Eau D'Hermes

This is the first perfume created by Hermes, composed by the legend Edmond Roudnitska, which next year in 2026 will be 75 years old. Just like timeless pieces of music, it's wonderful to know that the age of some things does not preclude them from sticking around or being popular. Eau d'Hermes certainly caught attention, and inspired quite a few perfumes in its wake. I pondered quite some time ago while smelling Jean-Claude Ellena's Declaration for Cartier, which was 40 years junior at its release, that I was smelling a modernized, JCE-style homage to Eau d'Hermes. Let's start there. I haven't smelled EdH for a long time, so this new formulation in a decant will (hopefully) be a pleasant trip down memory lane, and it does indeed start that way. Instantly upon application to my skin I am hit with a gorgeous and enveloping cloud of cinnamon, coriander, and cumin. That cinnamon note in particular... oh my is it good. So warm and fresh, like you're smelling the cinnamon bark right after it's been stripped from the tree. Unfortunately, it is very short-lived, fading into the background quite quickly, so I was tempted to spray EdH again but thought better of it - remembering that this perfume is a bit of an animal and easy to overdo. Nearly as quickly as the cinnamon fades to the background in a matter of less than a minute, and the coriander and cumin calm down yet still remain in front, a super juicy yet green bergamot note springs forward. It has this effect as if you put a bergamot half in a juicer, squeezed, and the juice sprays everywhere. The green sour quality to the bergamot, at least in this formulation, is so pronounced I almost thought Hermes went with something more akin to a lime accord in this formulation. That mix of earthy, sweaty, and savory seed spices plus juicy green sourness is an odd combo, but nonetheless very pleasant. So far, so good - and fun! The dry down from the top happens quite quickly, again, introducing a soft floral accord of what seems to be jasmine and geranium. Fortunately, it leans heavier on the white floral and indolic jasmine than the camphoraceous geranium, the latter seeming to work to fill in the holes of the heart rather than playing a starring role. This is where things start to veer slightly off course from vintage versions of EdH, say prior to the early-to-mid 00s (the age of the last bottle I smelled). I remember thinking the floral heart was more pronounced, as this time around it is very meek and short lived. The seed spices of coriander and cumin, cinnamon almost inaudibly humming in the background, are sewing their way through the heart and become more apparent after the short-lived florals completely disappear. The final skin scent is a mix of smooth and well-worn leather, dry tonka, and woods. Here is yet another detraction. I remember EdH being an animal, particularly at the base. The leather was more pronounced, the tonka more pronounced, there was definitely a cistus note driving a really raunchy civet type accord. This EdH is very well behaved, quite quiet and restrained. The growling and non-domesticated beast that I remember has gotten old and used to humans, and now acts like a companion rather than a wild animal. I find this kind of sad, honestly. Don't get me wrong, EdH in its current form is still really good; this is still high on the list of classic masculines even by today's judgements. And I imagine the need to make sure it still secured a spot on the list of some-of-the-best masculines you can buy today, Hermes felt the need to tame it. And so they did. They tamed it well; it's still Eau, it still smells great, and I still love it. But I miss the beast.

The forgotten Hermes fragrance, one that surely deserved more of limelight? Or not... as exactly because of being invisible stayed less changed and challenged by endless reformulations since not making that much of a contribution to overall house’ business... Fathered by the same man who made Dior’s Eau Sauvage, this cannot be a timid child! While being the FIRST of Herme’s fragrances it had to be a well behaved, understated, boarding school educated child. This is what I love about Eau d’Hermes, it is subdue and behaved in all its glory, well intended and won’t annoy the conservative grandmother watching... Yet there are pulsion and animalistic things going under the cover. It is a grownup fragrance for those younger at heart; it is not a fragrance for youngsters who want to grow faster than what they truly can get away with. Sorry to say to Jean-Claude Ellena’s fans (me included 😉) but THIS is the new-just-bought Hermes leather bag interior scent – not Cuir d’Ange – this is the real deal. The leather note here is wrapped in something so animalistic and skin-raw scented that it should almost make one blush. The citrus/sage/cardamom that play in the opening are very quickly wrapped in that almost impossible to name animal presence that I can only guess leather/birch/tonka all combined invent and bring to life. Is labdanum also working here landing the fragrance its “perspiration” quality? As resins perspire from stems, there is something that sweats here. With class, dressed up in its ironed white shirt. Despite this being a citrus-aromatic version of a leather, it ends up speaking sex; so much louder than all known and seen takes-on leather. Those going towards accords of tobacco-leather, or styrax-leather, or hay-leather or civet-leather... all of which, undoubtedly should reveal more sexual, more intentional. Mr. Ellena you were right about your cuir - which is beautiful in an entirely different way - ; the angels have no sex. It’s all here, where angels can only turn around and go back to the clouds as this Eau is grounded in earthly thoughts. As said from start, the child behaves, but don’t tear open a window to sneak inside its cunning schemes. A genderless fragrance from the 50's? How fizzy...

