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Hermes Jour d’Hermes ~ perfume review

Posted by Robin on 6 December 2012 104 Comments

Hermès Jour d'Hermès, watercolor

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, along comes Jour d'Hermès, a brand new feminine pillar fragrance from perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena at Hermès. Longtime readers know I'm a fan, but just how much of a fan? Thanks (or not) to evidence provided by the damage polls, I can report that I've spent just over $2000 on fragrance in the past five years (ouch! bless me Donatella, for I have sinned) and about 28% of that apparently spilled directly into the coffers at Hermès. And yes, that includes the mumble-$100-something I spent on a bottle of Jour d'Hermès.

(If you've spent a like proportion of your perfume dollars on a single brand, do comment. I will add that if the entire works of Serge Lutens had been available in the US over that same time period, in the more-affordable export bottles, I'm sure I'd have done a better job of padding his coffers too. It does help, though, that Hermès maintains a boutique in my local mall, conveniently situated just outside the front door of Neiman Marcus, another favorite spot for spur-of-the-moment purchases.)

But back to Jour d'Hermès. It starts with bright citrus: tart grapefruit and what smells like green-tinged lemon. The heart is blended flowers. I believe the only notes mentioned to the press so far are gardenia and sweet pea, but it doesn't really matter — it smells like a leafy mixed spring bouquet, light and fresh and buoyant and young. The word luminous is used in the official description, and that's perfectly apt, as is the watercolor in sunrise hues of gold and rose. The base is a pale woody musk finished in warm, sunny tones, slightly earthy, slightly vegetal. Perfumistas familiar with the work of Jean-Claude Ellena will catch fleeting glimpses of old favorites and/or not favorites (Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Vanille Galante, Un Jardin Sur Le Toit) and that will either charm you or it won't, you know who you are, right?

I am charmed, but as I've already made clear, I'm an easy mark. Jour d'Hermès is easy-to-wear elegance, gorgeously joyful or joyfully gorgeous, take your pick. It's perhaps a teensy bit more full-bodied than Ellena's usual, but still more ethereal than not. Despite that, it lasts through a good part of the day.

The refillable bottle is lovely — and satisfyingly heavy — although I think the gold Hermès crest on the top of the cap (sorry, I don't have a picture) is rather overdone in a cheap-shiny-bling kind of way, and spoils the otherwise classic look; I wish they'd left it off entirely, or at least done it in the same white finish as the rest of the cap. If you don't need the bottle, the refill is more economical, and will be easier for splits.

Hermès Jour d'Hermès perfume bottles

Hermès Jour d'Hermès is available in 50 ($108) and 85 ($149) ml Eau de Parfum, and in a 125 ($130) ml refill. It is available now in Hermès boutiques, and will go into wider distribution early next year.

Included in...

5 perfumes: pretty spring florals
Perfume: the best of 2012

Related...

Hermes Jour d’Hermes Absolu ~ perfume review

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: floral, hermes, jean claude ellena

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104 Comments

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  1. ceelouise says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:15 pm

    Ellena was profiled recently in French Elle. Actually, I read the article on the magazine’s app. It was one of the best bits on perfumers and perfumery I’ve read, but that’s because perfume articles in the general press are usually just fluff. Ellena, Sheldrake and Wasser were profiled. I love Ellena and Sheldrake – Hermes and Lutens, to be precise. They all talked about synthetics versus natural, how the industry has changed, their training, smells they love and hate, their influences, favorite perfumes. I wish all perfume fans could read it. I’d translate for a fee! ;) Ellena talked about the beauty of contrast – instead of orange with bergamot, orange with vanilla (or something like that). I thought it was funny that Ellena mentioned Eau de Cartier as a favorite perfume, because for the longest time I thought he was the perfumer for that scent, which is also a fave of mine. Just an enjoyable, easy-to-read (okay, in French) and informative article. Rare when it comes to perfume journalism.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 3:17 pm

      And it’s so rare that a perfumer names someone else’s perfume as a favorite! Thanks for the summary.

