Ombre Mercure

I adore perfumes reminiscent of cosmetic scents, so Ombre Mercure became a must-try after reading all the positive reviews here and seeing comparisons to the discontinued Iris Ganache. This was a blind buy for me, and a very risky one at that because although I did save a lot of money, it was still pretty pricey! But I was so certain that I would love it. Thankfully I did and it immediately went into my Top 5 favorite fragrances list! My heart sank after I first sprayed it because the opening didn’t smell so pleasant to me, but as it dried down I fell in love! (UPDATE 10/22/2015: After trying Moulin Rouge and Lipstick On, I realized that the opening comprises of a very waxy iris note- giving this scent that lipstick feel! It does not last though, but I appreciate it more now!) I smell iris/orris, violet, vanilla/benzoin and sandalwood. The sandalwood adds a creaminess that is reminiscent of lipstick (think L'Oreal and Givenchy), while the orris provides the waxiness. I sense a little ylang and jasmine in the drydown, giving this very powdery floral fragrance a slight Chanel No. 5 vibe. Warm, sweet, soft, cosmetic-esque, and complex. Slightly reminiscent of Meteorites powder due to the violet/iris, but Meteorites powder is less sweet, more simple, and drier. Compared to Meteorites room spray/perfume, Ombre Mercure is drier, powdery, vanillic, and much more complex. But the one perfume this reminds me of is Insolence (both EDP/EDT, they smell the same to me except EDP is maybe a bit stronger), again because of the violet/iris combo. Ombre Mercure may be what Insolence could have smelled like if it was toned down, contained no berries, and included Guerlinade! I love that Ombre Mercure evokes lipstick in the opening, and face powder in the drydown. Usually perfumes with cosmetic accords evoke one or the other! Sillage is moderate, I can smell it on myself throughout the day and it lasts 10+ hours on me. Update 7/15/2015: I finally got my hands on a sample of Iris Ganache! The main characteristic the two share is the creamy soft vibe they both give off. OM is way more complex in comparison and way more floral, while IG is more gourmand and sweeter. I honestly wish Iris Ganache smelled more like Ombre Mercure. Update 7/23/2015: Amouage Opus III is essentially a dupe for Ombre Mercure, the perfumer behind it contributed to OM. Update 2/18/2017: I believe this is sadly discontinued. I'd snatch a bottle while it's still readily available. I already bought my backups, I just can't be without this scent!

God how i love this beauty. i have been wearing it a few times in different weather now to realy get to know it. This is so me, just my kind of fragrance. Im the queen of Violette especialy in spring time it happends every year ..the longing for Violettes . It took some time before this came into my life on my radar . But when i found it and read the note i knew this was for me. The waxy .lipsticky makeupy kind of darknes this has is so alluruing and so sensual. It makes me want to dress up in dark velvet and strut away into the night. strong, independent and sexy. It does remind me of guerlain Iris ganache .and Tom Ford Dark Violette a touch of incolense but just a bit. a hint of familiarity to Creed love in black .and pleats please . Violette done in the same way i guess . so so beautiful and so happy i found and bought a bottle of this one . I was lucky enough to be gifted a sample of the Mercure Goutee(follow up to this one) from a lovely fragrantican Jigglypop (Thank you again ) So i could compare the two. This is far better with the ylang ylang and rose . brighter and more refind. The goutee version feels abit flat and goes straight to the base note . So in love with this one . love my powdery Iris violette .<3

This was a blind buy for me based on the notes and positiv reviews and my friends recommendation. I am so happy I have this fragrance it moved strait to my top shelf . Being a lover of cosmetic scents , lipstick violet and iris perfumes as well as sandalwood and vanilla this really fits the bill. Ombré Mercure is so smooth and velvety , so well rounded and perfect to my nose , buttery iris and sweet candies violets on a bed of sandalwood , vanilla and benzoin, heavenly ! The benzoin adds to the vanilla and gives it a touch of a medical feel,which I adore! A signature scent , it's so easy to wear and soft buttery and waxy and smooth it's such a pleasure. I like that it has a soapy touch , makes it even better that way as soapy clean scents are another favourite category of mine. So this is a perfect combination for me , i get my violet fix , my love for iris and cosmetic powder notes , a traditional expensive feel , the soapy feel to make me feel clean and fresh and the warm vanilla sandalwood for comfort and warmth. , it really has it all. At least for me. Love it!!! The bottle is also extremely beautiful.