I found this online for a great deal and was about to buy but postponed and decided to get to Hermes store and check it out for myself. Glad I did. I smelled the bottle with black cap and I think the label now is orange, so no clue about older formulation but the current one made me go like 'Wow!'. Yes, I get the citruses, yes I also get the cumin note and they smell just right. Bright yet filthy; vibrant yet balanced; rugged yet debonair. This was an experience on its own and the surprising part was the scent was familiar, I knew I smelled it somewhere else and I kept thinking 'where do I know this smell from'.. it clicked. Eau d'hermes and azemour les orangers by PdE are similar. Eau is rounder in its citruses, not as sharp, not as juicy but softer edges that caresses you and permits for you to get to know it. Cheekily, it knows its worth and doesn't compete for attention but allows you to get carried in it. It is aware of its own filth and embraces itself in its perversion. Azemour les orangers on the other hand has juicier citruses, its extraverted light shines loudly but not obnoxiously, it is in your face and, unapologetically, its sharp character is amplified so much more when worn during the heat. Azemour in similarity to eau d'hermes has a decree of filthiness in it but it is more reserved. If Eau d'hermes acknowledges, fully aware of its own filth, accepts it than Azemour's on the other hand is a thought, it is a fleeting moment that just shows you its potential without ever pushing for it's realization. As time goes by Eau d'h. softens but retains its character to the end, citruses nearly died down, spices show themselves as soft as clouds and a bit unexpectedly sweetness pops up alongside spices as if to say 'I am capable of change'. Azemour on the other hand has you forgotten about its dirt but not the photorealistic orange juice that you showered in. My mouth waters as I type this comment. Both scents are spectacular in their own right and luckily I own Azemour but for the collectionner Eau d'hermes would not be redundant purchase. They almost feel like different sides of the same coin but that is just my nose and two cents on it.

Based on my small sample of Jicky, I far prefer Eau D'Hermes. I am addicted to it. It smells so much like amazing man parts I can't believe it doesn't include musk. Yes, spicy citrus, but I think what smooths the whole thing out to me into a completely soft, drinkable yum that is not angular or sharp anywhere is the combination of lavender, cardamom and clove. I don't get too much vanilla in it, just enough, which makes me happy. Jicky dries down a bit more powdery to me, though I've not tried it enough yet to be certain, and the Hermes has better projection for me without being too brash, which I'm often in the mood for. The absence of powder in Hermes while having the softness of powder is impressive. It smells fresh and beautiful but somehow also makes my mind wander and yes, I'd call it dirty. I'm working on a 7,5 ml sample, copper top, and will get a full bottle soon. **Edit: I realized what it is that makes it smell so sexy to me... I don't see it in the notes, but the beautiful beautiful spice part I mentioned is the lavender, cardamom, clove part with the barest touch of soft earth and then for some reason under that I smell a combination of pencil shavings and salt. Wow. To me it is very very intimate smelling.** I like to wear this with other florals or tropicals when I want to add a little more "musky" spice. I'm looking forward to trying several of the other mentions on this page, including a sample of Habit Rouge in the coming months, I'm curious about it all, but I don't know about L'Autre because like someone said, this smells like the scent of a clean and desirable person and I don't know about too much cumin. Layer it with CBMusk if you really wanna get down. I've spritzed a Yog Nog elsewhere, I think ylang compliments. I just love the reviews on this page reading them after I had written my own. Someone said it smells like potential space, I totally get that. Someone mentioned bergamot, I get that too. And someone said it reminds them of a woman's sex smell, and yeah women can carry this scent on their bodies just as well, I feel very comfortable wearing it night or day.