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      • ceelouise says:
        6 December 2012 at 6:11 pm

        Ellena named several favorite perfumes, if I recall correctly, Apres L’ondee, Shalimar, Mitsouko, Diorella. All three perfumers named Mitsouko as a favorite, quel surprise.

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        • ceelouise says:
          6 December 2012 at 6:15 pm

          quelle surprise…:)

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        • Robin says:
          6 December 2012 at 6:50 pm

          Those don’t surprise me though…should have said it’s rare when a perfumer names a perfume by someone else *still living* — easy enough to say Mitsouko or Shalimar, after all. Which is not to knock those choices, just saying it’s nice to hear something modern.

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    • Lys says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:13 pm

      ceelouise do you have a link? google is giving me the runaround ;)

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      • ceelouise says:
        6 December 2012 at 6:14 pm

        It may be only on the French Elle magazine app. It is very recent. I was glued to my tiny iPhone and actually read every word. I almost never read full articles on the iphone. I had a slight headache after!

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      • Veronika says:
        6 December 2012 at 6:50 pm

        the link is http://www.elle.fr/Beaute/Dossiers-beaute/Parfums/Dans-le-secret-des-parfumeurs-2261550#Jean-Claude-Ellena-chez-Hermes-2261656

        I love the perfumes they are naming! Sherdlake said: “Mitsouko me touche beaucoup. Le N° 19, qui a été un grand événement dans l’histoire et dans l’élégance. Et j’aime le sillage ultra-féminin et sensuel du N° 22”
        Mitsouko, N19 and N22!

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      • Lys says:
        6 December 2012 at 8:48 pm

        Thank you both for the info!

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  2. Abyss says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Oh, wow, you even bought a bottle! Now I’m really excited/worried for my wallet. I really look forward to trying it – I like Ellena’s work, consider Hermès to be in the top 3 favourite houses (along with Chanel and Amouage) and I love a good abstract floral.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:42 pm

      But must be honest: it is MUCH harder to resist Hermes, which always offers instant gratification, than the many niche fragrances that I try via fragrance vial and then must take further action — and then wait! — in order to acquire. I adore this scent, but probably would have put it in line behind Azemour Les Orangers if I was ordering online, since I’ve adored ALO much longer.

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      • Abyss says:
        6 December 2012 at 9:24 pm

        Ha, true, instant gratification is much harder to resist. I’m usually okay as long as I can leave with a sample, it’s when I love something in store and they are out of samples that saying no is much harder.

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  3. austenfan says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:34 pm

    I thought you would fall victim for this one. I am so going to sniff this. It sounds so lovely.
    Thanks for a great review.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:42 pm

      I’m SO easy to peg, aren’t I?

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  4. mough says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Since you invited those of us who are top heavy on one certain house, I have to confess to Amouage. I have, yikes, probably 5 bottles of Amouage, alone. When they’re great, they’re great! And when they’re not, well, it’s never horrible, just meh, for the price. But I can’t find another house that makes such consistently stunning and diversified scents. Can not get enough!

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:43 pm

      Wow, you have an even more expensive addiction than I do ;-)

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    • Marjorie Rose says:
      7 December 2012 at 12:13 am

      {{{jealousy}}}
      I could own a few more than the single bottle I currently have. :)

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    • Beata says:
      13 January 2013 at 3:07 pm

      Hi Mough, thank you so much for your confession about 5 bottle of Amouage as that makes me feel less guilty about my obsession – I only have 4 bottles (my confession would be that the 5th one is already on my wish list). Can I ask which ones are your favourites?
      As to Jour d’Hermes and JCE and his composition I find them a bit too quiet… Having said that he was the nose behind Dia and God bless him for that as I absolutely love Dia. Funnily enough his brother composed Beloved.

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  5. platinum14 says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:38 pm

    Confession time: In the past 15 months I bought 7 FB (export) Lutens and 8 FB from L’Artisan Parfumeur.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:43 pm

      Holy toledo. I am jealous. I used to buy much more L’Artisan than I do now, and I think it is because a) they’re raised their prices and b) they got rid of the smaller sizes.

