Elixir des Merveilles

ORANGE CEDAR-RESIN. Imagine eating an orange in a steam room/sauna made of cedar & orange-wood. As you peel the orange, pith and juice burst from its seams while the oily essence leaks onto your fingers. Steam sizzles from the coals with a faint incense and you smell the tree resin sweating from the woods. Signed by perfumer Jean Claude Ellena, this amber fougere beauty opens with an effervescent burst of orange peel & siam resin that deepens into a caramel woody heart, resting on a cedar-oak base with touches of incense and patchouli. A lightly sweet cloud of balsam shampoo & orange-amber shows itself in the air, while on the skin I get more cedar, oak and incense. This reminds me of a wooden tray made of orange-wood and cedar that I got in Morocco. (Benefits from dark storage after first sprays to really blossom - up to a year). Overall: Well above average performance, this scent has grown on me and my appreciation continues to develop the longer I have this in my collection. It's a love for me. Enjoy! Contrast to Colors de Benetton Benetton 1987 (OG): Signed by Bernard Ellena, these are very different (especially the openings), but the way the amber is done is similar - slightly baby powdery, and appearing in the air more than the skin. CdB smells a little more like Eau des Merveilles and has more aromatic and green touches, and peach instead of orange. As these two dry down, they become even more similar, with that amber that is slightly like balsam shampoo and Love's Baby Soft by Dana characteristic of the range. Elixir des Merveilles has stronger performance. Contrast to Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens: These are different, but the amber is similarly thick and resinous. Ambre Sultan has the standout bayleaf instead of orange peel. Elixir des Merveilles is easier to wear year round imho. Roughly equivalent performance. Contrast to Ambre Lumiere Molinard: These are different, but again the thick, sweet and resinous amber is similar. AL doesn't have orange peel. Again Elixir des Merveilles is easier to wear year round. Roughly equivalent performance. Update 05/02/25: Sprayed this on today. It's developing a nice sweetness, and each time I wear it I notice it's a little sweeter in a good way, although I wouldn't call this a super sweet or sticky sweet scent. It's a unique amber scent, yet there's something classic about the amber as well - a paradox if you will. It's easy to wear now, even in spring or fall, not just winter like some ambers. The amber has a flow to it (more than just an aura) which is enhanced by the caramel, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's liquidambar here. I picture a lava flow of orange-coloured amber. Love it.

Elixir Des Mervielle smells exactly as the name would suggest...as the elixir version of the original Eau Des Merveilles. The same DNA is very apparent with enough differences to distinguish itself from the original. Though if you are someone who wants a very curated collection, having both may be a bit redundant. The original is a bit more versatile while the Elixir is well suited to cooler weather and special occasions. The opening is dominated by syrupy sweet oranges and fresh, green woods. As it settles I start to smell a bit of peppery-ness, though it's not listed as a note. The resins and caramel make the orange smell more like an orange syrup/jam than a freshly squeezed orange juice. I find this fragrance is pretty linear. What I smell on my skin in the first ten minutes is what I smell many hours after application. Sometimes I think this fragrance leans a little feminine and others I find it just a little masculine. I guess that really makes it unisex since I can't decide. Elixir Des Merveilles is one of my holiday fragrances. The spiced, syrupy orange feels very festive without being overtly Christmassy. I only wear this fragrance in cooler weather. I find it too heavy and becomes suffocating in warmer weather. Because of the powerful performance I find not even a light application can be tolerated in the heat. The performance is impressive. It lasts on my skin until I wash it off. Even 24 hours after application it is still noticeable on my skin. On hair and clothes it's presence is even more apparent. It even lasts on dogs for days. I was snuggling with my friend's little pup and two days later she texted me that her pup still smelled like me. Maybe three sprays was too much. I should have stuck with my usual 1-2 with this fragrance. The projection is pretty powerful. Even with a typical application of 4 sprays this can be room filling and overwhelming. I usually stick with 1-2 sprays, especially if I am going to be around others in a smaller indoor space. I love how the bottles in this line are designed. They are fairly simple, but still super unique. The atomizer is smooth and generous without dousing you. I just wish the atomizer had a cap. Hermes fragrances are priced slightly higher that other designer fragrances, but I find the quality of their fragrances justifies that slight difference.