Eau d'Hermès is a high-quality masculine-leaning cologne featuring a smooth leather base. Radiantly bright up top, it has a lot of darkness below the surface - warm spicy notes add some bite, while the leather develops in the background. It has depth and complexity, yet is airy and fresh. Traditional in style, vintage yet timelessly elegant; the modern version is beautiful. I haven't smelled a vintage formulation but would love to compare it to this. EH opens with tart bergamot, brightened by a lemon note that more closely resembles verveine/lemongrass. Radiantly fresh, the citruses are followed closely by aromatic lavender, a slight fougère edge to this leather-based cologne. Some herbal greenness is in there, alongside some peppery spice. Petitgrain adds green woodiness, enhancing the citrus to perfection. The opening is rich yet fresh, addictive and quite restorative. As it develops, a woody-jasmine accord emerges, grounding the aromatic, airy opening. The spices remains, with warm, sweet cinnamon becoming prominent. I get some geranium as it progresses, green and herbal. The leather base develops as it begins to dry down, lingering in the background from the early stages but really coming to the fore at this point. The aromatic herbal-green notes lift it, and the soft spices remain. It is a smooth, saddle-like leather note, true to the Hermès heritage, reminiscent of a high-quality handbag too. There is some dry woodiness in there too, adding to the leather accord. It fades to a slightly animalic, musky skin scent with a hint of tonka bean. Sillage and longevity are moderate, and it is transeasonal thanks to its relative richness. A complex yet cohesive traditional cologne with fougère and barbershop elements on a beautifully-rendered leather base, EH is a top-notch masculine-leaning cologne with depth. Excellent. 4.5/5.

I find the opening of Eau d'Hermes to be one of the most refreshing and bracing: the bergamot and petitgrain harmonizes with the cumin and coriander. It is a real showstopper, but it doesn't end there: as the smooth, tawny leather and florals come to the fore, there is this synergy of sacred and profane for which I am such a sucker. This is the grandfather of Terre d'Hermes and the muse for Declaration. However, Eau d'Hermes exudes a debonair yet sultry sensation for which the other two, while remarkable in their own right, fall just short. Indeed, one can find a similar quality in Jicky, however here the lavender is rather a supporting player then the main act. I might be tempted to say that the cumin is the main act (and rumor has it that older formulations lack the strong presence of this pungent spice, but the formulation I have is the one with which I fell in love), but I really think that it isn't overbearing at all; it really is the leather and florals that are accented, along with other spices such as clove and cardamom. There seems to be still others that, while not listed in the notes pyramid, seem evident to the nose (nutmeg, for example). So, it is really the sum of all these piquant, aromatic spices that stir the senses, accenting and shading the other notes. They also seem to blend seamlessly with the leather that hums. Also, yes, it all coalesces into sweaty, visceral sensuality, but not in a brazen manner. It still manages to come off as genteel, and that is the magic and appeal of Eau d'Hermes. I would be remiss without giving proper credit to Colonial Drug in Newton, MA for introducing me to this beauty. What a stellar education on exceptional fragrances from these fine folks. I tip my hat!

Another masterpiece from the late great nose Roudnitska. What a relief after some of the sickly sweet or limpid horrors I've tested recently. Mind you this is odd.. I like Diorella, Cristalle and Femme so it's no surprise I like Eau d'Hermes. Mind you I was trepiditious due to the descriptions of skank and so forth. But I bought the reformulated version which as far as I know has far less civet but retains its animalic qualities with jasmine and cumin. On first test I was unsure, but later on I wore this on an evening out and it's those times when you're distracted that you get to know the 'personality' of a perfume better. All evening I enjoyed whiffs of Eau d'Hermes when I moved around, like little puffs of citrus spicy steam! It reminds me of a side-dish a friend of mine makes, with carrots sauteed in cinammon, cumin and lemon. There is a touch of leather, but subtle, and yes, maybe a little touch of eau de knickers but it doesn't come across as obvious. The cardamom is very clear at first spray but calms on skin I was with a friend who's not over fond of the more 'dirty' smelling perfumes, who immediately liked this. So I'd say its animalic qualities, in reformulation anyway, remain well within realms of tolerable for most Overall I found it warm, refreshing and lightly tantalising, it reminds me of how I smell after cooking with lemon and whole spices, but a lot less effort! There's also a tiny and subtle touch of sweetness from vanilla Also, it reminds me of the smell of a leather man's wallet, for some reason. It's maybe more suited to men in some ways. Sillage moderate, longevity around 5 hours (perfumes evaporate on me quite soon though)