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  6. ladymurasaki says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Now this sounds promising. I love Ellena’s work and have been looking forward to a new release.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:44 pm

      Hope you will like it!

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  7. Eva S says:
    6 December 2012 at 3:57 pm

    If I include the travel bottles I already own 13 of JCEs scents from Hermes, and I just bought Ambre de Merveilles…
    But 14 is a much more even and pretty number, don’t you agree? :-)

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:45 pm

      The Ambre is very tempting. I cannot justify it since I already own Eau des & Claire des Merveilles. But I’d like one.

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    • Veronika says:
      6 December 2012 at 7:15 pm

      I also just bought L’Ambre des Merveilles and seriously contemplating a bottle of Eau Claire! And now the new Jour is here….
      Ahhh…will probably have to stop eating after holidays anyway…

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  8. Lys says:
    6 December 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I got to try this recently, very JCE and thankfully for my wallet not quite my style. You can tell the materials include some good quality and the bottle is striking. Like you mention, it reminds me of some in the Jardin series. I think a man could easily wear this were he a perfumista.

    Will look up the French Elle article.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Yes — always lucky when it is NOT your style!

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  9. raluca says:
    6 December 2012 at 4:19 pm

    The bottle is awful. It is bland and has absolutely no soul whatsoever. It is like a stone heart or a a robot. It is well in line with the new concept of “elegance”: clean, no colours, no flaws, all grey-black-beige, no flesh, no personality, cheap.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Ah, so sorry you hated it.

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    • pyramus says:
      6 December 2012 at 5:11 pm

      I thought it was lovely — graceful and solid at the same time. The contents are not for me, mind you, but the bottle’s so nice.

      I have a half-dozen Hermes scents, and probably ten CSPs, but my genuine obsession is Serge Lutens: I have a dozen or so decants, ten export bottles, and two bell jars (I bought them in Paris!) and I would have another six or eight FBs of his if I thought I could justify the cost. And some day I might.

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      • Robin says:
        6 December 2012 at 5:30 pm

        Ah, if we count decants as opposed to total spending, I am sure my Serge & L’Artisan collections rival anything else.

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    • thenoseknows says:
      6 December 2012 at 5:37 pm

      WOW! That’s Incredibly Harsh!! I mean… It’s a Elegant, Uncomplicated, Glorious Piece of Glass Work and It’s Rather beautiful in it’s Linear Simplicity…. Some things do not need Bells and Whistles and need not look like the living embodiment of the word “SPROING” (Justin Beiber… I am talking At YOU!) As Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe Said… “Less Is More!” and in this case… Less is truly MUCH MORE! Just like the Candid, Open Honest Simplicity of Bottega Veneta’s Bottle… Gorgeous Outside and In! ;-D

      Robin, Dear Heart… You have made my little heart go all Pitter Patter with your Review! It sounds MAGNIFIQUE! Will be looking for it very soon and also now know i need to find some way to Acquire a Bottle of “Voyage D’Hermes” I LOVE THAT SCENT!!!!

      Yes… if you find this bottle so offensive by the way… what kind of bottles to you respond to???? Eh?

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      • thenoseknows says:
        6 December 2012 at 5:38 pm

        I clicked the wrong Comment Button… this was meant in response to Raluca’s Comment about how hideous the bottle was…. SORRY! *BLUSHING!!!*

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    • Lys says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:40 pm

      @raluca have you seen it in person?

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  10. Merlin says:
    6 December 2012 at 4:23 pm

    This sounds like a wonderful citrus – which I’v been looking out for. I bought L’occitaine’s Citrus Verbena on a sale, but suddenly it started reminding me of the lemon honey lozenges I suck when my throat is sore – and now I can’t wear it :/
    Also, I’m impressed that it jumped your whole to-buy list – including Azemour! I love the top notes of Azemour but the juicy orange doesn’t last very long…

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:47 pm

      It’s more of a floral than a citrus, though.

      But see my comment above…it jumped over Azemour only because there it was, in the the store, and there I was too. If Azemour was sold in my mall, I’d own it by now.

