Reviews of L'Homme Sage
by Divine

L'Homme Sage is an excellent scent. I understand the critiques that it doesn't really have a "quirk" about it, but at the same time, what really smells like it? It's one of those scents that manages to seem familiar, strong and comforting even though it stands alone. To me, this is a mark of greatness.

The fact that reviewers are so diverse in their impressions of L'Homme Sage is also telling. It features an array of contrasting notes that really seem to fit together like puzzle pieces - this is an exquisitely blended fragrance that, upon multiple wears, reveals some deep, deep hidden characteristics.

The opening for me is dry, parched fruit and spices. This is not juicy fruit or refreshing fruit, but sun-baked fruit with all sweetness removed - fruit essence. Incense starts creeping in almost immediately and for me, it's a dominant figure throughout the evolution of the scent. As the opening salvo of fruit essence and exotic spices fade to the background, a resinous, parched, smoky, woody, amber accord comes into play.

I never quite understood the meaning of the word "resinous" in reference to fragrance before. L'Homme Sage made me understand. Here it is a half-burnt, oily wood aroma, combined with a dusty amber note. A good helping of oakmoss gives the base an uncommon depth and richness. You can almost feel it enter your nose swirl around your olfactory nerves.

Like L'Air du Desert Marocain, everything about this scent is arid, but where that scent is like dry rocks and spices, this is like dry timbers, aged with years of woody smoke. The whole accord reminds me of a rich, smoky leather, but on closer analysis, I don't actually notice a leather note, per se. All this while little traces of background notes flit in and out. A little soil here, a little green there, some pepper peeking out over yonder.

Anyway, I strongly recommend it. You could spend months familiarizing yourself with this gem. It is nuanced and fascinating while always remaining immensely wearable and strangely familiar.

The first thought that came into my head was one of being surrounded by a moist, sweet, spicy and bright-white 'dry ice' smoke. The initially smokiness borders on cloying and overwhelming but never goes over the edge.

The blending of the fragrance is very, very good, this makes separating out the individual elements throughout entire duration quite a strain. It's only present to my nose for a short time but I would swear that there's clove. Also there, though for longer, is sweet liquorice and a fruit I can't place for sure (maybe lychee). For the life of me I can't detect sage, yet the fragrance is definitely herbal. I have some fresh tarragon growing in my home and although not a dead ringer there's a definite similarity. If I'm correct about the tarragon it would explain the liquorice smell, as anise is present in both. The strangest smell of all that I believe to be there is that of turpentine.

It's now eight hours after application and L'Homme Sage is still plainly present on the back of my hand. The strong smokiness, which really only lasted for the first hour is long gone. For the remaining time, although still smoky, the fragrance has been much more velvety, with the always present sweet herbal.

I would suggest L’Homme Sage in flash over people’s romantic favourites like Envy or Ghost Man. All too often romantic scents are overly sweet, and although I can wear neither Envy nor Ghost due to an allergic reaction (that causes me to wheeze), it’s L’Homme Sage’s ability to be romantic without the over-sweetness that wins out.

The only Divine fragrance that I absolutely love.

The fruity spiciness is bewitching, sophisticated and unique. The smoky incense in the drydown prevents it from verging too far into sweet territory. As for development, it’s one of the most interesting scents I’ve had the pleasure in following from the initial burst to the drydown – it constantly changed on the skin.

I’m still on the fence about its sillage and longevity, though – sometimes it feels like, for an EDP, there should be more presence but, then again, it could just be me. I also agree with foetidus that it could do with a little more drama or quirkiness to give it an extra edge.

However, regardless of its flaws, it truly is a wonderfully smooth and delicious creation.

[Original submission date: 29 December 2007]

You can think of this as wearing a hint of Lagerfield while smelling lots of incense smoke. If someone else is wearing it, you'd probably not think it's coming from a person, rather from an object somewhere. As it dries down, the smoke element fades and a more welcoming scent emerges, but still not pleasant enough for my taste.

L'homme sage is a black and white scent.

During all stages of development, the different notes of this perfume change constantly its character from pitch dark to an almost metallic white brightness - and back.

If you apply it to the skin, the darker aspects will prevail in the end. But if applied to a shirt, the brighter notes will remain after the drydown.

Black or white? It might attract those who cannot decide which side they are on.

Currently, I decide almost every day to wear it.

Moltening, Asha & Jenson have said everything I could want to say about this one. It's really a fabulous scent, well crafted IMO.

