Five O'Clock Au Gingembre

It's ok, ginger and tea, but also candle mixed with plastic smell, if you can relate. I layer with others

Tried so hard to love it. It feels very rough and sour, incredibly sharp and far from addictive or soothing.

I quite like it...not sure I love it. Spice + Wood + Citrus Rind...dry like a sauna, hint of sweet at a distance.

This is another gorgeous fragrance by Serge Lutens. Spicy, slightly sweet with a good dose of tea and very thought provoking. My only complaint is it seems to disappear on my skin fairly quickly.

Dries to a Ginger tea with cinnamon and spices in the background, It’s a warm but soft and easy fragrance to wear for a cuddle session. Very intimate so don’t expect it to project more than 6 inches from the spray spot. Price is good at 50$ from communities. Sample you might enjoy it more than I did!

For me, Five O’Clock Au Gingembre is, above all, the scent of dry black tea. It has a beautiful, slightly syrupy sweet resinous depth that makes the composition feel incredibly cozy. The pepper is exceptionally soft, never sharp or prickly, and it doesn’t tickle the nose at all. If I bring my nose very close to the spot where I sprayed it, I can catch a subtle citrus nuance that gently brightens the composition without distracting from its character. The fragrance feels warm and smooth, and I think the warm weather deserves some credit for that, making it smell rounder, calmer, and even more comforting. I have a feeling it might come across as a little sharper in colder weather, but that’s only a theory for now. I’ll find out for sure when the autumn and winter days arrive. My bottle is from the 2024 batch.

I blind bought this on impulse -it was on sale and I had a desperate need to dip my toe into the house of Serge Lutens after reading countless reviews and becoming more and more intrigued. It's lovely, and basically to echo what everyone else is saying, a non-sweet version of a gourmand- the ginger is fresh and effervescent and sparkling in this, its not a heavy thick sweetness but a very light and fizzy ginger tempered with green notes and tea. Reminds me of a homemade ginger ale with all the fizz and freshnesss but with the bergamot of earl Grey tea to anchor it. The mid notes feel slightly sweeter to me or that could be the base starting to come through, there's a slightly herbal green tinge to it (almost pine needle or some kind of woodsy green). Reminds me a little of Liam Grey by Lattafa (a dupe for Gris Charnel) but slightly drier and lighter, and easier to wear. Very unisex, in fact I'd class this the most unisex scent I own ! Enjoyable, beautifully blended and accessible- there's nothing offensive about it but it might not appeal to sweet or vanilla lovers. Longevity i cant speak to yet, moderate sillage, it feels more intimate and subtle than loud or bombastic. 8/10 and has me excited to try more from this house

Earl grey tea, gingerbread and a touch of spices. So simple, delicate and beautiful. Suited for all year round use, since its so airy and soft. From all serge lutens i own, this is the easiest one to love(along w feminite du bois).

Such a beautiful composition. Seeing these notes I expected something very warm and gourmand-leaning - I was pleasantly surprised by how versatile and non cloying it is An explosion of spices surrounding the beautiful mix of bergamot and earl gray tea is insanely addictive. There’s something melancholic, but fresh about it, even feels a bit cold and rainy to me as if there was a petrichor note I’ve already purchased a full size after trying the sample, I hope to try more from this house, because this was a pleasant surprise

I think in my mind I’d decided this was going to be some gourmand, biscuity concoction; heavily spiced and overly edible. It’s not that at all. This is Uncle Serge’s take on a freshie, and I absolutely love it. The opening has touches of warmth and almost feels a little sweaty, with the spices coming together to create a salty, skin-like appeal that plays on the tension between comfort and slight unease. It quickly gives way to a bright, candied ginger that fizzes off the skin with a beautifully effervescent quality that just screams summer to me, which is completely at odds with what I expected. I get very little in the way of patchouli, and absolutely nothing that even remotely resembles cacao. That’s not a criticism, as frankly I think it would be an entirely different fragrance if it leaned that way. Instead, I pick up fizzy lemon and lashings of tea notes that are green, fresh and totally uplifting. This is a really gorgeous composition and unlike anything else I’ve tried from the house. It has Sheldrake’s signature all over it, yet paradoxically feels completely different to almost anything else in his repertoire. If I’m being picky, my only critique would be that it’s incredibly fleeting, sitting very close to the skin after the first few moments. It’s a bit of a shame really, as this could very easily be a favourite on the warmest of days if only it wanted to spend a little more time by my side.