When Luca Turin damned Elixir des Merveilles with faint praise (3 stars and a revue en bref: "bon chic, bon genre,") I assumed it would fade into oblivion once the industry moved on to the next trend. Revisiting this Jean Claude Ellena creation a decade on, I can't help but think that Turin was being uncharitable in his assessment. This is a remarkably good and unusual fragrance! First, it must be said that Ellena has toiled for years in this territory--working with weightless, novel citruses supported by atmospheric synthetic bases (Terre d'Hermes, Eau D'Orange Vert, Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Hermes Garden series, and even the old In Love Again and Sisley Eau de Campagne). So if there was a "bon chic" effect at the time Ellena released Elixir des Merveilles, he certainly earned it! But Elixir des Merveilles is much, much more than a trendy throwaway. It accomplishes some things that are notable in the history of perfumery: 1) The sticky orange note is one that Ellena has mastered, but it is in other fragrances all too fleeting. Here, he manages to sustain it from beginning to end. When was the last time you smelled an orange (or any citrus) for 8 hours? More to the point, when was the last time you *wanted* to? 2) The transition into the base is, well, a "wonder." The orange note remains, but is slowly enveloped in a kind of sensual musk that smells like the naked body of a beautiful woman. This is a scent for afternoon love-making if ever there was one! Leave the curtains open, refrain from alcohol or any substance that will dull your senses, and wallow wakefully in her beauty. 3) The overall density of the composition is unusual in that it is simultaneously "thick" and "weightless." There is nothing cloying or suffocating about Elixir des Merveilles, but it manages to envelop the wearer in a plush cloud for hours upon hours. I kept expecting it to turn sickly sweet and ambaric, but it remained perfectly balanced from start to finish. Of course, this is Ellena's signature, but it is impressively done here, even by his lofty standards. 4) Finally, it is just "pretty." I mean that as a high compliment. Not all modern fragrances can claim this. Overall rating: * * * * * (masterpiece) Highly recommended, especially for men.

This will be a long review so here's the takeaway: I love this scent and it'll always be in my collection, but it is one of those idiosyncratic, peculiar scents that will change from paper to skin. I've had this perfume for a year now, and I've gone on quite the journey with my opinion of it. I first smelled this scent on a blotter at Nordstroms and the initial blast of notes were very gourmand, a dark and almost sugary orange with a little bitter rind. The bitterness is enhanced I think by the resins, and amber notes and the sugary part kind of dissipates smoothly away to a very resiny, strong cedar, and citrus with a strong patchouli background. I loved it, bought a bottle, and later trying it on my skin, I hated it. On my skin I get the resins and patchouli immediately and it is bitter and a bit sour too. Then the orange rind, but it takes a good 10 minutes for the orange to smooth out into a very citrusy with the tiniest bit of caramel note but still with an intense wood/resin/bitter patchouli. The intensely bitter and sour opening notes really bothered me. I tried for 6 months to like it and ended up returning it to Nordstroms (which, FYI, Nordstrom seems to be the only department store that will 100% refund you for an opened bottle of perfume). I couldn't stop thinking about this perfume and how some days I liked it, and other days I hated it. I ended up later sniffing it *again* at Nordstrom on paper so re-purchased a travel size of it. This time it was summer, and I don't know if the heat just opens up all the gourmand notes much more clearly, but every time I wore it I would receive compliments, and I also now love it. This was last summer and now after rotating this perfume around on different times /days I really love it and couldn't do without it. I'm not sure why I had this experience; if it's my skin chemistry or if the gourmand notes aren't as strong unless it's warmer weather despite the fact that these type of notes usually signify a cooler weather kind of perfume. In any case, as Hermes is a luxury brand and carries a high price tag, I strongly recommend trying this scent on your skin before purchasing. Longevity and sillage are medium to strong.

