Comments on: Hermes Poivre Samarcande (Hermessence Collection) ~ fragrance review

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:55:13 +0000

If Declaration doesn’t smell like BO to you, then this one won’t either, I should think. Declaration is VERY sweaty to me, but also a more interesting scent than PS (again, to me).

By: Subhuman

Subhuman — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:42:20 +0000

Forgot to add: Poivre Samarcande contains something like a 65% dose of Iso E Super, a synthetic that gives fragrances a sweet, cedary scent and “velvety” texture, so perhaps that’s where the velvet association comes from. (I really do get a “velvety” sensation from fragrances heavy on the Iso E, like Déclaration and Terre d’Hermes. It’s amazing how smells can seem to possess not only weight and color, but texture, isn’t it?)

By: Subhuman

Subhuman — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:34:34 +0000

Wow, how did I miss this one? It sounds right up my alley, given that Déclaration is one of my holy grails. I’m warming up to Ellena’s creations rather quickly these days – I’ve been leaning more toward translucent veils of scent rather than the brick walls I was attracted to in the early stages of my perfumista-ship, and JCE does translucent like no other.

The “cumin/coriander = sweat” discussion is interesting. I do think cumin smells sweaty, but of the stale variety, not fresh, and mostly focused on the armpit area (hey, if we’re going down this path…). The cumin in Déclaration is loud and clear, but somehow it doesn’t remind me of BO in the slightest. I suspect the overall dryness of the composition, and its complete lack of musk, cancels out any “sweatiness” from the cumin, at least for me. It smells arid, crisp, and zingy, like a freshly-opened jar of the spice itself. For truly sweaty cumin in fragrance, I look to Rochas Femme. (And then I run away screaming.)

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Yes, very personal.

By: sandstorm1983

sandstorm1983 — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 07:44:29 +0000

Don’t get me wrong. Actually I respect your review above. Afterall, its a personal thing rather right? Cheers

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:26:43 +0000

Saying that people who don’t like something must be “beginners” is probably not a great way to make friends on a fragrance blog

By: sandstorm1983

sandstorm1983 — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:47:06 +0000

I have a collection of over 150 bottles and this fragrance is on my top 10 list. Often people who dislike Poivre are really the beginners with not much experience in the world of perfumery. There are a few pepper based fragrances that are blended and formulated correctly and among all the pepper fragrances I’ve ever owned and smelled, only Poivre Samarcande, and Le Labo’s Poivre 23 have impressed me. To me, this was love at first smell! JCE blended the smell of the bazar of city of Samarkand with OakTrees, and the formulation is done just absolutely perfect. This is a must own bottle. If you haven’t smelled any of the Hermessence creations make sure to check out Poive Samarcande, Ambre Narguile and Vetiver Tonka

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:05:27 +0000

I'd say at this point that I feel about the same: don't mind it, don't need it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:23:53 +0000

I'll be brief on this one. Lasts the least amount of time of all the Hermessences. At least, on me. Curry powder. Then a tiny dash of curry powder on wood-infused water. Turned to water only about three hours later. (It's funny: brief = elimination of sentence subjects.) As much as I think I should dislike it, I really don't mind it. It's not on my list to Santa but I still like it ten times better than my least favorite of the series. And it should be fun to try layering it with everything in my closet! xD

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:53:47 +0000

Wow, T, I am so impressed. Maybe I need to go buy some bubblegum. I have a feeling that I won't get it though.

And didn't pick up on the honey-urine thing until I smelled SL Miel de Bois.