I immediately loved L’Homme Sage at first sniff. It’s a sophisticated blend with savory spices and woods but there’s enough smoke and leather to add interest and a needed ruggedness. I love it in the way that I love Old Hollywood leading actors – well-dressed and tough.
The opening is an ancient, dusty but modern blend of rich spiced citrus, golden saffron, and something reminding me of smoky, sweet leather (immortelle but without the smoked ham). This seems so ancient but the blend is modern with lighter spicy and fruity accents (lychee). It’s like a creamy vanilla, cardamom, and saffron dessert with leather smoke incense. Patchouli keeps the incense grounded while a sweet amber-tobacco keeps it all smooth. The smoke goes away at the base but all is still good.
L’Homme Sage is a beautiful fragrance with some smoky crudeness. I feel that if you like smoky or leather fragrances, then you should be able to wear L’Homme Sage even if you are “femme”. It’s one of those inedible gourmands; you guys know I love those. My husband loves this fragrance for himself. He typically likes über masculine scents that smell like garages and ferry terminals. But, he also likes sweet. So, this is a dream fragrance for him. And for me.
Notes listed include saffron, mandarin, cardamom, lychee, aromatic woods, immortelle, patchouli, oakmoss, amber, and incense. PERFUMER – Yann Vasnier
Give Divine L’Homme Sage a try if you like masculine gourmands or fragrances like Amouage Jubilation XXV, Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense, Annick Goutal Duel, Tom Ford White Suede, and/or Tom Ford Extreme.
The 1.7 oz EDP spray retails for $125 at Lucky Scent.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – What is happening to me? This has immortelle in it. I didn’t gag or feel sick. AND I actually love it. The immortelle adds a sweet smokiness, no porkiness. <whew> I really want a bottle of L’Homme Sage. I love a smoky scent. And L’Homme Sage is smoky elegance. And I want to smell it on my husband and myself. I predict a full bottle purchase.
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Nathan Branch (comparison to DSquared2)
Basenotes (member reviews)
How sweet would you say it is? The Mr. likes tobacco scents but only if they are not too sweet. In his opinion: Not too sweet: TF Tobacco Vanille. Too Sweet: A-Men Pure Havane, L’Artisan Havana Vanille, Odori Tobacco.
L’Homme Sage is not as sweet as TF Tobacco Vanille in my opinion. And it doesn’t even compare to the sticky sweetness of the others listed.
The sweet is more amber sweet if that makes sense. The saffron is awesome in this. It’s what I wanted L’Artisan Safran Troublant to be!
That sounds awesome, I will have to get him a sample.
I like it. However, my husband says “it’s not strong enough”. He has gigolo tastes. I think it’s strong enough.
If you love it despite the immortelle, then it should be safe for me to try – I cannot stomach the smell of it either.
However I do love saffron and that was what really caught my eye in your review. Must add this to the list!
Maybe something is wrong with me, maybe I’m a closeted immoretelle lover, bu this didn’t make me sick. There was nothing “maple syrup”. I can tell the immortelle is there but it is acting as a leather (and not a dirty ham, either). So, I can’t say it isn’t there, but I can tolerate it. The other notes are much stronger.
And yes, maybe it’s the saffron there, making it all better.
[…] Vasnier is a versatile perfumer creating perfumes for niche brands like Parfums Divine and Parfums DelRae as well as big hits like Marc Jacobs Bang and Lola. I’ve always admired […]