As a longtime admirer of Hermès fragrances, I was keen to finally try Elixir des Merveilles. Composed by the inimitable Jean-Claude Ellena, this is an unusual yet wearable scent that is all the better for Ellena's signature light touch. It is very similar to the original Eau des Merveilles - but this warmer, richer flanker is my preference. Perfectly unisex, it is an unusual composition with a traditional chypre drydown, featuring rich, caramelised amber. The opening is rich and warm, dominated by tart, spicy orange notes. It is briefly reminiscent of spicy candied citrus at Christmastime, but develops into a slightly sweet ambery phase with a hint of caramel and/or burnt sugar. It remains softly spicy. As the citrus subsides, it becomes more earthy, with incense and resins coming to the fore as it develops. It is softly smoky with an aromatic undertone. It is salty and musky too, which adds a subtle sensuality. EDM becomes chypre-like at its drydown stage. Deliciously woody and mossy, it becomes curiously cool in contrast to its warm opening. In this way, it is unusual and counterintuitive in its development on the skin, the opposite of how most fragrances tend to develop on skin with body heat. The opening of EDM is more like a typical drydown, citrus aside. Deceptively light and airy despite a plethora of rich ingredients and unusual accords, this scent is an acquired taste. More oriental than gourmand yet with chypre characteristics; airy yet rich, EDM is an intriguing, addictive contradiction. Sillage is strong and longevity is moderate, and it garners compliments. Made with the high quality ingredients typical of Hermès, combined with Ellena's skill, this scent is something special. Orange-amber goodness, this is one of my favourite amber scents. A marvel. 4.5/5.

I never thought it would happen, but it did. My husband's knees almost gave way when he smelled this perfume on me. He keeps burying his face in my neck, or holding my arm up to his nose, inhales deeply, and says "Oh my God! Oh my God!" I tested Elixir in the Sephora store today, purchased a bottle, and no sooner had I returned home and stepped in the door, when he said "what are you wearing?" and started to inhale my arm. He says that he will always make sure that I never run out of this beautiful fragrance, and he is planning to write to Hermes to tell them about his reaction to Elixir and how heavenly he thinks this is. He says that if you could smell Heaven, it would smell like Elixir des Merveilles. I have never seen him react to any of my other fragrances, ever (and I have some pretty nice perfumes), in this manner. He literally becomes weak in the knees! I am so not making this up, and I am not exaggerating. This really happened. This is a beautiful fragrance. It opens with a blast of what smells to me like a forest of fir and cedar, and then the mist from the ocean gives it a salty/almost sweaty tang. About an hour after applying, the most sparkly candied orange awakens with a caramel/amber glow, and it floats around me like the most beautiful perfumed guardian angel. My husband says it leaves a trail of scent, when I pass through the room. It turns him into a big, purring kitten. I tried to persuade him to try it on also, as I think this would smell wonderful on men as well as women, but he says he only wants to smell it on me! Seriously, he has never reacted to a perfume in this way, ever. Hermes, you now have two new adoring fans of Elixir des Merveilles! It looks like I have finally found my new #1 fragrance, and I couldn't be more pleased.

I wear the original EDM all the time so I knew I would be picking this up eventually. This feels like a better-blended, better-performing version of the original with a subtle boost to the more "feminine" notes, where the OG feels truly unisex. The orange lingers longer and feels much juicier and sweeter, and there's a lovely kind of fizzy-sparkly-citrus quality that I don't get from the OG. The sandalwood feels very present to me and gives a creaminess to the woody base that is absolutely beautiful and softens what I thought was a very masculine touch in the original. To me, the harmony of the notes is the real star here - one of those fragrances that feels like maybe, just maybe, someone could "actually" smell like this because everything blends together so seamlessly. I still don't quite understand the "mature" connotation that comes with this line. I proudly wear EDM as a working class 20-something and think I totally rock it. To me, this is ageless and radiates a cultured coolness - I can see this wearing just as beautifully on the stoic-yet-glamorous cosmopolitan gallery curator as on your friend's artsy stoner older sister who wears lots of mom jeans and chunky jewelry. Unusual and interesting while still being totally wearable. If you love the original EDM but prefer something more overtly feminine and sweet, or have reservations about the original's performance/projection but like the notes, this will probably be a hit for you. Reviews made me think this would be very distinctly different, but it really does feel like new-and-improved EDM. An instant favorite.

