First, for those who asked for pictures of my hand-applied airbrushed tan, I was at the end of the two-week cycle and ready for a new spray this week, so I’ll wait until after this application and see if I can get some pictures so you can see the color.
Hey, we have new Hermes perfumes!!!! Jean-Claude Ellena has created two new perfumes for Hermes – Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, which means pink grapefruit, and Eau de Gentiane blanche.
Just to make sure everyone is clear on the Pamplemousse Rose, I detect no rose in this at all and no rose note is listed anywhere, so I presume the rose stands for the pink color to the grapefruit. So those of you that run screaming from rose need have no fear with this. Notes of orange, rhubofix (a Firmenich aromachemical with a “a zesty freshness and unique green rhubarb effect”), lemon, grapefruit and vetiver. This is the happiest, most refreshing perfume on the planet. It is all grapfruity zest on the open, not sweet, but not really sour, just a little puckish, enough to make you smile. The perfect summer fragrance, you can just drown in this stuff if you want, and you’ll never offend a soul. The drydown gives a little of the vetiver for some body, but that’s pretty much the depth of this stream. It is absolutely perfect for what it is, and I know it will be in heavy rotation all summer for me. Both of these are priced at $125 for 100 ml. I’m not sure what the 200 ml size runs, but assume in the $200 range.
Eau de Gentaine Blanche has notes of white musk aromas, gentiana plant, iris and incense is dry, dry, dry, dry dry. I love it desperately, but I”m sure a lot of people won’t. It’s earthy and rooty from the iris, slightly musky. It’s like smelling baked summer earth. This probably leans a little more masculine, but I’m a huge fan and think it is perfect for women too.
Just a quick mention of the Kelly Caleche EDP release. Now the release Robin cited says it has enhanced floral notes, and those notes include barenia leather, lambskin, rose, violet and vanilla. I mean, yeah, the floral notes seem more discrete, but this is what I wanted the EDT to smell like – it haz leathah, ladies!!!! Okay, not a ton, but more than I remember in the EDT, which seemed a lot sweeter and more floral. I really should compare this side by side, and I’d be interested for others’ thoughts if they have smelled them side by side. This is flowers in an expensive leather bag or, better yet, cradled in a sweaty cowboy’s hat on a summer night. Oh, dear, I don’t really need to follow that thought.
Lucky for me my local Hermes boutique is not ten minutes from my house, or I would be in deep, deep, deep trouble.
But I do want to test Eau de Gentiane Blanche. I can’t figure out if I would like it, because I do not know what gentiana smells like, but it sure sounds quite intriguing, especially with the iris.
Hugs!
I like the sound of Eau de Gentaine Blanche..Must sample..
I’m also surprised you don’t notice the rose. It comes in very sheerly along with the green accord from the rhubofix. It smells like my rose garden after I’ve mown the lawn.
I also have to say that the grapefruit note at the top of this is one of the most realistic ones I’ve smelled to date, just gorgeous.
I’m a bit underwhelmed by the Gentiane Blanche, so far but I’m going to give it a full whirl in the next cuple of days. From a wrist test it was so much eau de cologne light it didn’t seem to last on me at all. I’ll see what a good dowsing of it brings.
I’m getting a complex now. Seriously, no rose. Maybe I’ve got some association already that’s preventing me from detecting it. I get the green freshness that’s in there, but no rose. 🙁 Well, that’s good for me! I like rose, but I love grapefruit more.
The Gentiane was weird at first, but after it dried down, it’s very subtled, but perfect in a dry refreshing way.
Patty, these are part of the regular line, the one with Sur le Nil et al, yes? So if I sit tight they will eventually show up…outside the Hermes boutiques?
They both sound lovely.
And hey, I always got a bit of leather in Kelly Caleche, albeit squeaky clean leather, so I look forward to sniffing the EDP.
Feeling pretty thankful for Hermes today.
Yes, they are part of the regular line. I assume they’ll go into wider release beyond the Hermes store, if they haven’t already.
Oh, both of these sound fab! I’m especially hopeful about the Gentiane Blanche. Baked summer earth? Perfect!
The Gentiane is perfect, though I don’t expect everyone to feel the same way. I thought about layering, but that grapefruit just overpowers the more subtle Gentiane.
Hi Patty, did you go to the new Hermes boutique in Cherry Creek?
Yes!
Can I tell you how horrified and excited I am to have an Hermes store withint 10 minutes drive time? At least I’m safe until August or September in the rest of the store since I just don’t think about scarves until then. Or else I’ll need little blinders. Have you been yet?
The Gentaine Blanche sounds particularly up my alley, but I’m certainly not opposed to sniffing either. 😉 Will add them to my “next time I’m downtown” list…though not, of course, in That Place.
Thanks for the reminder to get a fresh bottle of Jergen’s for the season. 🙂
OH, that’s right, THAT place that none of us will ever step foot in again.
I was screeching into my tea this morning,reading this – that Pamp sounds right up my alley. But you know I won’t set foot in that store…and since I believe fish rots from the head down, am not all that keen to buy anything Hermes. My Birkin days are ovah!
But they do sound nice.
xo>-)
Eau de Gentaine Blanche sounds just dreamy. Earthy, rooty, musky baked summer earth dreamy. I’m just taking your word for it. Eyes at half-mast. Must try soon.
Ah, well, I do love it. It’s perfect if you don’t want to be fruity or floral in the hot summer months. It is neither.
