Shem - el- Nessim

What can i say about such a beauty...Grossmith is probably my favourite house right now, and i have sampled amouage, mcdi, serge lutens.... and this is by far the most beautiful well done fragrances i have ever tried, and i have the pleasure to own one and i can't wait to get the other 2 (betrothal is too pricey for me right now...so i didn't even try it). It is rich (one of the richest i ever tried), deep, perfectly balanced, noticeable but not loud like black orchid or poison, it rather stays warmly close to the skin. About the scent itself...you can really tell these fragrances have a long story behind them and that they come from a different era. They are "haute société" lady scents and you can really tell. It's a bouquet of flowers, not a huge bouquet, just few of the best, most exquisite flowers of the garden specially and carefully chosen (after all these 3 fragrances of the line are inspired in gardens of the most exotic places of the world). It has a powdery quality, not exagerated like in YSL Paris or Caron's N'Aimez Que Moi, just a hint of powder embracing the natural not too sweet flowers, kind of remembering times when one wouldn't shower daily, and would use tons of powder instead. The flowers also have a creamy quality that makes them lay and melt int he skin softly. As it developes, the soft creamy base of vanilla starts to appear, as a delicate bed in which the powdery flowers lay. As said, this is a strong scent (i mean that it is not an eau de toilette..ore one of those that hardly have any silage) but not loud, so it lays softly in the skin. It does not have a crazy projection neither...this is soft and elegant, an intimate luxurious fragrance that talks and whispers in short distances..a jewel that waits elegantly there to be discovered by the others, like a pearl hidden inside the oyster. The longevity is amazing, and there you can really tell that this is HIGH quality. This fragrance stays until you take a shower int he skin...longevity is endless, and it doesn't need to be a super loud fragrance like poison to stay there for hours and hours..nah...we are talking about a masterpiece! it will stay calmly and softly developing it's aroma there until you wash it off. And this has only happened to m with this brand and amouage..the rest of fragrances that have such an amazing silage it is because they are extremly loud, like a lady that wears extremly make up and minidreses because she wants to be desperately noticed...no..here we are talking about royalty...Sem-el-Nessim would be that amazingly beautiful courtesan, pure elegance and grace, that sits quietly a bit apart form the crowd. 10/10..just perfection

After having reviewed the old world beauties that are Hasu-no-Hana and Phul-Nana, Shem-el-Nessim completes the trilogy of Grossmith's resurrected century-old classics. Painstakingly re-composed with the help of the original handwritten formulas, these perfumes are opulent, vintage-style beauties - true heritage items from the British perfume world. Shem-el-Nessim is reminiscent of vintage Guerlain L'Heure Bleue, particularly at its opening - they share a neroli-dominant opening, as well as a heart led by a powdery iris-heliotrope accord, laced with spices. The original SeN predates L'Heure Bleue - but both are apparently copies of Coty L'Origan, a groundbreaking spicy floral that ironically is the only one to not survive. SeN has a citrus opening, with the aforementioned neroli note most dominant - giving a beautiful green-tinged orange-floral quality to the early stages. Other florals creep in, notably sweet, heady ylang ylang and powdery iris. The iris smells more like orris butter than the rooty floral note, adding rich, powdery depth to the heart. Rose follows, also powdery, complemented by green, peppery geranium. Carnation adds warm clove-like spice, and almond-like heliotrope brings up the rear. It becomes softly woody and musky as it dries down, with dry, dusty vanilla adding some sweetness. As is the case with L'Heure Bleue, the heliotrope-vanilla accord here makes it feel like a precursor to the modern gourmand. The spices remain, fading to a musky, spicy skin scent after a time. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting. It is feminine-leaning and best worn in autumn/winter evenings. A beautiful, classical perfume made with high-quality ingredients, this is another opulent, baroque creation from Grossmith. However, it is not FBW for me as long as I have vintage L'Heure Bleue, but SeN is a worthy alternative that is equally good. 4.5/5.