This is a review of a blind buy and my feelings of it upon first application on the back of my hand/arm. 12/15/21 I can’t even express how much I adore this perfume! From beginning to end it is stunning! It is amber, woody, balsamic, citrusy, slightly sweet, caramel, vanilla a little spicy and resinous! This is definitely an atmospheric fragrance. It transports you and gives a certain feeling of a place or time... it might be different for others, but to me it feels like taking a step back in time and walking into an old fashioned, log cabin, in the middle of a forest during the holidays... there are hints of chocolate, candied orange peel, caramel, toffees and the soft scent of vanilla. All the scents of making all the holiday goodies... and there is a fire burning in a huge, central, fireplace, so you get this slight smokiness wafting throughout. Warm, cozy and cheerful Elixir is a perfect name for it! There is something about it that is so addicting, I just can’t stop myself from sniffing my arm over and over again. • I have had it on for over an hour and I am still in love with everything about it. I feel the woody notes are coming though a little more, but it is still holding onto the the warm, resins and less of the caramel, vanilla and candied orange peel, but they are definitely still there. • I think this is definitely a unisex scent. It can be loved and enjoyed by any gender or age, although I have read a lot of reviews that have said it will probably be more liked by the 30+ crowd, well I definitely fit there, so that could be true.

Élixir des Merveilles is neither your typical citrus nor amber fragrance. It opens with a distinct orange note, but rather than the fresh, bright, juicy sweetness you normally expect from orange, it leans into a deeper, drier territory. It smells like bitter orange rind, dried tangerine peel, and the aromatic oil that bursts from citrus skin when you twist it. There’s a slightly spicy, almost potpourri-like edge to it—warm, textured, and rich. This citrus oiliness lingers throughout, but the real evolution happens as a warm caramel, resinous amber, and woody base begin to rise. The transition is smooth and natural, giving the scent an almost balsamic quality. While most citrus fragrances focus on freshness and sparkle, Élixir des Merveilles explores the resinous, sticky, and even slightly bitter gourmand side of citrus. It smells like orange peels slowly simmering in caramel-amber resin—dense, comforting, and quietly sensual. The result is a fragrance that feels both radiant and cozy—sweet, but never cloying. It’s perfect for cooler weather, where its warmth truly shines, but it also performs surprisingly well in heat, where the citrus cuts through and the resin softens into a golden glow. Performance is excellent: it lasts all day on skin with moderate projection that’s present but never overwhelming. The drydown remains warm, woody, and lightly sweet for hours. Unisex to the core, Élixir des Merveilles is a unique and artistic interpretation of citrus. A must-try for anyone seeking a different kind of citrus or amber experience.

A balsamic amber scent with beautiful highlights of sweet and bitter notes. In the opening I get lots of orange peel (definitely peel and not juice) and a kind of woody, coniferous feel. The caramel comes in slowly, it's deep and creamy, but it never goes fully gourmand, the scent is always more resinous than anything else. I think patchouli is very important in this composition, it doesn't dominate the scent but it adds a sparkle, an edge that is much needed to lift the fragrance. I also get a salty note that makes it even more interesting. Overall, Elixir de Merveilles smells like a sexy, glamouros beach holiday fragrance to me. It would complete the look of having tanned skin, wearing a long simple dress in black or white, a little gold jewelery and understated make-up. But of course it would also work for many other settings and outfits. It's just so warm and sensual. The performance is great, too: When I sprayed it on in the afternoon I could easily smell it in the next morning, even after a shower including Lush body conditioner there was still a hint of Elixir left on my skin. But it's not heavy or dense, there is an elegant transparency to it that makes it very Hermès. This is actually the first fragrance from the Merveilles line I have really tried on my skin, and while it makes me curious for the others, it's also so perfect that I suspect that they can't possibly be as good as this one.

