Hey There Posse! Last week I dropped into our Sydney stand alone Hermes. The concierge is a friend of mine. As Eve, Jenny and I were walking by he smiled so brightly we went in. I was glad to have them sniff Paddock and as we were there Nick said we should try the newest for the jardin range Un Jardin Sous La Mer. Just released. Very freaking cool. As we left he handed us all an Hermes sample bag with some of the current offerings. All up a very fun moment. The girls were very excited to sniff them all while we had some boozy bevies afterwards.
Un Jardin Sous La Mer by Hermes 2026
Hermes gives these featured accords:
Tiare flower, tamanu nut, musk, mineral notes
Un Jardin Sous La Mer is a surprise. Well, surprise may be an overstatement. It’s called Sea Garden so I suppose I should have expected a salty floral. Salty and a little gritty like sand. With that twang of fresh blood when you suck a cut finger. There is also a whisper of that famous slightly oily petrol accord found in so many of the historic Jean Claude Ellena perfumes for Hermès
Tiare flower is known as the Tahitian Gardenia and is the sacred flower of Tahiti. It is the national flower of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands but it apparently originated in Melanesia and was brought across around 2,500 years ago.
I’m unsure what the Tamanu nut smells like but it has been used for centuries to create Tamanu Oil for uses in medicine. It’s indigenous to Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia.
The heart is of Un Jardin Sous La Mer a fusion of all of the above. It’s both tropical and mechanical. I know that sounds like a very weird combination, and it is. The astounding thing is how beautiful this fragrant weirdo is. After that huge hit of salty sand it blossoms into a sheer breath of tropical seaside. Actually, it’s more like how our skin smells after a day at the beach. You know, right. You’ve swum, eaten, run, sunbaked and had a lovely day out. A perfect reset. You’re coming home warm, tired and satisfied.
The Sea Garden has worked its magic and you are ready to sleep and tomorrow you’ll start anew.
Cinnamon had this to say about the last Jardin release Lagune
Does Un Jardin Sous La Mer read like it might rock your summer?
Portia xx
They are mostly not “me” (the Jardins) but I appreciate why they get a lot of love! I think the only one I have is Sur le Nil.
Hey March,
Yes, they are a bit love/hate. I’m lucky they all work for me. That aquatic genre has thrilled me over the decades.
Sur le Nil is gorgeous. Surprised you didn’t love Monsieur Li.
Portia xx
I don’t know- this reads like it could be wonderful or Secretions Magnifique Lite.
(lordy I hate having to log in to comment without being marked “spam”)
HA! I had two spam rejections replying too Tom.
NOT like Secretions Magnifique, at all.
Portia xx
I dunno about that twang of blood note! I’m not a huge fan of watery fragrances (calone is my kryptonite), but tiare is lovely. I hope I can try this soon. It should really bloom in our 90F heat. Thanks for the heads up that this perfume is out there.
I’m hoping that the blood note only surfaces on me, but you’ll definitely have some calone adjacent misgivings HemlockSillage. Hope to hear how you went with it,
Portia xx
I have never been to my taste. But…. Tiare flower. Oh how Tiare makes me feel vibrantly alive. Monoi oil in coconut oil is a delicious skin & hair treat.
Maybe the Tiare could get me over the minerallic petroleum (marine bilge) part.
I think you should try it Alityke but don’t hold out much hope that it will,
Portia xx
Yes, this does interest me from the moment I read the notes list and your description. You’re right, it does sound weird but also somewhat intriguing. It’s worth a try for me.
OOOHHH! Maya! I’m so glad you think it might be a winner.
Please come back and tell me if it is, or isn’t.
Portia xx
Hermes +Jardin = Nervous
Sur la Mer is evocative of Sur le Nil in my skittery mind… and THAT(!) was Eau de Frog on steroids for me!
But what a lovely description of the perfect beach day!
Yeah, there was nothing “Nil” about that one on me..
(Yes, I know it means “Nile” but I can’t help a bad bi-lingual pun)
Sure Musette, I totally get this wouldn’t float everyones boat, but it is pretty gorgeous.
HA! Frog on steroids
Portia xx
This is so not me with the mineral notes, but I’m intrigued in any case. And, as this is something my local department store probably has I can have a go easily. I like the whole Jardin concept.
I’d love to read your thoughts Cinnamon, even if it’s not your cup of tea.
Portia xx