The French word for ‘saddle’ is ‘sellier’, which is the jumping off point for Byredo’s ‘Sellier’ ~ a nod to leather and all its rich, fragrant glory. As part of the ‘Night Veils’ collection, ‘Sellier’ runs a bit stronger than the usual light touch of most of Byredo’s offerings (with a notable exception or two). This one was a birthday gift from my Mom, opened just in time for September and official arrival of fall.
Along with the leather, a classic duet of tobacco leaves and smoke grounds the proceedings with dusty visages of heavy, somber smoking rooms darkly rich with wood libraries of ancient tomes and parlor palms. While the name and main thrust of this fragrance is steeped in leather, there is a minor green note (perhaps the oak moss) that lends it a freshness and invigorating spunk that makes the leather come alive.
Byredo is often notoriously ethereal, making for some criticism of its sharp price point, but the Night Veils group carries a heftier bite. ‘Sellier’ is one gorgeous and dramatic scent, bringing the crisp clap of fall into brisk focus, the way the first night-frosts elicit a clarity and shock in the morning.