If you feel that you dislike it upon first trying it, GIVE IT TIME. I got a 100ml without testing, having thought that there is very little chance I wouldn't like it. Upon first trying, I was disappointed, as it came across as masculine or even unpleasant. A few weeks later I tried again, and it's been a happily ever after. A very high-quality amber fragrance. In spite of the pyramid visuals, nothing particularly sweet to me. Smells very natural, and organic. I live at a (cold) beach and it totally fits the surroundings. I love it when it's cool and humid but I haven't tried it in summer. Feels like the second skin to me rather than something I "wear". Lasting power is very good but not over the edge. The sillage isn't immense if you don't ovespray. Overall, it's quite polite but stays with you for as long as you want it to. A keeper 100%. UPDATE 6 month later: Wow, definitely no rush with this one. It's continuing to surprise. I've tried it in warmer weather and it opened up to me even more, in stages, with some fun orange in the beginning, a sweeter core, and a divine drydown many, many hours later and even the next morning.

Oh wow, I really like this, I almost can’t put my finger on what I’m smelling? Bright mystery. Such a smooth fragrance. What a surprise. I get the orange, but this particular iteration feels inclusive of their season; it’s a winter citrus. Bright mystery, yea, because this is somehow much brighter than it ought to be. It’s a kind of perseverance. The focus on joy, this small, orange slice of sun in the dead of winter. It smells like the month of October. September, maybe. Such a light and delicate fragrance. It’s almost the idea of an orange, rather than the material fruit itself? The transition from “orange idea” to bright woods is so lovely. Something about this fragrance feels intellectually honest, like something that’s true, simple; it puts me at ease. A photo of an effortlessly stylish young mother sitting outside playing with her son in her lap. Airy and something salty, a kind of spell. Turns a little aldehydic and powdery toward midday before settling into a nice, bright amber. The brightest fragrance I’ve ever wanted to take a bath in.

Beautiful, glistening amber scent with a woody base. This is truly gorgeous and far better than the original. The top note is a spiced, almost dried Christmas orange. It quickly dries down into a woody, unisex fragrance. The amber becomes very apparent and has a syrupy texture. There is also some smoky, resinous accord which plays beautifully alongside the festive spices. It’s still refreshing and clean in accordance with the Hermes theme. It has the familiar refined character and simplicity that is consistent throughout the line. It’s sweet in a sophisticated and natural way that is balanced, similar to a treacle tart. It isn’t as cold and distant as 24 Fauborg or Twilly. It’s certainly more cheerful and approachable but maintains that exclusive aura. This is suitable for all ages but for some reason I’m picturing a very confident, slightly mature and worldly brunette. This reminds me of luxurious Christmas parties and gatherings in the winter. It isn’t provocative in any way but it’s really special.

I’m glad I did not believe all the reviews here knocking this gem and tried it at my local Neiman Marcus. People who know perfumes will find this a magical shape shifting beauty. It open up bright with a burst of citrus - not in the cheap cologne way, but like the actual fruit from a platter in the Ritz. It’s tame, smooth, and energetic at the same time. This lasts for a few minutes and moves into the resin-filled gooey sumptuous phase. It reminds me of buttery caramel, but not the indulgent, greedy, overly sweetened kind. It feels stoically unassuming, like a person who doesn’t care that they’re gorgeous, and don’t primp and preen. It’s easy, gooey, thick comfort. This forms the foundation for the hint of amber that lingers mysteriously like shades hiding deep penetrating eyes. The final phase is like being in an orchard filled with woody, strong sappy trees bearing deliciously ripe oranges. This is an underrated slice of heaven.

