Hermes • Elixir des Merveilles • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* cerulfox on 10/18/2011 3:15:00 PM more reviews by cerulfox

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Elixir de Merveilles is truly a unique fragrance, and should be at least sniffed. I normally can't wear citrus in the least bit--it immediately turns to floor cleaner upon hitting my skin. Needless to say when my fave SA suggested I try this, I was leery.


My fears were for naught though, as the orange peel in EdM is less being hosed with orange juice but more taking a bite into a bittersweet chocolate-dipped orange confection. The orange is prominent and at first blast a little sweet, but it immediately scales back as the dark chocolate note melds with it. As the scent dries down the chocolate disappears and is replaced with salty caramel with a backdrop of bitter, dry woods. A dash of vanilla and tonka adds a hint of sweetness to what has become a nearly masculine fragrance. Intriguing.


All in all I find Elixir de Merveilles a bit mercurial, and borderline bipolar as it straddles the line between sweet-gourmand and austere-masculine. Being a stereotypical Gemini this is perfectly fine. I've received many compliments on EdM, and it will remain at the forefront of my scent rotation despite my heavy oriental leanings.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sassykzt on 9/20/2011 2:23:00 AM more reviews by sassykzt

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I see Elixir des Merveilles as a logical gourmand extension of Eau des Merveilles: they are related as far as I’m concerned. Both fragrances could easily be unisex, and both depend strongly on wood accords. Elixir opens sweetly gourmand – with an orange-flavored vanilla and caramel notes – to my nose the caramel takes prominence, but the other elements are clearly identifiable and adequately represented. There is even a wood undertone to the opening accord, and the use of wood in this fragrance is reminiscent of the wood in Eau des M… but this wood does not provide such a unique and, possibly, exotic presentation… here we have a modest sandalwood / cedar with a sophisticated resinous background which retains some of the opening’s caramel gourmand character. It’s not an overly sweet fragrance and definitely not girly… and it’s a comfortable wear

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*TOP REVIEWER* fragranceisall on 8/31/2011 2:48:00 AM more reviews by fragranceisall

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

While this is fairly nice when first applied, dry-down is like a man's (cheap) aftershave. Too bad because the bottle is pretty. I'm sorry to have wasted $$$.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CarrieLynnJ on 9/2/2010 10:03:00 PM more reviews by CarrieLynnJ

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

LOVE this! It does citrusy orange completely rich and lush and decadent! There is so much going on initially that you are like WOW i have to take a shower but then it developes and it turns into exactly what you would expect a fragrance from Hermes to deliver. Others did a great job explaining the notes so I wont go into that, secondly I couldnt do as great a job as some have with that. i have this in the edp and i have 24f in epd. the am choice between the two will be hard:)

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LNA116 on 8/15/2010 4:33:00 PM more reviews by LNA116

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I LOVE this fragrance so much !
Many people ask me : wht is your fragrance ? when I wear it .
It's increadible !!!
( sorry for my bad English! )

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sunnyonne1 on 8/14/2010 12:47:00 PM more reviews by sunnyonne1

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Smells exactly like Calvon Klein, Obsession. I don't detect any of the gourmand, chcolate notes of which other reviewers wrote. No Citrus orange, either. This was a gift from my stepmother-in-law. As I have a fairly full bottle of Obsession, the Hermes becomes redundant. Oh how I wish she had given me an Hermes scarf, instead...even a replica Hermes scarf would have been appreciated. BTW I ADORE Obsession.

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therealficolley on 7/12/2010 9:46:00 AM more reviews by therealficolley

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

My default setting is jeans T shirt and sneakers but my taste in perfume runs to elegant and mature. Frankly I don't want to smell like bubblegum or cotton candy (the latent wannabe Parisienne in me reels at such a thought) so I opt for Hermes. The initial waft can be a tad overwhelming but oh the drydown! This is "grown ups" perfume at it's best (well this and 24F). This makes me sit up straighter, talk more politely and feel beautiful and elegant what more could you want?