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      • Merlin says:
        6 December 2012 at 5:30 pm

        Ha ha! I saw it on your Christmas wish list and it was second on mine. (But for me its still impulse-love because I only recently got a sample.)

        So is your ‘to buy’ list which you have described as now being more or less theoretical (and rather long), composed entirely of niche scents?

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        • Robin says:
          6 December 2012 at 5:31 pm

          No, not entirely. But mostly.

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  11. kristinacologne says:
    6 December 2012 at 4:32 pm

    This sounds very promising! There are not too many of Ellena’s scents that I wear (the Jardin scents are too fruity for me) but I truly appreciate the quality of his work. This could be a winner! Oh, and I spent a big chunk of my perfume budget on Chanel – I own four of the Exclusifs alone.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 4:48 pm

      And I own NONE of the Exclusifs, although I wouldn’t mind having a few, and I do have a bottle of Bois des Iles in the extrait. 28 La Pausa & Bel Respiro would both find happy homes here :-)

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  12. Zazie says:
    6 December 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Oh, now I have to try it!!
    But I know very well that the outcome of this testing is going to be a total disaster… I’ll blame you, Robin! ;)
    The perfume house that absolutely dominates my fragrance cabinet is Guerlain: 12+ bottles. The list would be much longer if I did eBay…And I seriously want want want even more Guerlains (sous le vent is in pole position of my perfume desires at the moment)….

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    • Lys says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:42 pm

      I like that … pole position. Little bottles of Guerlains zipping around a tiny little Indy track.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:52 pm

      Oh, and Guerlain is so much harder without eBay! Hope you’ll get all the ones you want.

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  13. Nita says:
    6 December 2012 at 5:23 pm

    I’ve loved Hermes fragrances since I first tried Caleche many years ago. I want to try the new one, but something has changed in my reaction to fragrance since I’ve become deeply in love with Mona di Orio’s Discovery Set. It’s not like Hermes or Guerlain or Caron or YSL or any other of my treasures. It has moved my parameters of desire. I’d like to live with these fragrances the rest of my ife. God help my bank account!

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:53 pm

      Indeed, that would not be a cheap way to live!

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  14. farouche says:
    6 December 2012 at 5:56 pm

    My perfume collection is fairly balanced, but Chanel wins with a total of six full bottles, some I’ve owned for a very long time. Thank you for your review of Jour d’Hermes, Robin, I can’t wait to try it. I’ve also put L’Ambre des Merveilles on my Christmas list…hope I get it, it’s such a nice, warm easy scent to wear!

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:54 pm

      I honestly don’t know what brand I have the most bottles of — that would be way more work to figure out.

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  15. Coumarin says:
    6 December 2012 at 5:58 pm

    Unfortunately, this one made me rather unhappy. And this from an Hermès buff to the core. I have my favorites, but if you randomly selected one of Ellena’s creations for Hermès and the only one I’d actively complain about would be Ambre Narguile. Not to mention the less-than-half full 100ml bottle of BdR I cherish (heard whispers or reformulation?) and the bottle of Iris Ukiyoé I wish I could afford.

    So Jd’H…. The top and heart are nigh unbearable to me. The scent is almost industrial (or at least functional) with the oily, dark green scent that overpowered Odalisque. I find it very unsettling. Thankfully, the florals in the dry down finally emerge, though very quietly. This part I would buy: and armful of florals made translucent in the sun. Too bad: I adore the bottle.

    Like I tweeted, though, am adding L’Ambre des Merveilles to my buy list. Now that they have four Marvelous potions, maybe they could do a holiday mini coffret? Please? Pretty please?

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:55 pm

      So sorry! I wish I remembered Odalisque better.

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    • irisfreak says:
      7 December 2012 at 1:23 pm

      I so agree, Coumarin! (I didn’t even like the dry-down). I’m really sick of JCE’s tart-fruit openings. The rest of Jour held no interest. I am, however, weighing a purchase of Ambre – not sure if I need another amber, though, when my heart so belongs to Ambre Narguile.

