Description
Created in 2004 by Jean-Claude Ellena, Hermessence is a collection of unique
fragrances conceived as olfactory poems using perfuming’s most exclusive
elements. As sober and intense as Japanese haiku, they reinvent a nature that is
as precious as it is unusual, as if rendered by the inspired writing of a composer
in search of the new.
Enriched each time the perfumer discovers a new country, a language,
a culture or simply extraordinary new ingredients, as of today the line
consists of eight fragrances, exclusively available in Hermès stores.
Poivre Samarcande: burning spice tempered by sweet wood that evokes the
peppery, musky smell of oak, a vibrant homage that takes one away to
Samarkand, “the must-see stopover between the Western and Eastern worlds, where
caravans loaded with spices…”
nazar70 – :
take 2: well, what do you know — i cannot stop wearing this and now must own it. the iso e super *still* is very linear, but the whole thing is rather addictive.
ack.
Rhinuelimen – :
ive been having some fun trying out hermessence fragrances through their generous samples (tq hermes!) and already got myself ambre narguile and cuir dange, which are the best in the line in my opinion.
but this one is probably the next in line – spicy but airy, its difficult to explain but what a wonderful scent this is! just when u think its disappeared completely from ur skin the airy pepperiness relurks and enchants u. i really2 like this a lot
Sankai – :
wonderful opening (cumin/pepper/cloves) — boring drydown (iso e super and nothing but.) like original eau d’hermes (mmmmm, sweaty) — over molecule 1 with its exasperatingly linear performance. i guess i better dig out my old bottle of eau d’hermes!
zibyrat – :
I could cry I think this one is so beautiful, and I wear it all the time. Deeply, deeply comforting, with wood and spice notes that I can never quite place. It smells like itself, and it smells wonderful.
A friend dismissively called this one “that cigar box smell” which I think is definitely the vibe, but for me, that general character a plus not a minus. I know tastes change, but I could easily see myself wearing this one the rest of my life. Probably my favorite Jean-Claude Ellena scent — neck and neck with Epice Marine — and I own half a dozen and have probably tried two dozen.
p.s. Reading the other reviews, I can see that some people profoundly don’t like the JCE less-is-more approach. For woodsy/peppery intensity, there’s always Comme des Garçcons, which I also like, but this one is extra special.
walmar – :
What is in this? I can literally barely smell it. I just get a slight peppery spiciness if i dig my nose really deep into my wrist, and that’s it. I’ve tried it multiple times now without smelling any fragrances beforehand. It must be 90% iso e super or something because i have historically been horrible at smelling that molecule. If it is 90% iso e super, this could possibly be one of the most overpriced fragrances of all time.
kazyavinsemen – :
Creed’s spice and wood is a joke in comparison to this masterpiece. this one is much better overall and smells divine.
nutLereGend – :
Opens with pepper/paprika/caraway, and does smell like opening a spice cabinet. Then there is a clear watery green scent that reminds me of green bell pepper juice. I smell cedar and oakmoss. It does smell like the sweat of a man, but not necessarily in a bad way. I love peppery scents but to be honest I wish there were less caraway in this one. And, as much as I love Ellena’s compositions, I feel like the watery florals in his Hermessence line fit the “watercolor” style better than this one. As a woody/spicy scent, Poivre Samarcande’s lack of projection just leaves you wanting more Oomph. I sorta like it, but I doubt I’ll wear it.
corman – :
@firsttime and @fragrantica
Can someone please remove the review below by FIRSTTIME comparing this fragrance to “an Indian’s body odor?”
That is super racist and offensive. It is not acceptable on a fragrance board, especially one with Fragrantica’s reputation.
evgenii_bull – :
It is too light for my perfonal taste and some people think this is masterpeace but I really don’t understand why they think like this. It is peppery, airy and has lots of Iso E Super (I realliy like this molecule) but still not my cup of tea. Just meh.
sega4444 – :
I have a nice big sample of Poivre Samarcande from a visit to an Hermes boutique a couple of years ago, but somehow had overlooked it. I keep my samples in a lipstick holder and I have many. I jpulled this out on a whim, with no expectations of what it might be, other than pepper (and Hermes.)
