Eau de Gentiane Blanche

Eau de Gentiane Blanche, a review. I am a proud owner of four Hermès scents: Terre, Bel Amis, Equipage Géranium and now Eau de Gentiane Blanche. This is a beautiful artisan quality scent. This is like what Jicky is to Guerlain, a scent quite a few people may be put off by because it utilizes uncommon notes, the scents less travelled. It’s what I call a “Pachamama scent”, that is, a fragrance that feels like it’s in harmony with mother nature. Have you ever tried Tactics by Shiseido? Well, it gives off that kind of naturalistic vibe, a bit zen, a bit mysterious, but not too much so, there is a balance present here. Interestingly, the gentian flower was the emblem of the Minamoto clan, a surname for emperors during the Heian period in Japan; but I doubt that’s what Jean-Claude Ellena had in mind. Growing up in France, he no doubt had in mind the alpine zone of the Massif Central that straddles the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, where the gentian flower grows wild. It gives off a distinctly Mediterranean forest and telluric vibe. This naturalistic quality is what makes it a winner, in my opinion. There are many ways to describe this vibe: Picture the smell of a pavement during a hot day that has been drenched with a bucket of water, and lets off a subtle smell of cooked earth. Or the smell of rain pouring down on a rock in a meadow: a smell of soil with a distant aqueous note, with a hint of plant flowers in the background. This aqueous note is not artificial smelling in the slightest, it’s very personal and true-to-life smelling. The sillage is good on this one. About 4-7 hours, seems to last well on fabrics too. So, who should buy this fragrance? I agree with some of the other reviewers here: this is a one-way scent, what you see is what you get, it doesn’t evolve or go through different phases, that’s not what it’s trying to do. Personally, this does not diminish my satisfaction with this scent in the slightest. I think it’s the sort of scent people will bemoan not having bought while it was still in production, it’s one to treasure, a sort of Hermès black swan for the ages. I see why it doesn’t appeal to so many people for being a more subtle creation, but really, it is a fantastic scent to own; it’s honest, unpretentious, and surprisingly natural. So, when to use this scent? For me, it would be perfect for a hydraulic engineer who works outside in a dry climate, an outdoorsy type, a hiker or mountain climber, a yoga teacher, diplomatic interpreter, etc. Or a bookseller in a wet climate who wants to evoke a sense of mystery. Male or female, this is a pure perfume for anyone with an open nose. It is like an olfactory vignette: if Terre de Hermès offered us the sensation of a forest full of oranges, Eau de Gentiane Blanche is even more specific: think humid plateau tucked away in a foggy mountain, with wet rocks and lush vegetation, and of course the smell of the eponymous gentian. The sound of water, smell of soil, a person at peace. It’s an 8.4 out of 10 for me. It saddens me seeing this fragrance still languishing under the 4-star mark. For example, Jicky (which I love) is rated at 4.11 as of June 2019, so I hope Eau de Gentiane Blanche gets up to the 4.15 or even the 4.20 mark, because I believe it’s deserving of it, and Jean-Claude Ellena, you deserve a lot of credit for your efforts with this intimate and personalised fragrance, merci beaucoup maître!

