Jour d'Hermes Absolu

This is the most enigmatic perfume I've ever smelled. I needed 3 trial sessions before I finally saw the immense beauty. I was also off guarded at the first sniff by the famous tart grapefruit opening and thought that this was not a "nice" frag. But the scent lingered on my skin for hours and haunted me for days... there was something so intriguing in this frag. I tested 2 additional times both Jour and the Absolu version and I got the final revelation yesterday. The Absolu is just a hidden beauty who will not reveal herself, nor will she please the masses. She is not created to seduce people from the first sniff and Claude Ellena is a master in making minimalist - and not to confuse simplistic- very sophisticated scents against all trends. I finally discovered that after the grapefruit citrus opening the whole Garden of Eden appears with a shining rainbow on the horizon. It is impossible to detect all the notes one by one, it is orchestrated by the master Ellena that you get only the full painting and not just some brushes of colors and lightning. I detect the most delicate palette of everything and at the same time all the contrasts of floral, fruits, warm earthy notes. And the flowers are also multi-layered : pure green florals of hyacinth/Lily-of-valley maybe, then much warmer jasmin, gardenia and apricot blossom. This delicate apricot blossom provides that warm note of peachy accord, similar to orange blossom but more delicate and dainty. This perfume has so many different facets and is full of contrasts : first the chilliness, triggered by the grapefruit, just to wake your senses. Afterwards the green and warm florals, then the amazing sparkling "fruity" notes which are less present in Jour(apple, rhubarb, grapefruit) finally the warm earthy amber dry down. The dimensions and aspects change every time you wear this beauty, one day you smell more citrus notes, or the green flower notes, other days more the warm flowers : very magical !! The silage and longevity of the Absolu is stunning : it remains min. 8 hours on my skin whereas Jour dissapeared after 3 to 4 hours. It is one of the most vibrant, luminous and complex fragrance I have ever encountered : it is not a citrus cologne, it is not just a floral, it is not fruity nor musky, amber perfume : no it is ALL of that and more and as JC Ellena quoted himself : “In most of the fragrances I do, I try to put a smile” and he succeeded to this with Jour Absolu !

Absolutely stunning. I already worship the first version of Jour d'Hermes, a little gem in mainstream perfumery. This second version, Absolu, is not your average flanker as it is a different fragrance, way more intense, rounded and sexy. And I love it! I came across a sales assistant in Sephora at the time the fragrance was released and thought "well she's wearing something remarkable"; then I wandred around and this scent lingered. So I had to ask her what was that gorgeousness she was wearing. And it was Jour d'Hermes Absolu. I was surprised, because it was totally different than its predecessor! And on me it is also a magnificent fragrance. Forget the opening that is misleading (at first sniff you get the JC Ellena trademark, the citrus-graprefruit accord that you can also find in the various Jardins editions), but this stage last a few seconds. Then it transforms: Deep, warm, sensual with a floral heart flirting with oriental themes. Some minor red fruit (raspberries? perhaps...) some red berries are in there but not the syrupy ones...something fresher and more realistic. Then again, this is not the real spirit of this frag. The very heart is Flowers! I recognize osmanthus, gardenia and tiaré, some jasmin, white flowers. A garden, enchanted. Immerged in light. The base is steady with a chypre-like, musky drydown and woods. It lacks perhaps the fresh greenery and the transparence of the previous Jour d'Hermes, but Absolu wins it all with its roundness and sensuality. I am constantly impressed by the quality of the ingredients, the longevity - after 5 hours the frag is still there, and going strong. Let alone the compliments I get when I wear it! A superb feminine fragrance, luminous and not overly sweet. TO me this is not a summer fragrance, it is so warm I see it more as a winter frag. The bottom line is that this is a drop dead sexy fragrance and a must have in my collection.

