Soir de Lune

Very good chypre with rose. Soir de Lune has all the "dirty" and dark qualities of a true chypre, yet it's still very soft and rounded, easier to wear than many other offerings in this category that often tend to lean a bit dusty and sharp. If this fragrance is too much for you, don't even try Mitsouko, chypres are clearly not for you, better stick to your Kayalis and Delinas. Saying that, I don't think it's that "witchy", or at least the witch who's wearing it doesn't live in any cottage in the middle of a dark forest. To me it’s more of a elegant vampire fragrance, and that’s a vampire from more modern interpretations, who doesn’t get burned by sunlight and lives among people. Soir de Lune feels like fall, but it's easy to wear all year long if you miss the autumn vibes, I think it's signature worthy and my new go-to rose chypre. Oh, and the bottle is a unique work of art, it's hard to resist if you're a perfume collector.

I distinctly remember where I first smelled Sisley's perfume 'Soir de Lune' [SDL]: it was at the southernmost tip of the Netherlands (when you feature 'Holland' it is as if you characterise the US with 'Ohio', Holland are just two provinces). Now in such very small country, peasize, nevertheless with 18 million inhabitants, this "southernmost" is three hours of a trainride. But there it was where I smelled SDL in its year of conception: 2006. I was immediately heady smitten and I guess proffered the hefty money to buy a flacon the following week. I also remember where I sniffed 'Eau du Soir' for the first time and it could also have been in the year of its birth (1990). I immediately acquired there a full flacon with the thought 'we will see how I come through the month (food) if I only have this unbelievable sophisticated perfume'. Perhaps some paradox is that these two ‘sister’ perfumes immediately bear resemblance in the opening and as it later would turn out: it became the Sisley signature. For as well EDS as SDL it is the unbelievable, nostril clearing of oakmoss which lends this, those perfumes that sensation of deftness, luxury, Madison Ave, Avenue Montaigne and Bond Street "I feel like a million bucks", just like with "Chanel No 19", "Joy", "Knowing" , "Calèche", the original "Miss Dior" and "Mme Rochas" do. In the oakmoss you get black pepper, patchouli and coriander. I must say in Sisleys SDL the rose is well hidden in the enduring first onslaught while it comes superrefined at the fore only after a while. (I see this characteristic here sometimes referred to as 'well blended'.) Is the rose a refined yet well profiled fellow traveler, the Iris fulfills its role in the classical sense as a demure background to which predominantly spices, pepper and the neverending oakmoss roar. I tend to never agree with Luca Turin but I can imagine that this could be an obstruction of his', experiencing it as a very persevering forestry, woody perfume sparkled alive and tittilating with greeneries and herbal pungency so strong. And it is the same with EDS. But notwithstanding they doggedly keep winning me over. They appeal, and this also is a paradox, not in the least for such prestige skincare brand, both to old money hauteté and very basal. forest floor earthiness, even our ancient crotch sniffing habits all overhazed by 'culture' (well) but the hyenic, canine, feline instinct stays carefully lockered up in a gilded box, not to be absent.

This is a witchy fragrance dominated by the interplay between pungent, bittersweet herbs like nettle and chamomile on the one hand and a radiant, golden, oozing honey on the other. This is the scent of nature transformed by dark magic. If you've read Madeline Miller's 'Circe', Soir de Lune would be the fragrance depicting what Circe has become after she breaks away from home and starts finding her power. Although this is a dark fragrance, it retains an internal glow that seems to come from the honey. This isn't dank, hollow, eternal darkness (that's Black Orchid). Incredibly dry, the chamomile and hay have been baked in the sun for days in preparation for this honeyed potion. It's outdoorsy and yet it's a beautifully elegant, formal fragrance. I don't believe it has any true smell-alikes out there, not even in the chypre family. A contemplative, introverted (but super strong) masterpiece.

There’s just too much going on in this fragrance. If you’re from Eastern Europe and familiar with Easter traditions, the opening really gives off that classic Easter perfume vibe. The development is a bit of a rollercoaster, you’re never quite sure if it’s annoying you or actually wearable. Sometimes it comes across as very spicy with sour, almost musty undertones, other times it turns into a spicy-powdery scent with a hidden touch of elegance. I’d sum it up as very vintage-smelling, but it develops completely differently depending on skin type, in a really unpredictable way. Definitely not something I’d recommend blind buying.