I have owned this perfume for a couple years and for some reason felt I needed to take a lot of time to dissect it. You don't have to agree with me, because chemistry is a very personal thing, but I own two bottles of Iris Ganache, and on my skin the two perfumes are completely interchangeable. I thought it the first time I wore it, and I still think it. Through all the sinus issues, viruses, changes in my taste in perfumes over the years, this still smells like Iris Ganache on me. Ombre Mercure smells like orris root, violet pastilles, lots of patchouli and the vanillic sweetness of benzoin. The patch is quite strong and really helps to tame the sweetness. The powder makes it feel elegant. It's luxurious and approachable at the same time. Beautiful for a night out or just lunch with the girls. Both Ombre Mercure and Iris Ganache remind me very much of Kôhl de Bahreïn, but the latter fragrance is a lot sweeter and creamier yet equally elegant. So if you'd like a more gourmand play on this theme, give KdB a try ;)

I got a blast of green and powder and white musk, surprised to see white musk is not listed in the notes section here. This has vintage vibes, don't think aldehydic green or smoky floral vintage, it's a powdery take on something from the past. It does kind of remind me of Chanel N° 19 Poudre but much heavier on the white musk. The iris here is both powdery and rooty, I wouldn't necessarily categorize it as waxy/lipsticky iris; it's a touch green or maybe in combination with something else it has turned green. There are some warm elements that linger down on skin for hours, which I think have modernized it. update: ok yes, i've been wearing this addictive concoction for the past few days and the dry down is indeed a warm vanillary scent w a healthy dose of waxy/lipsticky iris, it's powdery and resinous, which reminds me of UERMÌ OR +/- Kanabo mixed w something like MMM lipstick on, but this is exclusively a description of the drydown.

Ombre Mercure is an olfactory delight, a sensation for orris-lovers everywhere to indulge in. To put this simply, it is a happy scent - you cannot possibly remain in a bad mood if you’re wearing this. Its delicately soft, powdery facets and sweet undertones will lift you up in an instant. Orris and Violet are the main players; intensely powdery and feminine, reminiscent of vintage face powder, complimented by other florals of ylang, rose and jasmine. In the opening it smells like Parma Violet sweets, it has a noticeable candy-like scent to it, perhaps from the inclusion of benzoin and vanilla giving it a touch of warmth. As it develops, it becomes much drier and less sweet, with the powdery facets of the orris becoming creamy with the sandalwood and ylang, whilst also presenting a touch of earthiness from the patchouli. I think this is a fantastic scent, I’m really impressed - it’s definitely going on the wishlist.

It opens with a warm aldehydic violet/iris blast and slowly becomes a bit sweet and creamy. Violet leaves keep it from becoming heavy and dense and give the scent an airy, ozonic vibe, while other sweet and warm notes such as benzoin, vanilla and sandalwood give it a soft warm and comforting undertone. Nice and good quality ingredients, but it's pretty linear and doesn't change phases like Opus III, that they are compared to. I would say this is the more modern take on Opus III. Very soft projection and not an impressive longevity on my skin. I can sum it up as a warm, semi-sweet, linear, powdery floral scent. *Edit: I just realized the nose of this perfume, Karine Vinchon Spehner, is the same nose behind Opus III. No wonder they smell so similar. I certainly prefer Opus III though, since it is really long lasting and goes through different beautiful phases.

