Our take
What does La Vierge de Fer smell like?
La Vierge de Fer came out in 2013 among Serge Lutens' Paris bell jars, first sold at the Palais-Royal boutique. Christopher Sheldrake composed it, as he has most of the house's perfumes. The name means iron maiden, the legendary torture device. The scent itself is very gentle. As always with Lutens, the official note list stays secret. On skin you first get fresh pear and aldehydes that feel like cold metal. Jasmine leads for the first minutes. Then lily takes over, green and milky, with a quiet lily of the valley beside it. The base slides into creamy sandalwood, white musk and a touch of ambery vanilla. Think of a lily made of iron and milk, cleaner than it is sensual. Next to Frédéric Malle's Lys Méditerranée, which is saltier and sunnier, La Vierge de Fer feels cool and very smooth. It turns a little pale after two hours.
When to wear it
A white floral for spring and summer, discreet enough for the office. Spray generously, since it stays close to skin.
It belongs to the Floral family. La Vierge de Fer is one of 31 creations by Serge Lutens in our encyclopedia.