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  16. FragrantWitch says:
    6 December 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Sounds lovely but, fortunately for my wallet, not for me. My perfume cabinet is fairly balanced but the dominant house is definitely Guerlain. If I did eBay I’d be in deep trouble, gorgeous smelling but in trouble!

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:58 pm

      I think my cabinet is pretty balanced too…there is a little Hermes section, but it isn’t most of the space. Actually my accounting is a little misleading, since the vast majority of my collection precedes 2008.

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  17. moon_grrl says:
    6 December 2012 at 6:28 pm

    I really hope this one is carried at Sephora after it’s Hermes exclusive run. It sounds right up my alley and I’d like to have it in instant gratification range.

    I’ve spent a lot of money on buying scents from Parfums de Nicolai (I was SO LATE to that line, too, only trying it for the first time about two years ago!) and not-so-much money on the classic Estee Lauders.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:56 pm

      I am still meaning to buy Vie de Chateau, wish I knew if it was still as mossy.

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    • Erin says:
      6 December 2012 at 10:17 pm

      M & R, the money bit is a hard percentage to calculate, but Nicolai leads my bottle count, too. It’s just they’re so darn reasonable (like the Lauders) that they don’t seem like the largest portion of my cost. Three of my Chanels, including two vats, have come from hubby, I traded for a bottle of Cristalle, and I bought a 31 Rue Cambon 75 ml for my mom because she liked mine so much, so my guess is that the biggest contribution to coffers associated with me would be to Chanel.

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      • Robin says:
        7 December 2012 at 6:55 am

        That’s a sensible way to look at it. I ought to own more PdNs than I do.

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  18. Bee says:
    6 December 2012 at 6:32 pm

    I tried it just once, my main impression was of lychees, for hours… I think I’ll give it another try in spring, but for the moment I’m not so much into it. Nothing against JCE, I do have Kelly Calèche and Voyage FBs at the moment (and vetiver tonka on the long list)

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 6:56 pm

      Hours of lychee would not impress me either, ack.

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  19. Lys says:
    6 December 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Oh yeah, forgot. Guerlain wins my cabinet altho I always think I’m a Lutens girl. Trying Lupin Voyou today.

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  20. Veronika says:
    6 December 2012 at 7:10 pm

    I have to say: the most damage was made at Chanel corner, Hermes comes only second. But only a couple of years ago it was the other way around. It’s safe to say that I periodically shutte between those two – and have only very few affairs on the side:)

    Thank’s to your reviews of the latest des Merveilles additions I feel like I’m starting a new era at Hermes again.
    I adore Un Jardin en Mediterranee from Ellena, and I find Osmanthe Yunnan to be the most enchanting peach scent (or rather osmanthus infused oolong scent) I’m a little afraid to try the Jour… Want to like it as much as I like the others, but Ellena’s creations not always work for me… I love warm fragrances (whatever this means) and Ellena’s are really cold sometimes. Do you really find a lot in common with Sur le Toit? It left me indifferent when I tried it…

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 7:35 pm

      Something in the base reminded me of Sur Le Toit, but bear in mind that I did not like Sur Le Toit…they’re not at all “the same”.

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  21. Subhuman says:
    6 December 2012 at 7:21 pm

    My cabinet is currently dominated by Thierry Mugler, of all things. I’ve swapped and given away Diors, Chanels, YSLs, and Guccis by the truckload, but somehow have never been able to part with a Mugler. They all seem to have a sense of childlike fun mixed with elements of weird, even the more on-paper conventional ones (Womanity, Cologne, Innocent). I also get a kick out of the line’s ludicrously campy advertising, fantastical backstories, and wealth of ancillary products. Mugler does everything large-scale, which I appreciate in this age of subdued elegance and minimalism.

