SERGE LUTENS
Poivre Noir

2022

black pepper
pepper
nutmeg
cedarwood

‘Peppery, exhilarating , elegant…. Poivre noir, to rediscover a taste for yourself!’ – Serge Lutens

I’m torn between finding this interesting or terrible. It’s definitely a ‘new’ Serge Lutens (released in 2022) and one that feels like a departure from what once was.

Supermodern in texture. Airy, aquatic I’d even say. Shower gel, steam from a hot shower mixed with spices. You get the scent of pepper, but not the texture.

Poivre Noir feels weightless and wet. Musky. Fragrances that it reminds me of a bit are the much more complex Gallivant Accra, but it’s more in line with the simpler Davidoff Hot Water at times. Yet, the scent of pepper is quite pungent, making for an interesting combination. It gets rather sweet in a musky way too.

Interesting… perhaps.. but one that ends on the wrong side of the final score board for sure.