Serge Lutens • Chergui • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

gmstrack on 2/2/2013 2:50:00 PM more reviews by gmstrack

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

I really wanted to love this fragrance; however, Chergui was a major disappointment. The pleasant opening smells like Avon Skin So Soft and conjures up childhood memories. After five minutes, the boring powder arrives. Also, Chergui seems incomplete, as though it hoped to vanish in the hot desert wind. Maybe someday I will revisit this fragrance and experience lounging camels and complex “spicy intensity”. Maybe.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Lola452 on 8/25/2012 9:45:00 PM more reviews by Lola452

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I just could not get down with this fragrance. It smelled like Skin-So-Soft on me and nothing more, which to me, translates to cheap. I read other reviews that said it got better with time, but I didn't find this at all - it was very linear on me. My first impression was also that this is a very mature fragrance (too mature for me, not my style at all), and my husband said the exact same thing when I asked what he thought of it. Well, actually, he didn't use such polite terminology, but I'll leave out what he actually said. :) Anyway, wanted to like, but not for me at all.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

airubgirl on 8/9/2012 10:29:00 PM more reviews by airubgirl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

I was given a sample of this at Barney's in Scottsdale and I was exceptionally skeptical because Lutens can be a bit over the top, and not in a good way.

This spicy, leathery, creamy and very voluptuous scent, brought me into the Lutens fold. It warms up on my skin and just melts into it, morphing from the incense, hay like opening to the spicy santal and tobacco leaf with a hint of soft warm leather middle, into the final stage of amber, creamy rose and smokey tonka. For me, the honey is present but only there to lend a bit of supporting cast, quietly sweet not sugary, with more of a beeswax honey scent.

It is exquisite in every stage with my chemistry, however I can understand how, for some, this would be overwhelming and headache inducing; but if it meshes with your chemistry it is one of the most lush fragrances out there.

Once the initial stage is over the sillage is modest, meaning it wears close to me, so those who are hug worthy get a whiff, but it will not offend in an elevator or invade someones personal smelling space.

I love it both in the winter and summer months. Warmth turns it into a heady and more humid breeze as opposed the winter where it is more of a dry smokey wind.

I wear this scent on an everyday basis and for formal events, it suits both imho; I agree with the previous reviewer that it just depends on the wearer.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

sonamora on 6/24/2012 4:29:00 AM more reviews by sonamora

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Olive, Cool   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Complex, intelligent, evocative, smouldering, desirable, exotic, deep.

That's what I smell like to me when wearing this fragrance. And my husband wanted to bed me straight away.

Chergui is not for the faint-hearted, or white floral lover. You'll want to be into your orientals to wear with confidence. And if you do, you won't be disappointed.

Yes it is sweet, but not sickly, underpinned by sandalwood, amber, musk, tobacco, so it avoids the sticky sweet superficiality of many other fragrances jostling for position on the perfume counter. These notes rise to the occasion on the nothing less than orgasmic dry-down. What you're left with is a warm, complex, alluring fragrance that is evocative of a Morrocan love affair, but stays with you long enough to still enjoy at the end of the day.

Some say it's not an every day perfume, but I think it entirely depends on the wearer. An excellent fragrance by the Serge Lutens folk and would definitely buy again.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* lemonlye on 6/17/2012 10:13:00 PM more reviews by lemonlye

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Drat. This sounded completely like something I would love, but on me it carried the dreaded over-sweet baby-powder note. Bugged me enough that I washed it off. Won't dissuade me from trying more Serge Lutens, though, as I've liked some of his other scents just fine!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* threejane on 5/27/2012 1:32:00 AM more reviews by threejane

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Oh my...not fruity, suh-WEET, sugary, powdery, flowery, girly or nice in any fashion. This is not pastel, pink, floral, eyelet, or ankle socks.



Chergui is a WOMAN'S scent. You'd better be a mature woman...all curves, breasts, buttocks, and satiny toffee-colored skin to wear this. You can pin a man from across the room with your smoky eyes, beckon him with a narcotic-laced toss of your hair, bend his will to your whim, and break his heart with an indifferent glance. Your clothes meld to your curves, and men can't say why you are so intoxicating...but you're everyone's private heroin when you wear this. (Is that a Twilight reference? Oh God, I hope not. SO not my intention.). Women want to be you, men want to possess you.