Малко е да се каже, че се влюбих от първи дъх в този парфюм! Влюбих се дори, не усещайки парфюма на своята кожа, а от уханието, което се носеше от ръката на приятелката ми! Този аромат е божествен за моето обоняние! Най-прелестният, женствен и разкошен летен аромат, който съм усещала някога! Една нотка в него изключително много ме привлича и тя е търсена от мен от години, заради спомена от един отдавна изчезнал парфюм от моята младост, споменът за когото не ме е напуснал вече 25 години, а именно митичният парфюм Julia. Jour d`Hermes Absolu е парфюмът, за който най-светкавично реших, че го искам на мига, не мога да живея без него и нито за миг не съжалявам за една стотинка от тези, които платих за него. Той е прелестен, дълготраен и шлейфов точно толкова, колкото да ми носи огромно удоволствие часове наред. Jour d`Hermes Absolu е пролет, лятна вечер и щастие в бутилка! Не знам дали това, което е посочено в пирамидата е основното, което усещам в него, но определено се откроява ябълковият цвят като основно доминиращ. Някъде под него прозира свеж жасминов цвят, гардения не усещам, а всичко това е обгърато в идеална цитрусова свежест, която сякаш идва от прясно настъргана кора на сочен узрял лимон или грейпфрут, или помело, или всъщност от смесените кори на тези три плода, но най-вече помело, който плод аз обожавам и като аромат, и като вкус. Jean-Claude Ellena наистина е магьосник! Творенията му са забележителни! Обожавам парфюма, купих си най-голямата бутилка от 85ml! Бих купила 850, ако има! Надявам се никога този парфюм да не изчезне от света или да бъде реформулиран. Не смятам, че Jour d`Hermes Absolu има голяма прилика с Jour d`Hermes, който с нищо не ме впечатли. Absolu е милион пъти по-красив за мен! Щастлива съм!

I love how apricot-forward this beauty is. It's hard to go wrong with a Jean Claude-Ellena composition, and this is no exception, although it took me some time to 'get' this one. The first few times I smelled Jour d'Hermes Absolu was in passing at airports, etc., and I just couldn't get a good handle on what I was smelling -- it smelled nice, but somehow I couldn't discern its character -- it wasn't overly floral, certainly not sweet (as we've become so accustomed to); there were florals for sure but I could not decipher which ones - yet it wasn't that it smelled boring or lacking in character - I just needed more time to understand this one. Finally, one of the last times I spritzed this on - again at some duty free airport shop, I spritzed with abandon and - aaahhhhh, now I got it -- the apricotty-smoothe suade nature of Jour finally came through and I fell in love. And it lasted for ages!! After slowly testing the waters with this one over a few years, I've finally bought a bottle and am loving how it wears. The apricot really comes through (and it's one of my favorite notes) giving this a peachy-osthmanthus vibe; I don't get gardenia at all, and it is indeed quite tart. It's certainly a unicorn in the era of sweet mass market floral gourmands. If you want something truly elegant, unique and classy, I highly recommend this one!

I don't care about classy, sophisticated-looking perfume bottles; now the fragrance itself, that is a different thing. I'd fancy a classy and dare I say, elegant perfume in a bottle that is fun, a bit odd and even kitschy (cf. Florabotanica and Rosabotanica by Balenciaga). That's how I like to think of myself - classy gal in a trashy packaging. Anyhow, I would never have discovered this perfume if it wasn't for my flatmate at the time who in her turn, liked everything elegant. She had a large bottle of what I now think was Jour d`Hermes and not Jour d`Hermes Absolu; although that is irrelevant since I now love them both and to me they have the same kind of vibe even if they aren't exactly same (slight preference towards the latter though, which is why I'm writing on its page). She kept it on a bathroom shelf right next to the light bulb, what a chump! That made me cringe every time; yet anyway the kid inside me found the bottle to be too boring to contain anything of interest. Long story short, fortunately one day my curiosity prevailed and I discovered what has now become one of my favorite scents. It smells beautiful and has quite a sillage and lasts long on my skin which is rare! I loved Hermes before too, and now they can't even fool me with a boring bottle!

