La couche du diable 2019

La couche du diable by Serge Lutens
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7.9 / 10 169 Ratings
La couche du diable is a popular perfume by Serge Lutens for women and men and was released in 2019. The scent is resinous-smoky. The longevity is above-average. It is being marketed by Shiseido Group / Beauté Prestige International. Pronunciation
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Main accords

Resinous
Smoky
Spicy
Woody
Oriental

Fragrance Notes

CistusCistus OudOud
Videos
Ratings
Scent
7.9169 Ratings
Longevity
8.1149 Ratings
Sillage
7.7147 Ratings
Bottle
8.0144 Ratings
Value for money
7.465 Ratings
Submitted by Nanina, last update on 05.12.2023.

Reviews

8 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Intersport

53 Reviews
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Intersport
Intersport
Top Review 24  
Lutens' Labdanum*

La Couche du Diable is Lutens' remarkable interpretation of Labdanum*. One might well ask why only now, fits the cistus, from which this complex fragrance, but well in the SL Beuteschema. A plant with resinous smelling, sticky leaves, and long cultural-historical meaning, up to the Pharaonenzeit; a plant that thrives on most meager soils, and defies thereby heat, like deepest temperatures at night, and most violent rain showers. The extremely resinous, dry, slightly rubbery, as aptly mentioned in the other comments, is perhaps reflected in the name. Couche can be read, in addition to all other puns, as often with Lutens, also quite simply the 'coating' or 'layer'.

The combination of dry resinousness, heat and fruitiness evokes vague memories of other Lutens': Arabie or Fille en Anguille. This association with older Lutens perfumes raises questions for me: for a good almost 30 years, Lutens has produced with Sheldrake a number of polarizing and still much discussed perfumes like no other. Perhaps it is for this reason that discussions of newer Lutens' often mention remarks like 'Lutens of old', 'old style Serge', etc. This is remarkable, a viewpoint is rarely found in discussions of other houses. At least I've never read about Guerlain of yore, or the like. And which 'earlier' is meant? There have always been changes of direction at Lutens. Starting with the many 'Bois' variations, moving on to more decently North African, Oriental cultural spaces, or distinctly French themes, such as oak, vetiver, lavender and thyme, etc. With newer perfumes like L'Innomnable, Le participe passé as well as just La Couche du Diable, I had to, with all caution with such nostalgias but then immediately think of a few Serge features, I am known to me.

La Couche presents the precursor of labdanum similar to 'Fille' pine - a staging of the resinous qualities that only come into their own in the hottest climates. All who have experienced cistroses 'in the flesh' will be quickly reminded. For all its resinousness and mention of 'Fille', La Couche du Diable is not a sweet scent. In fact, the opening is downright sour and reminds me how bergamot can be used to some extent - for example, as in Comme des Garçons 'Tar' or even Helmut Lang's 'Cuiron'. In 'La Couche', however, this acidity that takes some getting used to is intensified and shifted into a more flavorful field, more vitamin C on the tongue than anything citrusy on the nose. Once you're through that phase, where I also suspect a tinge of something immortelle-like (an ingredient used a lot lately by Lutens, though not officially), the scent evolves into one of the most beautiful labdanum drydowns I know: spices, more resinous, the aforementioned drying fruits; a certain similarity to Comme des Garçons SKAI shines through, though 'La Couche' seems more distorted and deeply layered. All in all, a very great, idiosyncratic perfume, which definitely has what it takes to stand out in a few years just as stand-alone and extraordinary, as a few of the intense 'Lutens of old'...

* it should be called Lutens' cistus: the fragrance portrays the reprocessed sections of the plant and not the labdanum extracted from it. Lutens' Labdanum, is, although more complex, Ambre Sultan.
5 Replies
Marquise27

160 Reviews
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Marquise27
Marquise27
Top Review 12  
But Teufel-ja- becomes the little devil
I am happy to write the first comment. I spray only once and then the following picture appears - it is summer and very warm and the road has just been renewed with fresh tar. The warmth and the tar smell take my breath away. Very strong and intense smell. I catch myself wiping my sprayed arm on my pants. That's definitely too much for me! I think here an overdose of incense and oud has been boiled up, a smell like from hell (I got the sentence from the fairy tale - the devil with the three golden hairs). Even after a thorough wash, the "devil's stuff" still sticks to me, so an extremely good durability, over 10 hours of full presence. This spicy and light spicy perfume has no, not even the slightest hint of something gentle. I try to forget him even if a breath rises to me every now and then. If the hell smells like that then I will only be a very good female, promised.
After a good 3 hours this intense fragrance becomes really round and pleasant. I perceive a trace of freshness and the incense has such a thrill towards floral? Iris or echoes of rose? This devil is also a seducer. Yes, at the end of the day there's more of a little devil with a mischievous smile. For me it is clearly a men's fragrance, striking, dominant, with enormous self-confidence, which is aware of its effect and uses it without consideration. But in the arms of the angel who belongs to him he is also a little devil who only ignites the fire of love. So be it ..... a fragrance for lovers of very unusual blends
8 Replies
Grizzlyscent

11 Reviews
Grizzlyscent
Grizzlyscent
Helpful Review 5  
The Scent of the Sins
"How can one attend the coronation of Satan without ever once having tasted sin? Oud and labdanum come together to create a diabolical and sumptuous veil of indulgence and remorse for a first transgression." is how the Lutens website describes La Couche du Diable, a name that, quite aptly, translates to "The Devil's Bedsheets"

If ever any of the hyperbole used in the marketing of fragrances was true, it would be here. And if sin had a scent, it would be this. So much so, in fact, that I was, and am, compelled to remark that the 7 deadly sins were bottled Christopher Sheldrake in this scent. And be warned, it truly is a devilish delight, but absolutely not for the faint of heart, or the novice nose. And embody them, it does.