That's how this scent makes me feel, anyway. Not like a harried housewife with four homechooled kids and a messy (not dirty! Just cluttered!) house that has dogs bouncing off the walls and a perennial dish or three in the sink. Some days I just drag around in yoga pants and a t-shirt (it's really a pajama tee from Target, don't tell) with my hair haphazardly twisted up in a bun. I'm 41, with some wrinkles and sagging skin, standard mom issue.



But when I wear Chergui, I magically transform into Catherine Zeta-Jones in "The Legend of Zorro", Angelina Jolie in "Original Sin". Lush, luscious, sensual, unforgettable. After you get past the first almost acrid, medicinal blast of herby incense (about 10 minutes)...almost eyewatering, really...the scent melds into a spicy, honeyed, slightly sugary amber that's saved from cloying-ness by a fresh bite of tobacco, iris, and I guess it's hay. There's supposed to be rose notes in this, which unfortunately, rose never shows up on me. But it's not needed or missed.



Hours, and I mean HOURS, later, the drydown maintains the amber and slowly includes a woody edge...I guess that's the sandalwood. I can see the guy from "The Most Interesting Man in the World" beer commercials wearing this. But it's not manly, oh no. If my florid, overblown prose didn't spell it out above, it's verrrry feminine (all dependent on chemistry...always).



This is one of the few frags I've stuck under hubby's nose that didn't get the requisite indifferent Gallic shrug. He took my wrist in his hand, inhaled deeply, and murmured "Mmmmmmm"...totally out of character for him (a verbal reaction that matches his nonverbal reaction to Angel...see my review). I believe he is an Oriental/gourmand man, and if he enjoys this juice, given how it makes me feel, I'll gladly wear it and revel in my lovely feminine sensuality. There aren't a lot of things that can elevate me from my rather humdrum hausfrau existence, so when I find something that lifts me up, I'll take it and exploit it every chance I get. Just lovely.

20 out of 22 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

amv10 on 5/7/2012 8:59:00 AM more reviews by amv10

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I did not really chose Chergui, somehow it chose me instead. When visiting the boutique Lutens in Paris (what a superb place!!) I hesitated a lot between Chergui and Arabie (....and most of the others perfumes from both collections....:))) but finally left with Arabie. Chergui attracted me a lot but it was somehow indescribable and although I remembered it as an intriguing perfume, I had a hard time placing it in my "perfume world". When leaving the boutique, the sales lady gave me the solid-perfume samples of all the Lutens collection (that's a must have when you go there, so do ask for it if you get a chance) and 3 other samples (Chergui, A La Nuit and Daim Blond). Back home I started to smell the entire collection in the solid form, one every evening (which amused my boyfriend quite a lot) and Chergui still did not make it through (I was actually totally blown away instead by Iris Silver Mist that I can't wait to have a chance to smell it otherwise that in the solid-perfume version). But last week I had to travel for the week and trying to lighten up my cabin liquids I decided to leave home my bottle of perfume and take the 3 Lutens samples instead. And that's when Chergui totally won me over, wearing it "without choice" for three days and in a heat pretty much like in summer. Result: this lunch-time I went out to the only perfumery that sells Lutens in my area and indulged in a bottle. I was submerged by its balance and complexity but I have to say that I still have a hard time describing and placing it. To me it seems golden, ripe, woody, smoky, sweet, balsamic, rhummy, spicies (but hard to say which ones), like a plum pie with a filling of smoked cedar in the middle. But if you ask me tomorrow, I may find something different, because it's roundness makes it hard for me to break it up in pieces.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Colourpop on 3/12/2012 12:53:00 PM more reviews by Colourpop

