Fils de Joie

The Verdict

Serge Lutens Fils de Joie, released in 2020, takes the house's long love affair with jasmine into provocative territory. The name, which translates loosely from French, signals the fragrance's intent to capture something uninhibited and joyful. Composed as a deceptively simple structure of jasmine, honey, ylang-ylang, and musk, it joins the ranks of Serge Lutens jasmine compositions alongside the legendary Sarrasins and A La Nuit.

The community has responded with enthusiasm tempered by surprise. Those expecting the dark, indolic jasmine typical of the house found instead something more polished and candy-like, a jasmine dressed in pink and gold rather than the green and white many anticipated. This tension between expectation and delivery defines much of the discussion around Fils de Joie.

What It Smells Like

The opening is a sweet, direct assault of jasmine and night-blooming jasmine, arriving with immediate intensity. The night-blooming jasmine here is muskier than many other types, with a grassy, buttery, oily quality that distinguishes it from the bright, green jasmine found in lighter compositions. The effect has been described as a sweet slap in the face that announces its presence without apology.

As the opening settles, honey emerges as a significant presence, sticky and golden, with flakes of beeswax strewn about. For some reviewers, the honey note dominates more than the jasmine, creating an effect reminiscent of apricot candy, jammy and sticky. Ylang-ylang adds tropical richness that amplifies the sweetness while contributing its own creamy floral character.

The musk base provides a soft landing for the heady florals above, grounding the composition without diminishing its intensity. The overall effect is one of the darkest, muskiest, driest, slinkiest jasmines reviewers have encountered, a fragrance that feels ridiculously sensual.

When to Wear It

Fils de Joie is a fragrance designed for sweltering hot summer nights, where its heavy, heady jasmine and honey feel natural and magical. Evening events, dates, and special occasions where making a bold impression matters are its natural setting. The warmth and intensity make it particularly evocative in the heat.

This is not a fragrance for conservative environments, daytime casual wear, or cold weather where its sweetness can feel out of context. Careful application is essential, as two sprays produce significant room-filling projection.

Longevity & Projection

Fils de Joie is a powerhouse. Multiple reviewers report longevity exceeding twenty-four hours on skin, including through sweaty outdoor conditions. On clothing and hair, the fragrance persists even longer, with one reviewer noting a sprayed tissue scented a room for weeks. Sillage is described as massive, with arm-length-plus projection that becomes intimate only after several hours. Exercise extreme restraint in application, as overspraying this fragrance will overwhelm everyone around you.

The Community Says

The fragrance community places Fils de Joie comfortably alongside Serge Lutens' other jasmine masterworks, with reviewers noting it demonstrates tremendous ability to interpret and handle this flower. However, opinions diverge on whether the execution matches the promise. Some find the photorealistic jasmine stunning, while others describe it as a flat, droning plastic jasmine that even the honey cannot rescue. The sweetness is a particular point of contention, with fans loving the candy-like warmth and critics finding it too polished for the sensuality the fragrance aims to evoke.

Who Should Buy This

Fils de Joie is for jasmine lovers who want their flowers served bold, sweet, and unapologetically sensual. If you have enjoyed Sarrasins or A La Nuit and want to explore another facet of the Lutens jasmine repertoire, this offers something distinctly different. It also appeals to anyone who craves a fragrance with exceptional longevity and presence. Those who prefer their jasmine indolic and dirty rather than honeyed and sweet should sample before committing.

The Bottom Line

Serge Lutens Fils de Joie is a heady, honeyed jasmine that combines photorealistic florals with remarkable performance. Its sweetness may be more candy box than boudoir for some tastes, but the sheer quality of the jasmine accord and the extraordinary longevity make it a significant addition to one of perfumery's most celebrated jasmine lineups.