Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Hermes

I have a ton of reviews to write up and hundreds of other assorted posts coming over the next month or two, so, it’s going to get busy around these parts. Let’s kick off this extravaganza with a unisex perfume review. Today’s entry we have a 2015 release by Hermes: Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. How does this scent stack up? How does it perform? Is it any good? Please read below for my full take.

What does Le Jardin de Monsieur Li Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, kumquat, sap, mint, grassy notes, watery notes

Click here to try: Hermes Le Jardin De Monsieur Li Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fluid Ounce

Hermes: Real or imaginary…A garden of awakening and harmony

Full Wear Review

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li opens up with an exceedingly bright and sweet aroma, led by the kumquat note. It’s got a very citrusy scent, that is quite watery, and does indeed remind me of a small garden pond. This fragrance is really peaceful, attractive, and well put together in its simplicity.

At the start, I do get some minty element underneath the watery kumquat, but it never really takes over the composition. Instead, it is a light and cool spice, that dances in the background. At the heart of it all, is the jasmine note, which gives off its usual clean white floral scent.

It’s really super fresh at the start, but, increasingly becomes a floral garden blend as you move along. However, while that kumquat and mint are really big, Le Jardin totally grabs your attention.

Further along in the wear, it feels greener, with some herbal or grassy sort of smells mixed into the scent. The kumquat dies down about 20-30 minutes into the wear and the jasmine becomes more pronounced.

As it dries down, the jasmine will become the main aroma, and I detect only bits of citrus and grass. Even so, it is still a very attractive fragrance, at that point.

Finally, it is a sort of soapy jasmine perfume, with a persistent watery element. I do like how Hermes, managed to capture that walking in a garden on a summer’s day feeling.

It reminds me of trips to the various botanical gardens, I’ve been to, over the years. Upbeat, smooth, but quite a simple and straightforward fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on Le Jardin is pretty light and airy. However, it isn’t really weak. This is one of those perfumes you won’t notice that you are wearing at times, and then, suddenly catch a whiff of. Others will notice it too, it’s just not one that will take over a room.

Longevity is in the 4-6 hour range depending on the day, not that amazing, but still useful. I think this is all by design, though. It is supposed to evoke memories, create an experience, that you’re unsure of if it is real or isn’t.

But, even with that being the case, I do wish that you could squeeze a few more hours out of the wear. 4-6 isn’t bad for a warmer weather fragrance, but it isn’t great either.

Seasonally, this one is spring and summer, totally. This is listed as a unisex fragrance, but it does lean more towards the feminine end of the spectrum.

Though, it is still completely wearable for men, I had no problems with smelling too ‘girly’ while wearing this Hermes. A green garden aroma, with jasmine and mint, is pretty much right down the middle.

Le Jardin is good for casual or dressed up daytime wear and I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing it for an evening out. It is attractive and quite pleasing to be around, not really sexy, but something people will definitely enjoy smelling.

I would wear this more during the day casually, versus formally in the evening, or to a bar or wherever. Point blank, probably not going to be a signature perfume for most people, but one that could for sure have a spot in a fragrance rotation.

Overall Impressions of Le Jardin de Monsieur Li

Overall, do I enjoy Le Jardin de Monsieur Li? Yes, it is a very elegant and simple scent. This Hermes fragrance is put together beautifully with the kumquat, jasmine, and green elements. I really do like the opening 20 minutes, a whole lot. I think that the kumquat and light mint are utterly superb.

There isn’t much development or complexity, but it really doesn’t matter here, at all. It is all that it needs to be in order to be successful with the mood that it is trying to accomplish.

A moment in time, in a meditative garden? Sounds about right. Too many of these garden scents go the overly floral route, to where it is simply too much. Others will go hyper green and smell like a collection of watery stems. Hermes went the simple route and it paid off.

This is a perfume that is designed to create an impression and experience. Sort of a ‘concept’ fragrance. I think that its really great in that aspect. I do enjoy the overall experience, but more so the beginning.

Most of this line of fragrances from Hermes are really good. This one ranks right near the top, in my opinion.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.