Simply a masterpiece and it's still a great lesson of high perfumery also, cleverly re-done by an expert such as Mr Roja Doves. The opening reminds me very clearly my beloved l'Heure Bleu, even though it is said that it takes also after to 'Coty's L'Origan (but I've never chanced to meet the latest, unfortunately!) which was of the same period. It has so many different evolutions that it would be really unwise trying to describe them all as I'm sure it reacts differently on each skin. I've always thought that these kind of phenomenons could only be re-discovered in Versailles's Osmoteque or lived in the memories of old ladies. It was love at first "sight".... a little "bit" expensive though I believe it worths every cent but....I'm sure the ingredients must be top quality, after all. Excellent persistence also! I've still mouillettes keeping the fragrance after one year or so. This is my only doubt: when I start using it and consequently getting accustumed not say addicted to this wonder, how can I go back to my previous ones? as Sharm el Nessim has no rivals! I wonder how brilliant and great must have been the original version! Sometimes I regret to be "young" as I wish I would have lived during the Belle Epoque only to know how exactly all those superb creations - released at that time- could smell .

The Gilded age grace of Shem-el-Nessim transports one to the grandeur of the period—billowing leg of mutton sleeves, sleek hour glass shapes, stiff high-collars, top hats and gloves. There is an Edwardian finesse to it, suggesting contemplative inactivity while bathed in the golden glow of sunlight. It has an opalescence to it that differs it from the matte melancholy of L'Heure Bleue and the pearly powder orange hue of L'Origan. One highlight here is the satisfying synergy that comes with neroli laid over orris, like a glistening orb and its ghostly after-image. Geranium and ylang also is a stimulating coupling—what would otherwise be considered a Mutt and Jeff of sorts ends up having such a chemistry, each softening into the other like a passionate embrace. The clove-spiced heliotrope, a voyeur of sorts, peeks through, but doesn't muscle its way into the scene to steal its radiance. For a phrase or two, Shem-el-Nessim straddles between heady and soft, but in due time, it melts down to the poshest powder of its Florentine iris and a cool, musky bitter almond vanilla cream. Wearing it warms the cockles of my heart.

A brighter, more camphoraceous iris perfume in the line of Hiris (which is milkier, dull somehow but not in a bad way, dull like scuffed--or like unshined silver, and smoother / not camphoraceous at all) but even more multifaceted and exuberant, like a stained glass window to Hiris's muted indoor light. Both are super satisfying perfumes imo. Also, Shem el Nessim is more "blue" where L'Origan by Coty is more "orange" and Shem has no discernable anise which is what always annoyed me a bit with L'Heure Bleue. I love the odor space this one, Shem, sits in or exists in (together with L'Origan and L'Heure Bleue). I guess neroli / orange blossom figures heavily in all three perfumes, shining brightly against the orris root. Shem el Nessim is truly mysterious (a fellow sniffer says "otherworldly" and I agree) and a truly exciting and very solidly elegant perfume. For me the best of both L'Origan and L'Heure Bleue combined, embellished and adding up to something distinctly magical.

Such a gorgeous classic!! I completely agree with fenlady here..an absolute perfume treasure..The likeliness to L'heure Bleue is what made me love Shem instantly:) It s thick, powdery, plush, voluminous, rosey. The sharpness in the beginning fades luckily away quite quickly so that s when the powdery earthy rooty iris kicks in, and such a lovely Iris this is..not the carotty one like Hiris or Iris Silver Mist, no a very attention demanding Iris root extract that reminds you of times that must have been there..but you never could travel back to..:) If I could I would take Shem with me in a time travel machine to go back to those french perfumey times where you took a bath in fragrances instead of washing with water:) Really if you re a fan of the "old" ladylike high attitude fragrances you should give Shem el Nessim a try..sounds ARabic to me but smells utterly french:) Not everybody could and should love such a gem, so ladys, let s keep it for ourselfes and admire it.

Shem-el-Nessim does remind me of L'Heure Bleue due to the intensive heliotrope and vanilla, yet I like it because it doesn't contain the overdose of methyl ionone that is so strong in the modernized L'Heure Bleue, a note that I don't care for. On my skin L'Heure Bleue becomes grape kool-aid. Shem-el-Nessim also doesn't have the heavy anise in Apres L'Ondee that can sometimes be overwhelming in that perfume when you want to wear something soft and sweet and powdery. So this perfume reminds me somewhat of those two classics, yet I much prefer it to both of them. The spiciness of the geranium really pulls it together and keeps it from becoming cloying, as many sweet, powdery scents tend to do. There's also a patchouli that develops in the drydown that adds earthiness and a lovely musk note. The sillage on this is very soft, so I can see myself wearing it as a late evening, before bedtime perfume. It's also very relaxing and sensual. Quite a beauty!