It takes me a lot of time, at least five visits in Amsterdam’s, Barcelona’s and Madrid’s Hermes boutiques to decide whether this one is for me or not. I love kumin in fragrances but I’m always afraid that after application people around me would think that I didn’t get a shower for many days. The kumin must be perfectly balanced with other ingredients to show its real spicy face with slight dirtiness not like Indian kitchen or smell of dirty sweat. Here we have this kind of perfection. Kumin is present and last for long time in the beginning, heart and the base of fragrance. But this kumin first is fresh perfectly surrounded by citruses, than is sweet and spicy because is dancing with tonka beans, jasmine and vanilla and finally is sooooo woody, balanced by sandal, cedar and birch of course. After checking and checking whether this is my kind of smell every time I was more and more surprised how amazing is this creation. This is unbelievable how it evolves. When the temperature outside is high you feel dry and fresh nuances. When is chilly the fragrance creates warm sweetish blanket that cover you. I think that in a perfume schools creators would be able to write master or even PhD thesis about this composition. This is never ending story. From one application to another you are opening a new chapter in the perfect perfume book. This is what I feel wearing this perfume. Today I know that the nose behind Eau d’Hermes is the master of masters – Roudnitska. I understand how mystery of fragrances can make you feel special.

This stuff doesn’t whisper—it leans in, raises an eyebrow, and starts talking in low, confident tones. The opening is one of the most striking in perfumery: citrus and spice, sure, but also something raw and unmistakably human. The bergamot and petitgrain give you a flash of brightness, and then the cumin and coriander slide in—not with brute force, but with intention. As it develops, the leather comes forward—not harsh or waxy, but smooth, tawny, lived-in. Paired with the warmth of florals and spice (clove, cardamom, cinnamon—take your pick), it creates that almost sacred-profane tension Roudnitska was so good at. If Terre d’Hermès is the outdoors in a bottle, Eau d’Hermès is the skin under your shirt after a long day in the sun—familiar, slightly animalic, and charged with memory. There’s no sweetness here, no perfumey fluff—just a dry, spiced sensuality that feels old-world without being fusty. You get echoes of Jicky, and you can see how this scent laid the groundwork for Déclaration, but neither of those quite capture the dusty, musky warmth that makes this so compelling. I’m wearing the current black-capped version, which tones down the civet of earlier formulas, but keeps the spirit intact: the sensuality is more suggested than explicit, and no less evocative for it. Not for everyone, but if you’ve got a taste for the classics with teeth—and you like your leathers spiced and your citruses shadowed—this one’s worth tracking down. It’s a gentleman with wild thoughts, dressed just well enough to get away with them.

Citrus herbal cinnamon cumin civet leather moss Eau d’Hermes is, in my eyes, the greatest compositions of all time, a masterclass in contrast and boldness. Its opening is a panoramic swirl of citrus, herbs, and lavender, sparkling, green, juicy, yet deeply calming. This shimmering constellation gives way to a sudden eruption of cinnamon and cumin, which flirt momentarily with sweet, clovey Christmas orange before surrendering to the ultimate animalic triad of civet, birch tar, and leather. The animalic bomb is detonated, its here to stay. However as you acclimate to it, you start to understand the message Roudnitska has hidden. He places the ugly facets against their contrasting beautiful counterparts, cumin against citrus, civet against jasmine and geranium, birch tar set in a mossy leathery base. The result is a fragrance that feels not just balanced, but alive, similar to other staples of the era, the whole picture, not just what you want to see, but all that is present. Complete evocation of the mid way point between chypre and fougere. Ultimately Eau d'Hermes is possibly the best attempt at uniqueness in style. If you are passionate about turning heads and making a statement, something like Eau d'Hermes is perfect. Accept that some people will not like it. Other will be drawn to it like flies, that's the beauty of individuality and self expression, not a migraine inducing amberwood bomb.

This is my second review for this complex fragrance--one of the most famous of the twentieth century, and the first one created for the great house of Hermès--because I just did not understand it before. This was one of the first major fragrances by Edmond Roudnitska, one of the greatest of all perfumers, and he said he wanted to evoke "the interior of a Hermès bag in which wafted the aroma of a perfume..." The effect here is of a faint suede note (achieved through subtle use of birch) mixed with a lovely petitgrain citrus note. But there are many other things in here besides, including most notably an animalic note (cumin) that makes the whole thing smell faintly like human body odor. That would damn it in the eyes of many, but it's an incredibly enjoyable scent perhaps because it is so faint. It makes the whole thing smell lightly of the most intimate of human contacts, This smells old-fashioned (there's no getting around this), and you won't likely thrill anyone at the office by using this. but it's lovely for going out, and it smells great, even if it smells a trifle more intimate than most people would expect. It's amazing to think that Hermès got away with marketing this, supposedly at an even stronger concentration, back in 1951, but the French are always more comfortable with sex than Americans are. Ah, the nearness of you...