literally my favorite perfume as of rn, i got it as a surprise sample along with another perfume i bought on ebay and fell in love immediately. it makes you feel so effortlessly beautiful and radiant. i feel like im really picky about big brand scents bc they tend to feel too generic/~straightforward~ or mature for me (21 y/o) but this one is just perfection. i really love that the perfumer made this with the intention of it being a celebration of femininity bc thats exactly what this is ! the idea that it "brings to light the beauty of woman, while maintaining the mystery of each individual woman" is just absolutely beautiful to me. Jour D'hermes is just a perfect fun, UNIQUE, soft, sweet floral that still feels sexy and wont give you a headache like a lot of other florals. makes me want to run barefoot through a field in a flowy white gown. its the feeling that wearing versace bright crystal gave me but even better. so stoked to wear this in the spring/summer, it feels like it would be perfect for May and June, when things are starting to heat up and the grass is green, so wearing it at home during a brutal winter helps me feel like there are brighter days ahead :)

I tried the both jour d'hermès and jour d'hermès absolu. And I prefer jour d'hermès absolu as it is more sophisticated. It has a little attractive and different vibe and this mouthwatering creaminess. It has something punchy. I can clearly distinguish gardenia in it and strangely an apple note not mentioned in the pyramid. May be there is something similar in apricot flowers which ressembles to apple smell. This fragrance is very sunny and joyful with it's creamy jasmine beneath. I do not get so much grapefruit as others say. It certainly a question of skin chemistry. For me it is very flowery and sunny. I like to wear it in winter when sun and summer warmth are missing. This fragrance is far from innocent notwithstanding the first fresh impression. There is something quite mature, serious and seductive about it. It is done to be worn on evening go out well dressed occasions. You will become the star of the evening with it as this juice flows to the earth directly from Olympe :) So feminine, luminous, sunny, gorgeous, stunning and seductive at the same time. I'm pretty sure Aphrodite goddess smelled like this. Well done Jean-Claude Ellena!

This is very similar to the original (Jour d'Hermes), but it leans a bit heavier on the florals. For the most part, I get grapefruit and a bouquet of white florals (a hint of gardenia and some jasmine... clean and fresh) from the Absolu version, as well as a mossy, forest-like (oakmoss) element. It's a bit "deeper," to my nose, but it still presents as a JCE "watercolor." For me, the difference is this: Jour d'Hermes asks me to spread a blanket on the grass and lie down while staring directly at the pale blue sky overhead... Jour d'Hermes Absolu focuses my gaze upon the horizon line, with its slightly more concentrated (but still pastel and cloudless) blue firmament. Both perfumes ask me to appreciate a lovely day -- they simply ask me to do so in subtly different ways. Both fragrances are lovely; they present similar ingredients in slightly different contexts. I confess, I slightly prefer the Absolu to the original (though I own -- and adore -- both). Longevity is far above usual for a fragrance with citrus aspects (4-6 hours). It never suffocates or intrudes. If one doesn't quite suit you, I recommend trying the other.

It goes to show how wildly different scent perception is because I can’t relate to a lot of the reviews below stating this is sour or cloying. I see the similarity to Chanel Gabrielle but Gabrielle has a very cloying quality to it that lives up your nose and in your mouth all day so that you’re always tasting it, this scent doesn’t have that. The grapefruit is subdued and I get apricot/peach with airy floral vibes. It’s not overly fresh, but to me quite warm and sensuous. The sillage is not overly strong, it stays close to the skin but radiates nicely, and the longevity is actually very good in my opinion. 3 hours in and I am very much enjoying the soft feminine wafts of scent I applied this morning at the pulse points of my neck every time I move. I really adore this fragrance. It’s lady like but soft and inviting. I am wearing this in the spring but also smells lovely in summer and would likely be quite versatile for different occasions. I would say more of a daytime scent. While I am stepping away from designer fragrances I would like a small bottle of this.

I really love this one. I'm a big fan of the original Jour d'Hermes, and I also love a well-executed mossy accord, and this Absolu is the best of both worlds. It opens with an airy citrus that, like the original, is bright but rounded. Then come the white florals, soft and breezy, but grounded by a touch of earthiness from the moss. I see that this is categorized as a floral fragrance, but I think a floral chypre is a more accurate description. Comparing it to the original: this one is, of course, a little earthier, but it's not hitting you over the head with the moss. It's very well balanced. Like its sister, Jour d'Hermes Absolu is not a big projector, though this Absolu does project a little more. Longevity is also a bit longer than the original; those earthy notes seem to stretch this experience out, which I am grateful for. I adore both the original and this Absolu. I own both, but if I could only choose one, I would choose the Absolu. I'm glad I don't have to choose though. They are both beautiful in their own way.