Soft, smooth, bitter flowers. Lovely. Iris and other cold, somewhat bitter florals wrapped in a little bit of light musk to soften and with added aromatic depth. A linear scent with a surprising staying power. "Figurative and generous expressions of instant pleasure, the Hermès Colognes offer a series of material-based olfactive vignettes." This suggests a simpler, linear scent, one that doesn't develop a story going through a sequence of top, heart and base notes but stays the same throughout its relatively short life. The linear character is certainly true. A couple of seconds after the initial cloud of alcohol disappears, the actual scent of this fragrance becomes clear and established and once it's established, it remains the same until it slowly fades a few hours later. I was nicely surprised at longevity of a fragrance deemed to be a cologne. It stayed noticeable for at least three hours, maybe as long as four. Quite impressive for me as I often lose any traces of a scent couple of hours in, and I kept catching bigger and little reminders of this now and then for much longer than that. So it's a linear scent, freely admitting to being a vignette. One would thus expect a fairly simple accord, a base more than a complete fragrance, but Jean-Claude Ellena, responsible for a long list of Hermes' fragrances as well as several other rather rarefied creations for niche perfume houses, including Acqua di Parma, the Different Company and L`Artisan Parfumeur, has created a rather complex thing here. The official notes include gentian, iris, incense and musk. There are florals - incredibly fresh yet intense. I'd call this aspect of the fragrance green, but it's a strange green, very much alive yet rather grey. If you look at the colour of the bottle, held against light, you'll get the kind of pale-grey green I am talking about. There is a lot of iris there, which is probably responsible for that grey. But there is also gentian in the notes, and although I don't know what the gentian flower (an alpine plant, see the other pic) smells like, I feel that it must be contributing there with a purple/grey element. Actual gentian flowers are vivid royal blue, but in the scent the purple-blue is diluted, less saturated. None of this makes for a weaker fragrance, but decidedly shifts the focus from the floral to the aromatic incense aspects. There is bitterness there, a medicinal quality so typical of many incense fragrances, but it's a a bitterness that's both smooth, set against a soft background of pale musk, and also fresh and open, like a scent of a meadow known far and wide for being particularly abundant in medicinal (and perhaps even hallucinogenic) herbs. I have seen the word etheral repeated in comments about this fragrance, and yes, it is etheral, as in being airy and a bit unearthly, but not at all weak or vulnerable. This is not a scent of a shrinking-violet young damsel in teary distress. This is a scent that makes me think of Galadriel.

When I'm wearing Eau de Gentiane Blanche it creates a mental image of a forest. But it's a pretty specific forest. It takes me to an early spring day, just after a cold and slow rain, the sky is gray and the mountain peaks are still covered in snow. You can smell the humid cold air, almost misty. A running water is nearby and the grass is just starting to grow here and there. There is also a hint of "blue" flowers in the air. Gentian is a mountain flower that smells a bit herbal and a bit sour. The iris here is in no way powdery, it is rather green and sharp, with the smallest hint of sweetness. There is also incense in this fragrance, which might lead you into thinking this would be a smoky autumny fragrance. But here, the incense is toned down a lot, sometimes not even being aware it's there. To my nose it just acts as a complement to the greenness of the fragrance, making it a bit more balanced, "rounding" the green sharpness. Eau de Gentiane Blanche ticks all the boxes necessarily for me to consider it being a masterpiece. It is beautifully crafted and blended, having one of the most naturally pleasing smells I have come across in the fragrance world so far. It's my favorite of the whole Eau de Cologne line of Hermes and I'm really excited to have it in my collection. The performance is also amazing on me, having a very decent sillage (an arm's length for a good 3-4 hours) and really great longevity (I can trace it up to 10-12 hours after application, sometimes even more than that). The only problem I have with it is its versatility, as I find it hard wearing it most of the times. It's my current go-to rainy cold day fragrance, or when I go in vacation to the mountains, but other than that it's pretty hard to find other contexts in which I can pull it off. It's also a pretty weird scent to some and sometimes gives a feminine vibe (I'm a guy), which to me is not necessarily off-putting, but to some it may feel odd or awkward. Some may even say it smells a bit "medicinal" and I can totally understand that, it can smell like a green tincture if you think of it that way. But I prefer sticking to my mental image of a rainy misty cold forest. My "marks", 10 being highest: Scent: 9.5 Sillage: 7 Longevity: 9 Uniqueness: 10 Versatility: 4