Very surprised that eau d'hermes is so underrated, not many people talks about it. This is a fragrance from another era so the young crowd can find it quite dated. Eau d'hermes opens with citrus, then u can find geranium, cumin, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of animalic notes and leather. The description of the interior of a leather bag mixed with a spicy-citrus smell fits very good for this edt. The quality of the juice is over the top, the performance is average, a bit strong in the first 30min. Eau d'hermes is similar to monsieur lanvin, helene Curtis tangram or the more "recent" Versace l'homme. For spring, summer(not in the high heat) and fall, Formal situations and mature people. Glad to see it's still in production and im ok with the current formula. Give it a chance! Eau d'hermes è un fantastico profumo dal sapore vintage. Agrumato all'apertura, poi i sentori di cumino, cannella, sandalo e cuoio si uniscono ad una leggera nota animalica. Mai invadente e sempre raffinato, ricorda un po' monsieur lanvin o versace l'homme, giusto per dare un'idea con che si ha a che fare. Ottimo! Scent-8,5 Longevity-7 Sillage-7 Versatility - 7 Uniqueness-8 Presentation-6,5 Compliment factor-7 Back up bottle? Maybe My vote-8,5 In one word- monsieur Alternative - monsieur lanvin, helene curtis tangram, Versace l'homme, Alpa chypre.

I enjoy and appreciate a good classic when I smell one. Eau de Hermes is exactly that. I instantly feel classy, transformed back into the past. A past I didn’t even live in but wouldn’t have minded living. When things were still right ,at least better than they are today in this modern world. In many ways I am an old soul , I love reading old books ,watching old movies and listening to stories my parents tell me from the 40 s and 50 s . Love the simple things in life. If you are not one of people you may not appreciate Eau de hermes the same way I do. Eau de hermes is basically super smooth realistic leather wrapped in lime. It’s aromatic, mininmalstic,smooth and a little animalistic. It reminds me of Chanel’s cuir de Russie quite a lot. But Eau de Hermes is my favourite out of the two. I enjoy the lime beginning ,it’s fresh and glorious when first sprayed. It’s refreshing but has this warm debth . After 10 min a smooth leather appears which at this point is very similar Cuir de Russie. However Eau de Hermes is not as in your face as cuir de Russie , cuir de Russie was a bit of a barn yard or horse stable to my nose . Eau de Hermes is more of a skin scent , it’s more intimate and may I say natural and sexy. I think it’s a pure masterpiece. You can smell the quality here. Fabulous!

Interior of a leather handbag, indeed, and a well worn one. All the grime has become one with the material and the end result is a homely smell of the time passing. I do get leather, but it's not the rubbery isobutyl quinoline leather accord, which would conjure up an image of a leather jacket. More like the ambiguous castoreum/labdanum/birch leather, but a very dry and clean rendition of it. Nothing dirty or excessively animalic here, at least when worn by a man. Also, I get a lot of cumin, a bit too much for my taste, since I tend to associate it with salty dishes and wouldn't want to wear anything foody or add saltiness to my natural perspiration. But it may be a passing association... These two notes are so dominating that I don't get any other notes listed. But something here reminds me of Eau Sauvage and Pour Monsieur. Similar reserved classiness. Lack of sweetness? And the performance is similarly reserved with this one. After 3 hours, a skin scent. While testing, I had Equipage on my other wrist and although it isn't a beast by any means, it still seemed to be 2x stronger. But it is definitely tasteful and my GF liked it. It reminded her of an incensy interior of a Russian Orthodox church. Go figure.

According to Hermes, this original cologne is available everywhere, but I've only ever seen it inside Hermes boutiques, even in Paris. That said, it is worth searching out, especially if you like being the only person around wearing your scent. I wear mine to bed. Eau d'Hermes has been described as sexy, skanky, dirty, reminiscent of body odor, even a sweaty man's crotch— and it is all of these things, cumin and cardamom and civet, especially on paper or clothing. But Ed'H, like many older fragrances, needs to be smelled on skin. Sprayed on skin and allowed to settle for a few minutes, it's a warm, deep, mildly powdery holiday pastry, bready not sweet, eaten over a cookstove after a morning of chopping wood. A single drop of Ambre Narguile under your navel fresh back from a winter morning's jog. On my skin in particular, Ed'H becomes cinnamon and butter and warm skin, like eating snickerdoodles in bed after sex. A warm spiced wine poured over the body of your lover, bergamot and cloves and first-flush armpit. And perhaps it is just the image of Roudnitska modeling this after the smell of a worn Hermes bag, but I detect some leather and lipstick in there, too. Powerful stuff.

