Serge Lutens

Founded in Paris in 2000 by French multidisciplinary artist, photographer, and makeup artist Serge Lutens in collaboration with perfumer Christopher Sheldrake, this brand is a foundational pioneer of the modern artistic niche perfume movement.

Serge Lutens distinguished itself by breaking away from the clean floral fragrances of the 1990s to reintroduce deep oriental essences, rich in woods, resins, spices, beeswax, and complex florals. Its iconic first creation, Féminité du Bois (1992, developed for Shiseido before the launch of its eponymous brand), revolutionized the industry by using a massive dose of cedarwood in a perfume intended for women.

Visually, its fragrances are presented in sleek rectangular glass bottles with Gothic lines and minimalist labels, prioritizing the liquid fragrance as an extension of the poetic and cinematic fantasies created by Lutens.