La couche du diable Serge Lutens 2019

Shop now

Search on

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network.

Shop now

7.9 / 10 151 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

Search on

We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network.

Main accords

Resinous

Smoky

Spicy

Woody

Oriental

Fragrance Notes

Cistus

Oud

Videos

Watch video

Ratings

Scent

7.9151 Ratings

Longevity

8.0133 Ratings

Sillage

7.6131 Ratings

Bottle

8.2133 Ratings

Value for money

7.558 Ratings

Submitted by Nanina, last update on 16.05.2023.

Rate
Collection
Classify
Notes

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions

Popular
Latest
Oldest
Positive
Negative
Comments

11/03/2020

Intersport

Translated Show original

Intersport

Top Review 24

Lutens' Labdanum

La Couche du Diable is Lutens' remarkable interpretation of Labdanum. One might well ask why only now, when the cistrose from which this complex fragrance comes, does it fit well into the SL prey scheme. A plant with resin-scented, sticky leaves, and long cultural and historical significance, dating back to the time of the Pharaohs; a plant that thrives in the most barren soils, defying heat, such as the lowest temperatures at night, and the heaviest rain showers. The extremely resinous, dry, slightly rubbery, as aptly mentioned in the other comments, is perhaps also reflected in the name. Couch is, despite all other puns, as often with Lutens, simply the 'paint' 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 fragrances raises questions for me: for almost 30 years, Lutens has been producing a number of polarizing and still much-discussed fragrances with Sheldrake like few others. Maybe that's why discussions of newer Lutens' perfumes often mention remarks like 'Lutens from the past', 'old style Serge', etc. This is remarkable, a point of view that is rarely found in discussions about other houses. At least I have never read about Guerlain of yesteryear, or anything like that. And which 'earlier' is meant? There were always changes of direction at Lutens. Starting with the many 'Bois' variations, continuing with decent North African, ortial cultural spaces, or pronounced French themes, like oak, vetiver, lavender and thyme, etc. With newer perfumes like L'Innomnable, Le participe passé as well as La Couche du Diable, I had to think of a few serge features, despite all the caution with such nostalgia.

La Couche presents 'Labdanum' similar to 'Fille' Pine - a merciless display of all its resinous qualities that are only found in the hottest climates. Anyone who has ever experienced cistroses 'in the flesh' will quickly be reminded. For all its resinousness and the mention of 'Fille', La Couche du Diable is not a sweet scent. The opening is even downright sour and reminds me how bergamot can be used to some extent - for example in Comme des Garçons 'Tar' or in Helmut Lang's 'Cuiron'. In 'La Couche', however, this acidity, which takes some getting used to, is intensified and shifted into a more tasteful field, more vitamin C on the tongue than something citrusy in the nose. Once you get through this phase, in which I suspect a hint of something immortelle (an ingredient often used, though not officially, by Lutens lately), the fragrance develops into one of the most beautiful Labdanum drydowns I know: spices, even more resinous, the aforementioned dry fruits; a certain similarity to Comme des Garçons SKAI shimmers through, with 'La Couche' looking more distorted and deeply layered. All in all, a very great, idiosyncratic perfume that has what it takes to be just as unique and extraordinary in a few years as some of the intense 'lutens of yesteryear'...

10/19/2019

Marquise27

Translated Show original

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

11/11/2021

Grizzlyscent
11 Reviews

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.

09/09/2022

Mlleghoul
283 Reviews

Mlleghoul

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.

08/29/2019

8
Bottle 6
Sillage 6
Longevity 6.5
Scent

MiaSma
6 Reviews

MiaSma

first impression

(this is my first split ever so i was quite excited to receive and try this perfume.on top of that, i've read the reviews and articles in circulating its release.lastly this house to me its more than a house its a cult, the cult of Serge)

Upon initial spray, on the blotter, i am hit by a tarry/ synthetic oud accord that is irritating my olfactory receptors immensely. thankfully almost immediately that accord trail transforms into something very familiar, but elusive enough so that i cannot recognize it. 2 hours later it smells like dry coca-cola residue at the bottom of glass(to me that is a whirlpool of : myrrh, ylang-ylang + cacao butter +marzipan). 4 hours later (6 after first spray) it is very linear, as it smells almost the same but with less vigor...

Upon initial application, on skin, i got the same almost uncomfortable sensory attack, that i get from the dry-cleaners vents(if that makes sense)....again this dissipates almost instantly (hallelujah!!) and the familiar elusive accord appears, only this time i understand what i am presented with...it's an AMBRE SULTAN concentrate that shines bright into its demise a couple of hours later.along its AMBER SULTAN life i can sense a strong myrrh tincture/ cistus concrete with that coca-cola apozem trail and musks. 2 hours later(4 after application on skin) i can only detect emotions, not actual notes fruity, wet soil, lukewarm (/NOT HOT). after that its fire is out.

My thoughts about this balsamic warm ambery dense elixir are mostly positive, as i did enjoy this perfume and will wear it again definitely.Unfortunately, i have to say that it didn't live up to my expectations(to be honest as i said in the beginning marketing and anticipation of novelties may, eventually, have an inversely proportional effect). The perfume itself is a good offer, but nothing new(and i was expecting ground-breaking, reminiscent of Serge old powerhouses). On top of that it is very linear, which i do not mind at all (coming to thing about it i personally prefer concoctions that don't evolve much :-/ :-D). But i find the lack of longevity a sin, not a pity, but a sin on the houses behalf.With these ingredients (i am referring to the resins and musks and balsams) know for their fixative properties i don't understand/ accept why it is completely gone after 4-4,5 hours....It's not like we are talking about light and elusive perfumes of the likes of Nuit de Cellophane , Daim Blond . This is unacceptable for me and hence i wont be purchasing a full bottle.I hope they re-focus on their amazing, historical brand and provide in the future something that will transfix us again. ;-)

cult member 666

PS: it just hit me that the name of the perfume might not be very appropriate and due to its AMBRE SULTAN component i've come up with : Myrrh Amir/ Emir :-D:-P

More reviews