Barénia is the newest release from Hermès, which has been the subject of some controversy online - a lot of people aren’t happy with it. It contains a unique accord of Miracle Berry, which is said to cause sour foods to be perceived as sweet, which seems to be exactly what is happening here. There is a sourness to this scent - the bergamot, ginger lily and synthetic woods create this almost scratchy freshness which isn’t awful, but thankfully is tempered by the juicy sweetness of this miracle berry accord. It’s a weird array of notes, and yet it smells very familiar - I feel like I’ve smelled this exact scent a hundred times before, but can’t place where. Overall it’s not unpleasant, I’m sure the masses will quite enjoy it. But for the price, you would expect a little more character, especially from a house with such a great heritage in the perfume industry. Pleasant, but forgettable and uninspiring.
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Its warm spicy accord comes off a bit too strong and one dimensional, however it does feel like a high-end perfume. It’s better for mature women.