It went on quite soft, almost watery. I got hints of pepper, but it was so mild I kept adding more. As the fragrance took hold, it became bolder. Caraway and cumen and paprika appeared with the pepper, and as I breathed in, I was transported to the spice markets of Marrakech. I see colors of burnt orange and crimson and oak barrels full of precious spices. I can hear women loudly bargaining in a foreign tongue, bicycles whizzing by, and wares such as hand-woven blankets and brass pots all around me. This is what I imagine the souks in the Medina to smell like.
What a genius this perfumer is! His perfumes are more than something that smell good-they bring you memories of things you’ve never done. He brings on the evocative scent of a spice market without overdoing it and making it cheesy. The scent is soft and gentle, not loud and overpowering as one might expect. While the main notes are spices, one doesn’t feel like they just rubbed a chicken. Who would think that caraway and paprika would be lovely to wear? Yet it is so.
On drydown, this fragrance is, rightfully, close to the skin, at least on me. You are left with a soft, peppery woodsy smell that is subtle, beautiful and unique.
stupin071 – :
This to me has something in common with Diorama, which also contains caraway, but this is drier, less floral of course.
The opening notes are quite sweaty and animalic but pepper is there too giving a nice edge.
It becomes altogether softer after half an hour, less animalic,then the oakmoss starts to do its thing and exudes a lovely hazy dry, sophisticated elegant musk. (someone below mentions ISO E musk, I’m not sure I recognise that but this does have a muskiness that’s not altogether natural so that must be it, it’s not harsh to my nose, but it depends how sensitive you are to synthetic musks)
The oakmoss is definitely what gives this perfume its classic style, but it feels contemporary too – not too complex. Also the woody notes are lovely – the nutty scent and pencil shavings effect of cedar and the dryness of oak, but there’s something soft and milky there – what the perfumers describe as ‘lactonic’ I suppose.
All in all, a perfect unisex perfume for those who enjoy woodiness with a bit of complexity. I’m pleased to have discovered this some time after it was released because I love woody perfumes but so many are too harsh, too simple, or not natural.
This is really lovely, it has a subtle complexity thanks to oakmoss, the caraway is subtle, not too spicy (to my nose anyway) the woods natural.
So elegant and pleasing to the nose! It seems fairly light, but don’t underestimate the carrying effect of oakmoss (or ISO E etc!) others do notice this.
Big like!
maruta – :
To me this is very soft, sweet, woody, and calming, almost mahogany/rosewood-like, not that spicy.
Sciendyillunc – :
Beautiful, delicate spicy fragrance. Unfortunately it is WAY too light to justify the price. Can’t spend $250 for half an hour of scent.
АНТОН2012 – :
The new Bracken Man by Amouage smells quite like this with much more complexity and value as a fougere. This one is spicier and quite subtle. Well the peppery mossy effect is there but people try to relate it with familiar smells. I don’t get much cumin or skank. What I get is an accord of nutmeg. Dry, spicy woody. It’s very peculiar. A good scent if you enjoy wearing clean crisp spicy scents. It’s not really a pleasing scent but definitely a dry warm comforting one.
alectronik – :
@Pinnacos “this frag is known to contain 71% ISO E Super”?
I don’t know who @nero77 is or where the intel came from, but I think it’s foolish to quote such information as a matter of fact..
Aside from that, this fragrance smells nothing like Declaration other than that it’s fresh and peppery (no, it wouldn’t replace or do even half the job).
Maakros – :
“Light, woody and spicy… versatile; best for all-day wear.”
Poivre Samarcande is a 2004 fragrance from the Hermessence line of the well-known French luxury brand. The mastermind behind the exclusive collection is none other than the prominent Jean-Claude Ellena, a legendary figure in the world of perfumery.
Poivre Samarcande is one of the first fragrances from Hermessence alongside Vetiver Tonka, one of my all-time favourites. On my skin, the evident main notes are black pepper, chili and caraway. It’s a purely spicy fragrance that in theory, should be heavy and perhaps overwhelming judging only by the notes. However, due to the eau de toilette nature and JCE’s signature “watercolour” light touch to his creations, Poivre Samarcande passes off more fresh-spicy instead, a fragrance that would even work in hot climates. And the complaints on the ISO E Super? No comments on this; I can’t tell if a fragrance has a lot of it or not (likely because I’m anosmic to it, for the better).