From my old post last year:

IMO, as a house, Divine is really underrated. How often do we see threads on Divine? I have recently finished my sample of L'homme Sage and have been considering whether it is bottle-worthy or not. Here's what I thought of it:

L'homme Sage begins with a spicy blast of aromatic saffron and cardamom that recalls an Indian spice market that I have often passed through in my youth, which melds in beautifully with the bitter-sweet citrus that is hidden together with some subtle notes of fruit. (lychee I say) We are then lead by the trail of smoky incense through the woods with little flowers along the way into a base of very lovely patchouli and amber that is complimented by some very pleasant wood notes. By that time, we have already reached a wooden log cabin -- filled with the serene scent of "being at home, with peace of mind, and away from the chaos" surrounded by the enveloping earthiness of the woods that surround the cabin. Like the sage, this scent quietly seduces with words of wisdom, not with sheer power or brute force. Simply divine!

Okay, enough flowery language. This spicy-woody-sweet scent to me smells really smooth, sophisticated, and complex. However, I sometimes feel that a little something is missing when I wear it despite it being very rich and "3-dimensional." (a little more oomph would be great) Maybe because it is too solemnly made without any sort of quirks or playfulness? Nevertheless, it is a very attractive and compelling blend indeed, but it could've been something more as well. Sillage is somewhere between okay to good --- and it stays surprisingly quite close to the skin for such a rich scent.

So -- what do you think? Is it worth the price for you? The sleek 50ml spray is 75euro ... while the 150ml flacon is 150euro. Personally, I think the 150ml is definitely worth the price. Despite some shortcomings, I find it impossible to not give this a thumbs up.

Quite nice niche fragrance which, after all, isn`t that exciting or unique, though. Herbal and spicy in the beginning, while the base reveils a massive doze of amber(gris) to my nose. That and incensy patchouli. Smells very masculine to me.

At the end of the day L'Homme Sage smells *grey*, a bit rubbery, smooth and warm. It`s very aromatic experience and comes highly recommed if you`re into a easily wearable conservative stuff that has some animalic edge, and strong powerful masculine presence with contemporary touch.

On first application, L'HS has a distinct licorice candy scent, backed up by an herbal blend and a sweet amber musk. The licorice is not cloying to me--it is a grownup scent which reminds me of those little italian licorice pastilles which have no sugar added. The only sweetness is what comes from the licorice root itself, and the flavor mostly comes from anise. This stage does not last long, but gradually gives way to the herbs and amber/musk. Also, a bit of fern (or what I would call the "fougere" note) peeks out, but is not very strong at this point.

The herbal stage lasts a bit longer. So far I do not smell any resemblance to Le Nez Let me Play the Lion (a comparison that was made by another BNer). However, I agree that there is a sort of cloud-like quality--individual herbs are difficult to identify in this blend. I don't smell sage at all, to be honest. Sage is bitter and medicinal, and L'HS never loses its gentle sweetness on me (which is very surprising). I am wondering if it is artemesia rather than salvia--we did have this discussion regarding Let Me Play the Lion. Artemesia is not really a sage, but one type of artemesia has a common name of sagebrush. Its aroma (while the leaves are still alive) can tend toward a licorice or sweet herbal, slightly woody smell. It still reminds me of a high quality version of Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Rouge.

The drydown is a sweet amber/musk with a touch of fern ("fougere"). This same base is used in other fragrances, so it is not all that unusual. However, it is very pleasant. I guess the question is--is it worth the money? Are the unique top and mid notes enough to justify a bottle? I think you could do worse. It is a very pleasant scent from top to bottom, no matter how you look at it. And, the ingredients seem to be of high quality, so you don't end up with a cheap, grating musk or other off notes.

Longevity seems good, at least for the base notes. The top was gone within the first hour, and the middle was gone within the first 2-3. I can still smell the base without putting my arm to my nose, and it has been around 7 hours since I applied it.

