Every Bottle of Hermès Perfume Sold Tells a Story—Here's Why You'll Love It
Hermès is a designer house we all know and love, but personally (being the beauty editor that I am), I feel like its gorgeously crafted fragrances don't get enough love. It all started back in 1951 with the brand's first scent, Eau d'Hermès, a spicy, citrusy fragrance that packs quite a punch. Since its first offering, the house has designed many memorable scents that take the wearer on an olfactory adventure. An adventure filled with enchantment, a little mysticism, and a whole lot of individuality.
Many invoke the feeling of being somewhere specific—a vacation in a bottle, if you will. Whether you're interested in testing out its lighter eau de toilettes or bold, vibrant colognes, I can almost guarantee the house has a scent you'll love. Drawing inspiration from Japanese floral arrangements and secret gardens, you can imagine what a luxurious experience each is for the nose. Hermès was kind enough to provide me with a list of its bestselling scents and what to love about each. Keep reading below for all the details.
1. Rose Ikebana Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Rose, rhubarb, tea, lemon, cassia, orange, musk
Inspired by the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana, this airy and sparkling fragrance features a crisp contrast of softer materials like rose petals with sharper notes like rhubarb. According to the fragrance's creator, Jean-Claude Ellena, it evokes "the smell of a rose early in the morning, misted with dew, delicate and light."
You might also like:
Key Notes: Pink peppercorn LMR, rose essential for life LMR, Egyptian orange flower LMR, Turkish rose absolute LMR, orris LMR, amber woods, ambrette absolute LMR, musk
2. Ambre Narguile Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Cinnamon, honey, rum, caramel, tonka bean, vanilla, benzoin, coumarin, labdanum, tobacco, white orchid, musk
This inviting fragrance envelopes you in notes of cinnamon, honey, rum, and tonka bean. It smells like warm poetry on the skin with the perfect blend of sweeter fruity notes with spices and a slight hint of smoke.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Amber, vanilla, tangerine, tiger orchid, almond, brown sugar, sandalwood
3. Twilly d'Hermès Eau de Parfum
Key Notes: Ginger, tuberose, sandalwood
Normally, I never thought I would love a blend of notes like tuberose, sandalwood, and ginger, but Hermès has surprised me for the better. It's floral, spicy, and a little bit woody. And I'm not the only one pleasantly surprised by this combination of notes—it has remained a fan-favorite since its launch in 2017.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Blood orange, ginger, tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood
4. Twilly Eau Ginger Eau de Parfum
Key Notes: Ginger, peony, cedar
If you like a woodier floral scent, Twilly Eau Ginger is worth adding to your collection. Vibrant peony, candied ginger, and rich cedar create a bold olfactory experience fit for any true free spirit.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Peppermint, lemon, ginger, vetiver, pink pepper, nutmeg, cedarwood, sandalwood
5. Terre d'Hermès - Pure Perfume
Key Notes: Orange, grapefruit, flint, woody notes, oak moss, benzoin
It's no surprise that this classic scent tops the Hermès bestseller list. Former New York Times scent critic, Chandler Burr, even told me it's one of his favorites. It's another fragrance that packs a hit of heat with notes like orange and grapefruit but is rounded out by earthier notes like oak moss and flint. Launched in 2006, it's an ode to our relationship with nature and the synergy we create with the elements on a daily basis. Wearing it evokes an exotic sense of wonder that's incredibly unique.
You might also like:
6. Un Jardin sur la Lagune Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Magnolia, pittosporum, Madonna lily, sea breeze, samphire, woody notes
This floral-heavy scent conjures up the feeling of being in an enchanted secret garden. It's soothing yet vibrant and breezy with notes like magnolia, samphire, and Madonna lily. Spritz it on and you'll feel like you just walked into a hazy, blossoming dream.
You might also like:
7. Un Jardin sur le Nil Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Grapefruit, green mango, lotus, bulrush, orange, hiacynth, peony, musk, iris, incense, labdanum, cinnamon
Refreshing and and uplifting, this offering from Hermès is a great everyday fragrance. Notes of grapefruit, orange and green mango add a zest to it while the base notes of musk, incense, and cinnamon give it a hint of toasty-ness. Creator, Jean-Claude Ellena describes it as "a new idea of freshness that is rather unusual—green and vegetal scents—[it's like] the smell of water and sand."
You might also like:
8. Le Jardin de Monsieur Li Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Jasmine sambac, kumquat, bergamot
The aroma of Le Jardin de Monsieur Li instantly makes me feel like I'm perched in a Chinese garden at sunset. But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. Let your imagination run wild with the fresh notes of jasmine, kumquat, and earthy bergamot.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Angelica seeds, Sicilian lemon, lingonberry, wild jasmine sambac, dewy tuberose, rose petals, fresh amber, suede
9. Eau d'Orange Verte Concentré Eau de Toilette
Key Notes: Orange, oakmoss, Amalfi lemon, mandarin orange, cassis, patchouli
An explosion of citrus and zesty lemon hit your nose instantly when you give this one a spray. The more it dries down, though, the more complex it becomes. Notes of oakmoss and patchouli add a certain electric quality to it that explains why it's been a bestseller for the brand and that it even names it as "the emblem of Hermès itself."
You might also like:
10. Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate Eau de Cologne
Key Notes: Rhubarb, red berries, white musk
This fragrance is truly a mixed bag with notes across the board: fruity, musky, citrusy, and vegetable. But don't let that fool you—the unusual combo somehow works. It's velvety smooth on the dry-down and engulfs you in a cloud of berries, musk, and notes of zingy rhubarb.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Rhubarb, Australian sandalwood, island gardenia
Up Next: WWW Editors Reveal the Most Memorable Perfumes They Save for Special Occasions
Shawna Hudson has worked in editorial for over six years, with experience covering entertainment, fashion, culture, celebrities, and her favorite topic of all, beauty. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, Mane Addicts, and more. She is currently an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.
-
Fresh, Seductive, and Expensive-Smelling—This Perfume Has All the Makings of a French-Girl Classic
Sign me up.
By Jamie Schneider
-
Think You Don't Like the Smell of Leather? These Perfumes Will Change Your Mind
They're as smooth as your favorite leather jacket.
By Maya Thomas
-
I'm Totally Obsessed With Hermès Nail Polishes—These Are the Best Ones By Far
Seriously chic.
By Eleanor Vousden