La Fille de Berlin
If I were to whittle this scent down, it's a peppery, inky rose. Lasts 8+ hours on my skin and sillage is moderate enough where I could smell it throughout the day - definitely a cooler weather scent though.
Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin was created by Christopher Sheldrake and Serge Lutens. It is Serge Lutens' third rose fragrance and his second to the divas of yesteryear after Une Voix Noire which was inspired by Billie Holliday. This fragrance takes its inspiration from the brave resilience of women during the Soviet occupation in postwar Germany. A rich, jammy rose accented with pepper. A seductive, romantic scent that is a gorgeous ruby color; exactly that of a rose. Directly from Serge Lutens' website: "She's a rose with thorns, don't mess with her. She's a girl who goes to extremes. When she can, she soothes; and when she wants ... ! Her fragrance lifts you higher, she rocks and shocks."
from nstperfume - "The first couple of seconds — it's quick, don't miss it! — are ROSE, big and bright enough to justify the all caps... But La Fille de Berlin soon enough goes off in another direction entirely, bypassing as well the dewy springtime rose of Lutens' own Sa Majesté la Rose and the overtly seductive aura of Rose de Nuit.
After the whoosh of Tea Rose nostalgia, La Fille de Berlin is at first jammy and sweet and full, and then slightly metallic and chilly as the rose is joined by violet. For the first 20 minutes or so, it's a relatively conventional (and relatively feminine) powdery boudoir rose-violet, but as it continues to develop, it gets warmer and muskier and woodier, and the very slight green undertones of the opening intensify and take on a slightly bitter edge. The lushness of the rose fades, so that despite the velvety finish and a light dusting of peppery spice, it has something of a somber feel. So, nothing like so sunny and cheerful as Sa Majesté, but nor is it so dark and animalic as Rose de Nuit. It's somewhere in between — dusky, perhaps, and maybe a bit moody and serious. It's quietly elegant, and to me, an odd fit with the rather alarmingly vivid color of the juice."
from kafkaesque - "La Fille de Berlin opens on me with a wet, dewy rose note that is faintly similar to the sweetness in a tea rose, but slightly richer and redder. That said, it’s not as rich as a hearty, beefy Bourbon or Damask rose, but something in-between. Perhaps, large peony roses? Soft violet notes flicker and dance at the edges. Sometimes, the scent seems soft and slightly powdered. At other times, heartier and deeper. The violet notes vaguely evoke YSL‘s Paris in its original formulation but Paris is a much warmer, headier, more intense, and spicier take on roses ..."
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Perfume Name | Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin |
Year Introduced | 2013 |
Perfumer | Christopher Sheldrake and Serge Lutens |
Gender | Unisex |
Collection | Collection Noire - Floral |
Notes | Rose, violet, pink and black pepper, musk |
Country of Origin | France |
If I were to whittle this scent down, it's a peppery, inky rose. Lasts 8+ hours on my skin and sillage is moderate enough where I could smell it throughout the day - definitely a cooler weather scent though.
I love a true rose scent, but most rose perfumes I tried were heavy, stuffy, powdery old woman scents with very little rose to them. This one is different. It's a pretty red color, and smells just like a fresh red rose. It lasts on me for at least 3-4 hours without being overpowering. I don't like perfumes that are so heavy they leave a cloud of fragrance everywhere I go, so this one is just right. I bought the smallest vial to try it out, and willbe buying the roll-on size next time.
If I were to whittle this scent down, it's a peppery, inky rose. Lasts 8+ hours on my skin and sillage is moderate enough where I could smell it throughout the day - definitely a cooler weather scent though.
I love a true rose scent, but most rose perfumes I tried were heavy, stuffy, powdery old woman scents with very little rose to them. This one is different. It's a pretty red color, and smells just like a fresh red rose. It lasts on me for at least 3-4 hours without being overpowering. I don't like perfumes that are so heavy they leave a cloud of fragrance everywhere I go, so this one is just right. I bought the smallest vial to try it out, and willbe buying the roll-on size next time.
This was my first rose perfume and my first SL and I continue to love it. Jam and slightly wilting roses, present and yet airy, it's a perfume for which I am often complimented by complete strangers. I don't think a typical SL, although I am glad to see variety in the line now that I know it better.
I like roses and was looking forward to trying this one. I think it's average, at best. Nothing special. Even a bit boring. If you read this, know that I have tried several Lutens perfumes - this was my last try - and none are more than *nice* or *OK* to me. I am not a fan. However, those who like Serge Lutens fragrances might enjoy this scent.
I was exploring rose fragrances and this came highly recommended. It looks like pomegranate juice! I love the peppery note with the rose, as it makes me feel alert and cheerful when I wear it. It's also very long lasting...7hrs+, unusual, as florals usually go MIA quickly on my skin. If you don't like powdery 'old lady' rose frags you might like this one. It'll come to you wearing black fishies and 6" Laboutin stilettos instead of fuzzy pink scuffs!
As soon and I dabbed this on, I was in love. I couldn't stop smelling my wrist! It's roses and jam and a tinge of something metallic, like you've pricked your finger on the thorn and it's bleeding. I didn't even know why I was so in love with it, because it doesn't sound like something I would like. And yet it smelled like home.
I wanted to love this from the descriptions. I like rose scents, as well as musk, leather, and dark dry downs. All I get from this are initial roses, then it disappears on me it is very expensive and for the money, does not deliver the goods, at least not on my skin.
It's soothing and exciting at the same time. I never get tired of this fragrance. I'm not usually a fan of rose but this is different. It's rose with an undertone, a twist. Although I am a third generation American my heritage is Russian and German. I am outspoken and non-conformist and Berlin enchanted me especially East Berlin which is so restrained compared to West Berlin. Maybe this fragrance describes who I am. My only criticism is that the smell doesn't linger. It's gone too quickly and I always miss its departure.
soft and beautiful, but not predictable