What a beautiful name. It would infer a scent that is warm, dry and airy. I find this a beautiful, intense rich scent. High quality and beautifully presented. The best of the best. It might have been inspired by a certain American fragrance but it has stood the test of time. It smells rich and expensive. My first thought was Guerlain Lheure blue. Did Guerlain copy Grossmith or Coty. Who knows! It doesn't evolve much on my skin. Normally the citrus top notes quickly fade but it takes time here. The ylang and the geranium make the iris sing whilst the base notes add a warm, almost cuddly element. Wear this with a cashmere jumper or dress and they won't want to let you go after moving in to embrace you. Not bad longevity and sillage. This is a classy, timeless scent and one of my top 20. I wish sometimes I could travel back in time to hear what the Georgians thought of this beauty when it was first launched. It would have been quite revolutionary.

OMG this is gorgeous. Ethereal, Delicate, Exquisite Floral fit for a Princess in Springtime. Opens with a smooth rush of neroli over bergamot quickly followed by a regal, non-greasy, elegant orris, a delicately sweetened ylang, a touch of warm, spicy geranium brushed lightly over a non-indolic jasmine with a shower of fresh feminine rose petals. Everything floats in a weightless celestial dream on the gentle hazy wings of a perfectly balanced restrained powdery heliotrope like an angel's cradle. The tender base of light sandalwood and cedar anchor things seamlessly woven through a restrained vanilla to smooth everything, a feathery musk which adds a bit of organic plushiness without weight, and just a touch of patchouli giving earthy feeling of grounding without smothering any of the ethereal florals. A really heavenly bouquet here. I adore this. Truly one of the most beautiful perfumes I have ever encountered.

Orris is one of my favourite notes of all time, and this right here is orris heaven. Shem-el-Nessim or, ‘smelling the breeze’, takes you to a summer festival on the Nile in 1906, a celebratory affair rife with beautiful flowers wafting their scent downstream. Words cannot describe how stunning this is. This perfume is just so buttery smooth - the dense, powdery facets of the orris are elevated by heliotrope and ylang. Which is then furthered by creamy sandalwood and soft vanilla. There’s an airy freshness coming from the white florals, alongside a sort of salty sharpness from the geranium. The composition may be simple, but it’s an absolute masterpiece. This is easily my favourite Grossmith fragrance, and one of the best uses of orris I’ve ever smelled. The fact that this is 118 years old astounds me, especially since it smells better than 90% of what’s being released today. I must own this masterpiece soon.

Shem-el-Nessim ("smell the breeze") is a reconstruction of a 1906 floral perfume, and it's perfectly lovely, exactly as you'd expect. Quite aldehydic, with lots of subtly shimmering floral nectar, and a soft pale-blue shmear of iris butter. A few minutes in, I start to feel the base, which is a solid ivory-toned vanilla-heliotrope thing, powdery and lightly sweet under the shining flowers. Where the florals blend with the vanilla sweetness the effect is glorious. The whole thing is cool-toned and refreshing, very much like spring breezes. We're in a similar zone to other Belle Epoque ingenue classics like L'Heure Bleue, except without the violets and thus more to my taste. Shem-el-Nessim is delicate and maidenly, but not in the least wimpy or weepy; it's suffused with hope and brightness. Think Guinevere, not Elaine.

I did a sort of Agatha Christie Death on the Nile trip this past summer, and naturally took this with me whilst treading in her footsteps. This is a masterpiece of a fragrance and orris at its best. It projects an almost stuck-in-time elegance, lasts the distance on the skin and as it warms, the sandalwood comes through making you want to bathe and luxuriate in it. There is a permeating but non invasive background of patchouli and musk that ground it in some sense of earthiness and makes it tread, at times, into something quite sexy. An exceedingly elegant, smooth perfume that I would wear more often were it not for the price tag, and the fact that honestly, most occasions are not worthy!

Luca Turin on Shem-el-Nassim: "...it is none other than an enthusiastic copy of François Coty’s magnificent 1905 L’Origan, which begat L’Heure Bleue and countless others. Grossmith did not waste time and released Shem-el-Nessim in 1906. They are touchingly candid about this, which makes me like them even more. Bear in mind that the real L’Origan is long gone, and that the reptiles at Coty make money with fragrances named after minor celebs instead of their classic masterpieces. Given that, Grossmith becomes Plan A, particularly since everything from fragrance to bottle to packaging is of exquisite, painstaking quality. Well done."

