hermes

Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver by Hermes

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Eau Intense Vetiver is a Terre d’Hermes flanker fragrance that was released back in 2018. I’ve thought it was the best of the line, back when I originally tried it, and I recently bought a sample to try and confirm that opinion. I’ve been testing Intense Vetiver out for a full review, as of late. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, Sichuan pepper, vetiver, geranium, amberwood, patchouli, olibanum

Click here to try: Eau Intense Vetiver

My Full Review

A nice mix of citrus, but not as noticeable as in the original or Tres Fraiche. It’s a balance between grapefruit, lemon, and bergamot. Not orange like the others in the series, but it actually still seems to have an orangey aroma, at times.

That citrus top is blended with the geranium note and the already peaking through star of the show, vetiver. Fresh and a minty sort of geranium as found in Tres Fraiche.

You also do get that peppery kick pretty early on. The citrus notes will already start backing off in favor of the woodsier notes and the Sichuan pepper.

For me, it’s after about 15 minutes and this one smells like a clean and peppery woods cologne, with an old school style to it. Very crisp and cooling.

The citrus doesn’t fade away completely per se, it just sort of adds a further brightness to the feeling of this one. Eventually, it becomes less peppery, you get more wood, and a touch of olibanum smoke.

But really, this is a big hefty dose of vetiver. Vetiver with a refreshing additional woodsy style, built more for the warmer weather. Not super complex with its composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The opening hour has a good reach with its projection. It’s not a fragrance that feels heavy, substantial enough to leave a trail in your wake, and not a light mist around you. Above average with its sillage and doesn’t evaporate quickly into a skin scent.

On my skin, Intense Vetiver lasted just over 7 hours. Maybe, 7.5. It’s pretty solid with the performance, not a marathon wear or complete beast. Though, it basically gives you what you’d need from it.

This is one of the Terre d’Hermes flankers that works well in the cooler weather. I’d stick to this autumn through early springtime. I tried it out in the summer heat on day, wasn’t great, took on a slightly weird smell.

This is one that you can wear casually or as a daily wear to the office. Intense Vetiver is going to be mostly a daytime fragrance. Not a sexy nightlife beast or one that’s super formal (though, it’s fine when dressed up). It’s clean and fresh, not too much of an attention grabber.

Overall Impressions of Eau Intense Vetiver

Overall, do I like Intense Vetiver? Yes. I’m not in love with any of the Terre d’Hermes fragrances, but I think that this is my favorite of the bunch. Was never the one that I would’ve picked out based on the notes alone, but it’s quite good.

I think that Eau Intense Vetiver has a nice balance in the notes, until the vetiver fully emerges. Even, if it’s not my favorite note ever, it all works well in conjunction with everything else.

Yet, this is one of the best Hermes fragrances for men, even as a flanker of the brand’s most popular release.

You get a light citrus, smokiness, earthiness, woods all wrapped up in a classic styling. Others in the series have been too sharp with the citrus or even too much of the earthy/dirtiness. This has a more even distribution.

If you liked the original Terre d’Hermes, you’ll almost certainly enjoy this one too. There are better vetiver colognes out there, but I think this is a very nice example, that has enough depth and other notes to make it not be a one tone fragrance.

Terre d’Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche by Hermes

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Eau Tres Fraiche is a Terre d’Hermes flanker that was released in 2014. This was one of the variants of the original cologne, that I wanted to test out, as it sounded like something that I might like. I recently bought a sample of Eau Tres Fraiche for review. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Terre D’Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, citrus, water notes, geranium, cedar, patchouli, woods

My Full Review

Hermes’ tag-line: From the Earth springs a new freshness

Tres Fraiche kicks things off with an initial blast of the orange note and sharp citruses. The orange actually smells less like the fruit itself and more of a rind, to my nose.

The other citrus notes are more of a generic sort of aroma. But, they do really pack a punch. Light and clean, just sharp.

Underneath it, has a greenish/woodsy aroma. Fresh quite mint-like geranium. All of this combined into a watery base. There’s a definite spiciness here, especially in the early stages.

The citrus will thankfully begin to receded somewhat as it moves into the middle act. Once it does, the cedar and patchouli emerge and the earthy aspects to the fragrance are more apparent.

However, to me the citrus still hasn’t burned off enough at this point. Yes, it does have that extremely fresh cooling sensation when all put together, but it’s pretty irritating and has a distinct earthy/dirty accord, at this stage.

Once more of the citrus burns off, this is a better scent. I wouldn’t have thought that would be the case before testing it out, but, the woods taking control really improves Tres Fraiche’s likeability.

The dry woodiness aspect has a heavier weighting, while the earthiness isn’t as pronounced. It’s like a cedar clean soaking in orange water. Nice and refreshing for summer.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one actually does start off projecting very well. It’s not a heavy scent obviously, but it’s got some reach at 6+ feet from where you spray.

That does wear off pretty quickly, though. For the rest of the wear past maybe 30 minutes, it’ll be within three feet, if not much closer. Not terrible, just not consistently strong.

