The Comfort Of Wonderful Childhood Memory, Thrilling Perfume

It was up to him; excited and brave all at the same time. Every morning, there was a special family ritual. Crossing the still-cool streets, feeling the city slowly waking up. And even before seeing the bakery, there was that smell; hot bread, melted butter, caramelised sugar and warm spices. He walked faster, guided by the reassuring and appetising smell that seemed to fill the entire air. Find out more in The Comfort Of Wonderful Childhood Memory, Thrilling Perfume.

Image Samantha Inman @rememberingtobreathe.

Pushing open the door, heat enveloped him, and after the cool of the early morning, it felt comforting. The smell of fresh bread, wheat, barley and pastries just out of the oven mixed in a dense and enveloping scent. On the counter, the golden croissants, chocolate breads and raisin whirls lined up like treasures, ready like prizes to be eaten.

The brown paper bag cracked in his hands. Through the warm paper, he felt the shape of the croissant, the slight roundness of the chocolate bread. The baguette, just out of the oven, was so warm against his cold hands: the temptation was immense. He breathed this enticing smell deeply, eager to get home and share the spoils with his family.

But he wanted to bite into it right away. Chew into the puff pastry, feel the chocolate flowing. Tear a piece of the crispy baguette. But he knew he had to wait. He remembered his mum’s words: “We are waiting at home, so hurry, we are all hungry”. He squeezed the bag harder, as if to keep the heat, the scent of these delicious pastries intact until his return, at which point he knew his prize would be to eat to his heart’s content.

We may well know a smell is enough to resurface a forgotten world. A blast of hot air saturated with French toast, melted sugar, toasted wheat, and all the innocence and joy of childhood resurfaces.

It is in this spirit that Serge Lutens imagined his latest perfume, Jeux de Peau, a true sensory echo of childhood, capable of reviving memory with accuracy, heartfelt emotions and tenderness.

Indeed, as we know, the olfactory system is directly connected to the limbic system, which is responsible for processing emotions and memory. They sit next to each other in the brain and are very connected. Memory plays a crucial role in the appreciation of a perfume.

This new perfume, Jeux de peau by Serge Lutens, is an emotional journey that immerses us in the sweet memories of childhood.

“Don’t forget to buy the bread.”

Serge Lutens

This phrase, the common thread of the Jeux de Peau perfume, evokes for the French creator the smell of freshly baked bread. Through notes of wheat, Sandalwood, Rye, alongside Apricot, soft Spices and milky chords, Lutens revives the sensation of hot bread against the cheek, a gesture evoking a sensory memory of childhood.

“Your childhood is a slope. The more you go down, the more it comes back to you.”

Serge Lutens

This feeling supports the idea that a smell reminiscent of childhood acts directly on our happy-evoking memories. Unlike the rest of the senses, in which information must travel through more complex structures, smell has a direct link to the brain. Memories are buried, often forgotten, and the scents make them instantly alive.

Jeux de Peau combines gourmet notes with woody and floral accords, creating a scent that is both comforting and complex.

The scents of childhood are profound and evoke comfort, security and awaken nostalgia, instantly creating an emotional bond with the one who breathes them. As simple in ideals as a comforting morning ritual, this perfume is filled with the complexities of the emotions of those moments.

Serge Lutens.co.uk Jeux de peau. Available exclusively at Harrods.com

If you enjoyed reading The Comfort Of Wonderful Childhood Memory, Thrilling Perfume, why not read Artists, Words and Language here

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