هل اصبح الجمالُ سراً لا يعلمه الا القليل ؟ .. خلط الكثير بين مفهوم الجمال و الفخامة .. حتى ظن البعض ان الفخامة هي اسمٌ اخر مرادفٌ للجمال ..!! .. لا يا سادة الجمال هو الجمال ولا معناً اخر له الا هو .. قد يكون الجمال في الضعيف كجمال الغزال .. و قد يكون كالاسد في بطشه و سطوته .. و غالبا ما يكون في شيء بسيط قلّت تفاصيله و لم تتضح معالمه كجمال الصيصان ..!! .. غيّب العالم و اخذته سكرة الفخامة حتى ارتدا اغلى الحلل و الملابس والعطور دون ذوق !! .. يا للبساطة لم يتعب نفسه في الترتيب وتنسيق الالوان .. جعل المال حلاً لمشكلته ..!! ذلك الغبي اكثر ما يتعبه هو لحظة التفكير .. قروسميث شم النسيم ، عندما يستحق العطر ثمنه 👌🏼

This perfume belongs to the house of Grossmith London, its revival bringing back one of Englands oldest and most treasured perfume houses. Adopting a classic style of perfumery, Bergamot and neroli give Shem-el-Nessim a citrus edge that gives way to a prominent powdery orris in the heart notes. Geranium, rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang give a delicate floral lift to the heart notes. Sweet vanilla, musk, heliotrope and cedarwood give Shem-el-Nessim a dusky, gossamer base.

Shem-el-Nessim is beautiful, vintage style, and incredibly chic. It is as if someone took current L'Heure Bleue edp and took out the rough bits, replaced the ingredients with high quality materials...perhaps this is what L'Heure Bleue used to smell like. I like that it stays close to the skin and trails a gentle sillage. This is a delicate, feminine, enchanting perfume. Despite the price a FB remains on my wish list.

I haven't smell anything more beatiful than Shem el Nessim. It is soft, tender, special it seems composed by 2 or 3 different perfumes together: l'Heure Bleu, l'Origan and another old berfume that was my grandmother's favoutire but it's very good and not old lady's perfume. It's really beautyful but really expensive! For me it's a dream.

A delicious cousin of L'Heure Bleue. More powdery, smells more cosmetic like , soft yet enduring. A couple of sprays smells like you bathed with matching soap and layered the lotion and dusting powder before applying extrait. Old school fragrance. Quite expensive but the lasting power and layers might make it worth it.

I have a sample from Twisted Lily. This is old fashioned femininity. Warm, soft, powdery, feminine, narcotic velvet. It is a little fusty- spicy. Neroli rose according to Luca Turin. Rounded and blended. Sensuous woman. A comforting, enveloping winter scent.

This is my go-to luxury scent for special occasions when I want to smell my absolute best without worrying about what to wear. It’s so beautiful, classy, and powdery—just wow! My perfect powdery perfume for special occasions.

في بدايته يذكرني بلوغ بلو من قيرلان .. ثم ينتهي الى هابي دايموند من شوبارد .. الا انه لا يشبه اي شيءٍ منهم :) .. تحفة قرو سميث شمّ النسيم

Oh my, this is so oldschool! So far this is my favorite from all the Grossmith's I've tried. I love how they make their perfumes in best old perfumery traditions making all their creations smell elegant, sophisticated and yes, rather old. "Shem el Nessim" for me has two completely different paths. I do not like how it opens and develops in the heart part, but I simply ADORE the drydown. First - the opening and heart is pure geranium, I do get hints of dirty orris root and sweet heliotrope powder at the background, but mostly I just get LOADS of geranium - freshly bitter and spicy. I did not enjoy it, but that's just me - I have yet to find a geranium perfume I do enjoy. On the other hand the drydown is something I feel rather addicted to - sweet, powdery vanilla on a very, very animalic base. I think it's musk + orris as it gravitates on smelling like pure animal piss (what does it tell about me that I enjoy smelling this, haha?). I really like it, it's skanky yet elegant, sensual, warm, sweet. The longevity and silage is more than enough! Full bottle worthy for sure... IF you are friendly with geranium.

I blind-bought Shem-el-Nessim because wise blogger Kafkaesque mentioned its similarity-in-parts to my One True Love, vintage L'Heure Bleue. Since the latter scent has been gutted and zombiefied, I was grasping at anything that might bring my daemon back. At first I felt a very expensive disappointment. Shem-el-Nessim seemed thinner than the vintage LHB in its opening, less complex and layered throughout. Therefore I of course resented it (unfairly, for not being something else), and ignored it for months. But now, almost a year later, I am better able to appreciate it on its own terms. It is beautiful. It is stately. It also has a decided Evelyn Nesbit quality, an Edwardian sensuality-- almost quaint, but very real nonetheless. The drydown is quite lovely: powdery-rich. Sillage is moderate to emphatic on me, with excellent longevity. If Shem-el-Nessim were a cat, it would be a Persian. Extravagant, high-maintenance, striking, gazing at the world from its tasselled velvet cushion. And if Gloria Swanson didn't wear it during her heyday, she should have.

