• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

Almost never

Posted by Robin on 14 August 2009 32 Comments

Almost never. I wear fragrance when I go out in the evening. That is to say, three times a year, about. What is a perfume? When everything is finished, one adds it like a jewel.

— Serge Lutens, answering the question "Do you wear fragrance?" in Serge Lutens: Createur Deluxe at Women's Wear Daily.

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: serge lutens

Advertisement


32 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. ceelouise says:
    14 August 2009 at 2:42 am

    I am so intrigued by his comment! Well, Lutens’ perfumes are expensive enough to be worn as jewels. I couldn’t wear them for everyday mundance activities, they are too beautiful. I’m going to Paris in September and can’t wait to visit his Salons au Palais Royal. I’ll finally try Iris Silver Mist!

    Log in to Reply
    • asuperlongusername says:
      14 August 2009 at 2:58 am

      Funny! The first application of my bottle of Iris Silver Mist accompanied me to the beach. Now they are somewhat linked. But I know what you mean; I wouldn’t want to do chores in it. Washing dishes while wearing Serge Lutens would be so traumatic.

      On a tangent: Tubereuse Criminelle was what I wore when I passed my kidney stone and it reminds me of laying on the couch watching TV! Thankfully, not the pain, though. I hope to have such an earth-shattering time next time I wear it as to upset this association.

      Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:46 am

      Hope you’ll love ISM, it is one of my favorites :-)

      Log in to Reply
  2. Tama says:
    14 August 2009 at 3:18 am

    For me, perfume is more a foundation garment than a jewel. You look your best when wearing good foundations, and feel your best when you know you smell good. I think, anyway.

    Log in to Reply
    • annemarie says:
      14 August 2009 at 4:48 am

      Well put – I agree absolutely. And there are so many great fragrances to wear! Why miss out on any occasion?

      I guess if you are Serge Lutens, beautiful fragrance is laid out for you as a daily experience. For someone like him it’s not a case of ‘This is the only bit of Chanel that I’ll ever be able to afford so I’m going to go for it’. And I guess you can understand someone wanting to spend his leisure time not thinking about work.

      Still, I spend a good bit of my spare time pursuing aspects of my profession, because it’s not really a job but a way of living … Oh well. Each to her/his own.

      Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:46 am

      Agree!

      Log in to Reply
    • ceelouise says:
      15 August 2009 at 2:38 pm

      That’s so interesting! For me, perfume is the ultimate accessory. I can wear jeans and a white tee, or a black turtleneck, or something really standard like that, and I feel the perfume I choose changes the whole outfit and gives it life and personality. It’s the icing on the cake. Like choosing the fun shoes or scarf to wear with your classic pantsuit.

      Log in to Reply
      • ceelouise says:
        15 August 2009 at 2:40 pm

        But on second thought, there are days when I could start with the perfume and choose my outfit to go with my scent!

        Log in to Reply
  3. pigoletto says:
    14 August 2009 at 9:40 am

    I can understand this. In some ways perfume was more of a mysterious special thing to me when I knew I liked it but didn’t really have any knowledge of it. Now that I engross myself in knowing all about it, there’s so much out there that there’s no one special one – or even 3 special ones, although I do ruthless cleanouts and right now am down to 5 bottles. It’s funny – I think my best memory of perfume is when I was 15 and asked for Coco for Christmas – my parents got me a bottle of parfum, and I was so disappointed because to me, saying I wanted a bottle meant, I want a big honking bottle – I didn’t know the difference between EDT/EDP, etc. But once I got over it, it was the best smell – really grownup. And the funniest part was I had never smelled it before – I asked for it because I thought the black and white ads with Ines de la Fressange were so wonderfully elegant. That’s what I wanted to feel like, and that’s what it made me feel like.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:47 am

      That’s so cute that you were let down by the Parfum! And nice of your parents, too.

      Log in to Reply
    • ceelouise says:
      15 August 2009 at 2:42 pm

      I remember the Coco ad with Vanessa Paradis from back when I read YM magazine. The one where she’s tilting the bottle to the side over her head and the juice is splashing out.

      Log in to Reply
  4. RossM says:
    14 August 2009 at 10:00 am

    Yes, it is an interesting comment but lucky for him though that many people choose to wear fragrance more frequently – otherwise his profession probably wouldn’t exist. Well, to a much much smaller extent anyway.
    And I also feel that if he doesn’t dane to wear his own creations, why should I? (I am a Lutens fan BTW).

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:48 am

      Yes, quite lucky for him, LOL…I’m a fan too, even a huge fan, but his pronouncements usually make me chuckle.

      Log in to Reply
  5. Daisy says:
    14 August 2009 at 10:13 am

    I would never save a much loved perfume for a special occasion! Special occasions may never come…..I’d hate to be looking at my perfume collection from the Hereafter, regretting leaving completely full bottles of favorites! I’ll where Amouage while I’m cleaning house, going to the grocery store or wherever! Now is what you have, enjoy it.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:48 am

      Yep.

