By Sandra
I am certainly not made for winter and I should not even complain. The weather is cold, yes, but not frigid like last year. I just do not like it. I find the grey skies and the cold air a challenge in my daily life. Dressing in layers, boots, added daily routines to fight the dry skin and dry hair are too cumbersome for this simplicity loving woman. Give me sunshine and 30 degrees celsius any day.
However, that being said, with winter come cashmere shawls, warm cuddly perfumes and right now the Christmas season. December is therefore my favorite month. I love the way Vienna dresses up for Christmas. In fact, I am so in love with Vienna at this time of the year that I refuse to leave the city during the holidays. If my family wants to celebrate together I ask them to come here.
The cold temperatures have me craving warm perfumes as I am always outside either in the parks or trolling the Christmas markets. Many people say that at this time of the year they prefer to wear perfume with frankincense. I on the other hand have discovered the beautiful warmth of myrrh. There are several myrrh centric perfumes out there that I like, but there is nothing like Serge Lutens La Myrrhe.
The Serge Lutens website introduces us the La Myrrhe with the following statement:
“Forgive this fragrance, because it knows not what it does!
You know about myrrh and the Three Kings.
What you don’t know is that, here, myrrh takes on the fragrance of the night.
I make it sparkle and fizz like champagne, sustained by a base note of mandarin orange. ”
Serge Lutens
Fragrantica lists the notes as: mandarin, myrrh, lotus, bitter almond, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, amber, musk, various spices and pimento.
Serge Lutens does a magnificent job of creating myrrh into a ‘fragrance of the night’. The mandarin and spices bring a fire-crackling warmth to these dark and cold days.
The initial blast of the perfume is rather abrasive as it seems cold or sharp. But I spray lavishly on my skin before putting on my scarf and coat to greet the cold. Within half an hour I have the most beautiful skin-caressing scent that I can imagine. I inhale deeply and am instantly calmed and ready to battle the crowds downtown and the cold.
La Myrrhe is slightly sweet and I get myrrh and sandalwood and musk in the dry down. This is a mesmerizing perfume that I can only recommend. I was instructed by my friend to dab, not spray La Myrrhe and boy am I glad that I sprayed instead!
This perfume remains all day on my skin and before going to bed under a mountain of duvets and blankets, I spray lavishly again. It is the only thing I can do to stay warm, as I cannot leave Vienna for the three months of bitter cold darkness.
Now I only have to convince the husband that another trip to Palais Royale is essential. (Shhh – don’t tell him that I could order online.)
Olfactoria's Travels 
Love those lines, Sandra, I’d like so much to visit Vienna one day this city always made me dream. It’s strange but in Paris blue sky and it’s not cold at all, I like blue skies but I miss the cold and maybe the snow to see it fall for Christmas, it’s a weather of autumn not the winter. I love the myrrh, I wear now my Orris noir by Ormonde Jayne Perfumery, which contains myrrh. That what I wear today, this one and Ambre Russe by Parfums d’empire are my blankets. Happy holidays!!!!
Paris is gorgeous at Christmas! We found it magical. There is no snow right now in Vienna and who knows if we will get any until the new year. Thank you for reminding me about Orris Noir – another beautiful perfume. Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season as well.
Hi Sandra! When you love something, I know that I am “in trouble”!! I have to seek out a sample of this…It sounds divine! Merry Christmas!
You never know Darilyn! Hope you like it when you get to try it. Merry Christmas!
Hey there Sandra,
Interesting that I am in the middle of editing Val’s post on La Myrrhe and you pop up in the email with a La Myrrhe post. Earlier i the year I was in the Palace Royal shop and it turned my brains to sludge, I could not think at all. I was excited, in a rush and overcome by purple. Having to grab 2 bottles for friends all I did was snatch, pay and run. I couldn’t focus to test anything.
Now I know what’s in store I am set and girded for February, let’s see how I fare.
Hopefully I’ll get to hang with you in January.
Portia xx
Hiya Portia! I am totally psyched about your visit to Vienna again and cannot wait to see you.
As for Palais Royale I hear you loud and clear. My first visit was a whirlwind and I got overwhelmed. Now I know – pick up la Myrrhe and try all new bell jars. You will surely enjoy this next trip.
See you soon.
Xo
I can’t believe I’ve never tried this over the years, especially as fond as I am of myrrh, but there it is. Thanks for the review. My favorite sweet myrrh is Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax (the cherub bottle, before it became just Opoponax.) A wonderful perfumeista sent me her unloved bottle from Italy as a random act of kindness recently – my decant was almost gone – so now I can surround myself with a cozy cocoon. Vienna is so beautiful in pictures, I hope to see it someday.
What a lovely gift! I will surely be googling Opoponax tonight. That one slipped by me. Enjoy your cocoon. Hopefully you will get to Vienna one day. Let us know if you do. I would love to meet you.
LNs Opoponax is one of my top fav scents!
Sandra, I’ve been so curious about La Myrrhe for years but have never sampled it as yet. Reading your post was the next best thing. I had no idea it was such a warming perfume. I love that you spray it lavishly before bed. You make it sound very appealing. I just wonder how much bitter almond there is.
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family. I can imagine Vienna is particularly gorgeous right now. I love a Christmas market (if not too crowded anyway).
Please try it when you can Tara. I do not find the bitter almond too prominent at all.
I have to spray something before bed – helps with setting the scene for dreaming!
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.
Definitely want to try this one in liquid form. I have a wax sample and I really like it so now need to test the real deal if I ever get to Paris again. I thought that what Portia said up above was hilarious because I had the same problem last time I visited the Salon. I had a list of perfumes to try and I was a little overwhelmed and tried only 2 on skin and then had to leave. I thought I’d go back but was only there for a couple of days and didn’t return.
I think the first time in Palais Royale might be overwhelming for many. 🙂 What a shame that you were not able to make it back.
It is a beautiful perfume and I hope you get to try it soon.
This sounds like a perfect scent for a winters day. I love perfumes that make me feel all warm and cozy.
Winter is so much more tolerable now with la Myrrhe! Cozy is my motto. 🙂
La Myrrhe is absolutely gorgeous – one my favorite Lutens – and an absolutely gorgeous review, Sandra!
Thank you! I am so pleased that you love it too. Off to search for Opoponax.
Not only is La Myrrhe one of my favorite SL fragrances, it’s one of my favorite perfumes ever.
It’s so good that I’m willing to travel to Paris for it. You know, since I have to be persuaded to do so 🙂
Wonderful that it is one of your favorite perfumes ever. Paris is always on my to visit list.
Sandra, I’m with you on not liking cold weather (though I wouldn’t go as far as 30 C up – 24-25 C is just the right temperature for me).
I somehow missed La Myrrhe in my previous testing but I’ll definitely try it as soon as I get close to it. And your description of Vienna at Christmas made me wish I were there – despite the cold. Maybe one day…
Happy holidays to you and your family!
Thankfully it will be warming up over Christmas. January and February are the worst months in my opinion. I hope you can find some soon. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
I love myrrh as a note, but have missed this one completely. In the light of your evocative review and the other favourable comments, I am most curious now, so thanks for the heads up!