L'orpheline

L'orpheline, released by Serge Lutens in 2014, is a quiet, minimal fragrance built on just two listed notes, incense and musk. People describe it as musky and amber in equal measure, which tells you how the incense behaves here: not the sharp, churchy smoke one might expect, but something softened and warmed into a resinous glow.

Incense gives the scent its character, a dry, slightly peppery smokiness with a cool mineral edge. Musk wraps around it, making the smoke feel clean and close to the skin rather than heavy, and the two together produce the ambery warmth most wearers notice. There is no fruit, no flower and no obvious sweetness; it is an austere, contemplative composition.

It is intended to be worn by anyone. Given its make-up, it sits in the territory of skin scents and soft incense fragrances rather than loud statement perfumes, and would suit someone who prefers calm, abstract scents to overtly pretty ones.

L'orpheline — unisex fragrance by Serge Lutens (released 2014). Notes: Incense, Musk. — Parfica open fragrance database