Calling this a purely (fresh-)spicy fragrance would be inaccurate; in the drydown after a few hours, woody notes of cedar and oak begin to appear. Other bloggers have classified Poivre Samarcande as chypre because of the inclusion of oakmoss, but I can’t detect any of it inside. Perhaps it’s a different kind of oakmoss being used (according to What Men Should Smell Like, it’s supposedly Chinese moss which I’m not familiar of), or that it’s very lightly used and it blended with the main notes, thereby making it undetectable for me.
In essence, this is a pleasant and very versatile fragrance, much like the other fragrances in the Hermessences collection. But like in my Ambre Narguile review, I can’t see myself purchasing a bottle of it because of the extravagant pricing that comes with the Hermes brand. Ambre Narguile and Vetiver Tonka are my favourites in the line; even so, I won’t be purchasing any bottle from the line.
Despite my reluctance, I still give my props to Ellena for his mastery in perfumes. I have received hearsay that he is recently lacking inspiration in his works and that he is gradually running out of ideas. That’s understandable; he has been in this industry and is in retirement, anyway. However, his signature “watercolour” touch is unmistakable and it is perfectly portrayed in Poivre Samarcande as well, rendering an otherwise supposedly warmth-inducing fragrance into one that can be used regardless of time and season.
lebedeff.ew – :
Scent – iso-e super, pepper, paprika, & cedar.
Season/Time of Day – I prefer to use this one in the colder months, day or night.
Projection – I did get noticed, it garners compliments.
Longevity – I get 12hrs consistently.
Xeroxxnuud – :
Poivre Samarcande opens on me with pepper, chilli pepper and cumin. There’s a subtle watery vegetal nuance around the pepper and chilli pepper, not enough to turn the fragrance into aquatic territory, but enough to render them more like fresh peppercorns and chilli pepper than dried spices, thus making them feel more lively and cool, rather than thick and hot.
The cumin is actually quite prominent as well, and I can see the reference to Cartier Déclaration. But in Poivre Samarcande, the subtle watery verdancy manages to restrain the cumin and make it more sleek. I also get a salty feeling during the first few hours, probably an association related to pepper.
With time, the fragrance gradually morphs into a gentle and polished woody skin scent, mainly of dry yet smooth, sweet oak, with a peppery edge.
The sillage is soft, and the longevity is around 7 hours.
Poivre Samarcande is a harmonious blend of cool spices and smooth woods, and it would make a quite stylish and elegant fragrance fitting perfectly into various situations, although it may appear underwhelming considering its price. I’d recommend it as an understated and minimalistic rendition of cool spices and woods.
nadea1 – :
OMG i am so sick of hearing people go on about iso e super! 🙂 Poivre Samarcande smells like gorgeous, expensive, soft and airy pepper, cedar, and a soft, mild drydown. it’s transparent, it stays close to you for hours, and it’s harmonious and melodious. it’s pleasing. i might prefer a darker, blacker pepper and/or less muddy cedar pencil shavings cedar–and you cannot deny that the Hermessences were not meant to be full, long-lasting all-day scents–they are playful and light and fun and interesting. but it’s a romance! it’s a story! this and Brin de Reglisse are my favourite of the Hermessences, and for the same reason: they are just whimsical, delightful little things–to be enjoyed for the enjoyment and nothing else!
kpepanyan – :
This member of the Hermessence collection is decidedly more masculine than feminine to my nose. It’s a spicy, smoky concoction that I times reminds me of a bbq thanks to the paprika and at other times a Christmas candle thanks to the cedar. It’s dry and just a hair away from dusty. I know my descriptions sound strange, but the experience is actually enjoyable.
This is one of those fragrances I’d enjoy smelling when hugging someone else. It’s pretty light, so it would take a hug for me to be able to enjoy it. Nonetheless, this could be a unique and unobtrusive signature for the right person.
linkin – :
Given that this frag is known to contain 71% ISO E Super, I find it odd that this molecule isn’t listed as one of the notes. It’s comical though that 100ml of this juice is around $250, whereas 100ml of ISO E Super is about $13 and probably less than $5 if bought in significant volume. You’ve gotta love this industry.
TRIAFFOCOREOR – :
Great scent. Very akin to Shiseido Energizing Fragrance in the drydown. In the opening, Paprika and oak are accompanied by pepper, and drydown is a balanced pepper/cedar/oak mix with slight fennel.
