Our take
What does La Fille de Berlin smell like?
La Fille de Berlin came out in spring 2013, composed by Christopher Sheldrake with Serge Lutens. The name suggests a woman with thorns, and the rose delivers on it. From the first minute it's big and red, with a touch of blackberry jam. Geranium adds a green, faintly metallic edge. Palmarosa stretches that crushed-petal note while a dark violet hums in the background. The rose takes about two hours to step back. Honey, moss and patchouli then come forward, along with a musk that smells like warm skin. There's something animal in that base, kept on a short leash. Longevity is excellent, and one application carries well into the evening. Next to Rose Poivrée from The Different Company, the Lutens rose is rounder and sweeter. It also works beautifully on men, perhaps even better than on women.
When to wear it
An autumn and winter rose made for evenings. One spray on the wrist is plenty, because it lasts all day.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. La Fille de Berlin is one of 31 creations by Serge Lutens in our encyclopedia.
