Our take
What does Eau de Narcisse Bleu smell like?
Jean-Claude Ellena composed Eau de Narcisse Bleu in 2013 for the Hermès Colognes line. It launched alongside Eau de Mandarine Ambrée. Ellena said he wanted to express the tactile quality of a raw material, and here that material is narcissus. Galbanum and orange blossom open the scent. The galbanum is bitter and very green, almost sharp. Orange blossom softens it at once, with a little bergamot helping out. Then the narcissus comes in, stripped of its animal side and its hay-like edges. What remains is a clean flower with a light powdery feel. A shadow of iris backs it up. The base is quiet, just pale woods and clean musk. There is no heavy amber here, which makes sense for a cologne. Next to Eau d'Orange Verte, the first Hermès cologne from 1979, this one is more floral and less citrusy. It is also more mysterious. Staying power is what you'd expect from an eau de cologne.
When to wear it
Ideal on spring mornings, at the office or on weekends. Reapply at lunch without guilt, as it fades within two to three hours.
It belongs to the Floral, Woody, Musky family. Eau de Narcisse Bleu is one of 47 creations by Hermès in our encyclopedia.