I usually write much more detailed reviews on here than I do elsewhere but today I'm not sure I can be bothered saying much about this, and that kinda speaks volumes about the fragrance generally, not that I've completely made my mind up on it, let's see how we get on shall we? So I'll start with somewhat of a conclusion I've reached regarding H24. That is the answer to...'does it stand up to Hermes' usually pretty stellar output?' and the answer is... not really. Then I thought about it and really I'm comparing masculine output like for like, 'is this the new Terre d'Hermes' basically? Because I was never very keen on Voyage and then the other masculine Hermes fragrances are thin on the ground Equipage and then Rocabar I think is not specifically masculine (could be wrong?) anyway they are knocking on in years, not like they aren't great. (wow this was supposed to be short!) I guess I'm saying that I've heard much talk of how innovative this is and how it's not just another boring 'freshie' but only from Hermes themselves, marketeers and mouthpieces who all have a vested interest in shifting units for the man. But I'll give it to you straight! The top notes are a kind of greenish, vague citrus and I get cassis base. Then the 'hot iron' accord really does become prominent, making for a polarising effect. I'm not saying I recognise materials or I know how this is achieved, just that I definitely get hot iron. Furthermore I do know that Habanolide (a musk material I'm very familiar with) which to me is the woodier end of the soft, clean musk spectrum, and gives this effect. It's noted by the authors of scent and chemistry that Alberto Morillas pioneered this 'hot iron' accord in the late 90's early 00's combining habanolide, helvetolide and galaxolide (probably a host of others too) and probably in overdose, to achieve this steamy effect. I think in H24 the steam has a strange dry quality and is a bit more woody and harder, bostered perhaps with cashmeran, woody ambers etc... and while there's a rouhness or edge, it's stylistic because the blending is clearly, seemless. There's a 'modern' base to it giving clean, fixation and an occasional suggestion of fougere qualities of the new wave, Sauvage variety. (Again style wise this smells nothing like the Dior to me) So there's good and bad. I mean while I don't 'like' it, there's nothing particularly likeable about it. H24 doesn't bring me joy or revulsion the way a perfume should, it doesn't really illicit much of a response. It's not even in the sense of Dior Homme (2020 version) which this is being compared to because it's a major houses, designer release, which no one asked for. However, despite not extensively sampling it I quite liked it and all the vitriol about it was a little unnecessary all because Dior made the huge faux pas of sticking it inside the same bottle as their beloved classic Dior Homme. This Hermes is slightly more challenging because no one is doing a vaguely green opening, musky hot iron perfume, at the moment so technically it is 'a bit different' and they've opted for a new aesthetic release instead of insulting our intelligence with yet another limp and lifeless flanker. So I guess there's that. The wannabe perfumer in my finds something technically interesting (but still not really) and the artisanal loving, overly emotional perfume fan in me is left unsatisfied by a slightly souless release. I'm not sure what to make of it basically??? I think enjoyment of a perfume can grow but this would have to grow at an unprecedented rate to become a Terre d'Hermes or whatever? Jury is still out. I'm going to wear it more and see.
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Unique smell. Can be hit or miss amongst others. I don’t love it on it own, some people do not mix scents but I mix this with 2 sprays H24 & 1 spray of Versace L’Homme and it gives me the perfect scent, this conjunction is my signature scent lol. As far as H24 alone it is not my favorite, has a strong smell that does not sit right with me.