Caleche has the classic structure - floral, light sweep of citrus on top, classic sandalwood/oakmoss base, and aldehydes twanging up an down the structure. The vibe is is powdery, with dry and clean floral, more oakmoss than woody but palpably both, and an overall clean feel. The florals include neroli, but Caleche has more rose/iris -- 24F has much the same vibe, but with a big orangeflower/neroli charge and huge patch-y woody base.


Caleche's sillage is astonishingly light. I frankly don't understand why they ever made an eau delicate, because it is one inherently. A perfect office/evening out fragrance in that it is subtle, elegant, and clean, but also surprisingly delicious to snuggle into bed in. The packaging is, of course, exquisite.


I'm very impressed by it.

Upon immediate application this smells a bit aldehydic and vintage. It's very soapy, fresh-scrubbed, and classic. It smells like money. I imagine high-society ladies of the 1950s smelling like this. I'd give it a 3.5. It isn't very "me", but I can appreciate it just the same. It doesn't last very long though and the sillage is only apparent for the first hour.

I got this free! FREE! from my mother (works in a department store in a city that was hit by an earthquake this year so they got a lot of damaged stock free...) Anyway, its not something I would normally wear. I'm more into the fruity, foody, honey or woodsy scents. But! this smells gorgeous. Flowery, powdery, expensive. Skates dangerously close to being nana-ry but doesnt quite make it, in my opinion. It's beautiful and elegant.

Starts off with a juicy citrus aldehydic burst, then softens to powdery floral with touches of rose, ylang ylang and iris. A musky, leathery, animalic note lingers in the background and grows more apparent as Caleche dries, keeping the florals from going too powdery or sharp. Warm mossy dry woods round out the scent, and I can't help thinking this is one of the truest chypres I've smelled thus far. Feminine and classy with a hint of masculinity to give pause. I can understand references to Chanel No.5, but Caleche seems more like a second cousin rather than a direct relative.

This review is for Calèche eau de toilette by Hermès, current formulation. I got just a moment of vague floral chypre before it all turned to eau de soap suds. Thereafter, sniffing became pointless. So sad. Basenotes reports that Calèche was "re orchestrated" in 1992. I haven't yet sampled an earlier formulation to compare. Would not repurchase.

A classic that I forgot how much I liked until recently. I have the Soie version. It smells like expensive french soap, if you can imagine that. This fragrance is simply divine! I only wear it in the winter and fall months though because it is quite strong, although breathtaking. If you don't want to smell like all others, then run to get this one. Long lasting and definitely will garner compliments. It smells expensive because it is. I love to smell myself whenever I have it on. A little goes a long way, so don't overdo it.

This is nice ... in an old-fashioned way. I'm not overly wow'ed by it but it doesn't smell bad. It definitely stands out among today's scents. It has a sort of timeless quality, but not for me. Smells great on my sister - but not so good on me.

I really love this perfume, I love the smell, the bottle, the safety look, but the smell is a little mature, so I will not recommande this for a young lady, maybe when they are a little older, around their late 30's

Caleche is, to me, very similar to No. 5 and VC & A First, all heavy on the aldehydes. It is an elegant, classic scent. I have a mini for my collection, but do not feel compelled to purchase a full bottle when Chanel gives such a similar effect. continued >>

There's a leathery effect when first applied. It becomes a mildly soapy floral, mostly iris and gardenia. Well-blended and well-bred.