It's like being transported to a century ago, when perfumes were opulent, rich, powdery, feminine. This could well have been a scent of the roaring 1920es, on Zelda's neck, Francis Scott at her knees, jazz music all around. I do not detect rose at all. No sweet notes either (I'm glad). On my skin iris and violet are prominent. There's also a bitter background note that I love, as if Bandit were peeping out from Caron's Violette Precieuse shoulders. There's a certain air that makes it similar to Guerlain's Vol de Nuit and the powdery note is reminiscent of Chanel n°5. Very refined scent, very lovely, I'm not sure everybody will love it, many will find it a deja vu, yes, maybe. But it's not a bad deja vu, so why not trying it? I blindly bought a bottle and I'm in love.

This fragrance came as a recommendation for a makeup scent with depth. It opens with a dry, bitter edge, almost green, soon dissipating to the coveted lipstick effect lent by the orris, iris, and violet. The powdery violet is dominant from here on, but this is not a light powdery fragrance. Rather it is quite deep and sensual, fit for an evening with stockings just as well as jeans and a t-shirt. I see the comparison to Insolence, but principally because of the prominence of the violet. Ombre Mercure is deeper and earthier, thanks to the patchouli and sandalwood. Sillage is low to moderate and so far longevity is 4+ hours, a feat on me. A classy perfume; no wonder Karl Lagerfeld is a fan.

There was something familiar about this and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it for a couple of days, then I remembered- Guerlain’s Insolence edp. This opening is Insolence edp with the neon violet toned down a notch. Very violet opening that quickly becomes a lovely waxy lipstick orris scent, supported by soft buttery toned woods. If you liked the Insolence edp but thought it was violet overdose I would recommend giving Ombre Mercure a try. I already have and enjoy the Guerlain and these two are so similar that I can’t justify owning both, so I will enjoy OM while my sample lasts but won’t be buying a fb...yet. As an aside, has the name changed?

This is beautiful! The violets are very strong throughout and the iris only joins much later on. It has an odd cold, almost metallic, chemical note in the beginning and I find the note really appealing for some reason. I have not idea what it is, but it's only in the top. The stars of the show here are violet, orris root and sandalwood. It's powdery but not too powdery and it's warm and a little creamy. This is a clean warmth though. Mature and elegant but perfectly suited to daily use as well. I'm not sure if this is helpful, but I think it's similar to what you would get if you combined Nirvana Black with a bit of Insolence EDP.

A much softer version of Guerlain Insolence EDP with a sandlewood base is how I interpret this scent. On first spray a lovely violet then I get the Iris mingling in and then a woody base. It is a well done, beautiful, demure perfume. I have bought a bottle without testing and although I am not unhappy with it I wouldn't buy again when it's gone as the longevity isn't more than a couple of hours on me and as another member said I have Insolence edp which I love and that certainly is much stronger and packs a punch! I shall wear this on days that I crave violet but in a chilled, lighter way.

Wow. There is yummy candy vibe going on that reminds me of the coating on Jordan Almonds. A very well behaved patchouli is so damn smooth it's insane. Blended they compliment each other. It's almost like a vanilla bean shake with a swirl of caramel. Rich, creamy and sweet with a little overcooked caramel adding just the right amount of burned boldness. This smells very seductive and opulent. If the chemicals were removed, this could be sold in the gourmet candy isle. Delicious with a capital D! Too bad all I got was a sample, this is going on my want list today!

Ombre Mercure is beautiful!! Absolutely violet for me. Violet is the predominant smell, backed by iris; and patchouli, which is so smooth and rich and sweet, so lovely, and amber and sandalwood. It's perfection! There's a lovely sweet smooth creamy vanilla too, which comes after a while, and it's really gentle yet potent. It's beautiful, soft, powdery, elegant and sophisticated, this lovely perfume....so lovely. Very sensual and seductive, so feminine and delicious!!!! It's divine!!!!