"Zesty Grapefruit Floral" this is among the most cheerful, radiant and uplifting tart citrusy/grapefruit white florals i have ever smelled. absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. almost too perfect, except for how FLEETING it is on me (yes, even the Absolu). i can't think of another fragrance that uses a realistic, juicy tart/tangy grapefruit note that actually remains throughout the full wearing. generally grapefruit is a topnote which promptly disappears. i really need to put this out on my tray for rotation this summer, it’s a crime to not wear this. this is the downside of being a fragnerd, i have so many and am always trying new scents that i neglect the gorgeous fragrances i already have. i will remember to wear this beauty often this spring and summer. jour d’hermes absolu is divine. UPDATE: just wanted to clarify that this isn’t actually fleeting on me; the issue is that there’s little to no sillage. If I marinate in it (6-7 sprays) it lasts so I can smell it for about 3-4 hours with a bit of a trail.

Napokon sam dočekala da mi stigne posle mnogo godina testiranja i tihe patnje da postane moj. Slučajno sam ga isprobala jednog sparnog, letnjeg dana u Mülleru i jako me je zaintrigirao taj grejpfrut prvenstveno. Šnjofala sam ga ceo dan na zglobu i nekako me privlačio, ima nešto u njemu što se izdvaja. Miriše nekako poznato a opet je jedinstven, mislim da ne postoji identičan parfem. Postojanost je enormna. Osetim ga na sebi posle 12+ sati, a prsnula sam po jednom iza oba uha. Od nota se na meni najviše oseti grejpfrut, cvet kajsije i ta mahovina u bazi. Ostalo cveće ja možda ne umem da prepoznam a možda je tako izblendano da se stapa u jednu celinu i da ništa ne štrči, ko će ga znati. Uglavnom, jako ženstven citrusni, pre svega, pa onda cvetni parfem, koji miriše na skupo. Realno, ovaj parfem, bez obzira na dopadljivost, miriše na keš, odnosno na generacijsko bogatstvo, na plemstvo. Ocena 9/10 sveukupno, jedina "mana" previše je linearan na mojoj koži, ali svejedno ga rado nosim i uživam u njemu

Disclaimer: I am a grapefruit fan. I’ve happily worn Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune for years without any ‘cat litter’ issues. As you can imagine I like this very much. It’s a transparent glassy shampoo floral – but I like it because it’s not buzzy – it’s sweet and fresh without being sharp or sour. And it’s not just grapefruit, the other notes especially the gardenia and the oakmoss are prominent for me too. It has a very appealing sun-warmed skin aspect in the drydown that reminds me fleetingly of the vintage Quartz de Molyneux I wore as a teenager – (different from the current reformulation). It has that typical JC Ellena slippery translucent quality but there are no strange vegetal notes to contend with – just sunny citrus, flowers and moss shimmering away quietly on the skin – it sits close but it lasts. Yes, you can wear it to the office or parent teacher meetings or to any number of boring situations. But don’t waste it on that, wear it in the spring sunshine under a blue sky and feel the joy.

Trying perfumes at the store is normaly a disaster for me, I get an olfactory overload and can not make a desision at all. It is a miracle that I remembered Jour d'Hermes absolu at all and even more so that I could not get it out of my head. Obsessing over it for months I ended up with Jour d'Hermes, Jour d'Hermes absolu and a refil bottle for the latter, largest bottles available and they are gourgeus and heavy. Summer test Due to my skin type, the top notes last forever with the heart and the base gently shining through, that is why both perfumes are never about flowers for me. It is about big, warmed by the sun, overriped, aromatic and mouthwateringly juicy lemons. A very photorealistic experience and by far the best one on the matter. I would not say that the Absolu version is different from the original, but it is a bit fuller and sligtly sweeter, as if some sweet clementines were added to the mix. Love them both. Both are splendid for leisure in the warm, humid summer.