    As for Jour d’Hermes, I was verrrryy interested in how it would be received. For some reason I was expecting it to be lousy, despite Ellena’s brilliant track record. It just sounds so conventional and blah on paper. I’m heartened to hear that it’s actually good. I’m a fan of Ellena’s style, but I do have to be in the right mood for it; sometimes his stuff is just too sheer and polite. (I’m the Mugler man, remember?) I do own a ginormous bottle of Cartier Déclaration, though, which is quintessential JCE and something that I have decided I can’t live without. I wasn’t convinced of Ellena’s genius until I lived with Déclaration for a year and found it endlessly fascinating.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 7:40 pm

      Hmmm. It is not “unconventional”, and did not think Kelly Caleche was unconventional either — they are both ladylike, polite perfumes, but I do not find either boring or “generic”, which is often how ladylike, polite perfumes turn out. But it is true that in some ways JCE’s masculines are more daring than the feminines, and certainly nothing in the line is as daring as anything Mugler!

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  22. jonr951 says:
    6 December 2012 at 8:17 pm

    I’m BEYOND jealous Robin! Great review, as always of course! : )
    I will be waiting in sorrow for Jour d’Hermes to show up at Nordstrom. L’Ambre des Merveilles didn’t take THAT long so I can do it. Haha! I cannot wait to see that bottle in person! Eau de Pamplemousse Rose and Vanille Galante are two of my favorites so this one definitely sounds like a winner in my book. Enjoy it for the rest of us Robin! : )

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 8:33 pm

      They say not until February, so sorry to say you’ve a bit of a wait.

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      • jonr951 says:
        6 December 2012 at 9:46 pm

        I know, I know. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Haha!

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  23. Ari says:
    6 December 2012 at 8:21 pm

    I have a relatively small collection at this point, but L’Artisan clearly dominates (Safran Troublant, Bois Farine, Poivre Piquant, Dzing!). However, I’m thinking about getting that fiiiiiiine Frederic Malle women’s coffret, which would skew my collection very far in that direction!

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 8:32 pm

      Ah, that would be a fine thing to own.

      Come to think of it, ALL of my FMs are in 5 or 10 ml bottles, which is why they don’t rank very high in terms of my spending.

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  24. Elizabeth says:
    6 December 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I literally ran to the Hermes boutique to try Jour d’Hermes yesterday. I loved holding the beautifully-solid bottle, but sadly the perfume did not work for me. There was a very insistent and prominent fruity note (pear? apple?) that dominated the composition on my skin. Oh well. I still love the bottle! I just I could have it filled with L’Ambre des Merveilles.

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    • Robin says:
      6 December 2012 at 8:32 pm

      And someone above said lychee, so you’re not alone. I do think there’s some apple in there, but it’s terribly light to me, lighter than in Toit.

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  25. JolieFleurs says:
    6 December 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Of the bottles I bought strictly for the perfume, Caron by far dominates my collection, followed by Patou. I guess I am hardcore old-school!

    I have a fair amount of YSL, too, then By Kilian, Bvlgari, ELDO and whatever the company is that makes The Party in Manhattan. (They have some very pretty soliflores)

    I have yet to find an Hermes that rocks my world, so to speak…Osmanthus Yunnan was lovely, but rather light on me, which kind of sums up my opinion of the house itself. My skin eats them up within a half hour or so.

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    • nozknoz says:
      6 December 2012 at 10:37 pm

      I’m the same – the Hermes are lovely but I tend to go for richer fare.

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      • Robin says:
        6 December 2012 at 10:42 pm

        It is true, you won’t find richer fare at Hermes, at least, not among the recent scents.

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  26. hajusuuri says:
    6 December 2012 at 9:57 pm

    I may pop in to the Hermes Boutique on Wall St. tomorrow to check it out.

    By $s spent on FBs, my collection is dominated by Hermes, followed by Chanel, Jo Malone, Prada,Diptyque, Tokyo Milk. By number of FBs (25mLs or above): Jo Malone, Hermes, Chanel, Pacifica, Prada, Diptyque, Tokyo Milk. By travel sprays (9mL – 15mL), hands-down Gorilla/Lush. By spray samples (less 3mL or less and not from decant services), Tauer, Sonoma Scent Studio, Slumberhouse.

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 6:56 am

      Do report back if you smell it today!