Violets, roses, dry orris powder freshness, and subtly sweet vanilla. For lack of a better word, an olifactory blob of well-blended ingredients that all matchup together like puzzle pieces. Although this is not very eventful on my skin, a wonderful change occurs when the benzoin emerges in the drydown. So comparable to several Guerlains that I have to imagine it was created as homage. Also: Karl Lagerfeld wears this. 4 out of 5.

I could describe it as the best lipstick fragrance ever created, but I don’t think that even does it justice. That’s too simplistic. This is grown-folks business. The iris is sharp and green, yet the orris cuts that bite into a warm buttery deliciousness. The violet is ethereal. Patchouli and sandalwood are so well blended they support the other notes but don’t dominate, which to my nose is rare.

I'll tell you what....this was just delivered to me today...and it is one of THE best fragrances I own AND!!!! it is not supposed to be "best" in summer....I mean this juice is supposedly extremely better in all the months around now! I cannot wait to discover how it will be so much better!! I cannot WAIT until Autumn, when the temperatures are SO MUCH BETTER!!!!

This reminds me of Chanel’s Misia but better. This one has a certain creaminess along with the powdery notes, I’m guessing it’s the ylang ylang along with the orris, vanilla and benzoin.

Amazing juice of iris, violet, ambra, patchouly and more! Sweet seduction. Very feminine on the warm, dark side. Will go and buy it in an hour when shops open in Italy!!

Beautiful Iris - Amber like base perfume. Warm and delicate. I'm covered with the most delightful aroma which everybody ask about.

Ombre Mercure is a very classy smelling Iris/Orris centric powdery fragrance with very good projection and sillage within the first 3-4 hours of application. It reminds me of Balenciaga's Paris in the opening; but the dry down veers into Tom Ford's discontinued masterpiece, Violet Blonde, territory. Earthy, Musky, powdery, yet ever so faintly sweet. I get visions of golden, sunny Autumn days with a slight chill in the air and vibrant colored leaves crunching underfoot. This one can easily transition from day to evening and complement the casual or dressier ensemble for sweater weather. Caution! Take care with this juice! That bright reddish hue that looks so pretty is NOT the bottle color! This juice is actually red; and can/will stain white or light colored garments! Overall: 8.5/10

Honestly I can’t stand it...powdery...It was a blind buy... I have a full bottle & would be delighted to swap or sell. Ironically great longevity & projection...it’s classy, sexy, but not in a way that I could appreciate. I'm based in EU. Edit* It's gone :)

soft whispering iris, gentle powdery notes and flowers

This fragrance is a curse. The moment I sprayed it for the first time, I antagonised it entirely. I found it insufferably medicinal, bitter, metallic - like that smell which hides underneath a layer of rust after it is removed. Due to some trick of olfactory imagination, If I had to describe what mercury - the metal - smelt like, my mind would immediately conjure up De Gunzburg's creation. Alas, as my bottle is defective - its neck leaking profusely when tilted - it found permanent placement on my cabinet - no possibility of relocation. My personal curse. My grudge gradually lessened as I routinely walked by it, slowly developing that serene acceptance that comes with familiarity, as I began to steal a spray or two here and there. It's been two years, and I recognise it - Ombre Mercure is perhaps too opulent, too intricate for me to appreciate. Yet I gravitate toward it from time to time - it has that type of magnetism. I cannot deny the composed balance of its notes, its depth, and its timelessness. I still don't fully get it - but I appreciate that, at times, attraction originates from tension and cryptics, and breeds in seemingly rough and inhospitable places. I know one thing for certain: the name truly befits it.

Smells like TF Violet Blonde for which I have both. I’m macerating both. Let’s see how they develop.