I have only just begun collecting perfumes, and so I have no pro descriptors - I just know what I like. Until recently, I only had OG Panthere, La Panthere, Ysatis and Magie Noire. And recent edition Poison, as well as modern version Obsession. I like my perfumes to have backbone and character, and make their presence known! I bought this because the algorithm here told me if I loved Cartier's OG Panthere, that I would enjoy this (it smells *nothing* like Panthere, though). and this was a blind buy. I have the 50 ML EDP. I really like this! It makes me think of incense, churches, and yet it makes me think of spring flowers, such as lily-of-the-valley. You could wear this in spring, in winter when you need a promise of spring to come, and because of the incense I perceive in it, I would also wear it in fall. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this, but I do like it very much, indeed! In fact, I was searching for something incense-y, and to my nose, this satisfies that desire. One thing I did find, perhaps because I am mature and my sense of smell has probably dulled over time, it took three quick sprays on each wrist, and on the throat, to get the bouquet to make itself felt properly. I have probably over-applied it. I didn't rate the sillage or longevity, as I am alone today, and I just now put it on, so I don't know yet. I find the EDP version to be - something a bit two-faced - it smells like melancholic, smoky, rainy fall walks, and yet it smells like spring flowers. I think this one is not for everyone, and there is nothing young, gourmand, nor sweet about it (which is why I like it so much!) but it would certainly work very well where it is appreciated. ETA as it dries down and opens on the skin, I do get the wild honey aspect of this. I also get the smell of - paper money, in a fine leather wallet? Old love letters on vellum? There is something about the chypre perfumes I have sampled so far that give me this impression. Old world, Belle Époque, elegant and wealthy. Darn, now I want to know what the OG perfume smells like, lol! Edited this for the following morning: It lasts on me, with a second and then slight third application yesterday. This morning, it sits beautifully close to the skin, but still occasionally releasing slight drifts of projection. Still smells like church incense to me. So: first hour is a big sharp blast of what some call "granny" flower perfume, a bit reekie in a 1950's way. Calms down into subtle and elegant old world, "old money" elegance. Curates overnight into pure church incense. Perfect fall fragrance, and I love it for melancholic days.

I’d read so much about this fragrance and finally managed to buy a partially used bottle at a good price. Moonlit Eveningis a vintage leaning chypre composition, blending nostalgia with a subtle harmony of notes. The opening is spicy and citrusy, I can clearly detect pepper oil and nutmeg. After a while, a floral heart emerges, the fragrance is beautifully blended, making it difficult to pick out individual notes. The base is mossy and earthy, enriched with honey and a generous dose of patchouli. Unfortunately, it’s the patchouli that takes centre stage here, heavy and cellar like, and that’s a style I simply don’t enjoy in fragrance. Longevity is around eight hours, with subtle, moderate projection. I’ll be passing this bottle on, as I don’t think I’ll ever warm up to this interpretation of patchouli.

I went in by the reviews here since there was no place where I could test this perfume in my city, and a few reviews on YouTube (though those are scarce for this particular fragrance), and generally the reviews here are quite well aligned to what the perfume experience is. If not, there's at least a good ratio of pros and cons about it to make a decision. However, I think I saw more positive feedback on Soir De Lune and my experience was absolutely opposite. I think even before opening the box, I could get a whiff of just HOW dated this fragrance was. It reminded me of an aunt of mine who used to wear something similar to the chypre-rose-esque fragrance back in early 2000s and I remember disliking it every time I was hugged by her wearing this, even as a kid. This makes me want to associate this perfume as really unsophisticated, as opposed to the mysterious, classy, expensive that some of these reviewers have found this perfume to be. To each their own, especially with fragrances, but even the rose on this felt so... off, so old. Like you've traveled back in time in a dusty, abandoned, unvisited store that housed this bottle and the spray of this is mixed with the dust in the air, it makes you want to cough out and wash off. Maybe it's the moss note that I can't seem to shake off that scratches my throat. I never get headaches, but this one did give me a headache. Someone down here said it's a "vintage bug spray", whilst I don't agree with the bug spray though I can see why it bears resemblance, I'd say it's definitely more refined than that, but it's SO vintage that it definitely feels outdated, not classic or nostalgic. Such a disappointment because I was really looking forward to experiencing this fragrance and enjoying it, and this is quite expensive, and I know I'll have to somehow sell this bottle w/ the use of just 1 spray. Usually I like to give such fragrances I dislike (om the get go) some time, and sometimes these grow on you in a different phase of life, but this just feels wrong instinctively. It's not a bad fragrance, it's just terrible for me. I'm looking to sell this, it's a 50ml bottle (minus 1 spritz for testing), if interested, please connect with me. [email protected]

Anything Dominique Ropion touches turns to gold and this floral chypre is no exception. This is a cold rose found in the snow. Her beauty is forever frozen in the ice. It's a spicy leather forward rose found next to an oak tree in the forest. There is slight warmth found in the woody drydown thanks to the drop of honey. This has a vintage feel of the long forgotten good ol' days. Love.

