Féminité du Bois or the shared treasure of Serge Lutens A masterpiece of audacity and revolutionary in its ambition of simplicity and light, the very first perfume by Serge Lutens for Shiseido was Féminité du bois, in 1992.
Created in 1992 by Serge Lutens for the house of Shiseido, Féminité du Bois is a genuine olfactory revolution. In 2011, the fragrance joined Serge Lutens's highly select private collection. Because it is the first woody fragrance in the history of perfumery, Féminité du Bois marks a real turning point. By placing cedarwood at the forefront, Féminité du Bois surprises, yet carries us toward entirely new olfactory emotions. Like all Serge Lutens perfumes, Féminité du Bois suits men and women alike.
Cedarwood, star of the composition
Serge Lutens therefore chose to showcase the olfactory beauty of cedarwood, an ingredient often used in perfumery, mainly as a base note in masculine perfumes. Atlas and Virginia cedarwood essences make up 10% of the composition. Atlas cedarwood is a resinous wood with a straight trunk. Its bark is brown to dark gray in color. Atlas cedarwood is used in cosmetics and perfumery, where it lends a dry woody tonality, with a scent close to that of the pencil wood of childhood. Virginia cedar, of course, comes from the United States, unlike Atlas cedar, which mainly comes from Mediterranean regions. In perfumery, this juniper lends tonalities that are at once soft, refined, resinous, dry, muted and woody. Compositions containing Virginia cedar carry a notable noble quality. Cedars pair wonderfully well with patchouli, vanilla, vetiver, and sandalwood. In Féminité du Bois, cedarwood is used in overdose and paired with synthetic woods to heighten its effect. The result is quite exceptional.
Oriental spicy notes for a unisex perfume
This little masterpiece was imagined by a duo of perfumers, namely Christopher Sheldrake and Pierre Bourdon. They created an essence that was particularly at odds with the trends of the 90s. Indeed, the top notes are ultra powerful and spicy thanks to the presence of cinnamon and spices, echoing Middle Eastern flavors. The heart is sensual, combining floral tonalities such as orange blossom, violet flower, peach and plum, which give off an almost candied quality. Finally, the base of Féminité du Bois leaves an ultra sensual sillage with the presence of sandalwood, benzoin and vanilla.
A unisex perfume, Féminité du Bois is the first perfume to contain so much cedar. Indeed, Serge Lutens chose to place Virginia cedar and Atlas cedar in the spotlight, all enhanced by spices and floral tonalities. One of Serge Lutens's marvels.