Peau de Bete, or "Skin of the Beast," by Les Liquides Imaginaires is an intensely evocative fragrance that conjures images of heated skin, animalistic musk, and the raw essence of human sexuality. Released in 2015 and crafted by Carine Bouin, this Eau de Parfum delves deep into the primal and untamed aspects of scent, creating a bold statement in the world of perfumery. With its audacious aroma and skin-like feel, Peau de Bete is a fragrance that both challenges and captivates the senses.
Peau de Bete stands out for its unapologetically animalic character. Unlike many other fragrances that blend in various elements to create a harmonious scent, Peau de Bete strips down to its raw, sexualized core. It eschews the traditional structure of top, middle, and base notes, instead presenting a singular, multifaceted base accord that evolves on the skin. This approach results in a fragrance that is both bold and intimate, designed to evoke strong reactions and deep connections.
The composition of theperfume is a testament to its complexity and depth. The note list includes:
Top Notes: Chamomile, Saffron, Cumin, Black Pepper, Parsley, Herbs
Base Notes: Cade, Guaiac, Atlas Cedar, Texan Cedar, Indonesian Patchouli, Indian Cypriol, Leather Accord, Styrax Resin, Flouve Absolute, Ambrarome Absolute, Castoreum, Civet, and Scatole
Each of these notes contributes to the overall character of the fragrance, creating a symphony of scents that is both intriguing and challenging.
To fully appreciate Peau de Bete, it's essential to understand the unique qualities of its components. Flouve, for instance, is a type of grass with a complex aroma that combines sweet grasses, dark earth, dry hay, and a hint of moss. Styrax is a smoky resin with leathery undertones, while Ambrarome Absolu, derived from labdanum gum, offers musky, leathery, and slightly peppery notes. Skatole, known for its presence in feces and coal tar, adds a touch of indolic richness that can smell flowery at low concentrations but turns distinctly fecal at higher levels.
Peau de Bete opens with an explosion of earthy cumin, rich saffron, herbaceous greenness, skanky civet, leathery castoreum, rich patchouli, smoky resins, and sweet grasses. This initial burst is enveloped in a cloud of campfire smoke from cade and tarry woods, creating a scent that is both smoky and animalic. The fragrance then transitions into a phase where all the elements blur together, much like a Pointillist painting where individual dots of color merge into a cohesive image from a distance.
As the fragrance evolves, the smoky, leathery, and musky notes become more pronounced, evoking images of wild horses galloping through forests, their heated flanks slick with sweat. This olfactory journey is both dynamic and transformative, shifting from earthy and animalic to smoky and leathery, with a persistent undercurrent of raw sexuality.
At its core, Peau de Bete is a celebration of animalic musk and raw sensuality. It bypasses the typical floral or citrus top notes, focusing instead on a deeply animalic base that is both captivating and provocative. This singular focus results in a fragrance that feels more like an olfactory interpretation of human skin and sexuality than a traditional perfume.
Peau de Bete is a fragrance with good longevity but relatively low projection and sillage. It begins as a bold and rich scent but soon settles into a more intimate, skin-like aroma. This transition enhances its allure, making it a scent best experienced up close and personal. The fragrance lasts for several hours, with its most intense and evocative phases occurring within the first few hours of application.
Peau de Bete is not a fragrance for the faint of heart. Its unapologetically animalic and sexual nature makes it a polarizing scent, likely to inspire strong reactions. It is a fragrance best suited for those who appreciate complex, challenging scents and are unafraid to embrace their primal side. This fragrance defies convention, offering a unique olfactory experience that is both intimate and powerful.
Peau de Bete by Les Liquides Imaginaires is a daring exploration of animalic musk and raw sensuality. Its complex composition and singular focus on animalic notes create a fragrance that is both bold and intimate. For those who appreciate the raw and untamed aspects of perfumery, Peau de Bete offers a truly unique and captivating experience. Its ability to evoke strong imagery and deep connections makes it a standout in the world of niche fragrances. This scent is a testament to the artistry of perfumery, pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions of what a fragrance can be.
Peau De Bête
$280.00 USD
"PEAU DE BÊTE IS ANIMAL SENSUALITY. MADE MUSCULAR TRHOUGH ITS GALLOP, ITS HOT BLOOD BRINGS OUT SWEATS. ITS ANIMAL POWER ENCOMPASSES AND REASSURES. PERFUMER : CARINE BOUIN (GIVAUDAN)" - A Note from the Brand. Notes: CADE WOOD, GAIAC WOOD,… read more