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paulamwiggins on 6/24/2010 11:26:00 AM more reviews by paulamwiggins

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Ahhhh, Paris!!

My husband took me in 2007, and we stopped at the Duty Free shop in our terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport while waiting for our flight home.
This perfume was his last-minute gift! He loved it. I don't think I would have chosen it myself. It was MUCH stronger than the typical light, fresh scents I gravitate to. For that reason, I haven't reached for it too often over the past couple years.

But recently. . . . I wanted to give it another go. If anything, because it reminds me of an amazing trip! I have found that if I spray it indirectly (mist and then walk-through techinque), it's not too overpowering. It's spicy, heady, with a touch of sweetness. Using it lightly keeps it mysterious and intriguing. I like misting it over my bed to give the sheets a touch as well.

Will use up my large (beautiful) bottle, but probably will not repurchase. It will take me forever to finish. And I'll probably keep the bottle as a keepsake from my trip!

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MrsHolcomb on 2/1/2010 1:45:00 AM more reviews by MrsHolcomb

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this thinking I had found the Shangri La of perfumes, a warm, musky amber-ey mystery...I used up my generous decant from Norddstrom's before I could say boo.


I'm a little torn on this now that I actually own it. It's too heavy on me for daily use (I actually prefer crisp and fresh scents for the day).

The bottle is gorgeous though..

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 9/12/2009 4:30:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Oriental fougere that is just too complexly fussy on me. Strong, old fashioned powdery amber layered with a million other notes comes out smelling ostentatiously expensive and proud on me. There's a lovely but brief gourmand stage, then it gives way to the nasty amber. Don't get me wrong, some ambers I adore, but this ain't one of 'em.

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*TOP REVIEWER* belleepoque on 4/9/2009 3:17:00 PM more reviews by belleepoque

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I've been toying with the idea of getting Eau des Merveilles for a while, but it really never felt like "me." Elixir is the answer. Not too gourmand, but just enough to keep it young. Overall, this is very sophisticated and is a major upgrade from Vera Wang Princess, Victoria's Secret, and Rockin' Rio! This is definately my favorite fragrance, alongside Chloe EDP.

Also, this is all the Hermes that I can afford right now.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pennypencil on 1/11/2009 5:13:00 PM more reviews by pennypencil

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Ever since Eau des Merveilles came out, I have had a soft spot for it. Purchase was only thwarted by the fact I was feeling sensitive to the word ‘whimsical’, used so ardently in Hermes’ advertising campaign. I was doing a creative writing masters degree at the time, and whimsical was not something to aspire to: it suggested a lack of substance. When we work-shopped our stories, if the ‘w’ word was given as feedback, we’d feel outraged. My work, unfortunately (and I think unfairly) was often called whimsical by my tutor, and so, I hated the fact Hermes was touting this new, zesty and interesting fragrance as whimsical. I am less uptight now, but it was a deal-breaker then.

Proving that Jean Claude Ellena knows his fragrance blending so utterly, Elixir is a gourmand version of Eau, managing to keep the same soul as the original. The orange peel is candied and warm on first burst, but everything settles to be skin-close and salty – not unlike drinking hot chocolate laced with Cointreau, perched on the remains of a boat wreck on the beach in autumn. On me the saltiness of the fragrance stays for the duration, but milk infused with cardamom and nutmeg comes through, which is assuring and homely. The frankincense and ambergris are sexy and mysterious, drying down to be just the tiniest bit soapy – something I love in a fragrance.

Elixir isn’t as peppery as the original, and is far smoother. Eau des Merveilles is extraordinarily distinct, but has an annoying habit of attaching its more masculine components to everything; scarves, clothes, rooms – for several days, weeks, months, later. Elixir, being more gourmand and soft, lingers like baking bread or cookies.