STENFEEPE – :
Truly a stunning creation. I’m wondering how many people were not patient enough for the dry down on this one because the dry down is phenomenal. I rarely care for that much pepper in the opening but the pepper settles way down and you are eventually left with this light as air veil of heaven that I can’t even describe. It doesn’t smell like anything I have ever smelled. It doesn’t even smell all that oaky or smokey or anything like I expected once it settles. It just smells beautiful. It smells elegant and earthy all at the same time. Seriously, Poivre Samarcande is phenomenal and I have not been able to stop sniffing myself ALL day. And it lasted ALL day on me from about 10am until about 7pm. I put on a tiny refresher dab at 7 it is now going on midnight and I still have my hand to my nose like a crackhead. I am not even a big Hermes fan normally but this stuff is fantastic.
321lol123 – :
It does very well what it claims to do– creates a scent of woody cumin, like you are walking in to an Indian spice store.
But just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. I cook with a lot of cumin, and this makes me smell like my kitchen and me after I’ve been cooking a big meal of cumin and curry spiced food. So while it does a good job making me smell like that with no cooking required, that’s not the smell I want.
OlegZZZZZ – :
The peppery disappearing act…
I have tried quite a few out of the Hermèssence line, and I have a huge respect for Jean-Claude Ellena. His compositions for Hermèssence aren’t always liked by everyone.
That being said, I’ll give my impressions of Poivre Samarcande. In a nutshell… what this fragrance is all about, is Iso-E-Super. This goes a long way towards explaining why people love this scent. If you look at the top five fragrances with Iso-E-Super, they are:
1. Molecule 01 (Escentric Molecules, 2005) 100%
2. Perles de Lalique (Lalique, 2007) 80%
3. Poivre Samarcande (Hermès, 2004) 71%
4. Escentric 01 (Escentric Molecules, 2005) 65%
5. Terre d’Hermes (Hermès, 2006) 55%
So I think with people saying they get a great amount of compliments with this scent is due largely to the high presence of Iso-E-Super in the composition.
What I will say is that it is a very nice scent, the pepper mixed with the hints of oak and paprika etc. does give it a very nice, refined vibe. What really makes this special is the combination of the above with Iso-E-Super, which gives a linear, woody almost “flinty” vibe which stays throughout and stops this from being just about the pepper.
Overall, I don’t think this is bad in any way in terms of smell, but the problem is, as with Molecule 01… if you spray this on, you won’t detect it on yourself, so you’ll have to “assume” that it’s there and it’s doing it’s job.
Personally, whilst I do appreciate it as the art for what it is… I think you could just buy Molecule 01, or even Ellena’s own Terre d’Hermès or Déclaration, which will do a similar job to this but for less in my opinion.
metzvsfbnhh – :
I tried Poivre Samarcande several times at the official Hermes boutique in my city, and as a fan of Molecule 01 and some Ellena’s creations such as Terre d’Hermès or Cartier Déclaration, I naturally came to quickly like this opus of Hermessence.
The scent itself is near perfection to me. Even if the Iso E Super is pretty obvious, it does not ‘monopolize’ the composition. Now… the oakwood note. To me, it gets the main role of the symphony. And it plays it wonderfully well: dry and luminous, noble, uplifting, realistic. Spices are surrounding it with elegance, salty and slightly pungent, yet without stealing the show. Then the oakmoss kicks in and gives a soothing feeling to the scent, keeping it from being too dry and straightforward.
An absolute heaven. Flat and calm, quite dry, warm and mysterious… An admirable piece of work.
When it comes to longevity, it is quite good (just like an iso scent should be). Low sillage combined with anosmia might give the feeling that it’s gone when it is actually just hidden. People around can still smell it on me 6 hours into application.
Btw, I just snapped, and went for a full 100ml bottle, which looks great and feel heavy, with a genuine leather/metal cap. Package also includes a beautiful Hermès canvas pouch, with some 4ml samples. The box itself is presented as a box of chocolates, and the bottle is beautifully wrapped in Hermès paper.
I absolutely love it! A beautiful and versatile skin scent, and my new signature fragrance.
dddfffd – :
Thank goodness this is fairly weak, because it smells like stale perfume mixed with body odor. The spices create an undertone of skank which overtakes any potential beauty this scent may possess. No thanks.
