Hermès

Just lovely. This is the scent that you can’t forget or substitute. Truly one of a kind. I understand that it’s not a scent for everyone. It’s pretty strong at first- very ginger-y, and a bit citrusy. Sweet and sour at the same time, even a bit oriental. It has a “zest” that may put off people who prefer gentler, sweeter scents. The combo of ginger and bitter orange definitely contributes to it. After it settles down the woody notes become more prominent. It’s very long lasting. A little goes a long way. My favorite of all Hermes’ fragrances, tied with Terre Intense Vetiver and Rhubarbe Ecarlate. The other 2 are men’s fragrances but well, I find most mainstream womens fragrances too sweet for my liking. My other favorites include Miss Dior EDP (2017 formulation)- my signature scent, Miss Dior Le Parfum, Tom Ford Noir Eau Extreme (yep, another men’s perfume). Overall, go and smell it. You may fall in love.

A spicy chypre. I have the vintage version, which lost some of the lighter bergamot top notes but maintained a richer depth compared to the modern. The opening wakes you up with astringent aldehydes with hints of clean soap over a base of rich spicy resins, amber and tarry myrrh. This Myrrh is exactly like the essential oil, which one of the Magi gave baby Jesus in "We Three Kings". At this point the main notes remind me of the distinctive harsh note of "Tabu" over a smooth base of "Old Spice". Only Hermes does it with restraint, the result being 10x smoother and more balanced like a blended tobacco. After 45 minutes the green top notes smooth out and develops its real character. A myrhh that reminds me of fresh pouch tobacco. Spicy tobacco ashes. Rich smooth amber. Sharp clean soap. Twinkly sweet powdered iris. Now and then layers of astringent galbanum and green notes waft over the top in a freshly showered and powdered effect. This feels unisex to me. Clean, warm and spicy. Dependable, reliable and socially pleasant, telling of an easy going maturity and reliability, but full of personality and well traveled spicy tales. Inviting you to lean in and engage further. It gives me a "your well groomed and still fit great uncle retired from the military" vibe. Relaxing in the library smoking just after a brisk walk in the fresh air and a quick shower before dinner. I remember this being worn on many well put together, but stern and uncompromising country suited women during the mid 1980's. The type who would enter a store and tap the counter with an irritated expression, expecting immediate, fawning "service"! I actually saw one woman do this in a department store when shopping for either this or Rive Gauche, another Chypre of the time. She chose Rive Gauche, probably because it was cheaper. Top Notes - Aldehydes, Bergamot, Galbanum, Hyacinth Heart Notes - Iris, Jasmine, Rose, Ylang ylang Base notes - Amber, Spices, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver, Incense, Cedarwood

This fragrance for me is a fitting balance between my country roots and my now urban existence. This fragrance is inspired by a roof garden, in Paris, on top of the Hermes flagship store. All of this is a nice starting concept, but what I really get is a perfectly breezy laid back picnic scent. I cannot help imagining a red and white blanket on top of freshly mown grass. A lovely French woman whos hair is up in a ponytail, a fresh sundress in white cotton simply adorns her body. She's laid before herself a summer repast of offal and home grown tomatoes sliced with salt, fresh buffalo mozzerella and basil drizzled with the best grassy extra virgin olive oil. She's prepared a white sangria with green apple, peaches, pear, and mango. There is a wonderful magnolia tree in full bloom in the corner of this rooftop garden and a compost heap to recycle all the leftover goodies. There are other summer light and refreshing goodies laid out, but this fragrance which captures this idyllic afternoon mimics what I've described. The breeze gently caresses the back of my neck where I've sprayed this fragrance and lulls me after enough sangria to lay down for a siesta.