On a technical note, I have never seen the Wal-Mart ads on the site with my configuration – the Cherry Girls theme using Firefox as my browser. One time when I was playing around with the themes Wal-mart did pop up on one of the others – I quickly scurried back to Cherry Girls.
Damned effing WalMart ad. BUT. Clicking through to comments makes it go away (still no other way to close it.)
These sound amazing! I lurve grapefruit. And I think I said this on here somewhere before, but when I went back to the first Kelly Caleche, not really thinking *leather* beforehand, I could definitely smell it.
Well, apparently there IS rose in the Pamplemousse, so be warned! I don’t smell it, but your rose sensitive nose may be horrified. 🙂
Yeah, well guess where I ordered a sample from, along with some other stuff? So I’ll know soon enough…
Look forward to trying both. Btw, am very happy with the Carla Fracci Giselle I bought unsniffed after reading your post, thanks !
On a different note, am off to Vietnam next week and saw my doctor to get anti-malaria tablets. She was very insistent that I should not wear ANY perfume or perfumed deodorant as it attracts mosquitos. I can understand that when on treks or in nature, but cities should be ok. Does anyone know ? Are there any specific notes/ingreditents to avoid ? I don’t think I can do 2 full perfume-less weeks…
Silvia, far be it from me to argue with an MD, but I thought mosquitos were detecting carbon dioxide (to find your general vicinity) and lactic acid (to figure out where to bite you) and that DEET interferes with those receptors. They’re not smelling your Chanel No. 5.
I didn’t go to Vietnam but I did go with the girls to Cambodia, in the rainy season, to areas with dengue. In addition to DEET (it’s great applied on hats as well) we wore lightweight long sleeves and long pants, you get used to it. You don’t see the locals running around in shorts. If you’re concerned at all about your hotel, bring a net.
PS. The mosquitoes are out all day, not just at night, and in general the urban areas are safer (for one thing, they spray). Also the Big Cheese, who has stayed in much sketchier areas/hotels than I do, in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, does the long sleeves/long pants thing with plenty of DEET. He takes Malarone (?) when he goes to certain areas and reports it gives him vivid, slightly disturbing dreams but I think that’s it.
Thanks March. After reading of your Thailand/OJ Champaca experience I was very much looking forward to trying it out there and now I will.
We are well loaded on DEET repellents and the hat tip will be very useful (don’t fancy smearing that all over my face…)
That Giselle is great, isn’t it? Shocked me that it hasn’t had more of a following since it was launched, but I’m very glad I found it!
They both sound lovely.
I am so looking forward to your photos!!!! I’ve never tried the professionally sprayed tan … perhaps I should look into this (unless it is incredibly expensive). 🙁
It’s not incredibly expensive, but it’s not as cheap as a bottle of self-tanner either. It’s $38 here in Denver, but my sister, in a smaller town in Kansas, can get it done for $25. 1x every 2 weeks, it’s not a budget buster, but not inconsequential either.
Though compared to a tanning bed, it is less expensive, and that’s not even taking into account the damage to your skin.
Well worth it.
Eau de Gentaine Blanche sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to try it. I’ve recently got into dry scents for warmer months and it works like a dream. (I used to wear citrusy stuff over summer but it never felt right)
I do like my dry scents in the summer, too, so these two are just perfect and very different.
A good grapefruit–my Holy Grail. Must try the Pamplemousse Rose.
It is my favorite grapefruit!!!
These sound great! Both Hermes are now on my must-try list, especially the Blanche, since I adore a dry summer scent; but I also like grapefruit (Calyx is a stand-by). Rose is great by me.
Maybe Hermes needs to be added to our local gals mini-sniffa this weekend 😉 ?
I get plenty of leather with Kelly edt, so can’t wait to sample the edp. Is it scheduled for mass-ish release?
I’ve never once set foot in the Hermes boutique at Tysons. Let’s do it!
I’ve only tried Calyx once…a spritz at Ulta…was such an odd piece of work I knew I’d have to revisit a few times before making a decision. I certainly don’t remember grapefruit, though…maybe I’ll sneak out today and give it another whirl.
My nose detects a note of Tropical Fruit Life Savers in Calyx. I’m not sure which fruit, though.
You know, now that you say that… (renews determination to try again).
I think you’ll really like the Blanche. Surprisingly, though I’ve heard contrary reports, they both last decent’ish on me.
Not sure when the Kelly Caleche EDP may go mainstream. I”ve not seen it so far outside of the Hermes boutique. Allegedly there is an extrait de parfum too, but they didn’t have it here.
Patty, you get no rose in Eau de Pamplemousse Rose???? I’m flabbergasted. It totally has rose, once you get past the very realistic pink grapefruit top notes. And rose is listed in the press kit; JCE speaks of it as well in interviews. It’s a rather transparent, powdery rose and fairly long lasting though very discreet.
In fact, that grapefruit + rose pairing is something JCE has been playing around with for a while: I find that in the new Kelly Calèche edp, it’s very amped up. More grapefruit especially and, yes, lots more leather. If you go *back* to the edt after smelling the edp, you’ll get the leather in the edt too!
Nope, nada, not even a petal. Weird? Now, I admit that I’m very sensitive to grapefruit fragrances, and that note tends to overwhelm everything else. So either I’m anosmic to the rose in this or the grapefruit is overpowering it for me. I get the slightest hint of some floral way in the back.
So I’ll blame my nose here. I sniffed it again. No rose in my senses. But I’ll take your word for it that’s in there, I’m gla dyou chimed in! The rose hatahs would have killed me. 🙂
And the evil WalMart ads are back. Grrrr…