The first thing that comes to mind when smelling any Hermes perfume is expensive. Not in a bad or tacky way, on the contrary, it feels more like Hermes spares no expense in giving us these beautiful, interesting, refined scents. It is an expensive gift, chosen perfectly, nothing extraneous. I have two sample sprays of Eau de Gentiane Blanche, both from an Hermes boutique and both only half full. After trying it today, I will nurse every precious drop until I can buy my own bottle. I didn't know what to expect with this fragrance as I had never heard of a gentiane flower. Plus, I grow Iris in my yard, but they are mostly scentless. So the word Blanche is what I focused on-would this be a white flower smell? No, it isn't a typical floral at all. For me, it can only be described in adjectives. I spray, and I am again 18, sitting on large rocks by a deep blue, glittering alpine lake, smelling the forest, the first sun of the year warming my shoulders, a soft breeze blowing my hair, little pockets of snow still lingering in shady parts of the woods. The rocks I sit upon are warming to my brown smooth legs, and I hear spring birds fluttering overhead. The scent of pine and forest green and lake water wafts over me with each puff of breeze. This is my youth in a bottle. Hermes actually and perfectly captured an afternoon of my youth and put it in a bottle. To me, this is a unisex fragrance. I'd be crazy about it on a man. I'm crazy about it on me. It stays the same from first spray to dry down, but that does not mean it is uncomplicated or doesn't tell a story. It whispers to me, and it may whisper something different to you. I think it is flexible for both day and night, for all seasons, beyond all seasons. It's beautiful. It seems to last on my skin, although I can't help but spraying it every couple of hours just to deepen it. But I must resist, to save it. Oh...just a bit more....I think I'd drink it if I could. It's my favorite Hermes scent so far, although I have liked them all, this one I love. It's next on my "to be purchased" list.

Eau de Gentiane Blanche is a magnificently photorealistic depiction of gentian flower and damp humus, with deep, shadowy, savory vegetal elements that I've only ever encountered in Eau d'Italie Bois d'Ombrie (which I unfortunately never replenished). It opens with a spiky, sharp green tone for which I have a penchant (artemisia, wormwood, and thuja notes are so appealing to me as well). This sensation is much like that of metallic leaves of pelargonium (not the rosy-scented type) foliage under the sun, tomato leaves, green peppers, various nightshades, there's just something so wonderfully evocative, but it doesn't end there: the iris, which while not pronounced, provides a softer, shadier, almost somber counterpoint to it all, a shift from sun to shade, maybe filtered light, a waning summer or early autumn sensation. This is most evident in the heart and the base, as a subtle smoke enters the picture, the incense element, shading the experience even further, which is an interesting contrast to the damp earth and leaves effect. For an EDC, this has the longevity of an EDT or even an EDP is your skin holds it well. While relatively linear, save for the more pronounced irones and incense in the drydown, it is really artfully composed and just beautiful to my nose. It really is the kind of fragrance that those who are drawn to a reflective, even pensive vibe would be enamored with. I am one of those thinkers and dreamers and I love it.

Hermes - Eau de Gentiane Blanche This is Hermes at its finest! If Terre and Voyage are too mainstream for you, and you'd like to find something unique, I'd recommend EdGB. It could have been placed among those expensive Hermessence fragrances, "Hermessence Gentiane Blanche" IMO. It's strictly for gentlemen. Only a woman with appropriate style can pull this off (wearing suits, "Man, I feel Like a Woman", vintage YSL, Chanel black and white, chic Parisian style with a cigarette) plus the attitude. The personality could be icey cold, but confident and endearing. The scent itself is a mixture of herbal, incensy, musky, floral notes; very light. It is appropriate for work, to fancy dinner; but not for a date. It says confidence, victory, but at times it can feel a little complicated and depressing, but there's something soothing, comforting, that makes you want to linger in that state of depression and bittersweet feeling. He is rich, but he is sad. Yet he's adored by many and nobody knows his secret/mystery. He's just a lonely person who has all the finest things in life, but happiness; disguised by those black shades and his sleek suit. Scent - 4.0 Uniqueness - 4.2 Longevity - 2.7 Versatility - 3.0 Silage - 2.6 EAU DE GENTIANE BLANCHE "He is the poison, he is the potion." -Mr. Almond-

