Hermès will introduce Violette Volynka, a new fragrance in the brand’s luxury Hermessence line, in September…
Top 10 Summer Fragrances 2018
I have never done one of the spit-or-scrape genealogical tests, but I have always suspected that my family has secret Nordic or Baltic blood, as both my brothers are enthusiastic enough about outdoor swimming that they’ll do it in early May or October… in Canada. While I hesitate to frolic in 50F waves, I do sport sandals until snow accumulates, drink Arnold Palmers in January and I’m the only non-menopausal female in my XX-dominated workplace who enjoys our arctic air-conditioning. In a similar fashion, I wear citrus colognes all year. When it is my turn to list summer fragrances around here, I remind myself that normal people generally turn to crisp, refreshing eaux only when the temperature rises. Having exhausted my stable of favored classic colognes in previous posts, though, I thought that this time I’d highlight some atypical choices. Please bear with me. I did test these on myself in the heat, but YMMV…
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…
Hermes Agar Ebene, Cedre Sambac, Myrrhe Eglantine, Cardamusc & Musc Pallida ~ new fragrances
Hermès has launched five new fragrances in the brand’s luxury Hermessence line. Agar Ebène, Cèdre Sambac and Myrrhe Eglantine are available in the Eau de Toilette concentration typical of the series; Cardamusc and Musc Pallida are in oil-based Essence de Parfum.
All were inspired by the Middle East, and developed by Hermès house perfumer Christine Nagel, who notes that they can be worn alone or layered…