Un Jardin en Méditerranée

EDEN BEFORE THE FALL. This is the most original fig scent IMO since Olivia Giacobetti's industry changing and much copied work with Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur & Philosykos Diptyque. In contrast, UJEM signed by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena has an edenic quality of a luscious garden with waterfalls and succulent, ripe figs still on the vine with their leaves, while Giacobetti's work had a powdery, creamy, & faintly-smoky/dusty quality. This has a sharpness, like the prick of a consciences, in the opening, and the soapiness of an outdoor shower. One could imagine a scuffle, whilte-milky juice spilling from broken tree branches, while Adam & Eve in sewn fig leaves are kicked out of Eden by the flaming cherubim. UJEM lacks the dusty, milky and faintly smoky aspects, instead bringing forward a fruity greenness, making it more 'Eden before the fall'. Contrast to Un Air de Samsara Guerlain: These have quite different note cascades, but to my nose, they're more similar than the contrast below, with a green, oriental floral vibe. UAdS is a light wearing, green version of the original Samsara. The similarity to UJEM is more in their openings, but UAdS dries down more in keeping with the Samsara range, while UJEM dries down with a sweet, fruity fig. Contrast to Philosykos EDP Diptyque: These are very different, and they're in different lanes, although they both have a prominent fig leaf note. Philosykos, together with Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur, are Olivia Giacobetti's industry-changing work in rendering a whole fig tree, and overall a more forward creamy woodiness. UJEM doesn't acquire the smoky, soapy & near-coconut/coconut facets present in PF & Philosykos. Contrast to Fig Extasy Mancera: These are different, and this scent is in a different lane, although both have a prominent fig leaf note. Fig Extasy is distantly inspired by the work of Olivia Giacobetti in Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur & Philosykos Diptyque, although FE is a steroidal version, bringing the smoky & soapy aspects even more forward. Overall: Well above average performance, with a beautiful & original fig scent. This is the perfect scent to wear when reminiscing about what could have been, and my favourite fig scent ATM, so naturally it's a love for me. 10/10. Enjoy!

I really love Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, its a wonderfully sharp freshie for the summer and its so easy to just grab and spray without thinking too much when I have no idea what to wear. Recently I went to John Lewis and saw the Jardin line testers and decided to have a try of them all, well, not exactly all since after sampling this I prematurely ended testing and grabbed a bottle. Un Jardin En Mediterranee is a unique blend of soft, fresh citruses, delicate florals and fresh smokey, woody nuances which makes for an unusual, refreshing summer or easy reach scent, its far removed in my opinion from the ubiquitous "lemony" type summer scents and has some real guts to it thanks to a sappy fig leaf note and cypress. The opening is a cooling fanfare of lemon, bergamot and orange, but I also get a hit of greenery from the fig leaf straight from the get go, as time passes, I start to notice a fresh yet dainty orange blossom and another floral note which I can only assume is white nerium oleander; but I don't just get the florals, I also get more of the fig leaf but something smokey and maybe a little bit medicinal, possibly the cypress and red cedar mixing with juniper and possibly the pistachio, the way that this scent dries down is seamless and it never really loses its brightness or cool/cold feel, it also still smells as fresh in the later stages of the drydown as it does upon aplication. The longevity is great with it lasting on my skin between 6 to 8 hours from 4 spritzes and a moderate silage, Mediterranee is so wonderfully versatile; it wears excellently for casual wear whilst giving off a very "put together" vibe and can be worn more formally as well. I've been wearing this during the UK winter and despite it being more of a spring/summer scent, it doesn't smell or feel "wrong" in any way, one reviwer mentioned that this straddles the lines between being playful and smart, which I 100% agree with, its a staple scent in my wardrobe along with Un Jardin Sur Le Nil for the warmer months, but, I actually think I'll keep this out year round since it just works so damn well! Repurchase? for sure!