I start with the bottle: It is just GORGEOUS. Very unique, it makes you dream... A little magic potion. Scent level: - The start: It is very woody. And a bit unisex. Oddly enough, I found it to be very similar to So Elixir Bois Sensuel by YR. But just the start. Because afterwards, the evolution is completely different. -The evolution: The woody side is softened by a soft amber with smoky, balmy accents. I don't know why it reminds me of the smell of an old pipe, left aside for a few years, but which keeps in it this nostalgic balmy scent, which is reminiscent of childhood at grandpa's. -At the end of the day: We perceive a beautiful sweet accord, amber-vanilla, very cocooning, warm, round and comforting. It lasts very long, and persists until the next day on clothes. I LOVE this scent. It creates in me unique, intimate and indefinable feelings. It has a little "Retro Vibe", but that's what makes it so dear to my heart. 9/10

One of the most pleasant fragrances from the house of Hermes and created by no other than Jean Claude Ellena. For me, it smells fresh, expensive soapy, fruity, and a bit florally... (?) but it doesn't list floral and fruity notes which is odd but nice, I guess my nose picked up natural scents that almost feel like a floral or a fruity scent. I guess it is the sweet balsamic accord that gives me that feeling. anyway... This fragrance reminds me of a mature woman who is extremely confident but not in an arrogant way but in a sweet manner, nothing egoistic or narcissistic in this scent, truly beautiful, a bit spicy 9/10 Knowing I love amber this one hits the best and is one of the greatest amber scents out there in my opinion. I looooove this so much. After having smelt this multiply times I realized this reminded me of a teacher I had back when i was a teenager...she was kind anyway it is a warm welcoming bold scent.

This is a stunning ambery, balsamic, orange, resinous scent. If you like orange and resins/ balsams, Elixir des Merveilles is a safe blind buy, without a doubt. After testing recently L’Ambre de Merveilles and not getting much out of it, I was thinking that’s just another boring perfume. But today I decided to try the Elixir. This is it! The magic is in the Elixir flanker!! Warm, rich, deep and delicious, alluring and complex, Elixir de Merveilles is first and foremost an orangey, citrusy, sweet, incencey, vanilla, resinous concoction. It’s something that worth investing the money because it’s also stronger and more radiant in the air than Eau de Merveilles! Fall and winter season appropriate because of its richness and warmth. Imagine having this on around Christmas time while indulging in all the delicious, decadent typical festive season desserts. A match made in heaven, let me tell you that!!!

There's something magical that I think Jean Claude Ellena was able to do with some of his creations - Terre D'Hermes, Concentre D'Orange Vert etc. He was somehow able to add heft and weight to perfumes that do great in the warm weather. This one is no different. This creation is jammy, fruity, spicy - almost like a marmalade. And the sweetness seems so natural and balanced with the spice, never getting screechy. The resins sitting in the mix seem to provide this the warm bed density it needs to nestle the sweetness like a hug, so it never overpowers. And the hint of incense just elevates this to magic. This has quickly become potentially my most favored scent for a warm evening, or a humid evening after a rain. Oh and just in case you didn't notice I am a dude - this is unisex perfection... if I'm comfortable wearing this, a lot of guys will be too... 9/10

This is so addictive. At first spritz I thought it wasn't for me, it was too woody and medicinal. However is it continues to dry down and the edges round out it becomes a comfortable and cozy scent. Resinous, a soft smokey incense, and woody with a touch of orange rind. I am not getting any clear caramel or vanilla but I think it's adding a soft creaminess overall. You would think that the different woods would make it sharp, but it doesn't, it reminds of falling asleep in front of a fireplace as it slowly dies down. The projection and scent trail really adds to the magic. It's not something that suits my lifestyle from a day to day perspective, but I know that when I do wear it, I will feel like a boss. I am testing this on one arm, and Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noire Rose on the other, and together OMG I think this would be a banger of a layering combo.

Immediate love! This is so bougie and special. Leans more unisex than feminine but boy do I get rich auntie vibes from Elixir. I don't get very loud projection but I can smell myself--which is important to me. Wafts of orange zest, amber and something a little herbal with a touch of sweetness. I find this to be a hot weather fragrance and I felt that this would be my alternative to TF Eau de Soleil Blanc (since the performance on that is pretty abysmal for the price). Not as clean but I like that about it. Maybe not suited for a younger audience but what from Hermes is? That said, I'm in my early thirties and hopelessly in love. And no, my bf is not welcome to this bottle and he finds it quite feminine.