impatiently waiting for the time I can have a full bottle.
But, wow! March - talk about skin chemistry differences. Am amazed you get Gris Clair. If I did, I’d be running away from this…quickly. Saying yet another prayer of gratitude this morning to the skin chemistry gods.
6. chaya ruchama | January 15th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I await a teence of this- but the cinnamon w/woods is really too much for me.
i don’t want to love this..
BTW, why is it NOT on the website?
Is it simply not available yet?
No doubt, it will be an ‘in-house’…
7. tmp00 | January 15th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Better than MM? Hmmm, color me intrigued!
8. Goddess_Dreams | January 15th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Wow, what a wonderful review! Thank you so much for sharing - I cannot wait to try it :).
9. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Marina, it could just be me but I do get a similarity to FdB.
10. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Leo, it helps to know what the notes are in advance.
11. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Judith, yes! You must!
12. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
March, there’s absolutely no way under the sun I get any similarity to Gris Clair. Wow. HOW did you get that?
13. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Elle, I can’t decide if I like the opening or the drydown better. So far, the opening notes are winning.
14. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Chaya, it’s not officially out till February which is when it’ll show up online. It’s an export scent, luckily.
15. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Tom, yes! Better than MM.
16. Ina | January 15th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
GoddessDreams, you’re welcome! I imagine it’ll be a winner for many.
17. Trina | January 16th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
WOW, this sounds good! So I take it it’s more like cinnamon sticks than red-hots? I’m gonna have to try this asap.
18. Ina | January 16th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Trina, yes! I don’t get any red-hots from this.
19. violetnoir | January 16th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Since discovering the beauty of Ambre Sultan, Daim Blond and Gris Clair (what took me so long to finally find the SLs that agree with me???), I can’t wait to try this, Ina. It sounds beautiful!
Hugs!
20. MonkeyPosh | January 16th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Hi I!
As a redhead, I can honestly say this does not remind me of myself. It reminds me of the IHOP because it smells like pancakes and maple syrup to me.
Lovely day to you!
21. Ina | January 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Robin, not sure it’ll be your thing but it’s definitely worth a try.
22. Ina | January 16th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Jen, pancakes and maple syrup? LOL! I’m not sure I get the same association but I can sort of see what you mean.
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