One of my first "hidden gems" that i came across when I started my journey years ago was this fragrance. A masterful composition by one of my favorites Perfumers, mister Jean-Claude Ellena. He arrived at Hermès in 2003, and the first fragrance that he created was this one. This is probably one of my favorite spring/summer fragrances and even after these years and hundreds of fragrances tested, this is still a staple and a must have in my collection. My girlfriend steal it sometimes, cause she loves it too. So what it smells like? Basically, a fresh, green, Mediterranean breeze in a summer afternoon. It starts off with a tomato steam accord. Very bitter, green but, still, with juicy and fruity elements. There's a cypress note that helps accentuate the green aspect and some nuttiness that camera from nowhere. Some would say pistachio, but i don't smell that. Above this, and as the perfume develope, the fig tree and the leafs came to play and make this even more summery and refreshing. A true Mediterranean feel. I live in a place where Fig trees can easily be found and i also a big fan of the smell and the fruit itself. This, although not the perfect reinterpretation of the Fig theme, it's definitely in the top 10 and, as a fresh-green scent, is probably one of the best. I love all the facets. The green cypress and fig leafs, the nuttiness, the refreshing tomato steam accord, the overall summer afternoon feel. A very good company on a summer afternoon walk after beach. If you don't know this fragrance and love fig trees and wish for summer holidays in Italy, test this one out. Grab your sunglasses, put on your favorite flip-flops, a tripped t-shirt and some shorts, close your eyes and enjoy the Mediterranean breeze that this fragrance creates in the air. Just a sidenote, the performance is not the greatest but it's decent. 5-6h with good projection in the first hour. PS: I would give it a 5* rating but we have to be honest, objetive and unbiased. A very recommended one and my favorite from the line, with Un Jardin Sur Le Nil being a very close second.

This is one of my all-time favorite perfumes. I must be made for it, as it smells good on me at any and all hours, in any season, though especially in the three warmer seasons. I discovered it shortly after it came out. We were told that it would be only a Special One-year Limited Edition! So I bought 10 bottles! Good thing, for the price has risen dramatically, and the shelf life of my 10 bottles is admirably long! Then, everybody and his dog fell head over heels in love with this exquisite jus, and not only did Hermès keep it going, they expanded the line with the three more recent "Un Jardin" series. There were two very dark years in my life when so many things went awry. At many a moment, I felt that the deep, optimism of this sunshiny glorious scent was like a life-line for me. It kept me going. I always had a small bottle in my purse, and used it quite liberally as a mood booster. Which it did! It always makes me smile when I spray it on and waft it into my being. Such joy, and such fortitude. This is real aromatherapy. Now that life smiles with me again, I still use it, and am delighted that it brings new joys, without bringing memories of a very sad phase. Admirable! All through that period, I imagined writing to J.C. Ellena to let him know what immense good his wonderful efforts had brought to me! Never did it! But maybe now I will anyway! From a sheerly normal standpoint, I can say that I have always received RAVE reviews from all those near me when I wear this scent. Total strangers come up to me to say, "Madame, Your perfume is marvelous! How well it suits you!" It doesn't get any better than that!!!!!

This is the first designer fragrance I've bought in twenty years. I don't intend to snub designer scents but they never seem to fulfill what I'm looking for- niche always proves to be the only route for me. Now, this. This is masterful and it's niche and I'm sticking to this assertion. I know Ellena is a living legend, but, until now, I have never loved his creations. I'm certain that is my fault, of course, millions of people who adore his work obviously are right. I always wanted to try the Jardin range and the others left me indifferent but this was a blast, a love at first sniff. So much so, that I didn't wait a couple of hours to see how it performs, I bought it straight away, something I never do. Now, on to the juice itself: this is within the general family of Fiore D'Ulivo, Philosykos, Caligna, that is a true mediterranean grove experience (rarely does a fragrance hold so true to its name). This is an ultra-sophisticated version of citrus fruits with a soft flowery mist lingering among them, all on a bed of pine wood and fig leaves. It has a light, polished feeling but is robust in accords, and remains complex for hours, something I need from a fragrance. The projection is moderate, the longevity as well. I wouldn't personally buy this for someone below 35-40, as it evokes a more mature feeling. This could absolutely be unisex. Office-safe but also night-appropriate as it's beautifully unique but also not offensive. I would give it an 8.5/10 solely because I would prefer better performance. But the concoction itself is a 10/10.

This is a joyous, breezy fragrance. As the first perfume in Hermes Jardin line I have tried, I am more than pleasantly surprised. This wears with the same ease and freshness as a Jo Malone or Diptyque fragrance but here the performance and blending is quite a bit better than some niche freshies. Un Jardin En Mediterranee opens with a fresh burst of wet fig and fresh woods- This fig is less sweet/creamy than Diptyque's Philosykos and more pulpy and sun-kissed. Both "photorealistic" interpretations of a fig note, but more at different stages of ripeness. The wood on the drydown is giving me an almost savory, tomato leaf like note- could this be the cypress? Either way, the blending of leaves, herbs, green fruit, and subtle florals exudes the warmth of a garden in the afternoon. This first hour of this scent pulls you in so many different directions, each one a beautiful stop in the garden. After the first hour the perfume transforms into an oceanic marine scent. There's a wetness throughout the journey of this perfume, but at this point you've taken a boat off the Amalfi coast. The sea is the dominating note now, and it smells like you can see the garden in the distance- sun glistening on the fig trees, orange blossoms and cypress while you drift over idyllic Mediterranean waters. It feels distinctly like a warmer weather scent, but this is so masterful and lovely I am compelled to wear this year round.