Almost as soon as I sprayed on my sample of Shem-el-Nessim for the first time, two things became clear to me: this is obviously a very well-made fragrance of exceptionally high quality, and it's not my thing at all. I was not surprised to learn this scent has its roots in 1906: it really smells like it does, even though this modern incarnation probably smells a lot different from that distant ancestor with the same name. But it's unmistakably a very old-fashioned kind of scent; complex and sophisticated, with a rich, day-long development from powdery floral to elgantly animalic. It is extremely expensive, but worth its high price, I think - it just smells very luxurious. Only if you feel at home in this kind of vintage scent, though, which I don't; it's the kind of thing I admire more on someone else than feel the urge to wear myself.

Supposedly a legendary fragrance that was revived after a century of its release And I gotta say it’s outstanding Powdery floral in a very pleasant way Tried it in wam weather felt it was great but I can’t help but have a strange feeling that In a cooler setting I will love it even more The moment you put your nose On the scent you definitely get the vintage feeling and it smells awesome on blotters and skin On clothes it loses a little of its sparkle Somehow linear but that’s a good thing since it’s already very good Might lean feminine but I had no problems wearing it One important thing I should point out it is really overpriced Not speaking about the quality and all but I think they are using the name mainly to pump the prices up

This is really beautiful. Opens very much like a strong L’Heure Bleu but drifts into its own as it dries and the richness starts to unfold. Buttery ylang, citrus and vanilla, less of a noticeably melancholy iris and violet like in the Guerlain. It’s brighter, more uplifting with shades of more a Mitsouko feel/shine. Hard to recommend at the prices to be honest when the Guerlain (and of course its own progenitor's) style that it replicates can be had for far far cheaper in the modern edp’s, but aside from the extremely rare occasion a vintage bottle shows up this might the best way to experience what that style and quality was like in this genres heyday.

I got the pleasure of testing this along with Phul-Nana and Hasu-No-Hana, and I cannot help but echo the glowing reviews of the artistry that went into these modern recreations. All three are stunning and feel true to their historical roots. Comparing against the modern L'Heure Bleue this feels deeper, smoother, and more refined. Although it's objectively better, there's an untouchable perfection that makes it feel more aloof and makes Guerlain easier to wear. I'll lust after this, but alas I cannot justify the full bottle with L'Heure Bleue in my collection

My nose picks up Chanel no.5 a lot. The same woody powdery aromatic notes. N°5 is a little more intense while this is much toned down like some of the Floris perfumes. Phul nana for instance is mostly N°89. No point spending thrice the money for half the amount if you have 89 or double the money if you have n°5. Even Hasunohana vaguely reminds of some perfume which I can not pinpoint now but I am sure will come to mind.

This is L'Heure Bleue minus the cloves and anise. I like both of these scents; perhaps Shem el Nessim is a little easier to wear due to these omissions. I love the iris and geranium in this one.

6.5/10. Blood orange, vanilla. Strong incense, trinkets from Bali. Soft peach fuzz. I taste a strange bitterness. Ripe red fruits. Hibiscus. Beautiful but not for me.

Nice, just tried sample from lucky scent - very powdery at first, now smells just like Oscar de la Renta. very nice though - will see what dry down says.

Very anaemic and weak for the money spent. It doesnt last more than 2hours and it's very shy and never got a compliment on it. Will never buy again.

Shem El Nessim is a vintage in the best way possible. Wearable and remarkable composition. The bottle and design quality is exceptional.. Unfortunately on my skin it turns into a sticky honey smell, and I am very sad because I wanted to love this. Pretty sure that the ylang and jasmin combination do this kind of sticky sweet nectar smell that is not compatible with my chemistry. I wish it was more light and powdery, I don't get that airy freshness mentioned below. Anyway, the creation itself is beautiful and full bottle worthy.

After reading the notes and reviews on here I was so excited to try this because it sounded like it would be my dream scent..... unfortunately it was just literal furniture polish.