L'homme Sage has a divine opening, like a white light, a Glow. A powdery burst of fruity notes and spices(mainly barks and roots kind). Fruity notes are so well rounded and delicately coated with spices with a hint of lime peel..the color and approach this scent evokes is very similar to Himalaya, however, all the similarities end in 15 minutes because, the Sage has finally come out of the white light and descended to a divine forest on Earth..this scent take a complete u-turn after 15 minutes or so..one can encounter the earthiness, the wet nature, the smell of freshly chopped wood or maybe the smell of wet bark of a tree. The patchouli with the hints of vetiver adds to the earthiness of this gem. This scent stays dry and smells very real, smells of damp earth and woody notes, not scented woody notes, but just plain wood in a rain forest..as each minutes passes by..one can clearly see these notes wafting of the skin with clear notes of Incense, one of a kind that i have encountered. The smell is very, very, very similar to Lez Nez Let me Play the Lion(LMPTL). i had earlier claimed how disappointing LMPTL was for me..i just didnt get it. but Divine made it simpler for me, it is definitely superior than LMPTL and all counts in terms if execution. With Lhomme Sage, i understood, it was clear, notes were more visible and real. Sage has a very rock solid foundation of one of the best Amber notes and Oakmoss. I think with Sage, Divine tried to accomplish a Scent which would be a Sage in itself. Rock solid theme which, if one gave some thought would really make lot of sense. and Yes, i could very well relate to the name this scent represents.

Fans of earthy green, woody scents, please take a note. this not a scent for parties or office. however, it definitely is something you could approach once you reach home from work, something to wear after a shower, something for colder wheathers..something to wear under the sweater to give you the utmost comfort and warmth without interfering much but, at the same time be there for you when needed. Sage lasts for over 8+ hours easy

Divine's fragrances are strange. They remind me of everything else. This one reminds me of L'Artisan's Saffron Troublant. With a less peppery note (saffron) with a more herbal, minty note (sage).

This is one of my favorite scents, I find it very different when you put it on first thing in the morning or a quick spash before going out at night. Certainly is a date scent or a more casual scent. I would feel funny having this on in an office environment.
The initial aroma is quite sharp but after 5 minutes it shows its magic.

Sage smelled like one of those scented votive bayberry candles that are sold loose at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $.99 each. I totally got a waxy note. It had pretty much the same aroma on my guinea pig boyfriend’s wrist so I am comfortable posting my (admittedly unconventional) assessment of it here.

Here are the notes per The Perfumed Court’s website: Top: Saffron, Mandarine, Cardamom and Lychee; Middle: Balm and Aromatic Woods, Patchouli; Base: Oak Moss, Amber and Incense.

When I wear L'Homme Sage to work it irritates me a bit, it's out of place. Or reminds me that I am, perhaps. This is a fragrance for quiet days, to be worn in quiet amounts. Yann Vasnier, the nose behind this creation, here balances anise beautifully with spice, herbs and incense. Think Parfum Sacre meets Rive Gauche Pour Homme, but less sweet than the former and more about the natural world than the latter. If you want to enjoy Azzaro Pour Homme but find it too unidimensional, you might love this.

Opens with a wickedly potent saffron and bitter citrus accord that barely exposes a touch of fruit before giving way to a rich smoke backed by sweet amber. Within ten minutes the smoke is joined by dry incense, tobacco, and a bit of leather. An altogether amazing progression for such a short interval.

Incense, amber, leather and tobacco underpin the heart, with the occasional sweet spice (nutmeg? cardamom?) flickering in and out above. It's not all that sweet on me, which is good, since I abhor sugary gourmands. L'Homme Sage's smoke and incense keep it firmly in off-dry territory on my skin.

L'Homme Sage bears some resemblance to L'Artisan Parfumeur's Dzongkha, but it's darker and sweeter, perhaps because of the prominent amber note. The drydown settles into an amber and incense groove, with plenty of moss and smoke in the background. For me this is a very compelling scent.

Velvety, nutty, rich and spicy -- easily Divine's best fragrance to date. The saffron can be a little off-putting right at first; however, the drydown is well worth the first five or ten minutes of smelling like a very nutty paella.

L'Homme Sage is a half-brother to Dzongkha and a very, very close cousin to Mechant Loup. Is it worth the luckyscent price? No, IMHO, it's not. It IS, however, well worth the money if you do what I do and get a large bottle directly from France. (This is what I did with a fellow Basenoter -- made a bottle split and put up with international shipping in order to get the substantial price break.)

I’ve tried L’homme sage three times. It is an interesting, complex scent with attractive features, and I wanted to give it fair consideration. Bottom line: this is probably the loveliest patchouli-amber scent I know. My problem is that I find those elements to be rich and sweet, and I am not greatly attracted to them when they dominate a fragrance. This is a spicy, rich scent: aromatic at times with some very good wood notes. The incense has a good resinous quality. This is not a business or day scent, quite frankly it is a date scent and probably works quite well in that regard. My taste is more austere than this style, so I admire it but only give it a neutral rating. But I can see why it is popular.