Айболит6700 – :
Opens like a woody spice chest, with a blast of pepper and paprika (not sure what caraway smells like). There’s a little dry smokiness to it. The spices let up a little to let in a light green scent, which reminds me of the very green patchouli note of L’Artisan’s Timbuktu. The paprika or caraway makes it smell faintly sweaty, like cumin does, but it isn’t overwhelming. Overall, more masculine than I prefer, and in my opinion it needs a contrasting note to be more balanced. The sillage/longevity of the Hermessences continues to be far too light for the price.
varakuta – :
Reminiscences of Moods Uomo by Krizia. Surely fresher of those mentioned, pungent balsamic also, bit watermelony. A bit 90s 80s style fragrance plus half flacon of Iso E Super
Could be a very nice and interesting concert of simple conflicting notes but it is almost undetectable. that’s a pity.
GrinnileJem – :
Caraway and some pepper—delicious in my soup, but not on my skin.
Danians – :
Up to now I’ve only tried 3 Hermessences (this, vetiver tonka and santal massoia) and although I won’t go further here about the other 2, I need to start this review by saying the 3 share a common feature: foody.
In the case of Poivre samarcande I was immediately taken back to my granny’s house where she used to cook this delicious peppery oat soup with garlic and bayleaf. I can’t think of anything else when I just apply the scent and although I found it very compelling I also wondered about this really being how I want to smell.
Fortunately this scent goes on, takes a greener path and eventually softens (perhaps too much… don’t come here looking for sillage or a statement scent… you’ll be disappointed I think). It is unisex but I find it especially suitable for men. It is great in summer, where it stands out and its longevity seems to work better. Still it lasts as long as a haiku.
It is not a scent I’d particularly recommend given its sky-high price and subtle charms but if you can find it as cheap as I did, give it a try… it smells elegant yet versatile and wearable at any age.
On a last thought, I don’t agree with those who would go for a 15ml bottle of this since I have started getting more and more into it mainly because I can reapply several times a day and the small bottle would simply frustrate me. No doubt that would work for the heavier Hermessences like Ambre narguile or Vetiver tonka.
tusya_artur – :
This scent is pretty much perfect except that for my own taste, I’d dial down the pepper just a little bit. I know that pepper is the star of this fragrance, but I think the pepper is too loud and overpowers the rest of the scent.
dmitro_k – :
Upon first glance, Poivre Samarcande begins with a jolting blast of biting pepper and musky cumin/caraway. Initially somewhat unsettling, this pungency fortunately dissipates rather quickly leaving behind an interesting smokey wood accord. Oak wood naturally has a somewhat dry/arid quality which seems intuitively matched with the aforementioned spices. Oak moss offers a deep and grounded smokey essence which lends a certain element of mystique. Where this fragrance fails for me is in its lack of contrast, causing it to seem vapid and lifeless. What may be missing is a convivial citrus and/or floral note to juxtapose the overall somber tone. Without it, this Hermessence offering simply falls flat for me. (100)
titomip – :
Pepper, Spices, Ceadar, Oak, Oak Moss, Paprica, Cumino.,Green notes,Whats not to like Here? Imo, this is Jean Claudes perennnial masterpiece., From the Hermessence line anyway. No Rough Edges at all, well balanced,well blended notes, start to finish,. Although some say it has longevity issues/or sillage, luckily for me, it lasts.
Unbelievably Sophisticated, non pretentious, Compostition.
Simply Fantastic.
georgi633 – :
Bang by Marc Jacob (+) or mix with molecule 01=poivre samarcande
morgan419 – :
Mild paprika, pepper, caraway and cedar with an average oakmoss right at the start. Soft spicy and i cant detect patchouli.Too bad it lacks character but Samarcande’s consolation is that it is like a toned down Declaration by Cartier & a Cartier d’Un Soir without the rosé.
An airy mild aromatic spice and woods added with green to bring balance, quiet balance pleasant for an office wearing. There isn’t much development nor life as it seems linear to my nose. Its an okay light perfume, good for close combat though I doubt this would earn many love and compliments even on intimate moments. Its just fair to wear and easy to fade. I’d rather wear two sprays of Declaration or three of D’Un Soir.