On my skin, it lasts maybe 6-6.5 hours maximum. Even with that, the last few hours a pretty much skin scent territory. It’s slightly above average in its longevity, not much beyond that.

For a summer fragrance of this sort, it’s good enough.

Seasonally, spring and summertime. It’s something to wear during the daytime in the heat, when you want a refreshing feeling. It does give you that, at least. It can work casually or just as a daily wear during the hottest parts of the year.

Overall Impressions of Eau Tres Fraiche

Overall, do I like this scent? Not really. That opening and the next early phase just kills my interest in wearing it.

I’m already not much of a fan of this Terre d’Hermes series (I know, I’m in the minority), but this is one of my least favorite of the line. Based on the notes, I thought that I was really going to enjoy this, but that’s not how it worked out at all.

The dry down is better and much more of a pleasant warm weather wear, but it takes too long to get there, and the journey isn’t worth it for me.

Sharp sort of sour and watery citrus, intense freshness, and a very earthy base…it’s too much.

Fans of this series, will probably enjoy this. So, if that’s you, it’s probably worth a try. Or, if you’re someone who likes a little dirtiness to their scents, here’s a summer option for you.

Eau Tres Fraiche has been discontinued since it was released back in 2014. Those who are interested will have to find it online from a third party discount seller.

Un Jardin Sur La Lagune by Hermes

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Un Jardin Sur La Lagune is a part of the Jardin series of fragrances by Hermes. I grabbed samples of these perfume a while back and have been getting re-acquainted with each, in order to do reviews. Lagune is today’s entry. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Un Jardin sur la Lagune Smell Like?

Notes include: magnolia, Madonna lily, pittosporum, wood, sea notes

Click here to try: Un Jardin sur la Lagune

sur lagune review

My Full Review

Here’s how Hermes describes it: A dream escapes through a half open door, Un jardin sur la Lagune is a secret garden where nature comes into its own again.

Wow. Sur la Lagune certainly has an interesting start. A very blue-ish style sea notes, which is more of a general freshness than the ocean itself. It actually sort of reminds me of how the men’s fragrance Luna Rossa Ocean starts.

Except this one is way fresher in how it comes across and has a strong magnolia note, right from the get go. But, even stronger at the beginning is the Madonna lily. That’s already a powerful floral note, with the blueish notes backing it, the flower seems massive.

It comes across as kind of powdery within that watery vibe, which is why it reminds me of the Prada cologne.

Pittosporum is apparently a type of shrub that produces an aroma similar to orange blossom. I do pick up something similar in smell to orange blossom. Not too strong, I don’t really have an experience with this note, but that’s as close as I can get.

As this dries down, it’s a white floral soapy aroma. Very clean with a bit of dry wood in the base, some salt, and just a generally cool feeling. Fresh soap bar is what I’m left with.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one does start off with a nice amount of power that will leave a fragrance trail in your wake. That lily and initial oceanic sort of blast really does pack a pretty nice punch.

It’ll project maybe, 7-8 feet from the skin, at its peak. That’s a little less than what it did on clothing, when I first tested it out. However, that’s not a super long period of time, when it is at that level.

Lagune will be 3-4 feet from the skin, for most of the wear.

That wear is a nice amount of time, though. On me, it went for 7-8.5 hours. One time, it got to that 8.5 hour mark, the other around 7. So, it’s somewhere within that range.

Seasonally, stick to the spring and summer with this one. Too fresh and floral for the colder weather. Great in the warm air, during the daytime. It really works well in an outdoor environment, early on.

This is more of a daily wear. Pretty safe, if you avoid over-spraying. Not really sexy or a nightlife beast.  Just clean and one for those who really like the smell of lilies.

Overall Impressions of Un Jardin Sur La Lagune

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it’s somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of this Jardin series from Hermes, however.

I like it more than Apres la Mousson. Though, not as much as Monsieur Li or Le Nil.

The opening with the blue-ish aquatic vibe and the Madonna lily is my favorite part and where I feel that this one stands out. Lagune really pops up front.

The dry down is more of a generic soapy kind of fragrance. However, it isn’t bad as a perfume. Just kind of a standard issue fresh and clean scent.

The performance is also good. This one lasts well on my skin and the opening does have that fairly strong sillage, which then stays moderate for most of the wear.

Is it ground breaking stuff? No, but it’s a solid perfume all around. Probably not going to be a must have for most, just one that’s definitely worth trying, if it all sounds appealing to you.

Some will absolutely detest this Hermes scent or find it completely boring, so maybe test before you buy it.

H24 by Hermes

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Hermes is a brand that doesn’t seem to follow the trends, with its fragrance offerings for men. H24 is another example, released in 2021, which received mixed reviews from folks. I got my sample and have tested this Hermes cologne out, to see how it really performed. How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

What does H24 by Hermes Smell Like?

Notes includes: sage, narcissus, rosewood, sclarene

Click here to try: H24 by Hermes

h24 review

My Full Review

How does Hermes (best colognes) describe it: H24 is the first perfume expressing the contemporary man as seen by Hermès. A lively, sensual and bright perfume, stemming from the daring blend between nature and technology.

