34 community ratings

Essence du Sérail

2016UnisexClassic

Votes lean feminine

7.1/ 10

Community score
34 ratings

slm - sous le manteau Essence du Sérail is a sweet, powdery unisex scent that softens a floral heart of ylang-ylang, jasmine and heliotrope with sandalwood and ambrette.

Compare

Skunky's take: A card-carrying member of the fresh club.

How does it perform?

From 30 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity

7.8 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage

7.3 /10

People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.

Bottle

6.3 /10

Looks good without trying too hard.

Value for money

7.1 /10

Most people feel it is worth the price.

Blind buy risk

Medium risk

65% of votes are positive, the rest are more reserved.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Ylang-ylang Jasmine Heliotrope Sandalwood Ambrette Plum Lily of the valley

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

Fresh
Floral
Fruity
Sweet
Synthetic
Spicy
Woody
Oriental

What does Essence du Sérail smell like?

It reads floral and fresh, with plum adding a fruity sweetness and lily of the valley a lighter lift. Sandalwood and ambrette give it a woody, creamy base with a slightly spicy edge, and a faint oriental warmth stays in the background.

Longevity and sillage are rated good. Voters spread their picks almost evenly across spring, fall and summer, with winter a little behind. It is chosen most for nights out and leisure time, and while most voters find it feminine, it is classed as unisex.