Fabulista Experiences: The New Hermes Cologne

Hermes Pamplemousse Rose: notes of grapefruit, orange, rose, rhubofix and vetiver.

The house of Hermes had just released two new colognes to join in the foray of the singular D’Orange Verte. Pamplemousse Rose and Gentiane Blanche were released just a few months back and have arrived on the shores of the sunny island set in the sea.

Since this is a personal review, one has the liberty to do this – dismiss one and only mention the favourite. So while Gentiane Blanche is a floral/herbal blend of white gentian and musk, it will only receive the briefest of mention and end here.

On the other hand, one shall now wax lyrical about the other – Pamplemousse Rose. One loves refreshing fragrances and there is nothing quite as refreshing as the redolence of citrus fruits. In this case, fragrance maestro Jean-Claude Ellena employed the sparkling and tart notes of the grapefruit – the paradise citrus. The zesty head note awakes the senses and opens the olfactory gateway for the subsequent layers of the cologne. While the citrus fades away quickly, as most head notes usually do, it brings about the orange and rose heart notes. These are subtle and luscious, with the floral note reminding one more of a gentle geranium than an opulent rose. As the scent develops further, what one senses is a woody/musky scent of vertiver, with reminders of the earlier orange and rose.

Overall it is a delightful scent which needs to be over applied in order to extend its sillage (it is after all a cologne). Re-application is recommended halfway through the day, if it is intend as a whole day wear.