H24 isn’t all that complicated of a fragrance. However, I do think that it is an interesting one and takes things in a much different direction, than most other designer men’s colognes out today.

Upon first spraying, you get a sage bomb. The sage will be the strongest note in the mix here, which is pretty unusual for an ingredient which usually serves as a background player.

Also, noticeable with be the warmth of the metallic-like sclarene note. If I had to explain it, I’d say that it is sort of resinous, but not too thick. Warm. Almost like the carbon note found in Luna Rossa Carbon.

Underneath those two notes, sits the narcissus. Lending a nice floral aroma to the H24 blend. There does seem to be a light sweetness here also, from something fruity. Checking the chemical ingredients, I think it’s a bit of lemon blending with the flower.

Although, there’s something else there too. I just can’t quite pick it out.

After a while, the narcissus seems to back away. Rosewood occupies the base, along with some dry woodsiness. Again, an unlisted oakmoss note. Not too strong, but it even says it’s there on my sample card’s chemical breakdown.

So, fresh sage. Metallic warmth. Woods. Simple, right? Yes, but it really works for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is moderate, but not at all weak on my skin. In fact, it provides a pretty substantial scent bubble early on, and sticks around fairly well.

The projection isn’t huge. However, 5-7 feet is about what I’ve experienced, and where I pick it up after spraying H24 on some clothing. Not a massive fragrance, but solid.

The fragrance stays on my skin for 6-7.5 hours. I had heard people say that this scent doesn’t last long. I don’t find that to be true. It worked well enough for me. Not an all day, marathon performance, just something I have no real complaints about.

Seasonally, this is beautiful in the warmth of the summer. Spring would also obviously be a good candidate for wearing H24. I wore this outside and then went inside to air conditioned stores, H24 adapted well and smelled great in the temperature changes.

This is a daytime wear. It’s attractive and pleasant. Not a nightlife banger or one for romantic evening occasions.

H24 is office and school safe. Not too casual or buttoned up and formal. It has a fairly wide use case during this spring and summer season.

Overall Impressions of H24

Overall, do I like H24? I do.

At first, I wasn’t too sure about it. Then, I tried this Hermes fragrance again and liked smelling it throughout the day. It’s not a complete love for me, just a pretty strong like.

I do like sage, so, that helps. But, this simple scent also gives you a unique blend of floral, metallic, sweetish, and woodsy underneath the herbal freshness. It’s modern and sleek. Very clean and inoffensive.

The performance is good, though not great. With around 7 hours of wear, H24 is good enough for most occasions.

This is worth a try. I wouldn’t mind having a bottle of it, but I’m not rushing out to purchase H24 either. If it’s on discount, it’s one that could get a lot of use in one’s collection.

L’Ambre Des Merveilles by Hermes

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As a part of my batch of sample fragrances, I received a decent amount of ladies’ fragrances that I need to get around to reviewing. I’ve never done a Hermes women’s perfume review, so today will be a first in that regard.

L’Ambre Des Merveilles was released in 2012, as a flanker fragrance to another perfume in Hermes’ lineup. In this review, I’m going to tackle, what’s inside, how it smells, how this perfume performs, and ultimately whether or not I think it is worthy of a purchase.

What does L’Ambre des Merveilles Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, cedar, vanilla, patchouli

Click here to try: Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of this perfume is a blend of caramel and what smells like a citrus note, most likely orange, and has a sweet and slightly floral aroma to it. There is a certain salty element within L’Ambre Des Merveilles that plays very well off of the sweetness of the often candy-like fragrance.

Of course, all of this is wrapped up into a warm amber shell with a vanilla note that adds to its laid back sweetness.

I couldn’t find out what other notes were contained in this perfume besides the one’s listed above. I feel like there is a peach note, because there’s something that reminds me of Burberry Body in this scent, and I think that’s what it is.

L’Ambre stays pretty consistent throughout while wearing and the biggest change I noticed was the orangey-citrus note fading more into the background.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, its quite soft and airy but you’ll know that it’s there while wearing it. It’s definitely not overblown or something that will choke out a room, this Hermes scent seems to have the right balance.

It lasted around 6-7 hours on my skin when I applied it. Not bad, quite serviceable, but not really outstanding either. Update: Trying it again…yep, 7 hours is what it seems to be capable of.

Seasonally, I’d save L’Ambre Des Merveilles for the colder months of the year. I think that it would really shine in cold weather, as it is so warm and inviting.

It also has a nice versatility to it, it could be worn casually, but I find it to be pretty sexy as well. I would really enjoy smelling this kind of scent of a woman. It also reminds me of Bonbon, at times.

Overall, would I recommend it? Yes, I think L’Ambre Des Merveilles smells really great. Hermes did a good job of putting it all together and there are no real negatives with it that I can identify.

I will say, if you aren’t a fan of amber/vanilla/caramel, then this perfume is definitely not for you. However, if you want something sweet for the wintertime that isn’t girly, this one does have a level of sophistication that won’t push you too far into the ‘teeny’ category.

This is one of the best from Hermes. Frankly, I think their ladies’ perfumes are generally better than the men’s offerings. Not a super complex fragrance, just one that smells really good.