Hermès will launch Epice Marine, the latest in the Hermessence series, in September. The theme, as captured in the name, is spices and the ocean, and the fragrance was developed in a sort of collaboration between Hermès house perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and chef Olivier Roellinger.
Possible notes: bergamot, roasted cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, algae, whiskey, smoke.
I will update with more information when I can, in the meantime, you can read a detailed report on the fragrance's development at the French version of Vanity Fair.
(via vanityfair.fr)
Update: see a review of Hermès Epice Marine.
Algae, whiskey, and smoke oh my! : )
Is the bottle pink, or am I blind?
That is just a picture of some various Hermessences…don’t know what color this new one will be.
Sounds like an interesting and unusual pairing!
I will try it, out of curiosity (note to self, test on paper first), but there is a certain serenity that is gained knowing that I never met a Hermes fragrance I really liked (I can wear only two, VT and AN) and that JCE is the only perfumer I admire and respect to produce fragrances I consistently dislike!!!
I’m glad for him and for hermes I’m in the minority in perfumista-dom !
We are opposites. I will buy nearly anything they make.
Although in all truth, I adore some of the Hermessences, others leave me cold.
I know!
I just read the interview now, and it is really a nice background story: the exchange of ideas and materials (50kg of cumin! :O), the friendship, the spices and the ocean.
I am curious about the special cumin that doesn’t smell sweaty.
But I remind myself of santal massoia, great idea and wonderful opening, and then, ouch, the JCE signature. I had to scrub it off, as usual…
It is a lovely article. And in some ways the fragrance sounds different from JCE’s usual, but of course, you may be right that it will be instantly recognizable!
Algea? What does algea smell like??? I’m itching already…
Here is a description of the smell of algae. “If you’re not familiar with the scent, a few of us in the lab tried to describe it using: salty, spicy, stinky shoe, earthy, brined turkey water, and wet dog.” from coralreefecology.com…stinky toe?
Try CSP Aqua Motu. One of the few great cents of the line, it’s got quite a true algae-sea scent to it.
I mean scents.
Actually not an uncommon fragrance note…would expect it to smell salty-tangy-seawater-y.
Hmmmm. should be interesting to see how they used that scent profile! hah
I smell algae as the prominent top note of Sel Marin. Thoughts?
I fear Womanity has scared me a bit from trying anything “briney,” but I do love my spicy scents. Maybe I’d be brave enough to sniff this one . . . Since these aren’t readily available for me, and it hasn’t been released yet, I guess I have some time to get up the gumption!
This sounds very interesting, I already have all the Hermenessences in travel size, except Paprika Brazil.
I’ve been wondering though, when I’ve looked at the Hermes webbshop, Ambre Narguile doesn’t seem available anymore-it’s not discontinued??
Hermes has always removed things when they are out of stock, then put them back later — so seriously doubt it.
That’s reassuring, Ambre Narguile is a favorite
I read this and all I can think of is umami.
Now that sounds damn interesting. Will it be good? I don’t know but I feel like it will be a must smell.
This is the first Hermessence where one specific note is not part of the actual name.
And the fact that a second perfumer beside Jean-Claude Ellena is also given credit for its development makes me think that Hermes might be starting to change direction regarding the Hermessence series.
Or perhaps that the “board” needed to identify a successor for Ellena and make it public.
He is not a second perfumer, he is a chef who is friends with JCE, and so far as I know he has no “official” connection to the perfume.
Oops! I did not take the time to read about Roellinger.
Did not realize he was a chef! Apology.
But regarding the comment above about what color will the leather cap and sleeve be: I am personally putting my money on a “green” color.
Oh Noes! more Hermessences!
Well the good thing is that I like marine scents…
The bad thing is that if I like it… I will go broke! hehehe
Who needs to eat EVERY day on a 15 day vacation… I could do with 1 meal a day… or popcorn and a soda.. LOL
I am not into marine scents too much, I can’t say I think I would be a fan with one with cumin in there. Spicy ocean doesn’t appeal to me much. Love all the notes except for cumin and algae. It seems like it would be a strange scent. But I guess until one sniffs, who knows. Seems like weird pairings to me.
Seems like weird pairing to me too. But I’m going to find out. Had no idea these existed. I like the idea of Hermes
Want. That’s all.
Cumin? I am SCARED it may smell like B.O.
Maybe it’s a spicy Bulgari Aqua.
Oh no! I just purchased eau de Mandarine Ambree and now this?!
At least I have a couple months to save. 