A very elegant perfume, long lasting, cheerful, brightening. True description of fine perfumery. Werable in a slow pace day, and at the same time at your peak activity, summer freshness, winter warmth. Minimalism philosophy that unfolds in a yin yang balance of citruses and florals. Lifts the mood. I feels standing out of the crowd especially that most people smell like Baccarat Rouge or Tuscan Leather nowdays. Suitable for anyone that feels that has some achirvements in life or as big dreams. At least it gives me that feeling. Esp3cially if you have read any book of Jean Claude Ellena you feel even more resonating with it. I see in the comments about its bittern and being sour. You can feel them both but very sofly in harmony, nothing boring or overbearing. If you are looking for an elegant fine fragrance that gives the sense of balance between strengh and vulnerability for me this is a go.

Jour d'Hermes Absolu. The first sniff of this reminded me of Un Jardin sur le Nil a lot. That Vegetable-y Grapefruit. Then 30seconds later, the dewy Appricot made me smile! And when the honeyed white flowers emerged, I decided to buy a bottle. This is, to me, a rare fragrance that evokes a scenery, not certain type of woman. It feels like I am standing under a tree in full bloom, looking up at the blue of the sky through the white flowers and bright green leaves. It's the smell of actual flowers. Living. Full of force. As the opulent Gardenia & Jasmin gradually fade, it becomes Chypre. Honey / Flower Necter Chypre. This beauty is not of man-made. I think Monsieur Ellena is J.S. Bach of olfactory world. I love Bach because his music sound natural like ocean wave, wind, rain etc.. Like him, Ellena can capture and re-create the brilliance of nature...

UPDATE - I have owned a bottle for a while and this is hands down my favorite perfume EVER ----------- I have a tester for this one. Sprayed it on today and didn't quite fancy it initially.. seemed like just another boring sweet floral fragrance. But once it dried down (about 30 min post application) it turned into something completely different.Difficult to explain but let me try.. somewhere buried inside the base notes is a very unique sexy animalic quality. Not the regular musky animalic. This is more raw, close to the smell of skin animalic. Of course the rawness is perfecly coated with a pleasant smoky woody floral essence making the entire package something to die for! And the longevity and sillage are great! I can literally smell it the next day! I am buying a bottle shortly :)

This is the best day perfume I own ! Elegant and modern ! Long lasting ! When I tested on paper 2 years ago it stayed on that paper for a week ! I have 2 bottles now which are refillable. It develops exactly as the notes suggest. At firtst there is a blast of Grapefruit ! in 15 minutes the florals come to play and the drydown is a beautiful mix of all notes ! The grapefruit stays in all stages ! It mixes well with the woodsy- mossy base and the florals. Very classy drydown ! It's not vintage at all. For the grapefruit lovers for sure and very suitable for the summer days ! It's not an evening or a dressy scent but I feel the need to be somewhat put together when I spray it. :))) Not a T-shirt and jeans scent - at least linen shirt , suede loafers and big sunglasses. :))

Okay so this is very much like Jour, but also noticeably different. I might not be fulflling my role as reviewer here because despite revisiting them at the same time this week and doing a direct comparison, I probably couldn't tell you what the differences are. I'd say 'weight' this is a little heavier as you'd expect perhaps from a EDT to EDP, being that it's a bit thicker, and given this is a light, powdery citrus, floral, perhaps that's not what you want? Well it is. Because the powdery drydown is what I crave in this, and the Absolu version gives us that in abundance, and usually I'm a fan of the more diffuse edt's n such (Like TdH for example) so yeah this was a turn up for the books. I want this fragrance, it's lovely.

My parents accidently bought this for me instead of "Jour d'Hermes", which I've sampled and loved. JDA is indeed a denser, heavier version of JD, but it's not a similar scent. The Absolu version is an enigmatic, extremely flowery, majestic and ultra-classy scent. It feels musky, creamy, and very "dressed-up". A scent one actually feels the need to don one's best dress for. I can't see myself wearing this in my shorts and tank top :) After the first hour or so, it becomes closer to the skin, warm and sweet, yet still an epitome of elegance. I still consider getting JD one day, as it's more suitable for everyday wear, IMHO, but I love JDA. Longevity is good and sillage fair to moderate, which I find very pleasing.