Un Lys (1994)
by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

If someone would have told me even just a year ago that i would be wearing a lily fragrance, i would have laughed in their face. Now as I lap up the rest of my CROW....this fragrance is completely amazing. It, at least with my chemistry, is more of a cream-of-lily soup. It's definitely an after the rain scent of lilies bathed in dew and possibly fog, but full on nonetheless. it's incredible. Before this, my only lily encounters were the occasional Easter lily ( which to my nose is a bit too strong ), and the lily of the valley DISASTER that is Jessica McClintock. I have put this on twice now before going to bed and I drift to sleep so happy. Also, when I wake up there is a faint lingering that still smells absolutely amazing. I think I want a bottle.

7th August, 2011. (Last Edited: 14th August, 2011.)

As others have mentioned, this really needs to be worn in summer to truly appreciate how it blooms in heat & humidity. lt's a warm, creamy, slightly spicy, true lily with hints of musk & vanilla. No lily of the valley or lilac here. lt's classy, elegant & would work for any occasion. l tried layering it with a white ginger soliflore & it became super sexy & hypnotic! For a Lutens fragrance it has better than average sillage on my skin, although l would still like more longevity. So far though, the only Lutens l would consider bottle-worthy.

2nd February, 2011.

A lovely, crisp, white lily fragrance, underpinned by the driest of vanillas and cooled by some very subtle green notes. Un Lys is clear, simple, and transparent in a way that few Serge Lutens fragrances are. It was made by the same Christopher Sheldrake who gave us Sa Majesté la Rose and Gris Clair, not the other guy who did Arabie, Chergui, and Ambre Sultan. This Christopher should come out more often - his work is refreshing!

30th November, 2010.

I tend to either love or hate lily fragrances. Many of them have composty or plasticky notes I can't stand, while I love Lily & Spice and Lys Mediterranee. Un Lys is actually so-so. It's identifiably lily, but it doesn't feel real. The white floral note is too creamy, powdery, soft, it doesn't have the unmistakeably waxy quality of real lily and none of the almost decaying, intoxicating richness. It might just be that I haven't smelt the particular species of lily it's supposed to emulate, but it doesn't feel like any real flower to me, it smells like a synthetic "white floral accord" too heavy on the creaminess. Perhaps it's the supporting vanilla note? It's not a cold fragrance but it's quite cool and watery despite the powdery/creamy feeling, with a scary hint of melony/aquatic notes in the top that's enough in itself to put me off it.

5th May, 2010.

I am learning that I don't care for lily in anything more than a supporting role. The first few stages of this perfume were OK, with the lilly supported and diffused in vanilla and soft musk. But pretty soon the other notes seemed to fall away and it was lilly, lilly, lilly. To my nose, lillies are shrill and overpowering. For someone who appreciates lillies, this perfume would probably be lovely.

8th October, 2009.

First I must say that I don’t consider this as a unisex fragrance. To me utterly feminine scent.

Not that complex scent obviously but well balanced smoothness. Smells very natural and images of beautiful summer days run through my mind. Well made as usual when we are talking about this perfumer.

However, to me crisp and distinctively green qualities engaged with sweet and fresh lilies doesn’t smell that compelling or even especially pleasant. I have a hard time with these white flowers in general.

Not a fan.

30th July, 2009.