[Nov. 2020] From the looks of what's said, as those who've tried this had their breaths taken (and ascended to perfume Eden), congrats on finding this fragrance-- in my JRPG-loving terms I would call this one of the "final bosses" of Fragrantica. GROSSMITH'S NESSIM. One of the few surviving works of olfactory art aged 100+ years, you can now try for yourself what raised the bar for what is "high art" perfume. (It appears the current formulation of NESSIM is as close to the century old experience as possible, with bare compromise.) Personally... I don't interest in buying vintage fragrance... (darned aldehydes and especially pre-owned vintages-- I refuse to have my heart break over having no replacement...! *sob!*) But here's the thing. Let's say you can spend, for all you know (in one year) a thousand on 100 cheap perfumes where, instead, you can spend... perhaps even less... on just keeping (no more than) ten specialty-priced perfumes of exceptional quality. So basically, if there are only 10 perfumes you can keep, and they're all the best perfumes you've ever tried (if, like me, you test and sample lots), by all means this perfume is worth the admission price. And there are so much more perfumes out there which cost so much more but may never give you the quality this fragrance purportedly has. So yeah! Even if you may not like vintage-styled perfume, you might just change your mind when you're faced with the real deal. Not a vintage "esque"; GROSSMITH NESSIM (is) the pure Vintage itself. I write this for you, but also as a reminder to myself so I can leave the full details on my next birthday (as little a treat.) See you on the flip side! PS: Still sold on designer perfume e-shops at time of this post! PS: Get the re-stocked Diamond Jubilee Bouquet instead. Nessim will probably restock later next year. Also, instead of £375, DJB 50ml is £185 and its probably even more "spring in a bottle." Let's go!! (Oh-- and if you're out of the US or UK like me, use the Forward2Me to get it sent to you. ...Probably one of the only reshipping services with a good rating.)

Shem-El-Nessim (Arabic for “smelling the breeze”), is the perfume from 1906 so 120 years old, and then bought by me ca. 2000, recreated by Perfumer Trevor Nicholl, and in my house now having an age of 25 years (not gaining dust, but) easily and 'dutifully' used. while it is a Fantastic, Fabulous, Legendary perfume plus re-iteration. the Orris, Heliotrope plus Musk (this last note I have to I guess bc I am amnostic to it) make this a veritable Powder Bomb. what strikes the most is the seamless nature of this Old (New) perfume, where the one Ingredient glides over in the Next. non-conflictive. this gives a smooth, fully blended, macerated fingerprint, blueprint of this Phantomous as well as Botanical, Floral and Woody perfume. one can only imagine how these perfumes smelled (or were received) in 1909. we also immediately get an idea of the aromatic, perfume Machinery of said Era. this perfume is unforgivably romantic as also (sub-, bc English) Alluring, lurking and stealthy lying in Wait to ashyxiate the late women in all kinds of Fashionable Clothes either post-Victorian or pre-Flappereuse, ticking (ticque- tocqueing) with their half high heeled Beige and Greige quasi-Cinderella's on the cobblestones of London and Paris. may there be Neroli and Bergamot, for me these are present only in name and perhaps lend the opening of the perfume some fizziness. then the High Entry of the Flowers begins, to never again stop. Rose, Geranium, Orris, (Neroli), Heliotrope, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine and Vanilla. here we have a Truly Flowery Onslaught of loveliness and beauty. the perfumes Shem-El-Nessim, Phul-Nana (both c2000s by Trevor Nicholl) and Hasu-No-Hana by Richard Melchio have great overlappings as they would have in a Venn Diagramm. Sandelwood, Patchouli and Cedar give the frivolities of the Flowers the Backbone from the materials out of which finally they all grew. a special 'round' perfume meticulously executed and cementing the name Grossmith for where it not already was....

Miss Havisham smelled like this before her heart broke. Commenting on this as a male almost feels like I'm an intruder in the "ladies only" side of the hammam. Especially given the Victorian sensibilities which were the norm when Shem el Nessim came to be. Oh, the scandal! What a fantastic creation we have here! I'm generally not a fan of powder, but in Shem I make no argument. Old school perfection! This oozes old-world Guerlain-esque sensibilities. Even the name of it alludes to the mysteries of the East and fascination with Orientalism which ran rampant at the time of its creation. I'm not even going to bother deconstructing each and every note. Many here have already done so far more eloquently than I could aim to. This is one of the few times I've just let myself go with the evolution of the fragrance, and enjoy it for the sake of experience. ...the experience did not disappoint. This ranks up there with Vol de Nuit for me in the sense that it may not be something I could effectively wear on a day-to-day basis, particularly as a man (although I hate to bring gender specificities into fragrance choices). However, this is such a deeply comforting scent, that it will be far from ignored. Whether on a quiet day at home when I need an olfactory hug, or even on days when my wardrobe is just that little bit more edgy and I'm prepared to "own it", Shem el Nessim will be reached for. Mind you, it may be apropos to slip a poison ring on my finger as I reach for it, though.