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      • hajusuuri says:
        7 December 2012 at 6:28 pm

        Well, I came home with an orange bag :-)

        The perfume is nice flowery green sheer. The SA sprayed in on a 1.5 inch square with a 3D Hermes circle logo. The square was made of porous clay-like material, similar to the Diptyque closet freshener and the scent is still there after over 5 hours!

        Oh, and the bottle is gorgeous.

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        • Robin says:
          7 December 2012 at 8:25 pm

          That was easy!

          I was offered one of those squares, don’t know why on earth I didn’t take it.

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    • hajusuuri says:
      7 December 2012 at 6:33 pm

      Correction: The Tokyo Milk, at $36 each, should not have been included with the high $ spend list but remains in the bottle count list. 4 of them combined does not even come close to some of my singletons.

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  27. Prebendal says:
    6 December 2012 at 9:59 pm

    FYI, if you’re using Chrome, it’ll translate the article from French to English [or anything else.]

    I love Ellena and Sheldrake. I’ve decided life is too short and I am too old to wear anything but the best and most beautiful perfumes.

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    • nozknoz says:
      6 December 2012 at 10:34 pm

      That’s SO true, Prebendal!

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  28. nozknoz says:
    6 December 2012 at 10:33 pm

    Robin, this is an interesting perspective. I’m guessing that part of the reason you’ve spent more on Hermes over the last two years is that you’re at a point where you’re only buying FBs of perfume that you know you’ll really wear, and that Hermes happens to really suit your life, taste AND skin.

    I don’t think I have an obvious brand predominance, but I’d guess that more than half of my dollars have gone to vintage or discontinued perfumes and probably a third to niche. Also, I note that I have many Duchaufours from across brands.

    At this point it’s hard to justify a FB because I’ll never use that much of any one thing, but I always feel a cheated when I buy a decant and miss out on the magic of the packaging. Which is so superficial I can’t believe I’m saying it, but there you have it! I’m sort of grateful when a company like Eau d’Italie makes such an ugly bottle that I’m FORCED to find a decant instead, LOL.

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 6:58 am

      I wish that was it, but I don’t think so — in all truth, I don’t need ANY more perfume, and most bottles get no more than the occasional wear. No, I do think it’s the “instant gratification” / urge to spend thing that comes from being in the mall and smelling something great, and not taking days to think it through.

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  29. morgana says:
    7 December 2012 at 1:39 am

    Yes, Hermes is one of the very best. While Jour is a pretty perfume, I agree with others who said that it is not particularly interesting (and yes, I would also put it behind Azemour).

    Of the newer releases, Eau de Gentiane Blanche is an intriguing and intelligent scent (I find it more interesting than any of the Hermessences). Robin, please give it one more chance! Gentiane is so unusual, elegant, patient, and complex, IMO one of Ellena’s greatest (as somebody else also mentioned, Declaration goes strong as well).

    Plus, there is Hiris which was recently deleted from your 100 list, and Hiris is gorgeous! I also appreciate the mastery of Eau d’Hermes (even though I would probably not wear it).

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 7:00 am

      I would agree that Gentiane Blanche is intriguing & intelligent — but can’t see myself ever wearing something that clean, and certainly wouldn’t pay so much for it. But it’s terribly well done. (and have smelled it since I reviewed it, although admittedly not much)

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  30. Merlin says:
    7 December 2012 at 3:25 am

    The most represented brand in my collection is Comme de Garcons: 6 altogether and 3 from the incense series. But, I don’t think they are the most worn frags in my collection. I think I’m more in touch with my own taste and style now and I probably won’t be buying bottles of frag unless I think they are near signature worthy scents – or otherwise extremely easy to wear.

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 7:01 am

      I wish I owned more CdG than I do — would really like to have Hinoki, Kyoto & the lovely Stephen Jones. Not going to buy them though, unless they turn up in TJ Maxx.

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  31. prism says:
    7 December 2012 at 6:25 am

    all in all i’d say my fragrance collection is domineered by 2 brands. Hermes and Bulgari. especially Bulgari’s older stuff is so freaking good….

    those 2 are slowly being followed by Guerlain. hey! 2 out of 3 are owned by LVMH!