Upon exploring Un Jardin en Méditerranée, I found myself captivated by its delightful and evocative composition. The initial notes transported me to the enchanting landscapes of the Mediterranean, exuding a harmonious blend of green fig, citrus, and aromatic woody accords that conjured visions of sunny seaside gardens and lush foliage. Although I admire Un Jardin en Méditerranée for its evocative portrayal of the Mediterranean garden, I couldn't shake the feeling that its resemblance to Sur Le Nil became increasingly apparent as the scent settled. While each possesses its own charm, I found myself wishing for more pronounced points of differentiation in the latter stages of wear. If I were to rank my Jardin collection favorites, I would place Monsieur Li at the top for its distinctive and invigorating blend of kumquat and mint, followed by Un Jardin en Méditerranée for its initial allure, and then Sur Le Nil. While all three are undoubtedly captivating in their own right, Monsieur Li's unique and refreshing character has left an indelible impression on me. In summary, Un Jardin en Méditerranée captivates with its Mediterranean garden-inspired allure, yet the similarities it shares with Sur Le Nil in the dry down prompt a contemplative comparison. While it holds its own merits, I found myself yearning for greater divergence in the final stages of its olfactory journey.

First of all, this MUST be sampled on skin because it does not smell great on a blotter. I have sampled four different bottles of Un Jardin En Mediterranee and each experience has been completely different, leading me to believe that this fragrance will mature and evolve with age. The first bottle I tested had lots of citrus and warm fig with that classy Hermes touch. I was hooked. The second bottle was all soil and green fig leaves and twigs but progressively became much sweeter and softer. The third and oldest was definitely the best—salt air and fig leaves with citrus and coniferous nuances that dried down to a lightly sweetened, creamy, figgy musk. I could not stop smelling my wrists it was so addictive. I've finally caved and bought a bottle. It's a new batch, and the opening is salty green fig leaves and gentle conifer notes softly sweetened by citrus. (LOVE!) The mid gets progressively sweeter until it becomes a clean, slightly sweet, and soapy fig. It's not my favorite iteration, but I think it will get better with time. It is my hope that the soap note evolves into the warm musk I previously experienced. Un Jardin En Mediterranee is certainly the most classy fragrance in my collection, but I also find it incredibly artistic. I feel it takes the wearer on an olfactory journey to the Mediterranean coast just before the figs are ready to harvest. Lovely.

Un Jardin en Mediteranée's opening first reminds me of a salty seaside breeze akin to Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt. They are not the same, however: Mediteranée is a seaside breeze that travels from the coast and weaves its way inland through a grove of citrus and fig trees with a flower garden nearby. The citrus is cheerful and bright; the florals make the scent warmer, more feminine than WS&SS; and the fig leaf (not the fruit) brings a touch of fresh green tartness, a little woodiness. When it dries down, it smells warm, sunny, yet softly grounded. It's a very clean scent, an intriguing journey. I'd say Mediterranée is the cousin to Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, as I find they share similarities, but Mediterranée is less vegetal and carries a similar idea of walking through a garden. When worn on each hand, I find Le Nil much too vegetal and very much centrally unisex. On the other hand (literally, ha!), I find en Mediteranée a touch more feminine than Le Nil as the florals in the pyramid are more apparent. Overall, en Mediteranée is beautiful yet delicately haunting: It fades so quickly (within 2 hours) and its ghost makes me ache for more. This is a delight, but I wish it lasted longer on me!

I wanna preface that I do not travel a lot, if at all. I don't know what the Mediterranean coast smells like and I probably never will. Though I love anecdotal reviews that describe a place rather than the smell, it just doesn't cut it because for me, at the end of the day, it makes no sense at all. Now to the actual review. I like this scent. A lot. I'm surprised there isn't a fruity aspect mentioned above because I get fruit from this. A slightly sweet woodiness to it. Its not like any fruit I've ever smelled (which is the common American ones btw I have no idea what durian or starfruit smells like). It's just so yummy to me. There is an obvious citrus aspect to it at the beginning which gives it that bite (and is probably where that fruitiness comes from). It dies down at a pretty moderate pace, to the point where you do have to sniff right up to your nose to smell it. That's okay, though, because this is a love. If you like Philosykos for the greenery and coconut-iness, Wild Fig & Cassis for its greenery and fruitiness, Orange Blossom by Jo Malone for its initial zesty sweetness, then you might like this too!