Pride; Wearing this fragrance brings about a change in the way one carries themselves, almost unconsciously. One smells regal, untouchable and proud. Almost as if "above" those around them.
Greed; A spray, perhaps two, but no more. Every drop, something precious and rare, not for mere mortals, but only for those that have dined with Lucifer in the fires of hades.
Envy; An abstract thought, and perhaps one difficult to articulate, but the feeling evoked whilst wearing this, is one that is missed in a manner almost cruel after the fact, as if the person adorned by this fragrance is another version of the self, unbothered by the opinions of the crowd, instead choosing to care only about luxury and indulgence. And it is that feeling that one is envious of.
Gluttony; The fragrance itself is gluttonous in the extreme, filled with precious material, every waft a rich, warm and opulent aroma, the distinct smells of luxury moving through it.
Wrath; As the color suggests, this fragrance is anything but kind. Nay, it is angry, like the fires from whence it's been inspired. It is the color of rage...of passion.
Sloth; As bright as the it burns, it is also a test of patience. It is slow to develop, to reveal its secrets and hidden pleasures. It is languid and ever present, savoring every sin as you indulge.
Lust; The sin all are familiar with, and that requires no further explanation. Anyone who smells it, will understand immediately.

Now my own rambling hyperbole aside, I must move on to how the scent smells, more than what it evokes, although for me, the latter is often more important than the former.

La Couche du Diable is opens with a cinnamon-boozy accord, with a citruses going through it, lasting for a good while, as the fragrance evolves, bringing with it a metallic, almost blood like tang, as the amber, labdanum and woods begin to take center stage, turning it warmer and more austere. The oud in this fragrance is something I can barely detect, except to say it smells, somewhere in its evolution, like warm skin. There are no discernable Top, Heart or Base notes to me, instead it flits and evolves from one sin to another, staying true to its amber-spiced core, with notes of flowers, citrus fruits and woods coming and going as they please. It toes the line, almost crossing into middle-eastern perfumery, but remaining firmly planted within the west.

This scent is best suited for fall and winter, and you wear it for yourself, since it is unlikely to garner many compliments, especially from the masses, that prefer the blue fragrances to anything even remotely creative. The longevity is excellent, but it stays close to the skin, which I believe is quite appropriate, since only the "chosen" will get to smell it. And smell it you must, not only to experience truly daring perfumery, but also to understand the plethora of feelings this concoction evokes.

To summarize, dark, indulgent, and sinful. Sweet and spicy. Unique in the extreme. Stunning.
2 Replies
Mlleghoul

310 Reviews
Mlleghoul
Mlleghoul
4  
an aromatic wind, exit demon stage left
La Couche du Diable by Serge Lutens smells of clementines and dates preserved in amber, soaked in rare, imported spirits, and tossed on the smoking remains of the fire you lit to conjure a demon to do your bidding. Your bidding, it must be noted, involves some petty shenanigans regarding your nemesis and chopping off all of their hair as they sleep. Your final ingredient for the spell, as it happens, is a single strand of their richly tinted auburn tresses that you plucked from their burnished mahogany hairbrush in the span of a second when you cried, “look, over there, what is that thing?!” And like a dummy, they looked. The hair sizzles and pops in the flames and an aromatic wind fills your chambers, scorched citrus, bronzed resins, bitter wine, and something eerily metallic, echoing the diabolical snicker-snack of twin blades, wickering eagerly from the depths of the glowing embers.
0 Replies
Ingo1337

4 Reviews
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Ingo1337
Ingo1337
Helpful Review 2  
My girlfriend hates him..
...but I love him.
I catch myself again and again as I spray him on my wrist because he gives me so joy when I'm alone at home. He is initially pungent, but quickly incredibly spicy round and slightly sweet. Cistus is incredibly already integrated into the oud! For me, the winter scent par excellence. Only unfortunately I can hardly wear him...
2 Replies
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Statements

3 short views on the fragrance
AngeloManiAngeloMani 3 months ago
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
9
Scent
A less complex, less inspiring copy of Dev#2 from the Devil Project.
Sorry.
0 Replies
ZerkaloZerkalo 7 months ago
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
9
Longevity
9.5
Scent
From the labdanum's sweet embrace
To the sadness healing grace
In this bed, the devil sleeps,
And in his rest, all reason weeps.
0 Replies
CumulnimbusCumulnimbus 2 years ago
9
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
9
Scent
Bold and dark. Opulent smoky resins, noble woods, spices, sweet fruits and velvety roses. To me this is a good god not an evil. Total love.
0 Replies

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