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Such an interesting fragrance. A few weeks ago a friend of mine smelled delicious, a mix of roses, smoke and vanilla so I had to ask her what she was wearing. She told me that she had also smelt Chergui on a friend and it was so good she went straight out to buy it. My friend had a LOT of this on so by the end of the evening I was in 2 minds about it as it was a little overpowering. I ordered a sample of this on Ebay and I am wearing it today, I love it!! My worries about this smelling too much like tobacco have completely disappeared, on me this starts out with the tobacco/hay smoky element but it turns into the most delicious slightly smoky vanilla scent. It smells expensive and exotic and I can't wait to wear this in the summer as I have read that the fragrance works well in the heat. I have ordered a full size bottle today :-) Thanks Serge!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* sissyfris on 3/1/2012 11:10:00 PM more reviews by sissyfris

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Ahhh. Chergui... the first time I smelled it, given the board love, I was expecting the second coming of the god of perfume. I was not chuffed over it. I preferred Douce Amere. But then... a warm summer night at the Hollywood Bowl, and I was fortunate enough to be in someone's glorious Chergui downdraft. I went home, retried the sample, and was smitten. Had to have it. Bought a bottle from Barney's, and when I went to Paris for my anniversary got a bell jar in the Palais Royale. The next runner up was Fumerie Turque, but Chergui won out, even though I had it at home. It was that good. I still get swoony giddy when I wear it and it makes me feel like some kind of Mother Earth Fertility Goddess, very pagan, very natural, very strong. DH is non commmittal, but likes that I get that kind of reaction from it....it makes me feel like me, but sexy. Not a sweatpants wearing, dinner cooking, homework correcting mom, but a Who's Your Momma momma. Sillage is good, tenacity is good, and it really is a year-rounder, even in Ca heat. In fact, I think it improves as the temperature kicks in and the air turns Moroccan dessert dry. I love the stuff. I have a hoard, and I like it that way. This is in my top 10 list for 'if you had to chose a Sig Scent' contenders. Love it, like it, never feel wrong in it. It's just prefectly good.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* apparently on 1/4/2012 1:36:00 PM more reviews by apparently

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Stale Peeps in a dirty ashtray. Cloying sweetness rolled in choking tobacco ash. That, sadly, is all I get here. And I was convinced that this would be heaven based on reviews & published notes!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

languagegames on 12/14/2011 6:15:00 PM more reviews by languagegames

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Chergui is some spectacular stuff. I admire it, I often get the urge to nip a spray from my sample decant, and then all day I marvel at how good I smell. On my skin, it's a combination of rose shisha (hookah tobacco), honey and spices. It's sweet, it's heady, and it's intoxicating. I've used it in the cold and the heat, and sometimes when I wore it over the summer there was a small edge of mint to the scent, but now in the winter it's pure and decadent- nothing cool about it. I haven't committed to a full bottle yet, although at some point I definitely will. I just don't see Chergui being something I'd use often enough. I don't say this very much, because I wear perfume every day, but it's too special.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* BigEars on 12/10/2011 12:01:00 PM more reviews by BigEars

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Fabulous sweet spicy tobacco. it reminds me of Clan pipe tobacco with a lovely amber drydown. it is pretty sweet and gets more so on my skin but, it is totally original, unmistakable and gorgeous. The kind of scent that could easily be your signature.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* tabloid on 11/25/2011 4:31:00 PM more reviews by tabloid

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is fabulous. It's what I think of as a "dirty" scent - which is a compliment - meaning that it is sexy and raunchy, the very opposite of prim and proper. Despite the overt sexiness, it also smells expensive and luxurious.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

SerendipitousAerie on 11/21/2011 8:20:00 PM more reviews by SerendipitousAerie

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy   Eyes: Blue    

My uncle, just a youngun, made a wooden treasure box in December of 1937. He died in 1944 in another land, and to him I'm sure, another world, during World War II. His treasure box was set aside and no one really used it until it was given to me in 2005. I keep my most special treasures in there now. Two crow feathers, an Indian Head nickel, three marbles, sweetgrass, some natural incense, a dried flower (or two) and some other small treasures. When I first owned and opened the box there was left inside only some old old pipe tobacco, wrapped in what seemed to be parchment but surely was no more than plain brown paper aged thin. On special occasions I carefully open this treasure box and it smells a bit like Chergui.

