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shtukin – :
Gris Clair had a note that made it seem like a men’s cologne––I agree that this is truly unisex, with more emphasis on lavender. It is simpler, heavier in scent, but with less projection and sillage.
andrianaamata – :
Simple but fantastic. Encens et Lavande is pretty much a two note scent: high quality lavender paired to a gorgeous, airy incense note. The lavender is bright, radiant and leads to a dry down of fuzzy incense, ethereal but still substantial. This is the most satisfying incense accord in the Lutens lineup. It is slimmer than Gris Clair, but just as tenacious. Sillage is quite good for its style, as I do keep getting lovely gentle wafts throughout.
Encens et Lavande (together with Gris Clair and Oxford & Cambridge) is one of the best lavender scents I’ve come across. Fans of Oxford & Cambridge would perhaps appreciate this for the starkness of the composition. The lavender note, though, is richer and similar to the one in Gris Clair. Encens et Lavande might also appeal to lavender fans who find Gris Clair to be too ashy.
Very different from most other things in the Serge Lutens lineup. It is calm, meditative and introspective. This is not complex, unlike Gris Clair, Eau Noire or Dzongkha, and is unlikely to satisfy anyone after a complex lavender or incense scent.
Encens et Lavande is a case study in simple beauty and elegance. The lavender is very good, but once it hits the hour mark and the incense joins in, the scent is sublime.
4/5
Note: Review is based on an older “Shiseido” bell jar version.
aleksandrponomari – :
Serge Lutens does great things with lavender. I own Gris Clair, another of his lavender incense fragrances, but I find this to be very different. I get lavender, and maybe rosemary? and the incense. It’s feels warmer and more aromatic and dry and austere, whereas gris clair gives off a cozier almost hazy wooly vibe to me and seems to be more about lavendar/incense/tonka. I want a bottle of this too, and I have yet to try Forreau Noir, I’ll probably love that one too…
ksanserg – :
I’m not a lavender fan, so it might not be fair for me to even review this perfume.
I have a tiny sample vial, and upon opening it, I smell nothing but sharp, astringent lavender. It has something of a citrus bite to it. I smell no incense or resin, or any other grounding, mitigating basenote. To be fair in my unfairness, I didn’t even apply it to my body. Maybe it develops when worn on the skin.
The most positive thing I can say about it is, for me, a negative: it is so realistic! It smells just like lavender essential oil or perhaps like soap that has too heavy a dose of lavender in it!
meefs, the reviewer a couple spots below me, has it right, in that it is surely excellent for layering. I frequent the forums on this site and often see posters asking for beautiful or realistic lavender recommendations. I’ll have to remember this one for them.
оНикита – :
I really, really want to like this but I don’t. It smells like cheap aftershave, to my complete and utter disappointment.
Joslfz – :
The most pleasant lavender scent I have come across. Combines well with De Profundis, Iris Silver Mist. Looking forward to acquiring another bottle of this star.
farit – :
Hi. Does anyone have a bottle of this they would sell a decant of please?
I’m in Australia. Gris Clair is my only other option available new, but I think this is the real beauty from S.L.
Please PM me if you can.
kolya – :
I have tried many lavanders, and this is by far my favorite. Closest to the real thing in my opinion – cold, clear, with a breath of incense. Just perfect. Spritz in an unscented hand lotion for a touch of heaven. Tigerlillian’s Review, Bravo, Spot-on! Also excellent Ricky Ribarco review!
zilk – :
I originally bought a small sample of this and within minutes of spraying, I realised I needed the bell jar in my life. This is a natural, strongly herbal lavender with a gloriously smoky drydown. I also get a subtle hint of freshly ironed, clean laundry. It’s totally unisex in my opinion and would be great on the right man in a suit and crisply laundered white shirt. It’s also quite relaxing thanks to the lavender. It definitely transports me to a very contented place.
reca – :
I love lavender, and this is the best and most realistic lavender I’ve smelled in a perfume so far. I agree, Rickyrebarco’s excellent review is spot-on. Lavender and incense work beautifully together in this masterpiece of simplicity, very impressive!
Lee123 – :
How are ya’ll getting all these things? All I can smell is lavender. Lavender straight no chaser. Gris Clair has more things going on that aren’t necessary. This is the best lavender I’ve ever experienced. (in a fragrance :P)
morixodka – :
A masculine, slightly smoky lavender. I like it, but would prefer it on a man.
xrenvam – :
Angelic, heavenly, ethereal, otherworldly, meditative, cool, soft, powdery, beautiful, classic, elegant, pure loveliness. It reacts beautifully with my skin chemistry too. It smells best when my skin is a bit oily. Brings out the sweetness. I waaaant this. So bad. Someone that loves me… Pretty please gift this to me! 🙂
Beeklymaymnmhzjw – :
Luminous, hazy, clean, non Lutensian (no fruits or spices) interpretation of a classic theme. This is the perfect companion to whatever you are doing, the two main notes interact equally, neither one competing for attention. This smells primitive, timeless, effortless.
Nato010 – :
I can see why people would like this, especially the dry down which is smoky and complex. I find it to be quite masculine and you have to really like lavender.
swatt79 – :
If I would purchase one lavender based perfume – oh my, the perfume wardrobe is cluttered enough as it is – this would probably be it.
Usually I dismiss most lavender perfumes as being “too masculine”. But this one, I would happily wear. Quite unisex, IMO.