Honestly as I read the reviews, and looked at what people say it’s suited for, I was bit surprised. This sparkles off my skin. It comes off as a fragrance that can absolutely be worn in warmer weather as well. I wouldn’t classify this as a strictly cool weather wear. Perhaps it’s just my skin. I love this fragrance because I love ginger and citrus together. I think that’s a prerequisite to enjoying this. 10/10 as far as ginger forward fragrances.

The answer to how a tea scent can be this erotic is hidden in here... It has the SL DNA, dark, cultist vibes, spicy and a slightly animalic scent (could be from the honey). The tea is as present as the candied ginger and cinnamon-like spice feel. Nothing is overdone and nothing hits the nose sharply. A scent that's both soft and rich and mysterious. Fresh but warm. (Reviewing the vintage one) Tag(s): SL-ish, fresh, warm, sultry, rich, spicy

unexpectedly love this one. it smells like a warm cup of spiced ginger tea - fresh, herbal, rich & tangy. I enjoy every second this is on my skin I was pleasantly surprised - normally pepper as a note is a dealbreaker for me, but in this, it blends so well with the overall fragrance that I don't mind it at all

I wish I liked this. I like ginger perfumes like ingenious ginger or molecule 01+ginger, and I love the spicy airy ginger… this is not that. Maybe it’s my skin but it literally smells like play doh on me. It smells like a 5 year old who was playing with play doh, didn’t wash their hands and then ate a ginger biscuit with their sweaty play doh hands. I think this could work wonders on other people, but on me? Distinctly sour, chemical with the ginger trying and failing to save it.

I had this in my collection open for around 3 ears and it aged so badly. It was more fresh and rounded in the beginning. :(( unwearable.

This opens up vintage, citrusy, resinous and a little woody spicy. Then the ginger comes forward and gives it almost a very organic olive oil smell mixed with woody green spices with an earthy citrus like a top quality massage oil. It is very relaximg yet assertive and unique in character. 12/10 loveee

In the opening, top note is a spice bomb, but when you go in close, it becomes wet and dewy. Watery mossy chord starts to compete with amber cinnamon, eliciting a fennel vibe. Unbelievable how the warmth radiates. Exquisite spice deep as magma. Milky black tea and overbaked ginger scone with raw honey. Dry note initially lifts and gives body, but teeters too powdery. That also keeps it from being too sweet/gourmand. Now I'm getting deep, damp vetiver with wisps of spice and powder as an accent. Soft menthol radiates. I suppose that's patchouli. What an enjoyable ride! A unique take on likable scents that doesn't play too safe. Even though the powder isn't terrible, I just can't get over it. Very excited to revisit, though!

Serge Lutens and I have had a stormy relationship in that I love some of some of his fragrances but detest other parts of them! Just when I think it is true love, some note from left field bombards me and leaves me aghast, cringing or completely flummoxed!! But I do love this spicy and warm scent despite that cacao note which is normally a dealbreaker for me! Five o’clock lingers in the most tender of ways, comforting, gingery but with a gentle spark of joy.

