Our take
What does Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate smell like?
Hermès added this cologne to its line in 2016. It was among Christine Nagel's first creations for the house. The pyramid is short. Nagel trusts a handful of materials and lets each one speak. Rhubarb opens alone, juicy and sour, with the smell of a freshly snapped stalk at an April market. Red berries follow and push it toward fruit. The scarlet of the name makes sense here: everything smells pink and slightly sour. Lantana, a small flower with a slightly sharp scent, keeps the heart green rather than jammy. The base is just a silky white musk. It lasts longer than most Hermès colognes, which is not saying much. Count on two or three hours before it turns into a faint musky veil on the skin. People often set it beside Eau d'orange verte, the house's historic cologne. Rhubarbe Écarlate is fruitier and far less bitter, nearly edible at moments.
When to wear it
Spray it freely after a shower, on skin or on a cotton T-shirt. Plan a second round in the afternoon.
It belongs to the Citrus family. Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate is one of 47 creations by Hermès in our encyclopedia.