This smells very old school, which as a chypre, that tracks. It is very complex and it can be difficult to pick out specific notes, except for the may rose, oak miss, and citrus. The scent is also very long lasting. That said, she is not for me and I am going to go try to wash this off.

Yes yes yes! If you love La Perla...the one that is discontinued....you will adore this! Under the radar,exclusive,classy,elegant,old school,old money. Intoxicating elegance. Wow just wow! Chypre scents are the most grown up ,long lasting and beautiful! I've found my new Signature.

Mossy, vintage, but I am a hater of chypre.. so do with that what you will Where's the honey Lebowski?

Instant obsession. Yet another big love from M. Ropion. I love the description of this as slightly melancholic. It’s icy, magical. Personally I won’t save this for special occasions — it’s an easy reach now that temps around me have started to come down. The sharp, cold rose is reminiscent of L’Ombre dans L’Eau EDP (without the green leaves and with a cuddlier base) — an elegant auntie. YUM. Edit (10/10/25): Just opened an original bottle (with oakmoss etc etc) and the scent on skin brought tears to my eyes. More nuanced, less sharp at the top. Pure bliss ♥️

Ladies, I’m sorry but I’m speechless. It is so beautiful… unique… out of this world. Too stunning, I’m enchanted and can’t say more. I’m in love!

This smells like an Indian incense stick that I always have at home. It's heavy on sandalwood and pachouli. An immediate love for me. Also the bottle is pretty. Unfortunately I can't afford it. Anyone knows an inexpensive dupe for this?

Fascinating and strange. Smells like a magic ritual made up of honey and herbs dug into the dirt.

Gorgeous bottle, received a sample of this. But absolutely hate the fragrance! Smells almost like an incense to me, heavy, very musky / earthy with tons of spice, sligtly masculine. Just no.

This perfume feels undeniably golden, glittering with an effervescent shimmer. If it's called a moonlit night, then the moon is a fantastically honey-gold one; or it's a luminous, enchanted night aglow with a myriad of lanterns.

There's something intoxicating & archeological about this old-world Dominique Ropion creation. As if you were on-site at an Egyptian temple, and opened an old alabaster bottle only to release the smell of an ancient dynastic scent. The oakmoss & coriander combine to create an almost dank musty interior with lingering spice trails of a long forgotten ritual ceremony. Powerful stuff, the dried rosy florals blended with almost antiseptic herbal notes. Not the evening but the moonlit night. Received an unexpected sample, and tried it before reading a word about it. I found it surprisingly piercing, the dank medicinal mood, so ignored it for months. Yet something about the intention & striking night ambience pulled me back to dig deeper & learn more about the fragrant codes of this ancient civilisation

skin and the scent of oakmoss drenched in thick honey and sprinkled in spicy patchouli. rose and iris petals rest close above softening the scent. an intense and sweet chypre, she’s not here to please everyone; but if you understand, you’ll appreciate the sheer beauty of this scent. wildflower honey and fluffy moss, this perfume wonderfully captures the sweetest parts of nature, all bottled up and sealed to be worn.

Sisley’s Soir De Lune is an underrated masterpiece by Dominique Roppion. She is serious, but sparkling. Delicate, and dense. Like the full moon on a jet black night, or like fragile details of anatomy carved into a marble statue. In fact, this brilliantly complex perfume may be my favorite Chypre in existence. Every featured note in this has a chance to shine, and the supporting characters add so many layers of beauty and intrigue while maintaining a sheerness that is absolutely addicting. This particular Chypre opens with a bubbly, fuzzy peach aura; and then like others have described Soir De Lune plunges you into the depths of Rose, Oakmoss, and Patchouli. While I may detect aldehydes alongside aromatics in the opening, I wouldn’t classify this as overtly aldehydic. Roppion carefully utilizes the classic ingredients of a chypre and creates something timeless, yet wearable for even the most discerning 21st century perfume lover. Sillage and longevity is exceptional as well. Every time I wear this, I pick up a new experience- Rose is always there but she dances with different partners every time. This is knockout French perfumery that enchants you like an entire orchestra playing in complete symphonic synchronization; opposed to other perfumes that tend to feature solo notes played above supporting roles. Everything has their moment at the same time in this- and the joy of the wearer is in tuning into different notes throughout the piece. Like Chopin, Sisley’s Soir De Lune is the union of harmony and melody. She IS the moon in the sky playing with the stars while humanity and the universe dances on.