I am working my way through the Serge Lutens scents because I loved la fille de Berlin, an icy cold rose which has brought me round to rose scents. Whilst I usually love a tea- like, unisex scent, this is vile on me. Someone said old cars and I agree. It's not a realistic ginger, very masculine, something I wanted to love and didn't. Will let sit and try again and edit my comment if my mind is changed. Not a safe blind buy

When I wear this, I just feel like me. This is the closest thing I have to a signature scent, and I find it comforting, witchy, and unique. It's a cup of gingery lemon tea stirred with a cinnamon stick, sipped slowly on a dark autumn night walk. Spicy earth below your feet, leaves crinkle in the evening air. Absolutely stunning. I'll never get enough.

this perfume is both gorgeous and disappointing. disappointing in the sense that, the first 30 minutes are so wonderful and perfect and everything afterwards is just 'interesting'. Five o clock starts off with this gorgeous warm and full cinnamonny ginger with some dark elements in the background. it might be the black tea accord creating this darkness, but my nose doesnt truly register this as a tea. there is no sweetness, and even if there is, nothing about it is sugary or artificial à la angel mugler. The ginger and cinnamon combine wonderfully, both supporting eachothers 'shortcomings' (ginger notes can be overly fresh, transparent and effervescent whereas cinnamon can be too dusty and stale). You get something 'mentholated', more like clove than mouthwash. The overall effect is a sugar free chai boiled in water instead of milk. It is not gourmand in the modern sense, it smells more like the idea of something delicious rather than something that you want to lick off your skin. Afterwards, you get a reaaallly dry and woody fruity base with a hint of spices. This drydown is basically the same as feminite du bois to my nose, with a touch of frassai's tian di licorice and herbalness. Both perfumes i dont necessarily care for too deeply. I never like fruity notes in perfume, but id say serge lutens fruitiness is bearable. it definitely never ventures into shampoo territory, more like a fruit leather mixed with resins. You still get the cinnamon-clove-ginger popping up here and there, never when you sniff candidly. the sharpness of the ginger is long gone and there is no tea present. The overall experience feels very dry and medicinal, yet somehow still syrupy? almost like molasses: you know its very sweet yet it always tastes like medicine rather than something delectable. I dont pick up on patchouli or cacao, both notes i do enjoy... What i do get in the far drydown is a very nice and realistic honey. In that sense, five o clock au gingembre takes you through a really interesting and unique journey, even if the middle of it is a bit redundant . and who knows, that dryness might grow on me. I'd say it is the best ginger ive smelled thus far, a lot of ginger focused scents tend to go citrus cologne like on me so there wasnt much competition to begin with... but oh well. My main gripe with all of serge lutens perfumes in general is how amazing and creative they are while offering little to no wearability. I would not call his offerings challenging, more so demanding. which is indeed beautiful on its own and most likely the point. yet i would have prefered something with a more defined base, as is my opinion with all the lutens i own (de profundis for example: gorgeous first 30 minutes and everything after is vague). They all start off wonderfully, but their development is always mediocre and nowhere near as interesting as the opening. I would honestly rather have te opposite But i still respect the work and vision put into these! My rating will be a 7.8/10 Edit: This perfume just gets better the more you wear it. I dont have any of the issues i had before, the ginger is much more prominent throughout the whole wear and the tian di / feminite du bois dryness isnt bothering me anymore. Longevity is alright and sillage is personal, which doesnt matter since theres a time and place for everything and i dont need the whole world to smell me at all times. Its a solid 8.5/10 for me now. A 9 feels too high but an 8 feels too low, its an amazing scent but its also not revolutionary

Started out nice and fresh, ended up smelling like the interior of an old car for me unfortunately.

