Hi Crew, The rumor mill has Christine Nagal finishing up at Hermès so I thought it might be nice to look at one of my favorites from her tenure. Though I didn’t LOVE everything she created there were quite a few that I did. The Vetiver Terre d’Hermès, Eau de Citron Noire, Un Jardin Sur La Lagune and à Cythère all have made full bottles bought at retail in my collection. Violette Volinka and H24 EdP are both on the list. I think that’s about half of her output? Pretty good strike rate if you ask me. Yes, I know. You didn’t. HA! So let’s talk about the one that sees the most wear around here, Eau des Merveilles Bleue. A perfect summer spritz for you all in the northern hemisphere right now.
Eau des Merveilles Bleue by Hermès 2016
Featured accords:
Sea salt, woody notes, juniper berry, patchouli
Yeah, I know a lot of the perfumista community sneers at a salty aquatic but it’s probably time to get your nose on a good one again. It may just sway your thinking. Especially as it’s summer up in the northern hemisphere and anything refreshing should be embraced wholeheartedly. Another win here is the fabulous bottle, so gorgeous in my hand. Plus it comes in a few sizes from the 15ml travel up to the 100ml.
Straight out of the gate Eau des Merveilles Bleue smells of salty juniper berries. They are piquant and green but awash with cold sea water. There are also wafts of cutting green chilis and some herbaceous greenery a little like pine needles and basil. We are taught this is a masculine configuration. In reality I can definitely imagine it smelling killer on even the most feminine of women. It would definitely be unexpected.
Through the heart and base of Eau des Merveilles Bleue have a much more seaside vibe. A little bit of seaweed, some driftwood, walking through the soft sand to sit under an enormous beach umbrella and order some margaritas. The salt dries on your body, you’re relaxed, maybe there’s a breeze and you can watch the beach and bar go by happily for a couple of hours. Some desultory conversation and a really good book.
The patchouli is shorn of all things natural and comes across sheer and modern. It hardly resembles the patchouli of the head shop, chocolate or earthy varieties we wore in time gone by. As Eau des Merveilles Bleue heads towards full dry down I smell like me coming home after swimming in the ocean.
Are you game to try some aquatic fragrances this summer?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
Lots of food for thought with this post, Portia! I hadn’t heard she might be leaving. I love love love Gallop-I even bought the 125 ml refill this March, because it seemed to be getting more difficult to find. Still amazed Hermes put a pure parfum in a spray bottle. The Rhubarbe Ecarlate always makes me smils, and I’ve bought the shower gel repeatedly.
I loved this review, and I have nothing against a good marine/aquatic scent. I’ll try it, based on this beautiful and enthusiastic review :)
Any idea what Madame Nagel will go onto, next?
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Heya Carole,
Currently it’s just the rumour mill. Whispers.
So glad you are loving Galop, a couple of my super trusted nose friends are gaga for it too. sadly it lay pretty limp and flat on me. Pretty but unremarkable.
Honestly, this whole parfum in 50ml or more gives me a bit of a headache. They can put 40% of the cheapest ingredients in a bottle with alcohol and call it parfum. I’m pretty sure they didn’t do it with Galop but…
YAY for someone open to even trying a marine/aquatic. You make my heart sing,
Portia xx
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You make it sound so good… but I think I’ll stick to my citruses and greens! I prefer to get my beach scents from the beach. ;)
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Fair play Nose prose.
Always nice to see your avatar and have you comment.
Portia xx
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I wouldn’t normally perk up at the mention of an aquatic scent, but this beachy accompaniment does sound rather appealing – a bit like MH Fleurs de Sel in its general vibe maybe?
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Hey Vanessa,
It does have parallels but they are quite different beasts. The Hermès less about flowers and more green.
Portia xx
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Vanessa, you beat me to the Fleurs de Sel comparison.
I’ve been a late entry at the modern Hermes gate. The Jardins have never hit the spot. I do love 24 & Caleche though & I’m enjoying the Hermescences I bought at the airport in April.
Galop in now unaffordable on the resale market but I did enjoy the sample I got
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So interesting that the Jardins weren’t your style Alityke. For some reason I have thought they were a bit of an everyone offering. Did you ever gt your sniff on Monsieur li? Though I like the line and have almost all of them it is the one I favor and wear most, by far.
Portia xx
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I don’t know why but none of them
quite hit the mark for me. Thats
despite me enjoying lightweight scents. Can’t put my finger on why xxx
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Sometimes they just don’t click. YAY! Wallet sighing with relief.
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I’m not a fan of the recently launched aquatics like Wave Child, etc. But this one sounds very nice with juniper, woods and fir, pine. Your description sounds so lovely I’ll try a sample soon.
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Hey there RR,
I hope it works better for you than the others.
Portia xx
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