By the way, Rickyrebarco´s review is very well written. I totally agree with her, this is really a LIVE growing lavender!
Petru14 – :
Smoky with a hit and a half of lavender and even a hint of celery (I know, sounds odd but I get celery). This is typical SL – compelling, heady, sexy and addictive. Perfect for cold weather, I could happily wear this at Christmas-time.
UPDATE: I am wearing this at the moment (free sample from SL) and I cannot stop catching the perfume as I type – tested on the back of my hand – OMG I need (and I mean NEED) to buy this! It develops fantastically well on my skin, I am completely hooked. For me, it’s the equivilant of cat-nip for humans.
Drakula))) – :
A cold, grey day on a hill. A church garden prolific with dense lavender bushes.
A crisp breeze whipping through, picking up the scent of the church’s cold stone walls, marked with a hint of incense.
Snapping lavender stems as the wind deftly dances through, releasing a cool haze of green, blue and purple. Green for fresh, herbal leaves, blue for tightly curled new buds, and purple for mellow, sweet petals.
b3622188 – :
Sampling from my tiny 0.5ml decant here so performance result may not be accurate. The scent opens up smoothly with natural lavender (same as in Gris Clair) and authentic burning church incense. This is simplicity at its best one would expect from Serge Lutens with just two simple notes. As it dries down, I get only the incense. Personally I feel this lavender scent is done much better than Gris Clair. Moderate projection and good longevity on my skin. I find this smokey lavender scent enjoyable to wear.
нюта – :
I love Gris Clair, I like Encens too, among the best lavender fragrances I’ve smelled. The incense is very mineral and the lavender is truly great, I’ve wondering to buy a bottle next months.
KCrack – :
There is no way I could review this beauty better than Rickyrebarco.
Simple yes but beautiful nonetheless!!! A true unisex lavender and where I find Gris Clair too masculine this one is absolutely lovely for women who love the true scent of French Lavender. A must try for lavender lovers.
lil822speagoessenda – :
In the bottle, I smell the sharpness of the lavender, but once on my skin, it becomes overly sweet. When wearing, I find this to smell neither of incense nor lavender. Glad I sampled before purchasing.
Sne07 – :
I have loved this fragrance since first smelling a small test decant over a year ago. I got lucky and someone I buy from on Ebay was going to Paris and offered to pick me up some perfumes. Of course I wanted a bell jar of Encens et Lavande. I know some folks think this is too simple a scent. However, as a lavender lover for years, I must say it is quite difficult to capture a true lavender this perfectly. Lutens lavender is fresh and lovely, like walking through a lavender field in the evening when everything has dried a bit in the sun. This is a living lavender scent, not a bunch of dead dried lavender sachets, which you get in so many fragrances. The incense is beautiful, just enough to keep the lavender from going over the top, but not enough to make it bitter. This is the quintessential lavender scent and I plan to wear it every night and most days as well until it’s used up. For those who think this doesn’t last, it does if you spray generously. I sprayed it on my pillow this morning before I left for work and 12 hours later I smelled Encens et Lavande when I walked into my bedroom this evening. Simple does not mean crudely or badly made. For me, simplicity is perfection in this gorgeous scent. Perfect for a man or woman.
Bearryaides – :
Whoa, major issues with longevity here. I getting the feeling the Mr Lutens and I are not going to have a good relationship.
When I finally found the fragrance I’d been looking for for a long time, it was a serge Lutens fragrance and it went totally wonky on my skin.
Now..I find a lavender scent that I can actually tolerate and it dissapears rather quickly.
I will say though, there are beautiful moments from wet to dry when wearing this.
It opens with a lovely blast of deep dry lavender, and the incense slightly less intense. It feels more on the masculine side. It feels like a cologne.
This changes quickly though and it gets dryer, more smoky, the incense is the one that’s taking over now. The dry somewhat spicy 9almost peppery) lavender is still there but it’s now smokier and has a kind of dirty tone to it. I really like it, and I usually don’t go for very masculine smells.
This fragrance is a really good balance of lavender and incense, who would have though something with a simple composition could smell quite so complex!
I wouldn’t purchase it though only because the lasting power and strength aren’t worth the money.
Sorry Mr Lutens, I wil still try out more of your fragrances though until I find one I like.
🙂
chygoi3 – :
I yet have to find a SL’s solid sample that I actually like… this smells like vetiver (not listed, I know… but I get a hay-note) and lavender,…
not impressed…
next…
Palsdstralise – :
Pure lavender with contrasting incense and that’s it. Elegant and very nice if you like these scents.
jonni3000 – :
A no-brainer incense-lavender scent. Opens with a strong incense which softens a bit. I het lavender but seems to be watered fown or diluted by the domineering incence, a comforting scent, good sillage and longevity.
Mevng439Negeltzex – :
The incense is strong when first spritzed. Not heavy but definitely more noticable than the lavender. It softens more quickley than Chergui (which doesn’t like me):(
This fragrance dries to a beautifully soft and tranquil lavender with a little spice, perfect for the daytime….late summer into fall/winter. Lovely.
zippo_ua – :
I see lavender with… coffee? I do make an effort to imagine the incens.
yqh288Negeltzex – :
Intrigante, misterioso, sensuale….lo vedo più come profumo decisamente maschile, per tipi molto raffinati e assolutamente non banali