I mentioned when I reviewed the two fragrances in the new Pierre Hermé collection at L'Occitane, Jasmin Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe, that shortly after smelling them I ordered a set of the hand creams. The trio comes with an additional fragrance, Miel Mandarine, that they didn't produce in an Eau de Toilette form. Here are some very quick thoughts; if you've never used L'Occitane's hand creams and you want some background on the formula, see my review of the Passionate Jasmine, Subtle Violet and Fleur d’Or & Acacia hand creams.
Miel Mandarine
This was the scent I was most curious about since they are not selling it in a personal fragrance, and also, orange + honey? That sounds fantastic. Unfortunately it is not my favorite L'Occitane hand cream ever. The scent is reasonably long lasting but very, very sheer— if you find most L'Occitane creams too heavily scented, this might be the one for you. It doesn't have nearly enough oomph for my tastes (I wanted more orange, and more honey, and I still say they should have added a biscuit-y / macaron note to one of the scents in the collection). I will have no trouble using it up — it does smell nice enough — but I can't see ever worrying over it once it's gone. And that's just as well, since this collection is limited edition anyway.
Jasmin Immortelle Neroli
I notice the jasmine and neroli more, and the immortelle less, than I did in the Eau de Toilette: this is a bright and cheerful citrus floral, and it's reasonably well-scented — I found it preferable to the Passionate Jasmine they did a few years ago. It's pleasant, and I'll probably go through this a little faster than the Miel Mandarine, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it after it's gone either.
Pamplemousse Rhubarbe
Easily my favorite from the trio, and very true to the Eau de Toilette: a slap of grapefruit in the start, then a warmish blend of spices brightened by the rhubarb. I like this one enough that I will try to get another tube before it disappears, and I'm also now seriously considering investing in the body lotion ($27) and shower gel ($20). The one drawback is the lasting power, which is not quite as good as the Jasmin Immortelle Neroli.
If you're tried any great hand creams lately, do comment!
The L'Occitane + Pierre Hermé hand creams are are $12 each for 30 ml. The trio set shown above, in tin gift box, is $29. A Hugs & Kisses set (hand cream + lip balm) is $20, and a Voyage set (hand cream + lip balm + soap) is $25 (neither of those sets is available in Miel Mandarine, though).
I’m disappointed that there’s not more heft to Miel Mandarine. I picked up a tube of their limited edition shea honey hand cream a few years back and though I found it too strong at first, I became quite fond of it in the end. I was hoping Miel Mandarine would be just as strongly scented.
l’Occitane sent me a sample of the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe body lotion in the mail. It’s really good. I found it had decent laying power and I got a strong Hermes vibe both from the scent and the formula. The packaging looks lovely as well. I say go for it.
You know, happy888cat found it the “weightiest” of the bunch, so do go try it, maybe I’m crazy, and/or anosmic to something in it.
I am really hoping these go on markdown. I am going to have a hard time spending $27 on body lotion.
I’ll have to check if it’s in my store. I’m planning to head to the mall tomorrow anyways because i just found out that my Sephora is now stocking Zegna’s Essenze Collection. Free samples here I come! I believe that L’Occitane’s Christmas limited edition stuff usually goes on sale during their yearly summer sale in June/July.
Ha…that’s a long wait, I might have to cave! Good luck on those samples.
Yech! The Pamplemousse body lotion here (in Australia) is $39. Still I think it may make a good Xmas present for a friend. I introduced her to Un Jardin sur le Nil and she likes it very much. I like the EDT of Pamplemousse Rhubarbe, but not quite enough for a purchase.
Mainly I love the word ‘pamplemousse’.
Yeah, I think that’s about the same price as here, with the exchange rate. It’s pricey for body lotion. (It’s probably actually more economical than the hand creme, but my brain doesn’t work that way.)
It’s really a great word. I bet the French eat more grapefruit because they get to call it pamplemousse.
My latest favorite hand cream is a drugstore cheapie Carmex Healing Cream. It smells like a light vanilla, not greasy at all and does not get all over everything you touch (e.g. mouse, keyboard, water bottle…).
I did not even know Carmex made anything but the lip stuff! Will have to look for it.
I like their plain Whipped Hand Cream with 25% shea butter very much. I don’t usually go for scented hand creams because I usually test perfume on the backs of my hands, especially in winter, when the rest of my body is covered up.
Nonetheless, Pamplemousse Rhubarbe sounds really intriguing, and those little tubes are an nice treat and handy to carry in a purse or backpack. I’m the same, I can easily spend $12 on a cute 30-ml tube, but $27 for an 8.4-oz body milk seems extravagant.
Yeah, I’m the same but why is that — the body cream is probably a better deal. But I say that not even having tried it, maybe it isn’t all that scented, or all that moisturizing. It’s just so much easier to spend $12
I loved the PR hand cream but… I have a gazillion tubes of hand cream all over the place that haven’t been used up. So now I’m determinedly applying hand cream all day so I can finish at least one to justify buying another!
You need to be like me and misplace them
lol! An appealing strategy…