Eau D’Hermès demonstrates Edmond Roudnitska’s genius better than almost any other creation, for it walks the perfect balance between filth and refinement, that in lesser hands would have been crude and vulgar. What a phenomenal perfume for Hermès to enter the industry with in 1951. It initially creates the impression of a classical eau de cologne with copious amounts of refreshingly bright citrus and green notes, before revealing its true self, that of a leather-chypré. The leather here is created primarily through birch, giving it an undeniable smoky edge, which is furthered through an array of smooth spices and woods. What really jumps out amongst the leather is the bergamot, lavender and most of all, cumin; which is present in overdose and solely responsible for the filthy aspect of the scent. For me, this might be Hermès’ best perfume, yes even amongst Bel Ami and Caleche etc. This was a blind buy for me and as soon as I sprayed it I realised where I had smelled it before - Semi Bespoke 3 by Roja Dove, a scent I already adored. It is amusing that here you can own the original scent for 10% of the cost of the Roja.

Absolutely required sniffing for anyone getting into perfumes - a highlight of 20th Century perfumery, it's influence is felt heavily in the work of Jean Claude Ellena for Hermès and many others besides. If you can find an old bottle then you are lucky, a treat is in store, but even the current iteration will treat you to the wonderful aromatic, sexy, dirty/clean, leathery scent. It dries into the most compelling warm skin scent that is never loud, but always alluring. Roudnitska may not have many scents to his name compared to some, but they are all gems and this is one of the very best. You can feel the connection to Eau Sauvage and Diorella which both play on the aromatic citrus theme and dirty/clean dichotomy (although please only smell the vintage Diorella, as the current version put out by Dior has turned it into something quite different from its original conception). I've a late 80's bottle of EdH and the spices are more balanced with less emphasis on cumin, and there's probably real animalic notes in it, but the current version does seem to have rather more of the cumin at first.

A forgotten gem hidden in the rough folds of time, Eau d’Hermès shines in silence, accompanying the wearer like a gentle shadow, a composed and mysterious aura. Created in 1951 by one of the great masters of modern perfumery, Edmond Roudnitska, it stands as one of the boldest and most revolutionary fragrances ever conceived. It is a masterpiece of contrasts: the bright freshness of citrus clashes with the raw, carnal animalic nature of leather and cumin. The cumin, in particular, is used with rare finesse and intention, never overwhelming, always present, blending seamlessly with the warmth of the wearer’s skin. On this skin, warmed by the gentle spring sun, lingers the memory of an old-fashioned citrus cologne that slightly sours and enlivens it, giving it vibrancy and a sense of lived-in reality. Eau d’Hermès holds a profoundly human dimension: it tells a story of hormones, love, bodies touching and blending, told with natural elegance and measured poise. A timeless work, now nearly forgotten by the market, but forever in the heart of those who have encountered it.

Long long time ago colognes were made with loads of spices. I remember reading an article on 18th century cologne recipe here on Fragrantica News; it calls for cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and rosemary. So why is it surprising that Eau d'Hermes has spices? Perhaps nowadays people can't tolerate spices in a citrus scent anymore? Anyhow, this one is my favourite out of some of the most iconic colleges: Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien, the entire range of Guerlain Les Eaux (Eau de Guerlain, du Coq and Imperiale), Roger & Gallet, and of course 4711. The citrus, cloves and spices balance each other nicely, and the leather undertone gives it a more substantial presence. The birch makes this smokey and classy. Eau d'Hermes really projects; my entire handbag smelled like it for an evening just from a small spray on the paper strip. Hermes is one of the few houses nowadays that don't mess with their original formulas (such as this one) and always pay homage to their heritage. That along deserves great respect in today's fragrance world. Hats off, Hermes!

2020 formulation. The most fascinating fragrance I’ve ever smelled. Fresh, dirty, crisp, raunchy, luminous, spare, biting, silky, vaporous, sculptural, familiar, exotic. Chic with a knowing wink. The ultimate skin scent. It reeks of sensual pleasures and old-world elegance, yet is as brisk and bold as an autumn dawn, reminding us that classic perfumes needn't be treated like dusty museum pieces. Bright bergamot, fleshy jasmine and petitgrain, and lime sprinkled with cumin and cardamom ride carefree on a well-worn leather saddle. The vibe is sunny and sweaty, the tones earthy and bold. Eau d'Hermès feels alive and elemental - like something borne of nature, captured by human hands but not created by them. There's nothing I would add or take away here; no room for improvement. It doesn't outstay its welcome, and it gives my day a glinting edge, with a sense of cheeky joy. Eau d'Hermès is not a safe blind buy - please trust me on this - but if you're on its wavelength, you won't find much better.

