Serge Lutens 2016 EDP

U ££ Statement

Baptême du Feu

by Christopher Sheldrake

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Serge Lutens Baptême du Feu is an Eau de Parfum launched in 2016, created by Christopher Sheldrake. Baptême du Feu opens with Gingerbread and Tangerine, settles into a heart of Osmanthus, and dries down to a base of Woody Notes, Powdery, and Castoreum. Serge Lutens's Baptême du Feu carries a Statement verdict, a fruity-led wear.

A love-it-or-hate-it scent that defies easy categorisation. This is a unique art-house creation, not a crowd-pleaser; a strange, gothic Christmas in a bottle - but be warned, it isn't for everyone.
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  • Bold
  • Mysterious
  • Warm
  • Cozy
  • Edgy
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Baptême du Feu Eau de Parfum bottle

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend
Topas listed
Gingerbread54%
Tangerine46%
Heartas listed
Osmanthus100%
Baseas listed
Powdery38%
Woody Notes32%
Castoreum30%

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

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Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Moderate (4-6h)
Projection
Moderate
Intensity
Moderate

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter

A cold-weather scent. The gingerbread, candied tangerine, and warm spices read like a winter market, while the smoky gunpowder-woody base feels heavy and out of place in heat - wearers place it firmly in autumn and winter.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date
Also Works:
Casual Formal

Its strong, polarising gunpowder-and-gingerbread character makes it a poor office choice but a striking pick for date nights and cool-weather formal evenings; the animalic castoreum and metallic smoke read too challenging for daytime or sport, though it works casually for those who already love it.

About

Baptême du Feu is a curious blend of smoky, sweet, and spicy. It opens with candied tangerine and warm gingerbread, evoking festive charm. This then transforms into a metallic, almost gunpowder-like accord, with an underlying woody depth and a hint of animalic castoreum that adds a peculiar 'dirty' edge. The powdery osmanthus smooths out the rougher elements, creating a complex and ever-changing olfactory journey.

Similar

Compare & Pair

Layer

Wear two at once. See what layers well with Baptême du Feu Eau de Parfum - the blends worth trying, and how each one scores.

Complement

Round out the rotation. See what complements Baptême du Feu Eau de Parfum - fragrances that pair with it, worn side by side.

Where to buy

Prices for the United Kingdom ·

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Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.