Shem El Nessim! How you marked that first day I smelled you.✨ It all began on a trip to London with my husband. At Fortnum & Mason, I started sniffing many perfumes until I came across this masterpiece. What caught my attention was its history, its heritage. I decided to take a leap, and the first one I picked up was this in extrait de parfum format. I was blown away—I had never smelled such beauty encapsulated in a glass bottle. I think my pupils dilated; it was a scent I hadn’t smelled in years, something so familiar yet unique. I sprayed it twice, and off we went. Throughout the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about this perfume, about how it had captivated me. I even woke up at night to smell my coat because it smelled so divine. I managed to buy the bottle, and I treasure it like gold. I always receive compliments, but compliments aren’t what matter. What matters is when a perfume touches your soul, when it creates a sensation deep within you—that’s what makes it special. What stands out to me are these notes: The Florentine iris gives it a powdery quality, but it’s not the kind of powdery that’s harsh or headache-inducing—no. It’s a gentle, soft powderiness, paired with heliotrope, which makes it creamy and smooth. The Florentine iris, so exquisitely crafted, the bergamot... every ingredient is so well done, crafted with quality materials. It’s incredible. Perfect for cold months and completely unisex.

Although I have not been able to sample the modern recreation of this fragrance, much praised by Luca Turin in his and Tania Sanchez's book "Perfumes the Guide - 2018", I do have an original advertisement for Shem-el-Nessim from around the period it was created in the early years of the 20th century, and it's interesting to note in how many forms it was then available from the pure perfume itself to various alternative presentations including face powder, soap, dentrifice, brilliantine and cachous. The pricing is also of interest, compared with modern retail costs, the perfume then available in three unspecified sizes, but costing 2/6, 4/6 and 6/6 respectively and the toilet water 3/-. It's availability was also widespread, being stocked, it would seem at all chemists and perfumers. No doubt Coty's then world famous L'Origan, to which it was said to be rather similar, was also similarly priced, but as the latter is no longer available in it's original form, it's good that the reissued Shem-el-Nessim, providing one can afford it, may be the best way of finding out what it was once like.

After reading the reviews, I found a Canadian supplier and ordered myself a sample, praying that I wouldn't like it (but also hoping I would to justify the amount spent on a single sample). Well, I will say I don't feel bad for spending a decent amount on a sample, but at the same time I would not shell out over $400 on a full bottle. The opening is very, VERY similar to l'Heure Bleue, which I love, but it lacks a bit of the same complexity as that classic. Over the course of wearing it, it transforms into a fainter version of the opening splashed with a healthy dose of Mitsouko. Honestly, if you want to try this perfume and have both of those, I wouldn't bother purchasing, I would just layer these two and you'll get the exact same scent for far, far less money. All in all, I love the story behind the brand, and being able to add a little vintage sample to my collection, but would not be able to recommend it for the price — it's just not that special.

What a truly gorgeous perfume, definitely destined to become a classic! I have a sample of the EdP, and when funds permit would love to own an FB. The opening is quite sharp and green, but the top notes soon give way to an enveloping, enchanting soft melange of florals and gentle woody notes. Musk is there, and powdery iris cloaks the rose and jasmine whilst the cedar and patchouli create depth and intrigue. In the drydown, this perfume is so similar to L'Heure Bleue that you could easily confuse the two. I'm wearing a sample of each one on either wrist, and if I didn't know which was which, I don't think I could distinguish them. Both are achingly lovely. I think there's also much in common with Caron's beautiful N'Aimez Que Moi. Soft floral notes which never become too sweet dancing over a base of cedar and heaven-knows-what in the forest floor. This is love at first sniff for me. I think it will prove eternal.

(Second review) I"m coming back to this six months after my first review. It's often the case that I change my mind, and what was once good is now so-so; in other words, when it comes to perfume the novelty wears off quickly. Not so with Shem. When I first sampled this I liked it, but now I love it. I'm not exactly sure what 'aired out', but I"m getting more of the spicy, herbaceous geranium, the crisp bergamot and a catchy, earthy floral. This scent goes the distance. It keeps you on your toes, always suggesting it might go a different path. It's a very modern scent, even though the notes are old school. I think what i"m picking up more is the rose/sandalwood combo, which has risen in the past six months to be my signature combination. I will always notice this, and when it's done well, as it is here, I'm a school girl in love. A classy fragrance to put on my wish list!

