Douce Amere

Douce Amere is a woody oriental from Serge Lutens, launched in 2002 for women and men and composed by Christopher Sheldrake. Its name means bittersweet, and it lives up to it: bitter artemisia and absinthe meet sugar and vanilla, with cinnamon warming the middle. Tiare flower, lily and jasmine add a creamy floral softness, so the herbal sharpness never turns harsh. It is an unusual, quietly elegant scent rather than a crowd-pleaser. Expect moderate longevity and projection, and reach for it on autumn and winter days.