Chergui (2001)
by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

Chergui feels surprisingly conformist and mainstream, and dare I say it, at times even a little anonymous. A veritable cavalcade of spices is hurled at me from the outset, but no single noteworthy accord is ever produced. Dry, spicy and even a little flat, it does soften and improve in time – but it’s more pleasing than enchanting. Even though it continues to improve well into the base, I find myself largely unmoved. It is a pleasant, tidily executed oriental, but in the end I will struggle to remember much of the experience

3rd January, 2012.

first off, I feel bad for the people that say this fragrance doesn't last. I sprayed some on the back of my hand 20 hours ago and I still smell it. No it isn't a projection monster but for the first 3-5hours it's projects perfectly.

Anyway, this fragrance is simply addicting. the top notes smell very natural. you can definitely smell the hay with a little hint of leather, honey and some amber.

As it dries down a couple of hours in, you start to get a bunch of amber with some honey and the hay starts to fade out. It starts to lose the "sophisticated farmer" kind of smell which i really like. however, the base notes collectively are just amazing. it's so sweet and warm and just perfect for a night out/in with your significant other.

definitely worth sampling or even a gutsy blind buy.

scent 10/10
projection 7/10
longevity 10/10

20th December, 2011. (Last Edited: 21st December, 2011.)

Superb! Sheldrake has a way with these kinds of things. Chergui is a wonderful oriental filled with spices, florals, honey, hay and tobacco. A strong floral note combined with a sweet (honey) hay accord present themselves in the top notes. The opening is my least favorite part of Chergui's development. Just too much floral. I find the opening to be decidely feminine. However, as the florals lighten and the myrrh and incense emerge during the mid notes phase of Chergui's progression, the unisex nature of Chergui is established. By the time the honey, tobacco and leather base notes emerge, I perceive a distinct masculine aura around this fragrance. In the end, Chergui is a wonderful, long-lasting fragrance that is recommended for anyone who wants to smell sweet and spicy and damn near irresistible.

7th December, 2011.

chergui was 1 of those scents i couldnt wait to experience,what i imagined was very close to what it was. a close to the skin scent whick last maybe half a day easy a bit of creamy honey and hay.chergui stays just about the same way through out its stay on my skin

10th October, 2011.

Not at all what I expected, although that's not necessarily a bad thing...

After having read all the reviews on here though, I do find myself a little disappointed. I would stick with the concensus of it being a sweet fragrance with something dark lurking behind. A very recognisable honey (and hay?) make up all the sweetness for me, with tobacco also present and it develops into... nothing really, at least for me. Projection is moderate, which suits the fragrance well, and longevity is impressive. Seems very well blended. Price point is quite good for a niche also, I've seen 50ml bottles for £50 online.

But overall it's not something that I'd really want to wear - even though I can appreciate it, it's uninspiring, and not really worthy of all the hype for me.

27th September, 2011.

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.

27th August, 2011.