If you have these two, then just explore other cheaper yet unique perfumes around.
Update: 3 hours later, very close to skin with a very light L’Artisan Timbuktu vibe. Still, my rating remains.
5/10
KuzmaRuljov – :
Have a travel Poivre Samarcande selling discounted.
Msg me for pricing and info
globys84 – :
Agreed Bbjr
The drydown is quite nice…
The cedar really stands out
and the overall affect is much softer
The starting smell reminds me of the inside/
bottom of a really expensive new leather purse
The peppers are dry and dusty and pretty overpowering
I have mixed feelings about this
It smells expensive and mature
wue756intitytek – :
This is a great fragrance, even with the heavy pepper. Dry down is really nice, just doesn’t last very long.
Ok, try this for longevity and an unbelievable scent. Mix with Tom Ford Noir. Wow!
newtene – :
It’s really nice, especially the initial blast of cumin, one of my favourite notes.
Unfortunately, the whole thing lasts too short, has minimum sillage and – as already mentioned here – lacks density and character.
Otherwise, smells distinctly masculine – the notes are very well blended into a composition that to my nose evokes primal elements and rudiments of nature (in a same manner as Terre d’Hermes or Dior Fahrenheit).
Nice, but far from impressive (except for its price).
nikita – :
If you love Terre d’Hermès but are tired of smelling it on everybody, and have the cash, switch to Poivre Samarcande. It’s woodier and somewhat more dry, but it has the same mineral musk and powdery iris quality.
I think it’s also a good choice for people who like Jean Claude Ellena’s other bestsellers Déclaration de Cartier and Bulgari pour Homme.
kbd183Negeltzex – :
The only way I could afford this was as a set of travel bottles. This peppery wood fragrance oozes wealth and sophistication – it’s almost an executive suite in a bottle! To my mind this is one of JCE’s two masterpieces for men – the other being the sublime Terre. I can’t help feeling that JCE has an ultimate pure woods fragrance in him that he hasn’t unleased on the world yet- something so perfect that woods lovers everyone will break down in tears when they smell it. I know it’s coming. Come on JCE – give us wood lovers a new masterpiece!
Cisemimbemaek – :
Love it. When I first sprayed it on I thought it might be too spicy, but then it sort of calmed down and something warm and sweet took over. Very comforting and beautiful. Weird thing about it, the longer I have it the stronger it seems to be getting instead of weakening as it sinks into the the middle and basenotes. Another masterpiece by JCE.
xDxDxDxD – :
I had to try this since I love wood and spice. It’s very well made; soft, warm, and sensuous, subtle and unique. I think it’s refreshing to have a fragrance without a hint of flowers in the composition. This wears very close to the skin on me. I would buy a bottle but it’s so pricey that I’ll have to stick with samples. Nonetheless it’s a wonderful addition to my fragrance collection. I could wear this day or night and feel special yet appropriate for all occaisions. (I’m female but this would be great on a male too, of course)
Later that day…WOW. I’m immoderately enamored of this scent. The addition of the paprika was inspired–a bit of heat is a great touch. The peppercorns here do not add much heat to this scent, just depth and character. LOVE IT, WANT MORE!
(Must feed the fragrance addiction)
scrsnseabrookxto1 – :
I have never seen anyone being indifferent to this perfume… It is one of ‘power’ business perfumes (Prada Infusion D’Iris is the other one) i have in my collection. It imposes authority and oozes power and superiority, pure elegance, wealth, magnetism, confidence and it is ….well, it is ‘liquid’ boss in a bottle, if i can say so ha ha….
Strong in making a statement,indeed,- but very weak in longevity and silage. Only first 30 min-under 1 h it is present and u feel it around. But good thing, – easily to be re-sprayed without harming sensitive specimens around…
If it had the monster sillage, – I would have bought it in liters for the years to come….But for the moment just having a standard bottle and a little 15 mil travel size ( for top-up 🙂 on occasions).
It is presented as a UNISEX perfume…. I would say it would be more of a masculine type of aroma, unless u are a woman in charge…:-))
Superb, really- really top marks for this one!
vic69 – :
Stuff smells amazing when u put it on and when it dries down even better but than its gone. I dnt know wat the fuck they were thinkn about charging $220 for this stuff when it doesnt even last so yeah no worth buying.
