Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule Looks at Autobiography & The Creative Path in Life (2012) {New Perfume}

Serge Lutens has released a new perfume in the Collection Noire this month called Santal Majuscule. The story behind the new composition is more intrically and clearly told than is usual for Lutens as he has written a rather long descriptive text which retells of a moment taken out from his childhood. The narration evokes wintertime 1952, a classroom, him as a child, the realization of his self, his "moi" with a capital letter.

Asked by his teacher Vantienen why he punctuated his history text with capital letters added to the words Gold, Wolf, Flower, Fire, Dungeon etc., the child answers that he does not know then proclaims because it is I...

Lutens can be seen to go back to the roots of his own myth trying to understand the path he has taken as an artist. The moment referred to with Santal Majuscule affirms the triumph of his subjectivity and style over conventionally regulated knowledge and form. He thus prefers to dream of the Middles Ages, re-imagine its legends, write as if he were living in it, than to know its facts. In that instant is contained his choice of mythologizing and painting reality with more vivid colors and bigger-than-life letters instead of turning in a sage, docile homework.

The name "Santal Majuscule" makes you think of "Ambre Sultan". Pride is also a theme evoked in the story behind the scent.The medieval thematic has appeared before with the "heraldic"Louve, but also Sarrasins and Muscs Koublaï Khan.  Lutens has already proposed two sandalwood perfumes in his collection in the past: Santal Blanc and Santal de Mysore as it is part of his style to go back to the same materials to offer different interpretations of them.

Additionally, a short narrated film voiced-over by Lutens reads his text while the camera pans on a book with miniatures painted in the style of medieval tomes (see visual above).

The eau de parfum is now exclusively available at the Boutique du Palais Royal and sergelutens.com until September 1st 2012 when it will be available more widely in department stores and perfumeries.

Prices: 95€ for 50 ml and a price change at 99€ from August 1, 2012.