Best Nuit de Cellophane by Serge Lutens Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

According to ancient religious scriptures, Mary mother of Jesus was informed of her destiny by the Archangel Gabriel when she was about 13 years old. Artists over the centuries have been captivated by the idea of this scene, a startled schoolgirl recoiling in shock from the supernatural being. The lily, symbolizing purity and innocence, is not only a common element of these artworks, but is also the inspiration for this extrait. In principio, Latin for “in the beginning”, is a meditation on the creamy radiance of lily, supported by the down-low sensuality of ylang ylang. Mace, sweeter than nutmeg and softer than incense, lends clarity, while sweet/tart kumquat sharpens the focus.

Limited to 58 bottles, 48% extrait.

Blended with:

White lily absolute, 
Kumquat essential oil, 
Mace absolute, 
Nutmeg tincture, 
Bitter orange essential oil , 
Ylang Ylang essential oil, 
Elemi essential oil, 
Tuscan cypress essential oil, 
Pompia essential oil, 
Turkish rose absolute, 
Rosewood essential oil, 
Frankincense rivae, 
Juhi jasmine absolute, 
Cistus tincture, 
Ambergris.

Important notice:

Zanini blends are living botanical compositions, crafted entirely from natural materials and free from synthetic fixatives or stabilizers. As with all things living, subtle variations are part of their nature: over time, you may notice a gentle evolution in colour, texture, or the appearance of natural sediment. These are not imperfections, but part of the character of the raw materials themselves.

These blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes) and sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).

Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in Zanini’s 100% natural blends may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Zanini’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). 

Zanini advise that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.

Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Zanini’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.

Perfumer: Julien Plos

The charming and playful dancer warms up before her debut. Talented and passionate she radiates confidence and anticipation. Deliciously, exciting and unexpected. Sweet almond and ripe cherries contrast with sandalwood and vanilla for a floral, sweet and woody intensity. 

“Bain de minuit” is French for “skinny dipping”, and what could be more decadent than a midnight splash au natural in a giant vat of strawberries, cherries and vanilla? The initial fruity-tootiness gives way to a tough ‘n’ tropical accord of monoï oil and leather, with jasmine and praline singing the high and low harmonies.

Gratia Aestiva is Latin for “summer grace”, and this extrait is an absolute abundance of sundrunk fruit. Punchy pineapple, melon and strawberry wave a big HELLO right out of the bottle, while passion fruit, with its tangy, grapefruit bite, tempers the sweetness with rawness. Indian jasmine adds floral fullness on a spiced bed of coriander and ambered woods. On the right side of too much.

Jade line

Perfumer: Philippine Courtere

Irisation or cloud iridescence is a colorful optical phenomenon that occurs in clouds lit by sun or moon disks behind. The pattern resembles a chaotic dance of a rainbow on a soap bubble.

This seems to be the logic of the perfume formula: iridescent jasmine with swirls of red strawberry, ochre praline, ambery vanilla, green bergamot, cool iononic rose and violet blackcurrant 

“Faire le mur” means “going AWOL” en Français, and if you’re going to make a break for it, you might as well do it fragrantly with this fruity-floral escapade. Heady jasmine and spicy lily get juicy thanks to orange and pear. Osmanthus, with its delicate apricot tea facet, bridges flowers to fruits.

Osmanthus is a fruity floral white flower from Japan and China.

Like a deliciously crisp spring day, this uplifting creation with Japanese Osmanthus absolute is a beautifully composed bouquet of flowers, embellished with golden citrus notes. Layered on a bed of Egyptian sweet herbs, it is intense, fresh and yet uncomplicated.

A battle royale between jasmine and oud, where everyone’s a winner. Oud in White opens on a zest of pear, ginger, and raspberry, before revealing its true intentions with jasmine sambac’s shocking sensuality. Peachy osmanthus fleshes out the fleshiness, and resinous labdanum and milky sandalwood makes the slide into leathery Cambodian oud irresistible. Between the twinned forces of indolic jasmine and barnyardy oud, this one’s for connoisseurs of the finer side of skank.

Andevalo was born under the blazing sun of western Andalusia. A land where cistus shrubs exude a thick, resinous gum saturated with heat and light. This extrait is built around a trio of labdanum extracts, expressing their full ambery depth. Strawberry CO₂ extract, along with raspberry and black cherry accords, bring a pulpy, sensual brightness, quickly absorbed by supple leather and mineral warmth. Enveloping dark woods and patchouli leave a dense and long-lasting trail of smoke and dark sweetness.

Perfumers: Coralie Spicher and Fabrice Pellegrin