Once, when I was very young, I met someone almost twice my age in a bar. Someone famous. Well, not famous by face or name but famous from their beautiful work. They were the kindest, most calm and gentle of all people I have perhaps ever met. Being young and foolish and full of Dutch courage, I naturally flirted. Imagine my surprise when I awoke next to them the very next morning. Being truly British, there had been no sex. As we said our goodbyes, I impulsively pulled them towards me in a bear-hug and buried my face in their neck. This is where Gentian Blanche takes me, forever in that moment - lips kissing the cleanest, most heavenly skin. Cool and warm at the same time. Gentian Blanche also reminds me of a cheap soap from my primary school and yet there is nothing cheap smelling about this fragrance. Do not expect fireworks and lust; those things are over all to soon. Here you will find a quiet passion that is clean and angelic on the surface yet carries an almost unspoken musky desire. A strange combination of peace and longing that takes me on a journey from the comforting soap of childhood to the intoxicating flesh of a beautiful adult. Eau de Gentiane Blance sits very close to the skin. I wear it for myself. I wear it for the one that got away.

I was generally interested in this one, considering I am an Hermes fan. I think all of their fragrances for both men and woman are unique and beautiful. There is something natural about how an Hermes fragrance smells on a person. Anyway, this one is hard to find so I stopped by a Hermes boutique to try it on one night as they were closing...and...well I was kinda speechless. I can't say I hate it or love it but I was intrigued and confused by this one. Its not fresh, not citrus, not flowery at all. Earthy is the word with maybe some oregano. Like oregano and wet cardboard. While that sounds bad, its not and truly unlike anything I have ever smelled before. At first I was kinda turned off, maybe like I was expecting something different. I first though, "this is something I do not want to smell like". Still I kept smelling it on my arm and kept getting something different. The next morning I could still clearly smell it on me. I am not sure what a person who would happened to walk by me would think of this. I does not smell like a cologne but like an aura. In short, the verdict is still out on this one. Definitely something for a cologne connoisseur to try on, just for the experience.

During our lunch at Osteria Francescana (Modena) in October 2012 the drinks pairing included a fabulously aromatic and quite strong gentian root infusion, called "Genziana" and distilled by Giovanni Boroni from Borzago (Trentino, in the north of Italy), so I knew what to expect... This is a coincidence surely, but in fact the more I think of it the more I find resemblances between Massimo Bottura's highly poetic approach to food and Jean-Claude Ellena's creations. This is a fantastic and unique smell, very dry when worn on its own. It is freshly torn green leafy stalks, a vegetal bitterness evocative of a misty morning walk on the gentle mountain side, biding one's time seeing, hearing and smelling everything around - for they are all so different and strangely indifferent to our presence there - just like this perfume. I also love to blend it with Eau de Pamplemousse Rose or Concentré d'Orange Verte, which give a bit more warmth, sweetness and depth to the sternness of the gentian root. This is a 10/10, there's no doubt about it. It is perfect on its own while being open to blending, and I couldn't ask for more.

One more example of the race for originality between the 2 most prestigious houses of parfumes Hermes and Guerlain. Gentiane, a rare (and protected, but now planted & grown for it's famous alcohols) dark blue & very pretty alpine flower is not listed among frag notes on this site. The alcohols are famous for their gentle bitterness (Suze, the Gentianes of local producers) well suited for aperitifs - they "open the appetite" according to the French Chefs ... Guerlain's AA Gentiane being gone since long, JC Ellena picked up the Guerlain challenge with an even more original combination with the powdery iris, very strong and present in this frag. This combination is marvelous and pure, the rest (incense, musks) are only dressings. There is nothing in common between a paper strip test and the skin. A must try, and I love it in my bottle for my skin for many days to come! It's at its best in the Alps or the Rockies, in summer beneath high mountain lakes, just like Hermes Eau des Merveilles Bleue is fantastic on the beachsides of the Mediterranean (a flacon of 100 cc gone within 3 weeks during our most recent stay).

