Khol de Bahrein

The opening strikes like a stroke of kohl: sticky, black resins; sweet, caramelised violet. It’s gourmand without the artificial sweetness. The sweet notes (nougat) settle in immediately.
Then iris arrives, dense and powdery. Not light, not airy. Rich, thick orris butter, simultaneously cool, earthy, buttery and warm. It’s like high-end cosmetics, a tactile sensation of makeup. Ambergris wraps around it, creating a briny haze. Sandalwood subtly softens the scent.
The base slowly settles in. Balsamic Peru balsam, musk that caresses without being overpowering. White vanilla floating in the distance, creamy. The fragrance remains linear, without major changes, but that is precisely its charm. A constant, retro, luxurious presence.
The overall experience: like applying a luxurious makeup to the skin. Powdery but not powdery. Sweet but not a cheap gourmand. A tactile, cosmetic, sensual sensation. For those who understand that a black line drawn across the eyes can be more powerful than any speech.

Stéphane Humbert Lucas is a Parisian brand founded in 2012 by its eponymous creator, a painter, poet and perfumer. It all began in the south of France, where he studied painting under a Flemish master, specialised in the tempera technique and developed an obsession with pigment combinations. It was while experimenting with painting that he became aware of his synaesthesia: the ability to smell colours, a perceptual phenomenon in which sight simultaneously triggers the sense of smell. He does not seek to invent fragrances; rather, he invites ingredients to blend together, convinced that his role is that of a mediator between the senses. The 777 collection, launched in 2012, draws inspiration from his travels to the Middle East and his fascination with this region, which he considers the cradle of the universe. The East is not treated here as a superficial exoticism, but as a source of beauty, mystery and wisdom. The number 7, which appears three times in the name, symbolises for him protection, perfection and good fortune. In 2022, he launched the Serpent collection, inspired by tales and legends from around the world. Each composition is born from a mental canvas where colours, sounds and poetry accumulate before condensing into a fragrance. Each composition is built around precious, often rare ingredients, chosen for their emotional depth. An artist’s house in the truest sense of the word.