The Hermès Essence collection embodies the very essence of Hermès – the house’s spirit and the soul of fragrance. This collection, distinguished by its elegant leather caps, began in 2004 with four Eau de Toilettes created by Jean-Claude Ellena, the maison’s first exclusive perfumer. Ellena, with his mastery of the finest ingredients and his penchant for unexpected innovation, brought forth a series of captivating scents. His minimalist approach, focusing on the power of carefully selected materials, has been described as a “poetry of fragrance” or even a “haiku of scent.”
Hermès Essence celebrates encounters—with people, materials, landscapes, cultures, even words—transforming them into a harmonious symphony of scents. This tradition has been beautifully upheld by Christine Nagel, the second exclusive perfumer. The collection currently comprises 16 fragrances: 13 Eau de Toilettes, one Eau de Parfum, and two Essences de Parfum.
Here’s a closer look at some of the captivating scents that make up the Hermès Essence collection:
Eau de Parfum *Bois Farouche
*This Eau de Parfum, a first for the collection, launched in 2010 and quickly became a bestseller. It revolves around a captivating woody note, blending the smooth, smoky warmth of agarwood with the crisp freshness of rose. Nagel’s expert hand elevates this wild wood to a refined and captivating scent, balancing its natural intensity with delicate elegance.
Key Ingredients:
Agarwood, Rose Water, Rose OxideScent Category:
Woody FloralIntensity:
★★★☆☆When to Wear:
To leave a lasting impression of sophistication.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥47,190 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Violette Volynka
*Hermès Essence is renowned for its unexpected pairings of contrasting materials. In *Violette Volynka*, the powdery softness of violet blossoms meets the leathery warmth of Volynka leather tanned with oak bark, creating a sensual fragrance. It’s a scent that evokes the comforting embrace of a luxurious leather jacket.
Key Ingredients:
Violet, Leather AccordScent Category:
Floral LeatherIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
During the cozy transition from autumn to winter.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Rose Ikebana
*Inspired by the Japanese art of Ikebana, *Rose Ikebana* is a beloved fragrance in the Hermès Essence collection. It captures the essence of a rose in full bloom, radiating dew-kissed freshness and a delicate hint of green. This delicate floral scent is perfectly complemented by the crispness of rhubarb, creating a refreshing and vibrant fragrance that feels as light as a single rose in the morning air.
Key Ingredients:
Rose, RhubarbScent Category:
Fresh FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
To greet the day with a revitalized spirit.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Osmanthus Yunnan
*This fragrance, born from Jean-Claude Ellena’s memory of Osmanthus (golden osmanthus) blooming in Beijing, embodies the happiness associated with its fragrance in China. Osmanthus blooms are paired with the aroma of tea from Yunnan Province, creating a captivating harmony of smoky tea leaves, fresh orange, and the delicate sweetness of apricot-like Osmanthus.
Key Ingredients:
Tea, Osmanthus, OrangeScent Category:
Citrus FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
For a moment of tranquility in the afternoon.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360Eau de Toilette *Vetiver Tonka
*Vetiver, extracted from the roots of a grass, carries a deep, earthy, and smoky aroma. This fragrance elevates vetiver to a new dimension by blending it with the smooth sweetness and subtle bitterness of tonka bean, with its hints of caramel, praline, and blond tobacco. This union melts the vetiver’s earthy nuances into a warm and comforting, sweet, woody fragrance.
Key Ingredients:
Vetiver, Tonka BeanScent Category:
Gourmand WoodyIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
To find comfort and serenity amidst life’s uncertainties.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Poivre Samarcande
*Samarcande, a city where spice caravans traversed from East to West, inspires this fragrance. It features a captivating blend of spicy pepper, powdery musk, and a touch of sweet woodiness. The dry, woody notes caress the skin, promoting a sense of calm and clarity.
Key Ingredients:
Pepper, Musk, OakScent Category:
Spicy WoodyIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
To enhance focus and concentration for meetings or presentations.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Ambre Narguile
*Amber, a key element of Oriental fragrance, combines spicy notes with the sweetness of vanilla and honey. This fragrance translates the Western perception of the Oriental world—sensuous, warm, and alluring—into a captivating scent. It evokes a blend of cinnamon spices, fruit, honey, and the smoky allure of water pipe tobacco.
Key Ingredients:
Perfumer’s unique Amber, Roasted Sesame SeedsScent Category:
AmberIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
As a night fragrance to usher in peaceful slumber.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Iris Ukiyoe
*Inspired by the woodblock prints of Japanese artists Hokusai and Hiroshige, this fragrance features iris, a flower with virtually no scent of its own. Jean-Claude Ellena masterfully evokes the iris through the interplay of rose, orange blossom, and mandarin, creating a refreshingly cool and elegant floral fragrance. Instead of relying on the traditional iris root, this fragrance captures the delicate scent of the iris petals.
