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.
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.
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
Terri Fisher
May 3, 2015 at 4:16 pmI have to honestly say I have never worn a Hermes fragrance. But love new scents.
Ada Miller
May 3, 2015 at 4:14 pmI’ve never worn Hermes fragrances but have read about them online & they sound amazing
Amanda Brett
May 3, 2015 at 4:09 pmI honestly have never worn Hermes fragrances,but i’ve heard great things about them,so would really love to try x
Susan Smith
May 3, 2015 at 4:00 pmNo but would love to try!
Eleni
May 3, 2015 at 3:55 pmNo, I have never worn an Hermes fragrance but I would love to!
@HellenGen
Catherine Griffin
May 3, 2015 at 3:36 pmNo never tried it but my hubby would love it 🙂
Shelley N
May 3, 2015 at 3:35 pmNo I have never worn a Hermes fragrance but would love to.
Vivian Tsichritzis
May 3, 2015 at 3:02 pmNo never…but I would love to try it
Heather ツ (@aitch77)
May 3, 2015 at 2:59 pmI’ve never worn/owned any Hermes fragrances but I always spray them when I’m in Sephora!
Sean M
May 3, 2015 at 2:58 pmNope, never tried a Hermes fragrance, but if I win….
Leeley
May 3, 2015 at 2:46 pmBonjour
Et bien j’ai déjà porté le parfum “24 faubourg ” de Hermès ,une véritable petite merveille mais surtout un odeur si unique .
Je serais heureuse de découvrir “Le jardin de Mr LI”
Cari Tomei
May 3, 2015 at 2:43 pmNope but maybe ill get a chance!:)
Candace Galan-Calderon
May 3, 2015 at 2:42 pmNo, I have not but would love to try this! @CandaceGalan
clara
May 3, 2015 at 2:41 pmnever worn but would love to
Ellen Robinson
May 3, 2015 at 2:35 pmI have never worn a Hermes fragrance but would love to try one
MzRobson
May 3, 2015 at 2:28 pmI too have never worn an Hermes fragrance. This would be a lovely first for me.
Carolyn Corrin
May 3, 2015 at 2:27 pmI have never tried one, but would love to try this one. @victreebel21
GL Long
May 3, 2015 at 2:23 pmI’ve never tried a Hermes fragrance, but I would love to try this one!
Françoise Chapados
May 3, 2015 at 2:23 pmA looong time ago, I wore ‘Calèche’. My then sister-in-law had given it to me. (I couldn’t have afforded it since I was a student) . It had a wonderful smell!
shannon keon
May 3, 2015 at 2:19 pmi have never tried hermes but would love too!! sounds like a gorgeous scent and love the bottle!!
Rene Maria Creamer
May 3, 2015 at 2:15 pmI have never worn a Hermes fragrance.
Gezele MacMillan
May 3, 2015 at 2:15 pmNo, I have not had the pleasure of wearing a Hermes fragrance, but would love to try it. Thank you fot the opportunity to try and win one.
I tried to send a comment a minute ago but the page disappeared on me so I am sending my comment again. Hopefully this one goes through.
sandra thomas
May 3, 2015 at 2:15 pmNo, I have never worn an Hermes fragrance
ELZBIETA ZNYK
May 3, 2015 at 2:15 pmI have never worn Hermès xx
Jill-Leslie
May 3, 2015 at 2:04 pmCan honestly say I’ve never worn Hermes in any form. I’m sure it’s as gorgeous as you make it sound.