Atelier Des Ors has always stood apart in the world of niche perfumery, crafting fragrances that transcend the ordinary and immerse wearers in a world of art, history, and opulence. Among its most coveted creations is Lune Feline, a fragrance that radiates mystery and allure. From its shimmering golden bottle to its indulgent, animalic heart, Lune Feline is an olfactory tribute to the moon at once luminous, seductive, and dark. But what makes this perfume so beguiling is not just its bold composition but the story it tells, from concept to execution.

The Brief: A Nocturnal Fantasy

Every perfume begins with a vision, and for Lune Feline, Atelier Des Ors founder Jean-Philippe Clermont sought to capture the elusive, hypnotic power of the moon. The name itself hints at this duality: Lune, the French word for moon, suggests ethereal brightness, while Feline evokes the sleek, predatory grace of a cat. It’s a fragrance meant to embody both the luminous and the shadowy, the celestial and the primal.

Clermont, who often finds inspiration in art and mythology, wanted Lune Feline to reflect the moon’s influence on our deepest desires and instincts. He envisioned a fragrance that could tap into that mysterious energy, a scent for those who crave adventure and seduction under the cover of night.

The Nose: Marie Salamagne’s Alchemical Touch

To bring this vision to life, Atelier Des Ors turned to Marie Salamagne, a master perfumer renowned for her ability to weave complexity and sensuality into her compositions. Salamagne, who has crafted olfactory masterpieces for brands like Jo Malone and Giorgio Armani, was the perfect choice for this project. Her style is marked by an intuitive blending of the unexpected, creating scents that are as innovative as they are deeply emotive.

In Lune Feline, Salamagne draws from both her classical training and her flair for alchemy, mixing precious materials in a way that feels modern, yet timeless. The fragrance is designed to evoke the radiance of gold, but with a dark, smoky twist, a balance between warmth and shadow, much like moonlight filtering through the clouds.

The Scent: Gold, Spice, and Velvet Darkness

• Olfactory Family: Vanilla

• Top Notes: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Green Notes

• Heart Notes: Vanilla, Amber, Cedarwood

• Base Notes: Musk, Oud, Patchouli, Peruvian Balsam

• Base Notes: Musk, Oud, Patchouli, Peruvian Balsam

From the very first spritz, Lune Feline unveils its captivating personality. It opens with a burst of cardamom and warm cinnamon, an immediate hit of spice that feels both familiar and exotic. There’s a sweetness here, but it’s tempered by the coolness of fresh green notes, hinting at the moon’s aloof beauty. The top notes sparkle with the brightness of a golden sky at dusk, yet there’s a depth beneath that invites you further into its nocturnal world.

As the fragrance settles, it becomes richer, more sensual. The heart reveals a decadent blend of creamy vanilla and balsamic amber, which lend a luxurious, almost edible quality to the scent. This is where Lune Feline truly shines, it wraps around the wearer like a velvet cloak, warm and comforting, yet undeniably seductive. The vanilla here is far from simple; it has an almost animalic undertone, a nod to the feline aspect of the fragrance. It’s a vanilla that smolders rather than sweetens, offering a sense of untamed luxury.

The base of Lune Feline is where the alchemy takes place. A smoky oud note threads through the dry down, adding an edge of mystery and darkness. Patchouli and musk form the foundation, grounding the perfume with an earthy sensuality that lingers for hours. Gold shavings, yes, actual flecks of gold are suspended in the liquid, catching the light as you wear it, enhancing the sense that this is not just a perfume, but a precious object, an adornment for the skin.

The Experience: Wearing Lune Feline

What sets Lune Feline apart from other vanilla-forward fragrances is its ability to shape-shift as it evolves on the skin. By day, it exudes warmth and comfort, an enveloping scent that feels like being wrapped in cashmere. But as the night falls, it reveals its more sultry, daring side, with the musk and oud intensifying into a magnetic force.

This duality is what makes Lune Feline such an intoxicating fragrance. It’s not a perfume for the faint of heart, there’s an underlying wildness here, a suggestion of desire that simmers beneath the surface. It’s the kind of scent that makes people lean in closer, intrigued by the interplay of sweetness and smoke. It’s luxurious without being ostentatious, sensual without being cloying.

Wearing Lune Feline is a journey, a dance between light and shadow. It demands attention but rewards the wearer with a fragrance that feels deeply personal, a scent that lingers in the air like a secret.

The Bottle: A Shimmering Object of Desire

The bottle itself is a work of art, a nod to the house’s commitment to luxury and craftsmanship. The flacon is adorned with gold, and within the fragrance, fine gold particles float, catching the light and glimmering like stars. It’s an indulgent touch, but one that feels right at home in this scent’s narrative of celestial mystery and seduction. The combination of dark, inky glass and radiant gold perfectly encapsulates the fragrance within a balance of the seen and unseen, the earthly and the divine.

The Verdict: A Masterpiece of Sensuality

Lune Feline is more than just a fragrance, it’s an experience, a journey into a world where sensuality, mystery, and luxury intertwine. Marie Salamagne has crafted a perfume that feels both ancient and modern, familiar yet intriguingly otherworldly. With its warm spices, creamy vanilla, and smoky base, it’s a scent that feels as rich and opulent as the gold that sparkles in the bottle.

For lovers of gourmand scents with a twist of the exotic, Lune Feline is a must-try. It’s a perfume that speaks to the daring, the sensual, and those unafraid to embrace the darkness in search of beauty. Whether worn in the heat of the day or the cool of the night, it reveals a new facet each time, a perfect reflection of the moon itself.

• Layering Recommendations: Atelier Des Ors Rose Omeyyade for a woody sweet elegant rose vanilla and patchouli vibe.

• Price: £225 for 100ml (currently on sale at Liberty London)

If you’re seeking a fragrance that dances between gold and shadow, warmth and mystery, Lune Feline is an intoxicating choice. A truly luxurious scent for the bold and the curious, it captures the moon’s magic in every golden drop.