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 7:02 am

      LOL…yes, isn’t that funny? Or not funny? Was thinking about LVMH as I wrote this review, & their attempts to take a stake in Hermes.

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  32. Persolaise says:
    7 December 2012 at 8:17 am

    I’m hearing lots of good things about this one. A definite must-try, I suspect.

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 11:11 am

      I think so, but have already made it clear that I’m completely biased.

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  33. Carine Yezn says:
    7 December 2012 at 10:29 am

    Is it any closer to vera wang? it’s my signature, I like my fragrances to be soapy clean & feminine :)

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 11:10 am

      I would not call it soapy clean, no.

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  34. mysterious_scent says:
    7 December 2012 at 10:45 am

    It seems Jour d’Hermès has captured the heart of every perfume blogger I read! I am so curious!

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    • Robin says:
      7 December 2012 at 11:10 am

      It is worth a try, and it’s very likable.

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  35. Nile Goddess says:
    10 December 2012 at 6:16 am

    Hmm … sounds like it winks at Sur Le Nil at the beginning.

    Would love a more joyful Sur Le Nil. Some days I’d swear this fragrance mourns the pharaohs … too serene.

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    • Robin says:
      10 December 2012 at 1:04 pm

      Strictly speaking, I think you’d have to say it winks at something way farther back, like YSL In Love Again or Cartier Declaration? Because he’s been playing with those citrus notes for years upon years.

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  36. farouche says:
    19 December 2012 at 3:25 pm

    Just tried the lovely Jour d’Hermes today at the Boston Hermes store. They were completely out of product and samples, but after much begging produced a tester from the back room. Fortunately it is expected to be back in stock next week. It has shot to the top of my list, even ahead of L’Ambre.

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    • Robin says:
      27 December 2012 at 7:42 pm

      That’s so funny that they didn’t even want to let you have the tester! Glad you got to try it in the end.

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  37. maryofsherwood says:
    7 March 2013 at 9:17 am

    Sorry, but I found this perfume truly disgusting. It smells like cockroach poison. I think Jean-Claude Ellena is losing it…. The only frangrance I love from hermes is Eau des Merveilles – the EDT, not the EDP and not any of the flankers either. The rest is just…not good

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    • Robin says:
      7 March 2013 at 9:38 am

      That will save you time & trouble & $ then….you can ignore Hermes until he retires!

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  38. Karenina says:
    20 March 2013 at 12:07 am

    This has no sillage whatsoever.

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  39. crowllb says:
    29 March 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Smelled the scent strip in the April issue of Bazaar and immediately drove to Nordstrom to get some. I feel like I’m carrying a nosegay of white flowers when I wear it. Love.

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  40. Kristy says:
    13 April 2013 at 8:36 pm

    I adore this scent! I think it is sensual and joyful at the same time. Thanks so much for your review, Ive been reading a ton and you helped me settle on this as my new spring fragrance and I love it soooo much. =D

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  41. alexandrakwan says:
    11 May 2013 at 3:20 pm

    Ahhhh this is my birthday gift to myself! I’m looking for sth luminous and I really like this Hermes concept of light. I have been long time user of Prada infusion D’iris (4 bottles lol) hence I like anything ethereal and skin scent.

    On opening, jour is a refreshing burst of grapefruit and lemon, slightly sweetened but not surgary. It quickly faded into the floral heart blend of white flower (I swear I smell my fav scent of osmanthus !!)

    Unfortunately, despite I hv spirited myself 8 times before heading out to work…I can’t smell anything when I arrive office lol and the scent is fragile in the sense that it can quickly masked by any odor of your surroundings ….I can only enjoy it when I’m alone in bed or in office, where there’s no smell at all and air conditioned blasting away (my body temperature generally higher so light fragrance like this will hv major staying power issue with me……)

    Rather disappointing…..I’m looking for sth new to replace infusion D’iris……I bought this thing with 85ml….very heavy bottle….though the hefty feel sort of make it luxurious to me :P

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