29 out of 31 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* GlamDiva on 11/14/2011 9:34:00 PM more reviews by GlamDiva

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Chegui is a syrupy, elixir type of scent with honey, tobacco, leather, woods, perfectly balanced. A masterpiece. For men or women, ideal for autumn and winter.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ihavemagicmojo on 11/6/2011 7:13:00 AM more reviews by ihavemagicmojo

Age: Unknown   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I have the type of chemistry that tends to suck the life out of a perfume so I always like to wear something that is considered a strong scent. While in Paris I was assured by a saleswoman that Chergui is strong. On me though,it's not. It starts out with soft powdery incense and quickly dries down to a sweet amber. While I realize that most of the notes are not there for me, I still really enjoy Chergui and it lasts about 6 hours on my skin which is decent considering my chemistry.. I have received many compliments, from young and old, male and female, ranging from 'something smells goooood" to "you smell niiiiice". To me, that's a huge compliment and a sign of a well crafted perfume.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* cerulfox on 10/18/2011 3:33:00 PM more reviews by cerulfox

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is one of those few scents that on first sniff you go "OH!". Strangely enough, Chergui is what I had hoped Boxeuses would be like.


Chergui starts with a deep spicy honey-tobacco with the spectre of something dark in the background. I found amusing that the reviewer before me mentioned Chergui coming off more leathery on men, and as apparently I have a more masculine skin chemistry despite my girly bits that's what I get--leather. The leather is sweet though, but it's still a bit of a dirty wild child, like Cuir de Russie's raven-haired little sister in a dark purple fitted biker jacket rather than CdR's prim leather gloves. The honey is sweet without being cloying, the tobacco also sweet and with a mild spiciness I've yet to experience in another perfume. The rose is dark and voluptuous, and with the musk, sandalwood and spices rounding everything out Chergui is sweet, spicy, yet foreboding.


I can't help but think but think of the aforementioned biker-leather wearer rocking out to some Joan Jett or Halestorm before going off to hunt some male prey. Definitely a scent to go kick ass and take names--the innocent and pure need not apply.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cosmeticated on 7/26/2011 2:05:00 PM more reviews by cosmeticated

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Just received my samples from Aedes after much anticipation and so far I really like it...I have a feeling I'm going to need a full sized bottle of this when Autumn approaches! It is just dreamy..mmmmm...

Update 8/11: I. ADORE. THIS. STUFF! It's heavenly. Can't get enough of it. Only wish it had longer staying power. I find myself reapplying frequently and at $100+ per bottle this could prove to be fragrantly problematic!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

productjunkieee on 7/20/2011 6:28:00 PM more reviews by productjunkieee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Although Chergui didn't hit the spot with me, but I had to admit it is a wonderfully exquisite perfume. It is rich and intricate but multifaceted so that it works all year round. It is a scent that definitely grows on you. The opening at first was way too overwhelming for me and I had already made up my mind to hate it. The beginning has a strong incense smell that instantly turned me off. As time wore on the harshness mellows out and you are left with a warm and creamy sweetness with smokes of tobacco peaking in. I think that is the SL pattern -- to open up with a huge bang and then mesmerize you with the seductive dry down. Put together, the overall scent is mysterious as it is alluring. I can see now why it is a crowd pleaser. I just don't like the smell of incense and can't get passed that so I would pass on this one.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

atsitl on 5/27/2011 3:50:00 PM more reviews by atsitl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Chergui, you have mesmerised me! You eloped me, dressed in your Eastern costume on a camel, and took me to places far and magical. Yes, initial medicinal notes may hinder a bit the way to an AMAZING dark brown dry down, deep syrupy sweet and sticky, balanced with smoke and with a touch of spice. So sensual! It feels as if it's the print that a woman's perfume leaves on a man's skin, after spending the night together. Therefore, it quite defies gender. Many fragrances have tried to impress with musk and spices, but their effect has been fleeting, and finally I had to get away from them. Chergui has managed to keep me in his tent... how long for? Let's say that longevity is what gives this powerful dry down the chance to shine all day!

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No