Serge Lutens Chergui - Rich, spiced tobacco and hay, enriched with honey, woods and floral notes. The deep incense and tobacco and hay notes hold this from every getting too sweet, despite having sugar as a note. An amazingly deep, rich scent. Chergui is named for the dry, desert wind that rolls through Morocco in summer. This fragrance is in the Oriental Spicy fragrance group. "Vaguely remember finding this incredibly overwhelming in how much it projected when I first tried it a decade or so ago. It really is warmed snuggliness. How was I so wrong? Honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf, hay sugar, amber, iris, rose and sandalwood."
from kafkaesque - "Chergui opens on me slightly differently than on others. There is an initial citric and lemon note that I haven’t read of others experiencing. The citrus accompanies a strong rose note along with smoky tobacco leaves over a leather base. The combination of notes reminds me a tiny bit of my much-loved vintage Montana by Claude Montana (now renamed Montana Parfum de Peau) as well as the opening of some chypre fragrances — so much so that, for a minute or two, I wonder if perhaps I received a different sample as part of my Lutens set. But, no, this is definitely Chergui. The tobacco leaves are unmistakable. This is not the tobacco of a cigarette or dirty ashtray, nor is it the fruity tobacco of a pipe. These leaves recall images I’ve seen of tobacco drying under the hot sun of the American South. They have a rich amberous, almost nutty element to them with smoke that goes far beyond the sort in mere incense; it verges into the more extreme, black, tarry aspects of frankincense."
from makeupalley - "...It opens so rich and sweet and a bit spicy, which I love. The tobacco leaf and amber combo is to die for. You wouldn't think iris would meld with this, but it does, so well!! And the little bits of hay (green, then dry, then green) just make me feel a bit sexy and exotic..."
| Perfume Name | Serge Lutens Chergui |
| Year Introduced | 2005 |
| Perfumer | Christopher Sheldrake |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Collection | Collection Noire - Resineux/Ambres |
| Notes | Honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf, hay, sugar, amber, iris, rose and sandalwood |
| Country of Origin | France |
this is a scent that cannot be described by a listing of notes, it is such an intriguing fragrance, expertly blended. I wouldn't classify it as an oriental or gourmand but it teeters near both. I find it cozy and mysterious, dry and warm and lovely.
It opens as baby powder, really strongly on me. It stays there for 3 painful hours. Once it gets past that its very soft and lovely. Sadly...I cant take the first 3 hours.
this is a scent that cannot be described by a listing of notes, it is such an intriguing fragrance, expertly blended. I wouldn't classify it as an oriental or gourmand but it teeters near both. I find it cozy and mysterious, dry and warm and lovely.
It opens as baby powder, really strongly on me. It stays there for 3 painful hours. Once it gets past that its very soft and lovely. Sadly...I cant take the first 3 hours.
I have been curious to wear Chergui for ages and finally did. The musk and iris do not agree with me and I should have noted that before trying it out. This fragrance is so strong and the opening notes of musk and iris with the honey were making me feel not so great. But I was determined not to wash it off and an hour or two later it was not bad. Sadly, it's not for me.
Once again Serge Lutens tries one's patience with an opening that is almost unbearable, and then it turns into a rich, unique beauty. I almost purchased it but didn't quite have the confidence. And my wife really can't tolerate SL's openings. So once again I am happy to have a small decant of a Serge Lutens so I can secretly take a wiff now and then. His scents are downright intoxicating but not necessarily what one would want to wear.
If the notes appeal to you, try it. Chergui is comforting and warm, never cloying, overly sweet or heavy (though it is no transparent scent either). So classy, it almost feels vintage. Excellent lasting power. I want a full bottle of this. As tobacco scents go, Kilian's Back to Black is very plain and literal in comparison.
A masterpiece. Take a big bowl of German chocolate cake batter (not too sweet), and toss in some cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and clove. Now take the bowl into a cigar smoking lounge and pour it over your head. Bathe in this singular fragrance.
