Hermessence Rose Ikebana

I am generally a big fan of Elena (especially his greens), his fragrances are masterful, pleasurable, and this one especially shows what I think is one of his best abilities-- to blend very recognize-able notes in a way that balances them, produces something alltogether new, and maintains a kind of clarity and sense of control. I would never read this as ROSE at any point of the wear. In fact I am mostly so entranced by the kind of swirling zing of the other notes that encircle the rose that it becomes kind of secondary. Even before it disappears and the rose is most prominent it still shares the stage with the other ingredients— again, masterful, controlled. Control is interesting because it doesnt mean it feels uptight or strangled or forced, but rather its mastered- its balanced- so that nothing feels muddled or confused- and each note has space to be as ripe or wild or sharp or delicious as it has potential to be. The overall effect of this bright, citrusy, sweet-tea-infused fragrance is almost gourmand (but I love rose and rose tea and never read it as old or grandmother-y and I know many people have this reaction). On my skin it doesn't change a ton on dry down - which is great as I love the scent both on application and dry down. Its something I have worn to work because its so light and fresh, with minimal sillage. Like most Hermessence the term "diaphanous" applies here and the performance is rather short and fleeting. Sometimes I mix this in with other complimentary scents (although it does feel like a bit of a corruption... Im all for experimentation with layering) which have better longevity and enjoy this initial phase and then let it subtly color its partner for the rest of the wear. But sometimes the ephemerality is the beauty of it... it's delicious and bright and then this ghost of a tea-citrus rose for personal enjoyment that you can zap back into existence with a spritz or let fade away. Rose Ikebana, I love you too.

Hermessence Rose Ikebana is much more than just a rose perfume; it is a lesson in olfactory minimalism signed by the great master Jean-Claude Ellena. Launched in 2004 as part of the exclusive Hermessence collection, it perfectly embodies the aesthetics of the Parisian fashion house: whispered luxury, effortless elegance and exceptional raw materials. The art of removing: The name recalls Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. As in a Japanese bouquet, where every stem and every void has a meaning, this fragrance does not seek baroque opulence, but transparency. It is a rose stripped of its heavy, dusty or too sweet aspects. Despite being classified as Woody Spicy, the fragrance behaves on the skin like a lively and luminous watercolor. The first spray is an explosion of freshness. The grapefruit note is masterful: bitter, sparkling and realistic. You immediately perceive a sensation of "clean" and morning dew. The rose emerges not as a cut and withered flower, but as a bud still on the plant, wet from the rain. It is accompanied by a note of rhubarb which adds a tart and crunchy facet, making the composition modern and vibrant. At the bottom the fragrance warms up slightly. The spicy and woody notes are hinted at, almost imperceptible, they only serve to give structure and a very slight musky persistence on the skin. Rose Ikebana is the ideal fragrance for those looking for a rose that doesn't smell "old". It is an intellectual, serene and incredibly refined perfume. Ellena's touch: You can feel her "watercolor" signature. Don't expect a kilometre-long trail; expect a perfume that blends with the skin, giving a feeling of aristocratic freshness for a few hours.

Rose Ikebana (Store test, Central Lardpao) I buy my grocery today. Can’t resist to test out something, this time I tried Rose Ikebana. It is a great rose fragrance as it should be. Done to perfection from Elena.. It has spicy edge, right amount of fruity to create a beautiful rose, during the opening, I think of another fragrance “Eau Rose (edp)” by Diptyque. But this more dew, youth side. Scent develop as rose fragrance should be, muskier over time. Somewhat it is substantial than its catalog. Spicy with very mild fruity rose support. In the far end, the scent reduces to Rhubarb and something reminds me of green vetiver, might be Cassis. Very soft and clean the musk is not strong beautiful rose and musk. I can’t perceive another strong nose apart from Rose, Spicy, Green and Fruity. The rest of the note are dial back to support the floral. I don’t want to say this.. as each fragrance has it beauty of its own but as of current market they was an other option that can be replaced this watercolor drawing of rose fragrance. To name a few; Rose de Mai (from JCE), Rose de Taif or Eau Rose. I can say Rose Ikebana is beautiful of them all but.. consider the price, I might just can’t recommend. I believe Rose Ikebana is a blueprint to other modern rose fragrance, it is really help develop late perfumer like usage of Rhubarb in Delina, airy stucture of freen rose but it can’t hold an icon as the market now fill with something similar. I truly appreciate this but it lacks uniqueness to define this current price in the market. I will definitely buy as collector, if I ever come across the great deal.

