Gris Clair — Serge Lutens

I bought Gris Clair because it was cold and I had nothing better to do. It smells of lavender, but not the kind from the fields. A dry, mineral lavender. It strikes me as a bit serious. It doesn't back down.

One or two sprays. No more. The scent stays close to the skin, like a clean, light grey wool sweater that you forget you're wearing. At the office, no one said a word. Silence became normal again. Conversations stopped when they had finished saying what they had to say.

By the end of the day, a faint warmth emerged, as if the perfume had softened. It became gentler, without losing its restraint. And yet, for a moment, it reminded me of summer. Not the sun. Rather, warm stone, dried lavender, the heat that lingers when night falls.

I’ve decided to keep it. That day, I wanted something calm, discreet, and pointlessly elegant. And if anyone asks me why, I’ll simply say: Because I had nothing better to do.