A beauty. High quality, make-upy, and soft. I love the opening as it's a realistic violety, creamy lipstick. It's slightly powdery and very Guerlainish. (Sorry for all of the non-words!) It has some Guerlain Insolence vibes to it, only much, much lighter. In fact, that is what would keep me from buying a full bottle of this. It's missing some depth and power, and if I could add that to it, it would be Insolence which I already own and adore. The drydown may be a little too sandalwood for me as well, but again, not strong AT ALL. If you wanted Insolence to be way lighter with no raspberry, this may be your fragrance. It is quite pricey for such a soft scent, and on my skin dried down to nearly nothing in about 3 hours, (It is very frigidly cold here at the moment)but very lovely and well made. A delicious, feminine, make up scent, refined and demure.

Ombre Mercure looked like a powder bomb from the notes but that is not what I found it to be when I wore it. To my nose this is the scent of sweet violet and sandalwood soap. It has that strange Aspertame note that sweet violet fragrance seem to manifest on my skin. Instead of going powdery, it is quite oriental but with an intense soapy streak. What iris there is in this composition was not able to fight it's way through for my nose to smell it. For me, this was an absolute scrubber.

The initial spray smells like playdoh with a side of root beer, but it quickly transforms into a photorealistic portrait of your mother’s makeup bag—vintage cosmetic powder and waxy lipstick. It’s interesting, but to me it’s not as exciting as other fragrances in this category. Cosmetic scents usually smell sexy to me but this comes off very grandmother-of-the-bride — she's wearing a tailored matching set and is powdered to the nines. So, it could be perfect for the right person.

Violet and Iris are not among my most favorite perfume notes but sometimes I love them,usually when paired with sweet notes,I also love some powdery perfumes,for example Guerlain French Kiss is among my top ten.I also love Issey Miyake Pleats Please edp(the purple bottle),Dior Jador Voile,Dior Homme Intense,Guerlain My Insolence,PdE Equisterous,Valentino Donna and MFK Feminin Pluriel but I hate Lipstick On and I'm not a fan of Creed Love in black,Tom Ford Violet Blonde,Guerlain L'heru bleu or HdP Moulin Rouge.I named these to give you an opinion about my taste do that it may help you if you share a similar taste with me Ombre Mercure isn't among the first group but I don't dislike it either.violet,iris, sandalwood and benzoin are the strongest notes on my skin.it's a warm scent,chic,classy,well-made,comforting and rounded but not for me.it's totally unisex and I prefer more feminine/girly fragrances.I agree with it's similarity to Guerlain Insolence EDP but they're not dupes.I also have the same feelings about Ombre Mercure and Insolence.sometimes I enjoy spraying samples of them,but this doesn't happen often,and I don't like them enough to need a full bottle.OM's longevity and sillage isn't as strong as Insolence EDP,still is decent.Autumn is the best season for it IMO By the way it's warm,creamy woody,balmy base reminds me of Guerlain L'heru bleu a lot عطر کاملا یونیسکس و باکیفیته اما من زیاد دوسش نداشتم.بنفشه،زنبق،صندل و بنزوئین غالبترین نت های رو پوست من هستن.قبول دارم شباهت های به گرلن اینسولنس ادوپرفیوم داره اما بیس چوبی،بالمی،خامه ای و گرمش منو یاد گرلن لوغ بلو میندازه.از لحاظ ماندگاری و پخش به قدرت اینسولنس نیست اما بازم رضایت‌بخشه

A great scent if you added some candy sweet note then you would have vengence extreme by Juliets got a gun bit this also is a good replacement for Gucci not in the heavy square glass bottle and I got this at an amazing price. It's very musky to me and I don't get alot of violet but I have the bad habit of judging violet against Fahrenheit which is very strong but I have noticed with some reviewer's that they also do this. If you have years of gardening experience like myself (son of a gardener) then when you actually smell the floral version of what perfumers tell you is in a scent there is only a slight hint of said ingredient and they are usually bolstered by a synthetic versions of their natural counter part but if everybody used natural elements in their perfumes then it would be an ecological disaster so when people bitch about the amount of synthetics used in the perfume industry its because there is only so much we can take from nature before we do permanent damage. Ok rant over with lip love this perfume I highly recommended buying it it oozes wealth and sophistication which I am severely lacking lol 9.5 out of ten. My only 10 out of 10s are ultra violet by paco rabanne cotumme nationale homme and kingdom by Alexander mcqueen (am still not over it being discontinued).