Serge Lutens #14 – A cozy afternoon, but is it a perfume? Five O’Clock Au Gingembre belongs to a category of creations i consider to be more like evocative scents, olfactive art or mood enhancers rather then what is traditionally considered to be a perfume. Depending on everyone’s viewpoint, this can be a positive or a negative. I myself wrestle with this because i fall somewhere in the middle, my appreciation for the creativity is high whilst the “strictly perfume” side is on the lower end. Its a tricky situation because even creations that only walk the fine line between fragrance versus scent, in reality still fall into the artistic side because when you create something inclined towards art, no matter how little or how much you lean into it, its still art and not just a beauty product. Five O’Clock Au Gingembre crosses the line deeply into the creative side. Its no secret that this perfume aimed to recreate a cozy ambiance with tea drinking as the centerpiece of the “painting”. Its safe to say that the brief was succesfully implemented and the result is very satisfying, not quiet hyperrealistic but not far off eighter. I very much enjoy tea but i drink it out of pleasure and not for its often medicinal properties. I like most types of tea, be it fruits or plants yet what i consider to be a proper tea is based on herbs or plants. I am a big fan of mint tea because it balances the authentic plant side with a rich and pleasant flavor. Cinnamon as flavoring and ginger tea also both fit this category of “pleasant tea’s” and Five O’Clock Au Gingembre is based mainly on those two notes. The minds of Sheldrake and Lutens gave birth to a perfume that recreates the perfect tea scent in my books. Not the relatively more common tea-leaf accord but brewed tea. Its concentrated sweet, warm spicy and comforting. The best part, the herbal nouance that gives the reassuring authenticity is also there. Its not the scent of a soft drink made to trick the consumer that its actual tea, instead it smells or “tastes” like the real deal. As it moves into the deep drydown, the sweetness and the honey stand out more and more, but that too perfectly fits the brief. Imagine arriving home from work on a very cold afternoon. Your nose, cheeks and hands are red from the cold temperatures. You take off your winter hat, scarf and thick jacket and place them on the hanger. Your children loudly exclaim “Daddy!” and run into your arms. Your wife greets you with a warm kiss and with a gentle voice tells you: “Take your boots off honey and come inside, i made you some hot tea to warm you up”. You take a seat at the kitchen table whilst the children run back to their rooms to continue playing. You grab the warm cup and take a sip, it tastes exactly like Five O’Clock Au Gingembre. A bit cliche? Probably, but If that ain’t the perfect life, the life any proper man should dream of, then i don’t know what it is. The question remains, is it a perfume? Im not sure myself because at the end of the day, what is a perfume if not a mood enhancer? I will settle on the fact that Five O’Clock Au Gingembre is a masterfully created mood enhancer, a close to the skin experience that is ment to be so. Its more then just the icing on the cake of a cozy atmosphere. In many ways it is the cozy atmosphere itself.

Big opening of cinnamon and wood, settles on cookies and tea but not too gourmand on me at all. It’s like a chai tea in the least boring way. Absolute fave from SL.

Five O’Clock Au Gingembre by Serge Lutens feels like a warm cup of tea with ginger and honey on a chilly afternoon. It’s cozy, a bit spicy, and really comforting without being too sweet. The scent has this calm, elegant vibe...easy to wear, yet still special. It’s the kind of perfume that just makes you feel good and put together.

Huh I expected something with ginger to be louder. This is nice and fresh but very close to the skin. More of a fresh spicy than a warm spicy on me. This is more the ginger you get with sushi rather than gingerbread. The bergamot kind of steals the show at the beginning. I rather like it.

Unfortunately, this one smells exactly like star anise with a bit of something sweet on me, and I hate star anise :(

Headache-inducing nightmare

In the era of chemical Ganymedes-Guidances, ambroxan and all those new molecular experiments, I suddenly discovered the old school - Serge Lutens. Five O’Clock Au Gingembre doesn’t sound like another flashy trick, but like a quiet gesture. At first, I was disappointed: the fragrance is so delicate, almost like a whisper. But then I was relieved: there is no dirty, intrusive base either. Candied slices of lemon, generously dusted with cinnamon that’s how it opens; black tea, completely unsweetened - that’s what remains on the skin. Gentle, cozy, and elegantly grown-up.

Nice fresh spicy opening and spicy drydown, but the late-opening was too herbal/astringent for me, could easily veer into headache territory. Disappointed because I really wanted to love this but I think Eyes Closed by Byredo is a warmer more feminine alternative filling my cinnamon void.