Le Participe Passé

The perfume Le Participe Passé by Serge Lutens opens up with a blend of aromatic, herbaceous, and slightly bitter notes from mugwort, citrus, and bergamot. There's a camphorous quality that adds depth, transitioning into a warmer, resinous, and caramelized blend as the hours pass. This caramel isn't too sweet—it reminds me of strong black coffee and burnt caramel, balancing between sweet and bitter. Cumin plays well with the amber base, adding animalic and spicy elements along with a leatheriness. The dry down is rich in warm amber tones, giving it a sensual feel. While it doesn't explicitly include ambergris, my skin seems to react positively, creating a subtle sea salt scent that feels like sun-warmed skin. This might just be how my body chemistry interacts with certain notes. Overall, I highly recommend this perfume—it's exquisite and has excellent longevity on me, lasting over 10 hours with moderate sillage. However, I’d advise testing it first before purchasing to ensure it resonates with you personally.

I truly desired this fragrance. All I detect are pine needles and caramel. It’s making me feel unwell, honestly. I have a 3.3-ounce bottle, almost entirely filled. If you’re interested in purchasing it, feel free to reach out via IM.

I’m truly in awe of how others have beautifully described this perfume. I wish I’d known earlier—I might have made different purchasing decisions! Serge’s caramel balsam notes really work for my skin, which is saying something because performance has always been an issue for me. It’s a shame because otherwise, I’d probably want the entire SL collection by now. I’ve noticed people talk about SL perfumes being minimalistic, but I completely disagree with that idea. Each scent feels unique and non-redundant to me—maybe it's something in my DNA? Anyway, Bapteme du Feu has the most stunning dry-down I’ve ever experienced, especially with how captivating Osmanthus turns out to be. I’m probably seen as a bit quirky for loving this so much, but I don’t care. This perfume performs wonderfully on me—longevity and a pleasant waft that lasts. It just works for my skin sometimes. There’s something about certain fragrances that always seem perfect for me, like this one and Carthusia. I know it makes me feel outdated, but I’m okay with that. It doesn’t feel synthetic or overpowering—just pure enjoyment that lasts.

I really enjoyed this perfume for a solid 30 minutes before it started to feel too heavy and sweet, almost like burnt maple syrup. It was overwhelming, and I had no choice but to wash it off quickly—absolutely not a fan of that stage. I’m not sure if it’s the cause, but I can’t stand the scent of immortelle. The thick, stewed fruit compote from Lutens also doesn’t do it for me, and Chergui makes me feel queasy. On the other hand, I love Fumerie Turque, Borneo, and other intense floral perfumes, so I’m definitely not part of the Lutens potpourri club. I’ll stick to Fils de Joie and Datura Noir for now and leave this one at the door.

It smells just like a Caramel Frappuccino.