Maison
Hermès.
“The Parisian saddler turned perfume house — home to Hermessence, the niche-tier collection of single-concept compositions.”
Quiet luxury in olfactive form — Jean-Claude Ellena's legacy and beyond.
Specimen Card
Réf. HERMES
In the collection
—
Bottles in stock
Status
Live inventory
- Perfumer
- Christine Nagel (since 2016)
- Speciality
- Hermessence · Minimalist composition
- Style
- Transparent · Watercolour · Quiet luxury
The Dossier
What to know about Hermès.
Hermès has made perfume since the 1950s but the modern era began in 2004 when Jean-Claude Ellena was appointed in-house perfumer — the first such role in the company's history. Ellena brought a deliberately minimalist, watercolour aesthetic: few materials, transparent compositions, the trail of a memory rather than a statement.
Hermessence, launched the same year, is the house's niche-tier collection. Each composition is built around a single concept — Vétiver Tonka, Ambre Narguilé, Iris Ukiyoé, Cardamusc — released in tall 100 ml bottles sold only at Hermès stores.
Christine Nagel succeeded Ellena in 2016 and has kept the minimalist house style while introducing warmer, more textured compositions — Galop, Cuir d'Ange and the recent H24.
Notable releases
- Terre d'HermèsOrange, flint, vetiver — Ellena's modern masculine masterpiece
- Ambre Narguilé (Hermessence)Honey, tobacco, dried fruits — the cult oriental
- Vétiver Tonka (Hermessence)Vetiver, tonka bean, tobacco — gourmand vetiver perfected
- Galop d'HermèsQuince, rose, leather — Nagel's tribute to the saddler heritage