Cedre

The Verdict

Serge Lutens Cedre, created by Christopher Sheldrake in 2005, is a fragrance that starts an argument with its own name. The cedar referenced in the title plays a supporting role at best, while tuberose, warm spices, and syrupy amber dominate the stage. The community has spent nearly two decades debating whether this is a cedar-scented tuberose or a tuberose-scented cedar, and neither side has won. What everyone agrees on is that Cedre is distinctly Sheldrake -- a composition that defies easy categorization, rewards patience, and divides opinion sharply between those who find it beautifully seamless and those who find it cloyingly sweet.

What It Smells Like

The opening delivers a blast of Tuberose layered with warm Cinnamon and Cloves -- rich, creamy, and immediately spiced. The tuberose here is not the headshop-indolic tuberose of many niche fragrances; it is tempered and rounded, one reviewer noting with surprise that "it is a real pleasure to find it here used so sparingly and to such good effect." The spices are woven in so seamlessly that several reviewers struggle to identify them individually, describing instead a general warm-sweet-spicy impression. Where, then, is the Cedar? The community is divided. Some smell cedar "from the very beginning, but almost have to think about cedar to smell it because this one is blended so well that no single note powers to the front." Others describe the cedar as "very much a side-kick" and find the naming "somewhat bizarre." What dominates beyond the tuberose and spices is a thick, syrupy Amber accord that one reviewer says "drowns out" the more interesting elements. The Musk provides a dark, slightly animalic base. One Basenotes reviewer offered the most evocative description: "on a bowl of ever so slightly musty wood chips lies a sweet, but never cloying marshmallow, sprinkled very lightly with talcum powder and Christmas spice." The dry-down, arriving 5-6 hours in, is where cedar finally makes its case -- emerging alongside amber and residual spice in a quieter, more woody finish.

When to Wear It

Fall and winter are the natural settings, where the warm spices and amber feel cocooning rather than oppressive. This is an evening fragrance by temperament -- too rich and sweet for a bright spring day, too unusual for a Monday morning meeting. It suits intimate gatherings, cultural events, and any occasion where you want to smell interesting rather than conventionally attractive. Summer wear is strongly discouraged; the sweetness will amplify in heat.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is generally good. The amber and tuberose give the composition staying power, and most wearers report 6-8 hours of longevity. Projection is moderate in the opening and becomes intimate by mid-wear, which suits the fragrance's character. The dry-down, when the cedar and amber settle into skin, is subtle but persistent. Two to three sprays should suffice -- the syrupy richness can become overwhelming with heavy application.

The Community Says

The community is sharply polarized. Fans praise the seamless blending, calling it unisex and subtle, and admire Sheldrake's ability to make tuberose work in an unexpected context. One reviewer found it particularly beautiful in cold winter air where "I get a lot more cedar." The dry-down earns special praise as the moment the composition finally makes sense. Critics are equally vocal. One described it as "bubblegum spiced up with some holiday scented candle -- cheap, synthetic, muddy and just plain nauseating." Another called the amber accord "monotonous" and the overall result "one of the most boring scents I have encountered." The memorable "smells like a hamster cage" review has entered community lore. Several reviewers note that Cedre, along with other Sheldrake-Lutens compositions like Arabie and Chergui, shares a family resemblance in the amber-spice dry-down that makes them "slightly varied takes on baklava." The philosophical take: Cedre "works less as a scent than as an intellectual experiment, an essay in cognitive dissonance: what you read does not match what you smell."

Who Should Buy This

Cedre is for the fragrance enthusiast who enjoys being surprised and does not need a literal translation of a name. If you appreciate tuberose in unexpected configurations, warm spice blends that lean gourmand without committing fully, and compositions where notes merge into something greater than their parts, Cedre will intrigue you. It also suits anyone building a Serge Lutens collection, as it occupies a unique middle ground between the house's florals and orientals. Skip it entirely if you want cedar to be the protagonist, if heavy amber notes make you queasy, or if the word "sweet" in a fragrance description makes you nervous.

The Bottom Line

Serge Lutens Cedre is either a masterclass in seamless blending or a misleadingly named amber-tuberose sweetness bomb, depending entirely on your preferences and the day you wear it. The cedar is real but shy, the tuberose is present but restrained by tuberose standards, and the spiced amber is the true backbone holding everything together. It is a niche fragrance in the purest sense -- not for everyone, not trying to be, and fascinating precisely because of the arguments it provokes. The universal advice applies more here than almost anywhere: sample before committing.