Our take
What does Eau de Gentiane Blanche smell like?
In 2009 Hermès marked thirty years of Eau d'Orange Verte with two new colognes. Eau de Pamplemousse Rose followed tradition. Eau de Gentiane Blanche went the other way. Jean-Claude Ellena called it a counterpoint to the classic cologne. It opens with a brief citrus flash, almost orange. Gentian takes over quickly. This is the root that flavors Suze: bitter, earthy and slightly medicinal. Ellena shows its bitter side one moment and its softer side the next. Iris adds the powder of a dry root. A light incense, noted by several critics, dries everything further. The base rests on a clean white musk that recalls fresh laundry. It is far from the fizzing zest of Eau d'Orange Verte. Gentiane Blanche is calmer and greyer, more cerebral too. It sells less than its grapefruit sibling. Lovers of bitterness still prefer it by a mile.
When to wear it
Spray generously after a shower in spring or summer. Like any cologne, reapply during the day.
It belongs to the Citrus family. Eau de Gentiane Blanche is one of 47 creations by Hermès in our encyclopedia.