I understand how so many compare Eau de Gentiane Blanche with Geoffrey Beene...in the end it's not in the same category. I find that Geoffrey Beene is far more spicier with a definite woodsy vib. Eau de Blanche has more herbal/green aroma and heavy on gentian. There's a hint of floral notes just enough to balance this juice which gives it a real attractive masculine vib. I've never smelt a Blanche flower...If it's anything like this fragrance I do definitely appreciate it and I find it worth having. Musk soften the green/ earthly blend. Longevity and Silage is moderate overall lasting about 4-6hrs...if you spray it 2x I find it that it would last at least 8hrs. Finally thoughts, Whoever loves Geoffrey Beene but you want a more earthy/green blend...this juice does it. Hermès takes awhile to release a frag and that's because Hermès takes care. This juice is UNBELIEVABLY GREEN. Try it several times before you decide to buy it ...you will enjoy this fragrance. Rating this frag is definitely worthy of 8/10. If Hermès decides to make a edt I would enjoy wearing it. Kudos to Hermès

Gentian is a beautiful flower in the high mountains. In nature it has a very rare, albino version too, the white Gentian. Folk belief says that the place where one find a white Gentian there is a treasure under it. I have found this treasure in this unique, fresh, bitter-green cologne. In reality the white (blanche) name refers more to white musk what softens the bitterness of Gentian roots. I think this fragrance will be never a top seller as most like sweet perfumes like "Le Male" or "1 Million". (...like less prefer the pure, bitter taste of dark chocolate or green tea.) Longevity: I do not find problem with it as many write here. On on my skin it stays for about 6 hours, on cloth for two days(!) and I can detect it even after several days. So I apply 3 sprays. One on wrist, one on neck and one on my cloth. It stays with me all day long and even next day I can smell it. Projection: Not many will notice or compliment it. This cologne is private. It gives a good feeling an atmosphere to you. Take care, you can be addicted to this scent! :) It is a Masterpiece!!!

I don't know how to start with this beauty!I m finally an owner of a bottle,but I have also test it so many times in the past. Maybe is the Hermes house, I own some of their masterpieces so maybe their formulas works for me. Maybe is the central idea of that house-I feel they take the perfume creation as a subject of art or poetry or both- that means they risk with bold creations and unexpected combinations and high quality ingredients. I tested it without knowing the pyramid of notes and was sure that a more bitter "O" de Lancome type of unisex scent was revealed on my skin which I adored though,immediately. When I saw the notes on Fragrantica,what a surprise!Flowers? Incense?MUSK? Where is the citrus zest? where is wood? The forest? the rain? the cold breath of the winter wind? Are all there,for me and on my skin. I love this one for its quality,the high performance on skin and through the day,the uniqueness,the freshness,the mystery,the power of simplicity,the boldness. Monsieur Ellena, you wrote a fairytale again. Thank you for this one.

I would classify this as an esoteric perfume. It's inspiration, the Gentiana flower, is not one I am familiar with, and I doubt most others would recognize it either. My only association with this scent would be vague recollections of wild flowers, grasses and herbs. Described enigmatically as an "irreverant take on the Cologne style," I imagine it would probably only reveal it's deepest secrets to someone well versed in the history of perfumery, which I am certainly not. But nevertheless, this perfume has given me a great deal of pleasure. I find myself continually drawn to it, fascinated by it's dark green beauty. It's not a "sensual" perfume. Rather, it seems to stimulate me intellectually, with a verdant clarity. I don't think most others would enjoy it on me. It doesn't have that sudden burst of light and glory that the perfumes of the Jardin series have. But it does provide the subtle and uniquely personal satisfaction of sharing a small piece of the Jean Claude Elenna's genius.

testing this scent was full of pleasant surprises. First of all, good for me, I dont know what does the name of the perfume means. I dont have any idea what is 'gentiane'. It starts abit strange on me: mix of earthy something. The scent was so familiar, yet I couldnt recall the name. And so it went by and reveals more aromatic side of itself...Soft sweet earthy cologne with hint of woods. that accord in the beginning comes and goes very faintly. i smelled hint of wet moss and it all rounded with soft musk I totally enjoy this scent. Only when I reached home i remember... Gentiane blance has somewhat slightly similar top notes with Hiris! One thing...this is a cologne, so it doesnt last very long. May be it is a good thing...as I can re-apply and enjoy the whole experience as many times without worrying of overdose :D hm...not so good for my wallet thou...as with most Hermes fragrances, they are lovely and price is...ahem... not the most economical fragrance around.

