God of Fire
On request
Stéphane Humbert Lucas Mortal Skin
Venomous sandalwood, heat against ice
Mortal Skin is told as a snake's pursuit of its prey in three acts: the slow approach, the hypnotic stare of its diamond eyes, then the strike as black venom spreads. The brand calls it a venomous sandalwood in which suffocating heat meets icy cold. Blackberry, saffron and cardamom open it; sandalwood, opoponax and iris lead down to labdanum, musk and ambergris.
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The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all...
The composition
How it unfolds in notes
The curve shows the order in which the notes come forward, not their strength.
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Top notes
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Heart notes
- Sandalwood
- Opoponax
- Iris
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Base notes
- Labdanum
- Musk
- Ambergris
- Character
- Strong
- Occasion
- Concentration
- Explore by note
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On the skin
How it unfolds
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The slow approach
Blackberry, saffron and cardamom open it. The blackberry is dark and slightly tart, saffron adds a leathery, metallic warmth, and cardamom a cool, aromatic spice. Together they give the first minutes a held-back tension rather than a sweet burst, which suits a story that begins with a slow approach.
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Sandalwood and the stare
Sandalwood forms the middle: smooth, creamy and dry at once. Opoponax, a sweet balsamic resin, thickens it, and iris adds a cool, powdery, slightly rooty texture. The brand speaks of heat meeting icy cold, and the iris is where that cool side is easiest to find.
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The strike
The base holds labdanum, musk and ambergris. Labdanum is dark, sticky and amber-like, musk is soft and skin-like, and ambergris adds a salty, warm, slightly animalic depth. In the brand's telling this is where the black venom spreads. The finish is smooth and enveloping, not sharp.
Wearing it
When, who and why
How to wear it
With a base of sandalwood and resins, Mortal Skin does best on measured sprays: two or three on the chest or neck. It suits evenings and the colder months. On very hot days it can feel close, so spray less.
Who it is for
People drawn to spiced, woody perfumes with a dark, resinous base, and to a perfume that comes with a story. If you like sandalwood but want it with some tension, from saffron and cardamom above and iris in the middle, this fits. Women and men alike will find a place for it at dinners, in the evening and through the colder months.
Why choose Stéphane Humbert Lucas Mortal Skin
The Serpent collection is built on snake stories and legends from Mexico to China, and Mortal Skin is told as a hunt in three acts. Stéphane Humbert Lucas founded the house as an artistic one with no marketing concessions, and a story like this shows what that means in practice.
At a glance
- House
- Stéphane Humbert Lucas
- Perfumer
- Stéphane Humbert Lucas
- Year
- 2015
- Size
- 50 ml
- For
- Unisex
Questions
Frequently asked
What is the main note in Mortal Skin?
Sandalwood, which the brand calls venomous. It sits in the heart with opoponax and iris, framed by blackberry, saffron and cardamom above and labdanum, musk and ambergris below.
Is it warm or cool?
The brand says suffocating heat meets icy cold. In the notes, the warmth comes from saffron, cardamom, labdanum and ambergris, the cooler side from iris and the dry sandalwood.
Is it suitable for daily wear?
It is more of an evening perfume. Spice, resin and sandalwood give it weight, so it works best from autumn to spring, with fewer sprays in mild weather.
What strength and size is it?
A 50 ml bottle of Eau de Parfum. At that concentration the sandalwood and resins can develop in layers on the skin.
The house
About Stéphane Humbert Lucas
Stéphane Humbert Lucas is an artistic perfume house from Paris, led by a painter and poet who calls himself a synesthete and says he sees his fragrances in colours. The first collection drew on his travels in the Middle East, and the Serpent collection builds on snake legends from around the world.
- Artistic perfume house from Paris, created by the painter and poet Stéphane Humbert Lucas
- La Collection 777, the first collection, launched in 2012
- La Collection Serpent is built on snake legends from around the world
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