Let me tell a story about this perfume. Time: one afternoon in mid June 2014 Location: Hermes flagship - 24, rue du faubourg, Saint Honore So I approached the perfume bar and tried this among others. When the sales assistant accidentally sprayed this onto her fingers (instead of the blotter), she was freaking out and hurried to get another Hermes perfume and sprayed a big amount of it all over her hand and into the air (at least 6-8 sprays). I was surprised to see her reaction, not to mention it happened in Hermes flagship store. But I just smiled cause I felt the same too. It almost smells like leather and armpit, hairy if I might add, and luxurious, lush. Nevertheless, I think it's not fair to judge Eau d'Hermes just based on my experience, because I didn't wait until its drydown. I might find a nice surprise to see a chunk of gold in the bush, we never know. But it really was a fun experience to see the priceless reaction of the sales assistant. -AlmondBreakfast-

Ok, after reading most of the comments,here's my opinion.I won't go into separate ingredients, because to me it's very well blended. I don't find dirt,skank or whatever everyone else is calling it. But I can compare parts of it to other perfumes, think that would make it easier for future buyers,as it was a blind buy for me and have to say, the comments made it very difficult to decide. One thing is for sure, it has something sexual(skin powdery sweetness) in it ,in the best possible way-on the drydown .I have only smelled it one other perfume and that's Le Labo's Jasmine. The initial blast is very much like Acqua di parma original cologne -green and zesty ,which lasts a bit. Can't make out leather like in other Hermes perfumes. It leans a bit towards the masculine but that's short lived.Overall I very much like it, I think it's very classy and elegant,an all year round perfume.

When i read that Hermes Eau is no longer made with real civet, i ran and bought it!! This is one of the very few perfumes that i honestly find sexy! The perfumer's description of it being citric totally hits the nail on the head! This gorgeously dirty smell is one third citric - probably the cardamon being more to blame than the bergamot. The leather note is soft - so those who, like me, find Cabochard repulsive, or who are not really drawn to Bottega Venetta, Cuir Amethyst or Jolie Madame, even those who cannot stand Daim Blonde, have nothing to fear with this one - as long as they don't mind experimenting with skanky odours!! I love both the copper cap version and the clear cap with the lovely cumin! It's one of my favourite spring-summer scents!

I was hoping I will only like it, not love it. But, Edmond Roudnitska is God and I am the worshiper, so naturally I had no chance resisting this. Eau d'Hermes - plain and simple - smells like sex with your loved one. Nothing dirty, just specific. The odor palette; the kisses, skin, intimate parts, sweat, bed linen, his cologne, your perfume, maybe a martini you both had earlier... Sexual, natural, human, but also refreshing, relaxed, refined, cultivated. If familiar with: Femme Rochas, Diorella, Eau Sauvage, Diorama, Feminite du Bois, Jicky, sex ... Well, I just don't see how anyone could be surprised or shocked by this. (copper cap)

Madame et Monsieur, imagine if you will—the gifted perfumier Edmond Roudnitska crafting the premier fragrance for luxury brand Hermès, in mid-century Paris. Voilà! What we have here is nothing less than what you might reasonably expect—and hope for. Eau d' Hermes is exquisite, elegant and nostalgic, although the civet appears to be completely gone. Nothing at all dirty, here. As for those lurid aspects of Eau d' Hermès—yes, that will only be a matter of concern for uncultivated tastes. I couldn't possibly think of you that way; you're much too fine a person. Are you not?

Such a special scent. A true masterpiece who is standing the test of time. Even if the newest version is not quite as nice as the previous ones, it is still amazing. I inhale deeply whenever I wear this scent. The beginning is marked by an explosion of citruses, herbs and spices! The fragrance of the leather is clean and feels expensive. A very classy animalic scent. The smell of clean sheet with the subtle musk of two people's bodies. **Some people find the animalic notes skanky so this is a sample first frag.

A stunning fragrance that opens with fresh petitgrain and bergamot, in which spices, florals and birch tar are starring, with the labdanum providing a subtle but noticeable luxurious support. While the spices (cumin and cloves) are certainly prominent, these will never become cloying and the fragrance will keep a watery/light/refined feeling. A lesson of perfumery. Again a masterpiece from Hermes, that I only wish performed better. Young crowds will probably not understand its beauty. Spring/Fall days, 35+

It is so fresh and beautiful, it has just arrived and since then I can ́t stop smelling it. Simply gorgeous. I was really looking forward to try it and it is a great experience. I got it for a reasonable price but if I knew it is so perfect, I would pay much more. I fell in love, this will be my summer love. Leather is quite strong but for me it isn ́t smell of sweat but a new quality handbag, citrus, spices and dried flowers and a bit of diorella. Love it.