I finally have a bottle of OM and OME - I’m a very happy girl! 1st impression. Yes, Similar to Insolence, Misia, and Violet Blonde. OM has a tartness that VB lacks but Misia and Insolence both have. Insolence is more playful. Ombre Mercure is more serious. I don’t smell root beer or play dough (I was sort of hoping I would) There is an animalic bite here that I don’t find in the others. I hope the benzoin and vanilla come out to play more towards the dry down. It’s been about 40 minutes and ombre Mercure is becoming warmer, the benzoin and vanilla are definitely amplifying, the vanilla becoming doughy and benzoin amber becoming syrupy.

This goes on sick-y sweet, heavy and almost cloying. Within seconds it’s unfolding its wings, there’s a sense they’re still coated in primordial goo, resting on skin, full of potential. The next few minutes, it’s trying to decide what notes to keep and which to let go. The sweetness left first, giving way to a slightly darker, slightly buttery iris. It lightens to a skin scent within a half hour, fizzy violet-ish iris patch, sort of a dark blue color-smell. Pleasant but unremarkable

I really wish there was no patchouli and benzoin in this. One, or both of these notes combined, produces the smell of incense. It starts out very nice, but immediately settles into an earthy, dusty, medicinal smell. I was expecting more of a lipstick cosmetic scent, like Iris Ganache without the spicy cardamom OR Dior Homme Intense without the nesquick. Perhaps the weather is too warm. I will try this out again in the cold. Maybe I will come to love it one day.

I first purchased this fragrance in a small fragrance boutique in Trastevere, Rome last year. I wanted something unisex. This immediately appealed to me because it had woodsy florals, a hint of amber and patchouli, and it had very warm sensual notes as well. I bought the 3.5 oz size without even batting an eyelash. It has become one of my favorite, and dare I say signature scents. Everyone loves it and even people that cannot stand fragrances say they like it.

Okay, this is really well named. It IS a metallic fragrance with a beautiful combo of violet and iris which I adore. The day I purchased this, I also sampled Guerlain's Insolence and found them to be similar to each other but not so much so that you would only want one of the two in your collection. OM has really good longevity and is still on my clothes days after using it. Best of the whole range in my opinion.

this is a dark, earthy violet fragrance. reminds me of the type of high quality as Guerlain and Amouage. also reminds me slightly of Gucci edp (2002) in the base/dry down. Ombre Mercure is for people who like dense, opulent, rich orientals. people who enjoy a powdery aspect. there’s a definite nod to L’Heure Blue as well as Iris Ganache. It’s a rich, warm, powdery violet that feels a bit goth.

Just like Chanka says below - def smelling Insolence/TF Violet Blonde and a warm amberry like scent. I can smell a good 50% insolence edt and the sweetness of the edp version. Its fizzy like and then settles without the fruity note that insolence normally becomes on me. But the Violet Blonde like vibe in the dry down. Quite long lasting and can easily be worn by a man too.

Ombre Mercure is definitely in the same vein as Mon Parfum Chéri by Annick Goutal for me; a powdery patchouli iris combo.Ombre is less dusty or vintage smelling in my opinion but even though neither is for me,I find Mon Parfum Chéri more intriguing.Ombre Mercure might be more generally likable,though. I recommend sampling both if you care for either of these two.

tried it, initially the blast was okay, then its just another vanilla plus flower scent. nothing remarkable nor memorable for me

Wow. The minute I spray this I get L'Heure Bleue. The sweet, delicious vintage extrait version. Yummy.

More mature insolence from Guerlain Violet blond from Tom Ford and Insolence miced together I like it

Looking to swap - full or partial bottle, or decant. Please PM me. This may be my new unicorn!!!!

This is a masterpiece. no words. you have to try it.