AssaubsMatrar – :
Great cuir notes well blended with spice, wood and smoke notes. Waw. Thanks Ellena!
TSVTDSLUE – :
An understated fragrance of pepper and a spicy wood. You love it when you first apply it. Then an hour later you wonder if it is there. Trust me it is there. I put it on after the morning shower, went to work. I thought it was gone by 11am. I went outside to my car for lunch, and suddenly I smelled the fragrance envelope me again. At the restaurant the server said, “you smell very nice, it smells expensive, what is it?” I go home at the end of the day and my wife says, wow! do you smell good, what is that? Gee, do I need to say anything more?
rebrik0w – :
Hermessence POIVRE SAMARCANDE offers to my nose in undulating waves a very fine Assam tea scent which morphs into a light incense scent ever so often, along with short excursions through a dark forest in between. The pepper is low-key and serves more to darken the composition than to spice it up. I find the overall effect unexpectedly complex, and very beautiful, albeit subtly so.
Although some have complained about poor longevity, POIVRE SAMARCANDE apparently likes me, for it clings well to my skin, and I am able to smell it for several hours. It is very low sillage, though, and definitely not a big statement maker. I do think that, all things considered, the overall effect of POIVRE SAMARCANDE is more that of a black tea than a woody fragrance.
starcorru – :
Almost the entire Hermessence line wears like underwear. Only a select few people will ever know if you are wearing any, and those that do won’t see you in them for long. Poivre Samarcande is no exception.
On my skin, Poivre is a really dark and interesting blend of black pepper, baies roses and charred wood. On first spray it is easy to imagine you are a black garbed Parisian dodging traffic. It is perhaps the most elegant winter fragrance around.
Too bad then that sillage is nonexistant and staying power is less than an hour— it wears close to the skin like tasteful black lingerie, for better or worse, and like that pretty black teddy crumpled at the foot or your bed, it is ridiculously overpriced.
Ведислав – :
Poivre Samarcande is a bit like watered-down Terre Hermes.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice scent… but about 100 euros overpriced. Me thinks Hermes wanted to make an exclusive line for its uber-wealthy clients when it created the Hermessence Collection.
лос666 – :
Skin! If skin had a perfumed scent this is what I imagine it would smell like. Smooth, soft, warm comfort. For me I smell the caraway the most, with subtle woods.
Great for men and women. Skin scent, with great lasting power.
YuriLaptev – :
one of my favorites…just sort of sneaks up on you, a very discrete surprisingly more masculine scent to me.too bad it is so pricy..when you are spending this type of coin for a fragrance there are a lot to choose from, but for me this is very special. i really do love the way this smells just off a spray, you may shy away just due to price always a compliment getter for me. peppery and pleasing. very classy. and to me quite masculine in aroma. strong silent type mans scent. you will be noticed for being a step above the pack..excellent,, potent..
people will want to get close for a second sniff.. just love this one..
lool – :
The best one (next to Vetiver Tonka) from the Hermessence collection. Cant get everyone to stop asking what im wearing or that I smell sexy! 🙂 worth the price!
kwilona – :
Yay, pepper! AH… AH… ACHOO!
Sorry, damn pepper makin’ me sneeze. If you like DRY, black pepper that you sprinkle on your eggs and steak, then here’s your true calling. Pepper heaven.
Vanea1969 – :
Got a sample from the extremely generous greenfaerie in a swap of Mandragore for Fracas (just love Fracas)
Anyway, I dabbed a little on…..waited…and it Really bloomed into something unexpectedly wonderful in the warm weather. Pepper, spices, yes…but I got the creamiest incense out of it as well (refined, non-churchy incense) and the scent wafts closely to the skin but is very warming and sensual. I LOVE it. This one is more refined that the heavier frags I usually go for.
Thanks Greenfaerie!
NiTroTiGeR – :
Poivre Samarcande’s opening with pungent spicy pepper and woods brings to my mind of countless perfumes I smelled in the past 10 years. It’s pleasant but lacks in personality. Same story for the drydown that is surely refined but still not so interesting for me. HPS is a nice scent, no more, no less. It could be enough if just half priced and composed by some anonimous perfumeur, but it costs 200 bucks and it’s by JC Ellena. Unacceptable.
A good option could be to include it the travel set av