I never knew I liked rose scents until I tried this one. It's a delightful fruity-citrus-rose elixir that tickles my nose (in a good way), with the rose note being fresh roses straight from the florist's refrigerator. The longevity is okay, I can still smell it on my skin after a day at work. I have read that some compare this scent to In Love Again by YSL (also created by JCE) and Babydoll by YSL. But make no mistake, while they resemble one another, this scent is far and away superior in terms of sheer beauty and complexity. Interestingly, the sales assistant in the Hermes boutique told me that Jean-Claude Ellena was given artistic license to use whatever raw materials he wanted for the Hermessence series, and that he spared no cost. She explained that he considers the Hermessence line his "babies" because he wasn't as constricted artistically as to how the perfumes should smell. Not sure how accurate this is, but it may help explain the high price per bottle.

I can never get enough of good rose scents, and Rose Ikebana, as can be expected from Hermès(sense), is really wonderful: a light, fresh, fruity rose that's still sophisticated and well-balanced and never gets boring. All through the development, a wonderfully airy rose takes the main spotlight. In the opening it is deliciously fruity, with lots of rhubarb and citrus, subtly tart but not at all sharp, very refreshing. A little later on, as the sweet tea accord becomes more prominent, it gets a little more powdery, which is lovely as well. And it never gets to be too much or overwhelming. It's just a very happy kind of fragrance, a real joy to wear at any time of year (except maybe in the kind of heat wave we are currently suffering). I already have so many great rose scents in my (decant) wardrobe, but it seems I'm going to have to start saving up for another one...In Rose Ikebana, I think I've found my perfect light and fruity rose.

BLUF: A wonder of a fragrance! A rose fragrance a man can pull of! One of my Top 5 fragrances in my collection. I discovered this fragrance on my own many years ago at an Hermes boutique in Waikiki. Blew away my mind when I smelled it. I hadn’t had any rose fragrances up to that point, and thought they were mostly for women, but not this. This was amazing. It was expensive but I didn’t care. I’m on my second bottle today. Since discovering Fragrantica and frag heads on YouTube, I’ve been looking for a clone or something close to this but I don’t think there’s anything like it. Maybe it’s my inexperience talking. I purchased L’erbolario Rhubarb which does remind me of the note in Rose Ikebana but it’s missing the rest of the magic. Anyways, gorgeous scent, but has moderate longevity and projection on me.

Rose Ikebana appears to act as a soliloquy to the most beloved of all flowers. Taking a minimalist approach in his creation, Jean-Claude Ellena chooses to honor the rose not gilt it. The supporting notes are used here merely to undergird its beauty. A brief hersperidic opening allows the true star to unfurl her splendor upon us. This is a heady, permeating rose, one that has been warmed by the mid-day sun. It is radiant, vibrating and sumptuous. Acting as perfect companions to the central floral accord, tea and rhubarb notes lend a fresh crispness. As one would expect, this fragrance leans feminine in its essence. Overall, it feels like a stunning tribute to a flower which has inspired us for centuries. For you lovers of rose in parfums, this seems like the Holy Grail. (101)

It opens with sharp cassia, citrus pith, and rhubarb. For the first 10-15 minutes it feels like a blade — bright, green, and borderline abrasive. Once the edge drops, the perfume rearranges itself into something far more refined: a cool rose framed by citrus light, crisp rhubarb, and transparent tea. The rose here isn’t romantic or dewy; it’s an outline, a gesture, almost weightless. The tea note gives the whole composition a calm, mineral clarity, and the rhubarb keeps it modern rather than sweet. As it settles, Rose Ikebana becomes quietly elegant — airy, structured, and sophisticated without trying to be pretty. I admire the restraint used here. I have tried two other citrus‐rose‐tea perfumes, and this is the most polished to my nose.

This would be a signature scent for me if it had any longevity. I bought this very expensive EDT last month after falling in love with it immediately, and unfortunately I am already halfway through the bottle...I have to douse myself in this fragrance to even get the faintest hint of it later on, and even then, it's barely noticeable. I asked several people (after spraying throughout the day) if they could smell it on me, and I only got "yeah kind of" when they stuck their noses directly on my sleeve. The most beautiful juicy rose I could hope for is but a faint memory almost immediately. I am probably going to buy YSL In Love Again after reading that it's so similar, and hopefully that one has some staying power.

