Santal Majuscule

Yet he had not said everything about it. And in 2012 with Santal Majuscule, Lutens explores for the occasion the floral and gourmand facets of this beautiful wood, which definitely delights in giving the best of itself.

Santal Majuscule, or the art of reminiscing a perfumed childhood

With L’Eau and L’Eau Froide released previously, Lutens perfumery enthusiasts felt betrayed by fragrances that, although interesting, broke the voluptuous charm of the artist’s chic oriental creations. Yet Santal Majuscule, Boxeuse or Bas de Soie definitively reassured those undecided about L’Eau, or even eased their conflicted relationship with Lutens’s new releases.

Santal Majuscule indeed reconnects with the ultra-orientalized scents that the master perfumer has had us breathing for several fragrances and years now. Ill-disposed minds might see in Santal Majuscule a repetition of a passionate Santal de Mysore or a delicate Santal Blanc. It is nothing of the sort.

This sandalwood, which has followed Lutens with its sensual daring since his Féminité du Bois, still has many things to whisper into his nostrils. Like a useful punctuation mark within his fragrances, the sandalwood is capitalized and the happy bearer of the childhood memory of a Serge Lutens who could not help decorating his capital letters with funny little drawings, whenever he pleased. Just as he cannot help adding sandalwood, an odd sort of sandalwood, whenever he pleases.
This Santal Majuscule thus dons its finest, most flowing garments to bind itself to rose and bathe us in the soft light of its sacred fire.

When the desert rose dresses itself in a Santal Majuscule

Santal Majuscule dons its loveliest woody, amber color to make our eyes sparkle before making our nostrils thrill to its rosy scents and radiant blond woods.

Santal Majuscule opens on spicy notes accompanied by licorice, giving the fragrance a syrupy, smooth entrance. Then the sandalwood heart plays up milky, soft overdoses to wrap in tenderness an elegant, delicately peppery Damask rose, set off by a sparkling cinnamon. One also recognizes a few fruity notes of voluptuous apricot scattered here and there, giving this Santal Majuscule the candied note favored by its creator.

Then the most eagerly awaited guest of this Santal Majuscule, the sandalwood of course, appears married to multiple woody essences including patchouli and oud wood, which intensify its blondness. A touch of Sauternes accompanies this famous blend of woods which, sprinkled with cocoa and vanilla, becomes a cocktail both gourmand and full-bodied. Ginger plays on its peppery, tangy facets to heighten this effect of woody pastry. Finally, of course, Lutens signs his work by adding a sensual, mysterious smoky note of incense.

Powdered here by the bitterness of cocoa, the sandalwood sinks into the depths of a velvet trap. Santal Majuscule presents itself as a woody trap built around a sweet, syrupy, gourmand velvet. The strength of Santal Majuscule therefore lends itself with ease to both masculine and feminine wear.