Featured News News

Hermes unveils a new Jardin

Hermes’ Master Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena is a national treasure in France. His expertise and artistry within the world of fine fragrance is unrivalled and his humble nature charms everyone who meets him. Spend a few moments with him and you’ll be taken by his passion for his craft. He’ll describe the scent of a rare rose at the first light of dawn and explain how the cool breeze and dew affects its wondrous scent. In 2003, Jean-Claude began a journey of the world’s gardens that resulted in the exquisite Un Jardin en Mediterranee. Buoyed by its success, Ellena began traveling the world with his note book and camera. Un Jardin sur le Nil and Un Jardin sur le Toit soon followed.

A long admirer of the harmony and rigor of Asia, the perfumer most recently traveled to China where it is said, “life begins the day you start a garden.” He discovered dozens of unique gardens all speaking the same language of fluidity and precision. It’s the same approach he uses when creating a new scent for the French luxury house. Inspired by what he saw, he approached designing this scent by creating his own garden. He imagined a retreat in which to converse with oneself and with others, and to honour one’s ancestors.

jean-claude ellena

And since a Chinese garden remains unfinished until every element, be it pond or pavilion, has been named, this new garden-fragrance is called Le Jardin de Monsieur Li.

“I remembered the scent of the pools, of the jasmine, the wet stones, the plum trees, the kumquats and the giant bamboo. It was all there, even the carp in their pond, taking the time to live to a hundred. The Sichuan pepper bushes were as thorny as roses and the leaves gave off a lemony scent. All that remained was to compose this new garden, one which contained all the others.” – Hermes Master Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena

Look closely at the bottle design and you notice a detailed creation by Chinese contemporary artist Li Xin. He created a series of paintings for Hermes, one of which was chosen to envelop, like gift-wrap, the bottle containing this scent.

hermes le jardin de monsieur li

I gave away a bottle of Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. Valerie Rawlings told me in a blog post comment below if she’d ever worn an Hermes fragrance.

376 Comments

  • Reply
    coralie
    April 30, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    No I have not but je voudrais bien!

  • Reply
    Valerie Rawlings
    April 30, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    I discovered Hermes wonderfully fresh l’Orange Verte in the 1970’s and wear it almost every day. When I met my husband he loved the fragrance too and has now taken to wearing it as his signature scent. Of course I don’t mind him wearing it as it makes him smell wonderfully fresh and clean but it would be great to have a new scent from the master perfumier at Hermes to call my own. I can’t wait to get a whiff of this new one.

  • Reply
    Ξενια Δασκαλακη
    April 30, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    I so much would like to try it!!Thank you Dave!!@xen21das

  • Reply
    Melissa de la Croix
    April 30, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    Iv never had a hermes fragrance before! But if it is as beautiful as it sounds then I’m in! especially if it’s got a hint of jasmine!

  • Reply
    Wendy Nelson
    April 30, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Sad to say that I’ve never worn an Hermes fragrance, although I was tempted to try wearing some when I stayed at the wonderful Royal Evian Spa hotel (they sold a range of gorgeous Hermes products which made it difficult to choose!).

  • Reply
    Joanne Martin Menard
    April 30, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    No, I have never tried an Hermes fragrance but both Kumquat and Jasmine blossoms smell exquisite! I’m sure Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is a most wonderful scent.

  • Reply
    Kirsty Tydeman
    April 30, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    I am yet to wear a Hermes Fragrance and would love to try this one!

  • Reply
    Pat B
    April 30, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    I have never worn a Hermes fragrance 🙁 ………….fingers crossed that I have the opportunity to do so!

  • Reply
    Thom Anderson
    April 30, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Calache. Very favorite

  • Reply
    Gabrielle
    April 30, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    I’ve worn Caleche in the past and would certainly love to try this new Hermes fragrance. @velvetwhip

  • Reply
    Kayte CookWatts
    April 30, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    No, I haven’t! I love anything with citrus notes- and a flowery scent is perfect for spring!

  • Reply
    Natalie J Vandenberghe
    April 30, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    Sadly, I have never worn an Hermes fragrance…
    I’m 58-years-old, I better wear this fragrance before it’s too late!

  • Reply
    Karen Ali
    April 30, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    I have never worn a Hermes fragrance. Would very much love too though! Thanks Dave! @KarenAli11

  • Reply
    Michelle L
    April 30, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    Haven’t tried one yet – but would love to! @MBerniceLarkam

  • Reply
    Emily
    April 30, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    I like to wear Kelly Caleche in the winter, and I enjoy Jour d’Hermes for warmer weather. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d probably say Un Jardin sur le Toit for its crispness and for being so unabashedly, wonderfully Parisian! All Hermes fragrances are unique, and uniquely Hermes–it’s hard to choose just one!

    Jean Claude Ellena is one of my favorite parfumeurs and this scent sounds inspired and beautiful.
    @labeautebleue

  • Reply
    Patsy
    April 30, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    No I haven’t,but I think I’ll try it out next time I’m near a perfume section that carries it,although it’s probably out of my price range :).Thanks for the contest!

  • Reply
    Leslie Montoya
    April 30, 2015 at 11:10 am

    I have never tried a Hermes fragrance…. I would sure love to tho!!!

    – – – – @_MrsMontoya_

  • Reply
    Guada Aveo @Narawen64
    April 30, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Too broke to have an Hermes in my perfume rotation 😀 But this would be an awesome first Hermes fragrance addition! @narawen64

  • Reply
    Victoria H
    April 30, 2015 at 9:45 am

    I’ve actually never worn a Hermes fragrance but I would love to try it out!
    @vhill93

  • Reply
    Aleksandra
    April 30, 2015 at 9:22 am

    No, I haven’t. Not yet. @twinsneedtobeto

  • Reply
    Pau Jose
    April 30, 2015 at 8:46 am

    I have never worn a Hermes fragrance!! It is sad, no? I hope this time have a fragrance Hermes, kisses Twitter: @Pepirios

  • Reply
    Melinda
    April 30, 2015 at 7:17 am

    I have never worn a Hermes fragrance.

  • Reply
    Zuriye
    April 30, 2015 at 5:14 am

    I’ve never worn an Hermes fragrance.Hope I win…

  • Reply
    perihan
    April 30, 2015 at 5:13 am

    I’ve never worn an Hermes fragrance

  • Reply
    Evgeniya R
    April 30, 2015 at 1:29 am

    I’ve never worn an Hermes fragrance.
    I love the scent of the jasmine. Would love to win.

1 2 3 15

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.