I can see how other people would like this, but it's a disaster on me. It's like I used my husband's Irish Spring bar soap in conjunction with another bar soap made with harsh chemicals and generic white flowers. The honey does come out after about 2 hours, and it's definitely a clean scent, just not my cup of tea. It did smell better in 80 degree sunshine than it did inside with the air conditioning, though.

It is always such a mystery to me how can other people smell all those beautiful notes in classic chypres. Really, honey is the most voted for note? Where??? I am trying to train my nose to like and understand chypres, but I am about ready to give up. I try and try, and I just can not break through that brick Oakmoss wall, this is all I smell in chypres, including this one. Maybe a bit of rose.

I've had Soir de Lune for a little while now. She is a complex nymph, difficult to catch. To admire her is to admire the stars themselves. The silvery moon in all her glory. Like moonlight, she cannot be held, only dreamed of; wished for. Soir de Lune begins quite bright, almost citrusy, but not quite. Not quite green, like a garden after the sun has gone to bed. Aromatic is the best word to describe her as she dries down. Glittering. I can understand that a fragrance ingenue may not have the nose to understand her, but let me assure the avid fragophile, Soir de Lune is worth every bit of attention her name recieves. This is a beautiful, classic and genuinely luxurious fragrance. Like the original Eau du Soir, Soir de Lune is very unique and that in itself highly recommends this wonderful silvery concoction. The bottle captures the spirit of Soir de Lune so perfectly, the experience so fantastical, to wear her is a privledge.

Yeah..smells like a corpse

smells like honeycomb and maybe flowers. doesn't smell oldladyish!

This is my favorite fragrance of all time. And I don't even own it. And I never have. Hopefully I will some day. This scent is so enchanting. Every time I get the chance to smell it, I do. I spray it on my coat. I don't think there's anything like it. Knowing by Estée Lauder does come close, but the honey accord isn't as strong. Soir de Lune made me realize i love honey-notes. The thing is, there is almost no perfume that actually smells like honey. But this one does. It also made me realize that I love chypres. Someone once told me, if you like one Chypre, you will love all chypres. This perfume is fragrant of honey, but not the sweet candy like smell that you mostly get from perfumes marketed as honey-scented. Soir de lune smells like everything that comes with the making of honey. When I was a child in summer we'd often visit a bee farm that was located on the border of a forest. That's what this smells like. Dry mossy oak, dewy flowers of rose, jasmine and Lilly of the valley, and an intoxicating realistic honey.

On my skin, this smells like an exquisitely perfumed bandaid made out of the finest cotton muslin. I imagine that I am a noblewoman in Jerusalem during the 3rd crusades and this is what I douse myself in apres bath, and before I am enrobed and bejeweled and sent back to my quarters in the harem. 5 out of 10. Just thrilled to have a 2 ml sample courtesy of Bloomingdales!

I got a free sample of this one as part of Sisley skincare products. I must say I'm impressed. Honeyed rose chypre that is wearable and not cloying or annoying. I would actually wear this one and I'm not looking like a "classy lady" at all. Now I see that the perfumer id Dominique Ropion and that makes sense. It's kind of well made classic rose chypre that remains unknown (Sisley is not such a popular brand). The coriander is distinctive and makes it zesty and spicy. The most prominent note is rose though, honey and rose, so nothing too "special" here. Longevity and quality is top notch.

vintage bug spray that sticks to you worse than industrial putty

Soir de Lune by Sisley is a refined fragrance that subtly balances fresh citrus notes with delicate floral accords of iris and jasmine, resting on a warm, woody base of sandalwood and musk. The most prominent elements of the fragrance are the honey and moss accords, which add a rich, earthy depth that lingers throughout. Its gentle composition offers a nuanced, sophisticated experience that evolves over time, though it catches attention, I’m not in love with it. Rather than being overpowering, it exudes an understated charm, inviting quiet appreciation without becoming an all-consuming favorite. Although many people have complimented me on this scent, it catches attention, but I simply like it. Its longevity is long-lasting, and its sillage is enormous, leaving a striking presence without being intrusive. I’d rate it 7.6 out of 10.