Like an ocean mist washing against a garden of fig trees, you are instantly transplanted to the shores of the Mediterranean: nothing but blue skies and azure waters. Beautiful from beginning to end. This is the definition of a summer scent, you could wear this in other seasons but it is tailor made for the warmer months when the sun is high. Apparently there are citruses in the top but like others here, I can't smell them; this goes straight to fig leaf (emphasis on the leaf and not the fruit) and cypress notes for me. Initially there was a soapiness to the composition but I'm finding this is diminishing as more oxygen gets into the bottle? The drydown is woody but not in the heavy sense of oud or sandalwood, it remains a light, breezy scent throughout. This is certainly not the longest lasting fragrance but were it denser it would defeat the purpose...this is meant to be worn lightly. For an EDT, it is certainly on the expensive end but I managed to find a great discount on a brand new batch. I have around 10 fragrances in my collection and this gets the most compliments.

Reviewing a bottle from 2024. Un Jardin en Méditerranée was launched in 2003. Described as a floral aquatic but it is actually a very fresh citrus green fig fragrance. But not just any citrus fig fragrance - it is the best in it's class. This opens with a sublime citrus blend and light florals - mostly neroli . As the citrus fades bitter photorealistic fig tree notes step in softly enveloped in aromatic woods mostly cypress. It is not sweet or fruity rather it is citrusy, dry, herbal and a bit bitter. The fig is not overbearing. The florals play a minor part in the composition.There are no synthetic notes In short, this has been perfectly blended by a master perfumer. Quality- excellent 5/5 Unisex Performance - poor to average as expected for this type of fragrance. This does not deter me in the least. 3/5 Un Jardin en Méditerranée is a sophisticated fresh fig fragrance that is perfect for a hot summer day or night . Close your eyes and find yourself in a orchard of fig trees overlooking the mediteranean sea. * Has won too many awards to list here :) * 10/10

This is a squeaky-clean green fig. Juicy chlorophyll and fragrant, foresty evergreens. Not a drop of sweetness, no shadowy depths, just green, refreshing, vitamin-y goodness. Of course, that means it doesn’t last for shit. After three hours it’s gone except for an almost imperceptible hint of soap. This is a reasonable contender for the green scent of my dreams – but maybe there’s something out there with more of a lasting base? ETA: the neroli is also quite noticeable, which gives it this lovely, airy, lacy, crisp feel. Easily one of my favorite smells. If you put a lot on, it’ll actually last reasonably well, and the far drydown isn’t just soap, it’s sort of soap-and-chlorophyll, which is nice in its way. OTOH, you can do “clean bitter greens & bergamot & neroli up top; dark, foresty bitter greens down below”, it’s called Guerlain Vetiver (which I plug a lot because it’s perfect) and apparently some other things like Chanel Pour Monsieur do a similar trick. Gives a little bit more structure and substance to your “green” masculine or unisex perfumes.

This one takes time to get to know. By that I mean that I've had the mini for a while and worn it a few times, yet because I don't really have a category for it in my head, I sometimes forget I've had it. Is it woody? Sure, but it's also cool. Is it floral? I guess, but it's also a bit austere. Is it citrusy? Well, the citrus is definitely blended in, but it doesn't stand out. So what is this thing, exactly? I still don't know. I'm enjoying it a lot. It is good for warm weather, but a lot more serious than other fragrances I call summery. It has an aloofness to it. It's not warm or decadent in any way. But it's outdoorsy just the same. In that sense, it reminds me of another favorite, Chanel Cristalle. (I'm not saying they smell the same. Just a similar cool and serious vibe.) Sometimes I like that. Edit: I put it on because someone said it smelled of fig and I'm almost out of my Philosykos sample. This has some fig leaf blended well into the drydown, but it is not figgy or jammy at all to my nose.

