Hermès will launch Terre d’Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver, a new flanker to 2006’s Terre d’Hermès fragrance for men (see also: 2014’s Terre d’Hermès Eau Très Fraîche and 2009’s Terre d’Hermès Parfum)…
Hermes Eau de Citron Noir ~ fragrance review
Following a path through the olfactory universe of hesperidia led me into a vast world, dotted with surprises, with citrus fruits. Finger lime, Buddha’s hand fruit, Eureka lemon…. So many unusual varieties of citrus appealed to me, but it was the smoky and distinguished black lime that finally stood out as the key note. — Christine Nagel
When Hermès announced Eau de Citron Noir I was thrilled. It was (maybe) full of things I love: citrus galore, black tea, guaiac wood. My nose itched for a sniff but, wisely, I didn’t just up and buy Eau de Citron Noir before smelling it. It has become my most recent and glaring example of the distance between desire and description — and reality.
Black lime (the dried fruit) as a perfume note intrigued me the most. These hard, charcoal-colored limes are used in Middle Eastern cuisine, and have a complex aroma: musty, fermented, charred, sweet and sour (think citrus-and-sugar-spiked rice vinegar); they smell like the inside of a well-used, wooden Indian spice box that’s held a variety of spices for decades…
Hermes Eau de Citron Noir ~ new fragrance
Hermès has launched Eau de Citron Noir, a new addition to the brand’s unisex Cologne collection. The last in the series were 2016’s Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate and Eau de Néroli Doré…
Hermes Cedre Sambac & Agar Ebene ~ fragrance reviews
Of the five new Hermessence fragrances, I’ve already reviewed Myrrhe Églantine. Today, short reviews of the other two fragrances in Eau de Toilette, Cèdre Sambac and Agar Ebène. If you’ve smelled either of the two “perfume essences”, Musc Pallida and Cardamusc, do comment, as I may or may not ever get around to them and it’s a pretty good bet that I’ll never buy them.
Cèdre Sambac
Upon this age-old tree, strong and graceful, I wanted to grow an embracing jasmine that coils around it. — Christine Nagel
I wanted a nice jasmine soliflore from Hermès for ages…
Hermes Myrrhe Eglantine ~ fragrance review
Myrrhe Églantine is one of the five new Hermessence fragrances from Hermès. They’re the first additions to the series from house perfumer Christine Nagel, and before you go complaining about the five, don’t forget that the Hermessences debuted under Jean-Claude Ellena — way back in 2004, a kabillion perfumes ago! — with four: Ambre Narguile, Poivre Samarcande, Rose Ikebana, Vetiver Tonka. And, happily for me, I’m only going to worry about three of the new ones, since two are expensive perfume oils I’ll probably never manage to get my hands on. As for Agar Ebène, Cèdre Sambac and Myrrhe Églantine, I bought those unsniffed right away, in the (swap-bait) 15 ml travel sizes. I’m starting with Myrrhe Églantine, largely because I was curious what Nagel would do with it, given that there’s already a rose in the series.
Hermès is a luxury house, and they do luxury press jaunts to match,1 but they’re not known for providing the sort of persnickety details that perfumistas adore, like say, a list of notes…