      Log in to Reply
    • vinery says:
      14 August 2009 at 6:17 pm

      Yes, Daisy I agree completely with this attitude. Nothing better than Amouage Gold for a lazy afternoon by the fireside with a good book.

      Log in to Reply
      • boojum says:
        14 August 2009 at 11:04 pm

        If a lazy afternoon by the fireside with a good book isn’t a special occasion, what is? :) That to me would be the ideal time to wear “the good stuff”, because the rest of the time, I’m too busy rushing around to even notice, much less enjoy, what I’m wearing.

        Log in to Reply
        • ceelouise says:
          15 August 2009 at 2:58 pm

          Oh I so agree with you! I’ve taken to putting on my favorites (at least the quieter ones) right before bed, it’s the time of day when I appreciate them the most. I’ll sometimes go all day without (I’m a SAHM now) and then put some on before bed.

          Log in to Reply
  6. Dixie says:
    14 August 2009 at 11:07 am

    I agree with Daisy. I got over the “special occasions” issue when my aunt and uncle lost many beloved antiques in a fire. I always admired that they used many of them in every day fare and allowed me to handle them (at 15 years old). It helped to cultivate my love things vintage and old and that they should be used and appreciated.
    As Daisy said if you save it for a special occasion, that special occasion may never come or it may be taken away from you unexpectedly and you never got to enjoy it!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 6:40 pm

      I don’t know that SL meant he was “saving” for a special occasion though, so much as that he didn’t see it as a necessary part of a normal day? Who knows.

      Log in to Reply
  7. Filomena says:
    14 August 2009 at 11:51 am

    I couldn’t agree more. One must seize the moment. Life can change completely in a split second. I love to wear my “special” fragrances for every day use–whether I’m at work, at the gym (although I try to use lighter scents for when I work out), or going out with friends. Use it or lose it…if I would only wear my perfumes for special occasions, I would never wear them. Every day is special in its own way.
    Happy Scented Weekend to all!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 6:40 pm

      Happy weekend to you too!

      Log in to Reply
  8. cazaubon says:
    14 August 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Well, he is an odd bird, but in his defense, I believe that Jean-Claude Ellena has also said he rarely wears scent. I think he said it was because he is smelling things all day long, it would interfere with his work and fatigue his nose too much.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 6:40 pm

      Yes, that makes sense. Somehow doubt SL is constantly smelling aroma chemicals though, but who knows.

      Log in to Reply
    • bergere says:
      17 August 2009 at 11:08 am

      Yes, that’s what I initially thought–that wearing scent during the day would simply interfere with his doing his job. When he goes out, he’s not expected to try a hundred scents, so he’s free to wear what he wants.

      Log in to Reply
  9. lilydale aka Natalie says:
    14 August 2009 at 3:13 pm

    He goes out for the evening only three times a year? Poor Serge, you need to get out more!

    Log in to Reply
    • Tama says:
      14 August 2009 at 3:33 pm

      He seems like one of those people that doesn’t go out because people come to him.

      Log in to Reply
      • lilydale aka Natalie says:
        14 August 2009 at 6:07 pm

        Ah, yes — to kneel at his feet, kiss his ring, and receive his Delphic pronouncements of inscrutable wisdom!

        Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      14 August 2009 at 6:40 pm

      LOL!

      Log in to Reply
  10. miss kitty v. says:
    14 August 2009 at 8:50 pm

    I’ve been at a training all day, and was having withdrawal symptoms from not being on here….

    Anyway. I’ve always said I wouldn’t trust a tattoo artist who didn’t have any tattoos, and I don’t know that I would trust a perfumer who didn’t love to wear perfume.

    Log in to Reply
    • Daisy says:
      14 August 2009 at 10:17 pm

      Yeah, what Kitty said!

      Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      15 August 2009 at 10:44 am

      HA — good point. But hey, the man makes brilliant perfumes, no doubt about it.

      Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

From NST at Twitter

  • "Report: L'Oreal Set to Acquire Byredo" (perfumer flavorist) https://t.co/JchKx25FBD,
  • "Inside China's Booming Olfactory Economy" (that's mag) https://t.co/AoIn1oLAHu,
  • "Magnum ice cream and https://t.co/Smhe2fTapP teamed up to launch ‘chocolate-scented’ nail polish — and the colors… https://t.co/lv59O29ogv,
  • "Postcard from Paris - A guide to the city by Chanel perfumer Oliver Polge" (conde nast traveller) https://t.co/8UEUnwUyef,

Browse by…

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

23 April ~ swapmeet

14 May ~ haiku challenge

21 May ~ splitmeet

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2022 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.