Our take
What does Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose smell like?
Hermès created Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose in 2009. Jean-Claude Ellena, then the house's in-house perfumer, made it the intense version of Eau de Pamplemousse Rose. That one belongs to the Hermès cologne range. The formula comes down to three materials, by design. Grapefruit opens with zesty bitterness and that faintly sulphurous edge of freshly cut fruit. Rose slips in gently. Think petals rather than a bouquet, just enough to round off the citrus. Vetiver holds the base, dry and slightly smoky, and gives the whole thing staying power that's rare in a cologne. Ellena described it as a bittersweet cologne and the label fits. Compared with Eau d'Orange Verte, the house's historic cologne, it's less green and more floral. It stays close and smells of clean skin more than perfume. Men and women wear it equally well.
When to wear it
Great for the office in summer or after a workout, with no risk of bothering anyone. Use four or five sprays and top up at lunch.
It belongs to the Citrus family. Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose is one of 47 creations by Hermès in our encyclopedia.