An absolute masterpiece. I hope when I pass away this is the scent that reminds friends and family of me. I smelled this when it released in a Sephora and was so overtaken I went back every day to sample it until I had saved up to buy it. It is really the fragrance that convinced me perfume can be worth the cost. I have used it regularly since release. It is a vacation in a bottle - a nap in a watery, aromatic garden - dappled sunlight under cypress and cedar, juicy figs. It starts very bright and citrusy and warms down to a soft woody fig that is so elegant. I still to this day get an emotional 'ping' every time I spray it. The only issue is the sillage is weak unless you douse yourself, and it lasts maybe 2-4 hours tops on a warm day. It does seem to leave a faint scent on my clothes, though, which I love! So even though I don't wear it as much in winter I will spray my sweaters and coats with it for a little pick-me-up every time I put them on. HEAVEN!

The more I wear this the more I love it - it’s truely a watercolour journey through a Mediterranean garden. There’s a bright, sweet, fresh opening to this fragrance which is sparkling with citrus, but as it dries down you are left with a scent that is green, herbal, earthy and leafy with a woody coniferous note coming through as well as a hint of sweet orange blossom and warm ripe figs. The description of it being a ‘watercolour’ fragrance is very apt - there are a lot of notes which stand out, but at the same time they flow and blend perfectly into each other. This is really unusual olfactory experience and takes you on a journey through the various stages of its development as you wander through a Mediterranean garden - there’s a drift of orange blossom from a nearby orchard on the breeze, your bare feet crush aromatic herbs as you walk, tall, dark cypresses cast their shade, ripe fruit has fallen onto the earth from a leafy fig tree nearby.

I'm on my second bottle of this. After experimenting with the "gold standard" figs from decades ago (specifically Premier Figuier and Philosykos, which didn't work on me), I found my type of fig in this. It opens pleasantly astringent and cologne-like with the citrus and aromatics (perhaps the juniper note or the cypress?) before settling into a gorgeous green and woodsy fig. The florals and the pistachio add a bit of sweetness and the cedar and musk drydown is very grounding while the fig and greenery stay fresh and present throughout. This is a lovely and perfectly unisex nod to the Mediterranean that I like best in late summer (can be worn year-round but summer really suits it well). Sillage is prominent enough to garner compliments without becoming annoying to those around you. This is an absolute masterpiece from Jean-Claude Ellena that really captures nature and the feeling of sitting in a Mediterranean garden. I love it.

I finally had a chance to sample all of the 'Jardin' perfumes by Hermes. So many people have already expressed their affection for this perfume, but I have to add yet another. Un jardin en Mediteranee is green perfection. This is such a poetic and sublime scent that it felt like a second skin when I put it on. There isn't a single note in the perfume this is out of place. The citrus is refined and subdued; the juniper and cypress are wet and steamy and exuding resin and warmth. the fruity green of fig leaf is definitely the star of the creation, bringing a full-bodied undertone to the evergreens, all braided together and rising out of a morning mist. Being a northerner, I can't really say if Un Jardin en Mediteranee is an accurate scent-depiction of that region of the world, but it certainly captures the senses and brings to mind beautiful mornings in the sun. Such a glorious creation for those of us who love green scents.

On card: crystalline, figgy, light, watery. Brief bergamot zest quickly transforms into a sweetish cedar–fig–green mandarin–lemon opening, pretty and bright with citruses. The figginess passes and the juniper comes through with a faint creamy woods feel to the background, not heavy or cloying in any way. On skin it develops quite differently and the conifers are scratchier. Especially the cypress. Rather than a cedar-fig perfume it becomes a bergamot-cypress-juniper one. The bergamot beautifully bright and refreshing and the cypress and juniper putting more beef behind Un Jardin en Mediterranée than is usual for an Hermès eau de toilette, skewing it woodier and less citrus than it first appears. And I find my admiration creeping up from a Like to a Love. My favourite in the Jardins range and absolute perfection for warm spring days.

It wasn't love at first sniff. When I first tried this, it smelled sour. However, I really wanted to buy something from this line because I love their Un Jardin Sur Le Nil shower gel. While at a drugstore (some big drugstores in Japan sell perfumes/colognes) I sprayed it on both of my arms, then left the shop. That very same day while I was grocery shopping, I kept on catching whiffs of it while reaching for things at the supermarket. It made me go back to the drugstore to buy a bottle. I love this, so many good memories linked to this scent. I sometimes spray this on before going to bed. It’s very woody and a bit creamy on my skin, could be the reason why I find this comforting. Moderate longevity and sillage, but I have to say, out of all the Un Jardin fragrances I've tried, this lasts the longest on my skin. 9/10