I was very excited when I learned about the existence of the venerable house of Grossmith and, more importantly, that they respect the integrity of their heritage perfumes. I have been experimenting with Shem-el-Nessim for some weeks now and am very impressed indeed. It is certainly not a modern perfume, meaning that in my opinion it is what a perfume should be: evocative rather than representative. How strange that as art becomes less representative, perfume should become more so. But that is an essay for another day. The opening 20 minutes or so are dominated by a bitter almond very reminiscent of l'Heure Bleue. This recedes to give way to a delightful powdery, woody blur with echoes of an oriental. Wonderfully wearable and all the better for being a true unisex. The only snag is the price tag.

Oh my, a powder bomb! Powder, powder and more powder. Sampled it only once, what I can say for sure is the sillage is extreme. On my right wrist Shem - el - nessim, on my left Lyric. Lyric had no chance to get more attention,the heavy iris powdernotes made it impossible for me (and it's an Amouage!). It's defintely a 'rich' scent and evoked the picture of some fairytale princess dressed in muslin underwear, in her bedroom with a fourposter bed in the background and a huge oval mirror and open closet stuffed with silk and velvet dresses in front, putting on powder. And that whole picture came in a certain light and color with a lot of ivory. Wellmade perfume,but it's not for me, I think. I will give it another try, maybe for some occasions. (when I want to feel like a fairytale princess?)

The opening of Shem El Nessim reminds me of L’Heure Bleue, it opens with sharp citruses and neroli but I also detect aldehydes. Then, Geranium appears adding a lemony rosy feel to the scent, the fragrance is more citrusy than floral at this stage. After a few minutes, the floral notes appear, I don’t detect much jasmine, there is a floral woody orris (which feels like orris butter not the sweet powdery iris), ylang-ylang and a prominent powdery almondy heliotrope, something about this combination gives me an impression of violet. In the drydown, the scent becomes even better as the vanilla, musk and sandalwood appear making the scent sweet, musky, woody and powdery.

The Shem-el-Nessim is a captivating smell that kept my attention for many hours. Without doubt the clear winner for my money amongst all the range of the classy Grossmith scents. 10/10 (Edit) I have to now add Amelia due to recent love affair with wearing it in isolation on a day when ability to smell was being impaired in any way. It may even have to be ranked higher due to its smoothness and delightful balance on my skin. (..edit again) Amelia is now at home with me. Just had to leave the shop with it as it is smooth, softly comforting when I need a big hug to get me through the tough times in life. Stunning!

Strange how many people think that it smells like L'Heure Bleue, because it doesn't seem to contain anise, which on me it's a very prominent note in LHB, but I totally get the old-Guerlain vibe. It smells more like Shalimar to my nose, if any. Anyway this is a very beautiful scent in itself. It's oriental and powdery, very dreamy yet not too playful. Orris and the heliotrope play a big part and the result is totally old school without the greasiness. It's rare to find this level of elegance and harmony in recent perfumes.Expensive but probably worth.

I am having that experience! I was the secret lover of Marie Antoinette and entered her room last night. Now, the next day, it is the day she died. And I am after that sad hour and all I can remember in my horror is her smell. Or, saying better, our smell, her and mine, mixed in my body odor, the geranium and the orris root mixing molecules will be my memory of the night I said goodbye to Marie Antoinette. (this is the only perfume I have tested that I believe allows me to know how perfumery was once; it induced my museum delirium described above)

Opening reminds me a lot of Tiziana Terenzi's Eclix, which is oddly lemony yet powdery and old-school. Neither are a love or hate, they just smell kind of odd in this day and age. I got a lot of ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and orris in Shem-el-Nessim straight out the nozzle. On the dry-down it's a beautiful powdery heliotrope. It's not for me but you might want to test it out if you're a fan of old-school classic, powdery-sweet scents.

Ordered a sample, praying I would not love it, for I cannot spend $400 on a bottle of perfume. I spent a blissful five minutes thinking it was quite nice, if a bit powdery...and then it unfolded. The best notes of L'Heure Bleue (my desert island fragrance), plus rose and jasmine and much more. One of the loveliest things I have ever smelled. I am so screwed.