Stéphane Humbert Lucas at Esxence 2017 (photo by Michelyn)
Despite keeping a low profile, and occasionally taking a gap year, Perfumer/Creative Director Stéphane Humbert Lucas creates at least one or more spectacular creations every year and 2017 was no exception. One of the 2017 releases is a floral oriental named Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True (that was first shown at Esxence last March). Stéphane Humbert Lucas is a perfumer who maintains the quality, innovation, and beauty that only comes with being the best in your field. We who love his work and those who have yet to discover them, are the lucky recipients of his olfactive creativity. In the past M. Lucas has collaborated on extraordinary fragrances for Nez A Nez and SoOud, but with his own 777 range, his fragrance dreams are fully realized with such now-iconic scents as Rose de Petra (a personal favorite), Black Gemstone, O Hira, and Kôhl de Bahreïn among others.
Collage by Robert
I approached Wish Come True with a fair amount of trepidation. I am often nervous with incense-centric scents: they tend to skew to a dirty ashtray vibe on my skin. I can count on one hand the number of incense fragrances that have worked for me. Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True, although an incense heavy-hitter is so perfectly and masterfully blended that my fears were unfounded.
Aladdin. Illustration by Errol le Cain, 1981.
Wish Come True is a continuation of Stéphane Humbert Lucas fascination with all things Arabian; a Djinn’s favored boon to the wish granter. Opening with a magical carpet of citrus and lashes of powdery musk Wish Come True promises to be a shimmering and illuminating journey into the unknown.
Aladdin. Illustration by Errol le Cain, 1981
The ambery labdanum wafts throughout without ever being heavy, the incense is never smoke-intense, or overpowering, and the floral notes of the ylang, jasmine and tuberose sweeten the mix without cloying indoles. Wish Come True sits as lightly and brilliantly as glimmers of sunlight and shadow on a still pool centered in a vivid tile-clad seraglio of an ancient Sultans’ palace. Although created as a superb floral oriental. there is also a slight gourmand vibe from the vanilla which brings a sense of familiarity to the perfume.
Marc Chagall Arabian Nights
The ultimate effect is that of undulating clouds of scent arising from a magic brass lamp which create an almost soft-focus aura and provide a warm and comforting sense of peace and fulfillment. Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True should be named DREAM Come True, because that’s exactly what it is. Notes: tangerine, bergamot, ylang-ylang, labdanum, incense, jasmine, ambergris, tuberose, vanilla, musk.
Disclosure: The sample and opinions are my own.
–Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor
-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief
Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True flacon courtesy of Osswald NYC
Thanks Josie Alycia Plumey, the Fragrance Director at Osswald NYC we have three generous samples of Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True for three registered readers in the USA, so be sure to register if you have not done so. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Robert’s review of Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True, if you have a favorite Stéphane Humbert Lucas perfume and what wish would you ask a djinn to grant you. Draw closes on 1/26/2018
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