Our take
What does Déclaration smell like?
Jean-Claude Ellena composed Déclaration for Cartier in 1998, a few years before becoming Hermès’s in-house perfumer. His taste for transparent formulas is already there. The opening is bright and full of contrast. Bitter orange and mandarin meet smoky birch and artemisia, while neroli and coriander lighten the mix. Cardamom sets the tone in the heart: cool and almost eucalyptus-like. Pepper and ginger back it up along with juniper, and iris and jasmine slip in some quiet softness. The base is dry and elegant. Cedar and vetiver hold the frame, leather and oakmoss add a patina, and amber barely warms it. It wears close and speaks in a low voice, which is part of its charm. In places you can already hear the future Terre d’Hermès of 2006.
When to wear it
Spring and autumn, at the office or for a daytime date. Three sprays on skin keep it intimate.
It belongs to the Woody, Spicy family. Déclaration is one of 18 creations by Cartier in our encyclopedia.