I am a die-hard fan of incense, iris, and green perfumes, and this is one of the most wonderful combinations of all three of these notes. It's funny that some people call it melancholy - I've been wearing it on the beach all summer, with the smell of sunscreen mixed in, and often layered with Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate! To me, it is more intoxicating than mysterious, more fresh than melancholy, more day- than night-time. Green bell pepper, as a fellow reviewer notes: yes! Aniseed, as does another: yes! I would not have bought it reading the description of "sweet, powdery, floral, balsamic, musky" - none of those I particularly fall for. But this is all that, somehow, and all of the opposites as well: bitter, green, fresh, dry, and even salty (but that may just be because I thought it the perfect beach perfume...) To me, this and Rhubarbe Ecarlate are my favorite summer perfumes. A smoky modern version of Jacomo Silences.

First time on here given a second review, but this one really takes awhile to appreciate. First off, it's bitter/fresh which is the main reason why I love this. Sweet/fresh colognes are a dime a dozen (Acqua di Gio, Eternity, etc.) and I don't like those kind of fragrances. This one is almost a garden variety, a vegetable, grassy green scent with a hint of damp molten leaves laying in a rain soaked forest. Very earthy musky and natural. Although its not listed in the notes here, I also get a strong bitter oregano vibe from it. The projection and longevity is good, I get whiffs of it all day when I wear it. Some colognes I love initially then I get tired of wearing them. This won't be the case here, this is one that will stay in my collection forever. Because it is so under the radar, I just hope it never get discontinued, as it's now my signature.

I am just totally blew away by this masterpiece and it is worthy to buy. The combination of iris,incense and gentiana is unique,magical but harmonious.It makes me feel relieved that I NEVER expected and the longevity is also amazing for a colongne(Apparently it will last longer if you spray it on your clothes than spray it on your skin). Actually, the root and flowers of gentiana(It is called “龙胆”in China) are very essential and vital chinese medicine but I never consider it as an ingredient of a perfume.Maybe that's the reason why it is so attractive and complex. A little opaue problem about it is that afer I sprayed it on my clothes for 3 hours I smelled something like a mixure of mint and chewing gum and it became much sweeter than before.But overall it is a best choice for all the seasons to wear.I highly recommend it.极力推荐!

It's a hidden secret in the world of perfumes. I remember the very first sniff of this juice 8 years ago and I felt in love immediately. It's very unusual and I don't know anything you can compare it to. That's a fragrance for extreme weather, heat above 34 Celcius degrees when Dior Homme Cologne no longer works. Very dry, bitter and refreshing. Green and herbal but NOT in an old-fashion way. I am sure this is not the fragrance for everyone, kind of acquired taste. And here the surprise: while the vast majority of Hermes colognes have the real cologne performance, Gentiane lasts a lot on my skin - up to 14 hours with the shower in between and I still can smell this beautiful composition. Sillage is very quiet but this is a kind of perfume that helps you survivwe the hottest days instead of seducing others. A true masterpiece.

Extremely bitter. This is one of the most astringent compositions I've smelled in the vegetal category, yet very captivating at the same time. The floral facet is quite obvious from the get go and only fades a little in the entire wear. As the scent dry down the incense becomes more obvious, which surprisingly frees up the heavy and bitter "gentian" impression, and the sweetness from musk emerges. The silage and longevity is unmatched - I have a little sample in my sample box and it makes everything smell like it. Agreed with the review below that Eau de Gentiane should long be discontinued due to its niche qualities; it's certainly not a mass-pleasing perfume. Overall a very unusual fragrance that leaves an impression. I might upgrade to a small bottle in the future.