Stéphane Humbert Lucas Wish Come True Review + The Perfume Djinn Draw

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

We announce the winners only on our website and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

 

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27 comments

  • Carol Starwater says:

    I love incense but agree that it can turn Ashen on my skin .
    I am so looking forward to trying this one as I love the combination of incense and labdanum ! I am not familiar with any of his other scents but look forward to trying them and if I could have one wish granted by the djinn it would be the end of suffering .

  • Alyssa Alaia says:

    His work is a work of art to me and I look forward to smelling everything he has put out (I have khol and Jeddah in my collection). I fell in love with this bottle alone since it looks so magical! Beautiful write up Robert and I would love to get my nose on this!

  • First time hearing of this House and fragrance. Sounds like this is an easy wearing Incense. Haven’t smelled too many incense based Fragrances. Thanks Robert for the great review
    From California

  • Claudia Kroyer says:

    I love incense based fragrances and also have a fear of it turning ash tray on my skin. However if the incense has a slight gourmand spin I can wear it. Would love to be able to try this kne. Thank you so much.

  • Richard Potter says:

    I love incense and labdanum. I have yet to have the opportunity to experience SHL 777 range but would certainly love to. Great review, Robert. USA

  • Loved Robert’s review. I LOVE incense based perfumes and I also think that everything I have tried from this house is beautiful. Black Gemstone is gorgeous. I can think of only one wish that I would ask the djinn. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA

  • I have a problem with incense in perfumes. My skin is OK with it, my nosse usually doesn’t like it. Robert makes this one sound like it might work and definitely be worth a try. Everything else about it sounds great. I do not know what I would wish for, though if I win a sample, I’ll think of something! USA.

  • I love incense fragrances, but most of them seem a little masculine for me. I have a few in my collection. I like that it has a little gourmande vibe going on. Vanilla seems to take a little of the ‘edge’ off a strong fragrance like incense. My wish would be for more kindness and patience in the world. Thanks for the draw.

  • Malka Gittel bas Reuven says:

    Non-indolic white floral is as important as an incense that really works, so Robert speaks my language. Frankly, the description makes me want to roll around in this!

    Regarding wishes, many stories have illumined just how dangerous these are. Money could, for example, appear because your favorite uncle passes. It’s pretty hard to write enough clauses to insure no disaster (after all, a djinn could create world peace by killing off every human!). I think it’s probably safest to say “nice to meet you, Mr. Djinn, but I’ve no wishes today!”

  • I love Kohl de Bahrein and Black Gemstone. I don’t wear many incense perfumes but the addition of vanilla and floral notes sound lovely. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA.

  • Ooh, incense, love Stash and CdG Avignon, so looking forward to trying this – again, another perfumer i’m not familiar with, only one wish for the djinn, and i’m in the US. thank you for the draw, and to Josie for the samples!

  • I love how Robert carried through with the Genie theme -” 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”. Beautifully visual. And Oh my, that bottle!!! I have not tried any of Mr. Lucas’s art but Qom Chilom is now on my list to try asap -as well as Wish Come True! My wish would be for universal good health – wouldn’t that be wonderful! Thanks to everyone for the opportunity. I’m in USA.

  • Robert’s review was AWESOME! I consistently love reading how he described fragrances and their inspiration. I would’ve never figured this fragrance to draw inspiration from the DJINN which is a story I’m familiar with. Really really cool. I love SHL’S presentation. Just absolutely gorgeous and my favorite from the line so far is Mortal Skin, although I must admit I think I only smelled on other one than that. I would ask a DJINN to Grant me the gift of considering Empathy. Thank you for the opportunity. I live in Philadelphia PA.

  • I’ve heard a lot of good things about Wish Come True and SHL, but unfortunately I live in a perfume desert and no one nearby stocks them so I haven’t gotten a chance to try any yet. I love the bottles though, and ambergris always smells good on my skin.
    Hmmmm as for a wish – I’d wish for wisdom.

  • Tom Schroeder says:

    It’s clear that Robert has great respect for Stéphane Humbert Lucas. On my niche exploration journey, I haven’t had the opportunity to try any of the perfumer’s fragrances yet, other than to read in the forums about his 777 line, including Mortal Skin, 2022 Generation Homme, Taklamakan, Qom Chilom, Khol de Bahrein, O Hira, Rose de Petra, Soleil de Jeddah, and others. It’s high time to check them out, and I would ask a djinn to give me a sample set of all of them. Wish Comes True sounds like a great place to start, as I like incense in fragrances. San Jose, California, USA

  • Dhruba Dasgupta says:

    This was definitely an interesting review with the incorporation of Arab artistry through the European lens. Loved to hear how he is back too!

  • I, too, have not had the best experiences with incense-laden perfumes. However, the impression of a soft cloud of scent arising from a magic brass lamp serves to soothe my trepidation about giving this one a try. I have tried Rose de Petra only so far from this perfumer. If I were granted a wish, I would ask for the gift of hearing for my youngest child. I live in the US and thank you for this chance.

  • Jennifer Jamerson says:

    Sounds really deep and dark. I like deep and dark and would love to try this wonderful piece. U.S. Houston, TX

  • Gregory Duncan says:

    First Aladdin is my favorite animated movie. Djinn is another term for genie they make wishes come true. I enjoy incense and Arabic Perfumery. My favorite from SHL would have to be Jadab or Nur from his SoOud line.

  • Incense is a big Yes! for me, I adore many takes on it–smoky, fresh, herbal, powdery, musky-dreamy…
    I have never tried any of the scents from this line, but have heard of their high quality. And it is my wish to try this floral incense! Best line: “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.”
    I would also like to try Khol de Bahrein, it sounds amazing.

    If a djinn happened along, I would wish for health and happiness. And perfume and chocolate!

    USA

  • Thanks folks! Your comments make my writing worthwhile, as I constantly strive to write in a clear understandable “voice”. And yeah his work is amazing, and Rose de Petra is a definite “must try” if you love rose! Xoxo

  • This fragrance sounds nice! I love a little powder vibe in my fragrance! The only fragrance that I’ve tried so far is O Hira.

  • Frank Gambina says:

    I enjoy how Roberts uses metaphors to describe the scents in this beautifully rendered composition. It paints a picture of a place that’s magical. I can’t say I have a favorite Stéphane Humbert Lucas perfume because I don’t own any. A wish that I’d ask a djinn to grant me would be to end all poverty in the world and help those less fortunate.

  • What a beautiful combination of fragrance notes. I would love to try this scent.

    So many wishes I would want granted! It’s hard to pick just one. I’m a 2 time cancer survivor, so I would wish for continued good health.

    I live in the US.

  • I have NO problem with incence- in fact, I collect it, I relish it, I use it heavily on myself and in my house-it’s a love for me, so let it come.
    I’ve been told I SHOULD wear O Hira, repeatedly- and yet, I haven’t pulled the trigger. Maybe I was waiting for this?
    Anyway, dear djinn, please let me always have something to pass forward.
    I live in the US.

  • Robert did a great job with reviewing the scent. I am glad that he describes the incense used in that offerings as not smokie and overpowering. I have only tried Mortal Skin from SHL. I would love to try this one.

  • i always like to read reviews about fragrances that have a note the reviewer doesn’t like, but discovers that the fragrance at hand works on them! Minor miracle. I have never tried anything from this line, but always read favorable reviews about Stephane’s perfumes.
    I’d ask a djinn to end political corruption.
    I live in the USA.