Eau boy! Where have you been all my life? (We're near-contemporaries and yet somehow haven't met until now.) This starts with a gorgeous blast of citrus and spices, until a slightly dirty note appears and starts to tell tales. It's an elegant cocktail party that gets a little out of hand. (The tuxes get unbuttoned and the gowns start to slip.) Hermès doesn't push this one, but it's a stunner and I hope never to be without it. Vive Edmond Roudnidska!

This is quite the experience so far...it went from skanky with loads of cumin to smoky with nice, rich animalic and leathery undertones. It also happens to be fresh because of the bergamote. A must try if you are into that sort of fumes. I am sure it would smell super sexy on a man's skin but I also like it on myself. Truly unisex. This is pure luxury. It smells like nothing else. Ahh, I love Roudnitska! I love Hermes!

Purchased a decant to sample from Surrender to Chance (good online company, BTW). This fragrance smells very similar to Chanel Pour Monsieur EDT and Dior Eau Sauvage EDT, almost to the point of being redundant if you own either or both. It's a wonderful scent: masculine, fresh, citrusy, and a universal like. Performance is nothin' to write home about. Highly recommend and probably blind buy safe.

I am absolutely obsessed with Eau D’Hermès. It has been my single most important scent for years, but I'm not ready to write about it. I've only just joined Fragrantica, and feel that to write about Eau D’Hermès would be to display way too soon what a dirty animal I am. So let's all come back to this one when we're a bit older, shall we?

This is armpit in a bottle. Even better it's an Hermes. Good quality, well rounded, rich, intense armpit. If you like Kouros, you should probably know how to appreciate Eau d'Hermes. If you like men's natural smell, this should be it. Two possibilities: It either attracts like an aphrodisiac or attacks like a garbage truck. -AB-

This is gorgeous. I mostly get bergamot and cardamom, but there’s also something animalic and leathery that makes it very enigmatic. It’s interesting, and keeps me coming back for sniffs. I never smelled the old formulations. This is a new bottle, and I believe it’s completely relevant in its current state.

All I need to say is that whoever complains about the cumin in this has missed the whole point completely; both in this creation & in high perfumery in general. And in my opinion if you are one of those people, you are clearly in the wrong hobby. Two words. Mind blowing.

Sparkling citrusses (petitgrain!) and bitter herbs on soft leather. Zero sugar. Old school in the best of ways. or: Eau de Guerlain with leather and longevity. The epitome of chic. Could somebody help me get my wrist of my nose, please?

I love this fragrance. At first sniff, i did not like it, but one day i sprayed it on my arm before a road trip and i could not stop sniffing it. I love how leathery it smells, so unique. I love layering with baccarat rouge 540 extrait

I really wanted to like this, but it reminded me too much of a bottle of old school cologne spilled in a leather handbag. Maybe it was the bottle that I tried it from, but it's just too big for me. -- Just kidding. I love it now.

Beautiful citruses contrasted with dry spices which a light dose of cumin adds a great sensuality to the fragrance. It's very light and stays close to you with longevity of about three hours. But I find it very enchanting!

What have you become when the whiff of public toilet, mixed with a citrus cleaning extract becomes your signature? Oh no! I fell for the orange box and now I have to sell all my other bottles. Happy Hollidays!

A great scent from the past ! The current version is OK,! But I prefer the vintage version♥️ this was the first scent by Hermès a true masterpiece! A blast from the past♥️ a must to have for any Gentleman😉👑

I don't get any sexual vibe from this. All I get is leather mixed with cinnamon and citrus I love it tho, very classy but nothing animalic or unwearable thing going on for me

one of the most beautiful fragrance i've ever smelled. It's a surreal leather, bright and yet had many secrets up its sleeve. It is sensual, rich, intimate... so unique !

A clean scent that makes you smell dirty? Fuck yeah! I love contradictions. Makes me feel like a rebel in a world where everyone either smells like the ocean or Lysol.

versatile. hot or cold, formal or casual, classy or for sexy times (ehem) it truly is versatile. it has triggered my interest for other classic hermes fragrances

Warm and refreshing, sexy but unaffected. A rare scent that suits warm weather without smelling sanitized and astringent. Well-bred, jovial, and unique.

Greatest men’s perfume of all time. I feel like crying every time I get my nose on it. I accept no debate

this is probably the best fragrance that has ever come out from the house of hermes. beautiful leather

Don't be afraid of the cumin, it's quite subtle, at least in the modern formulation. Fantastic scent.

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