I think Rose Ikebana is probably the easiest and most broadly appealing fragrance in the Hermessence line. It's fresh, crisp, inviting, and lovable. The accords listed on this page are also accurate, so do note that green is at the top; anyone fearful of a rosey-rose scent can take heart - this is much brighter and leans into the rhubarb. I am generally a more woodsy/resinous floral kind of guy, but Rose Ikebana is faultless and I do wear it sometimes, even though it's not precisely "me". For anyone who doesn't know the Hermessence line and hasn't smelled any, I would recommend trying this one first.

This is so nice! But it’s not just nice, it’s verrrry nice. As in: interesting, alluring and not boring. I love rose as a note, it brings me so much joy and though there are many many frags out there that focus on rose, few really and truly stand out to me. Enters Rose Ikebana with its rose that is green but not overly so, fresh but not watery, spicy but without the thorn, vibrant and unique without being obnoxious. I love it. It’s an exercise in restraint done in a masterful way, thanks to Jean-Claude Ellena 🌹🌿 🍵 🌶️ ☁️

This is a beautiful scent. Rosy, but in a very complicated way. Off-limits for underage girls. We first met when I was at the airport and looking for a gift for a lady. I almost missed my flight when I decided to run back to the store to buy another bottle for myself! I don't like the word "unisex" and find this a very feminine scent, but then break the rules by wearing it too. Maybe we should not call this a perfume, but instead think of it as a French countryside garden blossoming with Old Roses, captured in a bottle.

Jean-Claude Ellena NEVER fails to disappoint me! I received Rose Ikebana as a sample from Hermés along w/ Eau de Mervailles (sp?). The price is way up there but WOW... I would possibly sell my soul for a bottle of this! lol. No joke. It rose, citrus and cream all at once. I get a full cream tea service in a Cornish seaside town replete w/ fishing boats and a beautiful stone terrace overlooking the blue sea, sun shining... light filtering thru the glassware on my table. Total teleportation to another time and place...

I've used several samples of this - I like it but I'd never buy a bottle. It's definitely a Ellena and the comparisons to Kelly Caleche are entirely apt. A beautiful bloomed rose in the garden of a big white house with a terrace on which to drink tea and read a book. Hermes has a way of making you feel richer than you may actually be. Not everyone wants to be a character in a late 19th century novel about rich people having rich people problems, but Rose Ikebana feels a bit like it and I'm living for the drama.

I adore this and I'm so happy to have a bottle. I did get a great deal on it at mercari so I probably wouldn't have forked over $300 but for $200 which was still a lot I know I was willing. Anyway I am one of those people who has a hard time with Delina. So this to me is Delina minus the part I don't like and it's all rose and juicy rhubarb. For me the lasting power is not as bad as people are saying. I can't wait to keep rocking this all summer.

This one though.... It’s such an evocative scent, so fresh and soft. The tea and fresh roses are the most prominent to my nose, green and bringing to mind the feeling of a rose garden after it rains. Whenever I wear it it feels like fresh air. It ages well on my skin, and unlike a lot of people, it lasts too. I get three hours of projection at least. Not the best if you’re sweating a lot though, as the green notes might become irritating.

This is my favorite rose perfume. To me rose scents can unfortunately smell cheap easily, this one doesn't. It's a relatively light and not overwhelming perfume. I usually wear this during the day in the warmer months. I've not gotten any feedback from strangers. However both my brother and my dad who easily get headaches from perfumes and don't really comment on people's scent unless it's unpleasant have complimented me on this one.

Thrilling zing of rhubarb up top, watercolour rose and fresh tea. It's so pretty and delicate. Rose is a love/hate note for me and I love this one. It's so light and fresh, shimmering around you. It's crisp and gently sweet. Elegant but with a youthful cheerfulness. Definitely discreet sillage but it's reasonably long-lasting. And yes, it's stupidly expensive, but god it's so lovely!

This is my favourite rose perfume, because of the fruity and crisp first notes. I have a sample pre-reformulation (around 2012) and I regret having not purchased it back then. In the new version (2015) the notes are a lot less sharp, more powdery, now the similarity with Kelly Calèche is obvious. I still love it, but wish they had kept the vibrant and sparkling fruity notes.

The dry down on this is impeccable, i don't know if its just my skin chemistry but i am getting addicted to it the more i sniff my wrist. Its a musky fruity dry-down but not in a sweet syrupy way more of a tangy tart way! I must have for my collection. Don't be fooled by the opening, this is not a linear fragrance, give it sometime. I could wear this all season tbh..