Key Ingredients:
Iris, Orange Blossom, RoseScent Category:
Fresh FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
For special occasions, especially those with a Japanese theme.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Santal Massoia
*This fragrance blends the mystique of sandalwood with the creamy coconut-like nuances of Massoia wood from New Guinea, creating a captivating scent reminiscent of a serene Asian temple. The fragrance unfolds with woody notes, dry fruit, milk, and a delicate touch of flowers, offering a surprising and captivating woody floral fragrance.
Key Ingredients:
Sandalwood, Massoia Wood, Dry Fruit, MilkScent Category:
Woody FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
For moments of quiet contemplation.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Épices Marine
*This fragrance evokes the raw energy of the Breton coast, where the cold, crashing waves meet the rugged shore. It captures the essence of this powerful encounter with a blend of invigorating spices—cardamom, zesty pepper, and medicinal cumin—fused with the sweetness of rum and smoky woodiness. The resulting fragrance is an intoxicating blend of salty sea air and the captivating heat of crushed spices.
Key Ingredients:
Cardamom, Pepper, Cumin, RumScent Category:
Spicy WoodyIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
To savor the ambiance of a traditional bar.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Cuir d’Ange
*Inspired by the phrase “angel’s leather”, which sprang to mind as Jean-Claude Ellena was reading a passage from a novel by Jean Giono, this fragrance exudes an air of ethereal elegance. It combines the sweet, fresh scent of heliotrope with the tartness of hawthorn and the supple, warm embrace of leather, creating a captivating scent that envelops the skin like a gentle caress.
Key Ingredients:
Heliotrope, Hawthorn, Leather, MuskScent Category:
Musky FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
For quiet evenings spent reading at home.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Myrrhe Églantine
*Myrrhe, a resinous scent with both sweetness and subtle bitterness, has been cherished for its fragrance for centuries. In this fragrance, it is paired with *Églantine*, a wild rose, creating a delicate floral fragrance. The fresh, green rose notes beautifully complement the sweet depth of myrrh, resulting in a clear and elegant scent—a testament to the essence of the Hermès Essence collection.
Key Ingredients:
Myrrh, Eglantine (Rose)Scent Category:
FloralIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
For special occasions, like parties, where you want to make a memorable impression.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Agarwood Ébène
*Agarwood, also known as *gaïac wood*, is a powerful and wild woody note. It is beautifully complemented by the scent of fir, the iconic tree of Christmas, in this fragrance. The fragrance features a touch of vanilla and a hint of spice, adding a warm, comforting depth to the woody aroma.
Key Ingredients:
Agarwood, Balsam FirScent Category:
WoodyIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
During the holiday season, to embrace the spirit of Christmas.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Eau de Toilette *Cèdre Sambac
*This fragrance features a crisp, refreshing, woody scent of cedar, where the subtle green notes of Sambac jasmine peek through. The jasmine complements the strength of the cedar, creating an exotic blend of wood and flower that unleashes the sensual spirit within.
Key Ingredients:
Cedar, Sambac JasmineScent Category:
Spicy WoodyIntensity:
★★☆☆☆When to Wear:
To make a subtle yet impactful statement.Volume & Price:
100ml ¥41,360 | 15ml (4-piece set) ¥24,200Essence de Parfum *Cardamusc
*This fragrance represents a new dimension in perfume, offering a concentrated scent that can be applied directly to the skin like a perfume oil. While its diffusion is subtle, its presence is undeniable, making it perfect for layering with other Hermès Essence Eau de Toilettes. *Cardamusc* features a sensual blend of cardamom, known for its invigorating aroma, and musk, which provides a comforting embrace.
Key Ingredients:
Musk, CardamomScent Category:
Spicy MuskyIntensity:
★★★☆☆When to Wear:
For intimate moments spent with a loved one.Volume & Price:
25ml ¥60,060Essence de Parfum *Musc Pallida
*This fragrance features a luminous blend of musk, known for its warm and powdery notes, and iris, with its delicate, soapy floral scent. This elegant fragrance, designed for direct application to the skin, is a perfect example of a “second-skin” perfume.
Key Ingredients:
Iris, MuskScent Category:
Musky FloralIntensity:
★★★☆☆When to Wear:
To extend the freshness of a morning shower.Volume & Price:
25ml ¥60,060For inquiries:
Hermès Japan
03-3569-3300
www.hermes.com