I would recommend Elixir des Merveilles to wearers of: Dior Hypnotic Poison, Penhaligon’s Malabah, Serendipitous, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, Origins Ginger Essence, Boucheron Trouble, Emporio Armani Elle, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Donna Karen Wenge, L’artisan Safran Troublant and Mechant Loup.

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*TOP REVIEWER* zeynepd on 12/21/2008 2:19:00 PM more reviews by zeynepd

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

I find the word 'elixir' utterly misleading here. The word connotes exoticism to me, warmth, intimacy; whereas the Elixir de merveilles reminds me of a salty chocolate biscuit that I once happened to eat. The fragrance is slightly fizzy and aquatic -even on the salty side- in the opening, and the warm chocolate that appears towards the end is diet chocolate. I'm wondering whether I would find it quality or clinical if it was not Hermes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* essija on 11/22/2008 1:56:00 PM more reviews by essija

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

This is like nothing I have smelled before. It's orange sugary smell are dominant. This sparkles on my skin. I don't know how often I would reach for this though. Just have a sample and I do like it but don't think I have to have it. Orange pop maybe, this reminds me of something else..

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triplemom on 11/10/2008 10:54:00 PM more reviews by triplemom

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I'm still trying to decide on this. My friend wears it and it smells great on her. When I first sprayed it on at Sephora, it smelled like bug repellant. As is warmed to my skin, however, it turned into something lovely -- creamy and warm, really delicious. It's perfectly balanced with the "sweet" orange/chocolate notes toned down by earthier notes and a hint of citrus. Sandelwood is not overpowering, as it can be in some scents. It provides a bit of structure, but is quite subtle. I have a sample from Sephora so I'm going to see how it wears in the next few days. Overall, though, I am really liking this and the staying power is fabulous.

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OfYourHeart on 8/31/2008 11:34:00 PM more reviews by OfYourHeart

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is my signature scent. I found it at Nordstrom while waiting to pay for Eau Des Merveilles. The main difference between the two is the orange. Eau has a fresh, almost sparkling note while the Elixer takes its orange and dips it in bitter, dark chocolate. I wouldn't describe this fragrance as an elegant, beaming Audrey Hepburn by anymeans...it's more of Edie Sedgwick at the peak of her time with Andy Warhol- very sweet, but still remarkably unsettling to watch (or in this case, smell).

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* May_Bee on 5/29/2008 7:36:00 AM more reviews by May_Bee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I work with a female colleague who wears what I had always assumed to be a male fragrance - I never questioned it because she is quite androgynous and I assumed it was a deliberate choice. Then I tried this, recognised it, and was astonished to find that this is marketed to be worn by women?!?! I don't get orange, or chocolate, or sweet, or warm. I do get salt on dry stone, salt on bleached wood, sails, ropes - maybe a bit of wood, pepper and vetiver. I find it an interesting scent, very well bred and distinctive. And completely and totally masculine. I wear several supposedly "unisex" scents but, with the exception of Un Jardin sur le Nil, I think most fragrances are clearly either masculine or feminine. Wearing Elixir des Merveilles would be like wearing male drag - a big step too far for me!

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Silaira on 5/3/2008 2:36:00 PM more reviews by Silaira

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is Eau des Merveilles' younger and sweeter sister. I haven't really decided if I like this or the Eau version better.
What I love about Elixir is that it opens with notes of chocolate and orange, but then dries down to something very similar to the original fragrance.
If you like chocolate, oranges and patchouly you should definitely try this. It is gorgeous!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Daniela1977 on 3/10/2008 11:21:00 AM more reviews by Daniela1977

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I love love this fragance.Super femenine and last long too.

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Brunettecat on 10/28/2007 7:25:00 AM more reviews by Brunettecat

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I love the wacky tilted bottle and the smell too. On me it doesn't smell remotely orangey or chocolatey, but very dry and sophisticated. More heady than my other Hermes favourite, Caleche, this is definitely a perfume for grown-ups. The nearest other perfume to this that I have worn is Sisley's Eau du Soir - not the same scent, but a similar mood.

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