L'Homme Sage--the name translates into "the wise man," and the fragrance has nothing to do with sage. It has much to do with cardamom and saffron and the unusual fruity note of lychee. My first experience with this fruit was long ago, at a Chinese restaurant which sold dried lychee fruit in a big, glass jar. The peel shocked me by cracking and crumbling into pieces, hollow inside except for a tiny dried fruit on a pit. It was sweet like prune or fig, and I will always associate that taste with mysterious Chinese spices. This is the same context in which lychee is presented in this fragrance. L'Homme Sage is a spicy Oriental with nicely done fruit overtones and a sweet but woody base with enough incense to keep it lively and leaning toward the masculine side, although it is lovely on women, too.

Not for me. The opening is much too sweet to be wise. It settles down after a couple of hours (no complaints aout longevity with this one) and is then bearable. Really best suited for the 'Yumsters!' crowd.
Development is amazing, though.
At the end, you'd swear you've worn several different frags. Drydown is quite good but there's a weird herbal mid-note ( I should talk, I love Minotaure ) that is off-putting.
I can appreciate it as a work of the perfumer's art, just not anything I'd care to wear.

Surprisingly conventional, I'm sad to say. It has that "perfumey" quality about ut, smooth and artificial and "cool" like men's perfumes often are. Underneath, there are interesting herbs and spices, woods and incense, but they're smoothed out by this conventional sweetness, like the overly sweet fruits in Le Dandy. It even has a soapy hint, which I detest. Still, by no means loathsome, just a disappointment.

Divine's L'Homme Sage is overwhelmingly good. Frankly, I don't know if it's worth the $120 for a 50ml bottle, but I'm terribly and sorely tempted. Brilliant, and simply so.

The opening is a wonderfully smooth and luxurious saffron and citrus, with a rich amber already adding its silkiness and sweetness to the fragrance. I can barely detect the patchouli and the incense in the background: I think they are a little too subtle and a stronger presence might be desirable. However, there are now several fragrances which make use of the patchouli / incense combination so maybe L’Homme Sage doesn’t have to be another one of the same old thing. The amber continues throughout the whole progression of the scent. L’Homme Sage is a lush, rich scent—solid and long lasting and with smoothly sensual accords. I feel it’s missing something, though. I think it needs a touch more drama or quirkiness, but still its rich smoothness earns it thumbs up.

yuck! too much of a bad thing...

A dry, dusty incense scent with fruits and spices. An intellectual scent, not brooding, but rather thought-inducing: in other words, it puts me in the mood to think. Incense seems to have this effect on me. It has some affinities to Amouage scents, probably because of the incense - Dia is the one I would most associate it with - though Dia is brighter and cheerier. Sage is more "forest green," without being a green scent or foresty in the least (the image it brings to mind is one of "dark green," that's all). Maybe it also shares a quality with Encens et Lavande, though to my nose, it's more complex and they smell nothing alike, just share a quality. In a rare disagreement with Deano, I have to say that some days Divine L'Homme Sage does make me want to burst my pantaloons.

L'Homme Sage is such a delicious spice overdose that I seem to just want more and more of it; it certainly has an addictive drug-like quality.

Top notes: saffron, mandarin, cardamom and lychee

Middle notes: balm, aromatic woods, everlasting flowers and patchouli

Basenotes: oak moss, amber and incense.

There is a warm, emotional aspect to the fragrance. It has depth, sparkle and brightness. This is a very powerful scent and a small amount goes a long way; wonderful sillage and the longevity is exceptional.

A unique and unusual fragrance that has quality and originality. Full marks!

Rich smoothie, lush vanilla spice, with certain affinities to KL Homme and some of Serge Lutens'productions. By no means horrible, but it does not make me want to burst my pantaloons in ecstasy.

L'homme sage is a slightly warm woodsy, spicy fragrance that is as seductive as it is subtle. It stays close to the skin after an hour, but will be with you all day. Some intimate closeness will reveal its specialness to others, and will honor the wearer with admiration and interest from those who have the pleasure of enjoying it with you. Spectacular in a manly, calm way. One of the best of the new. Must try.

Joe

Probably one of the most seductive scents I've ever tried. Perfectly blended! I will always own this.

L'Homme Sage. It's remarkable! Frag for the silent intellectual who believes that his allure is most effective by not talking at all. It's dark, but what lurks beneath is this tenderness that you swear it looks right into your soul. Don't wear this if you're afraid of being a bit vulnerable.