Concentré D'Orange Verte
Hermès (2004)

As the summer reaches its last exhale, I turn to Concentre d'Orange Verte, just as intensely green as it is orange, like a bitter aperitif to prime the palate for the imminent autumn. Though many may favor Eau d'Orange Verte, it is the addition of herbs, mainly basil, and the juxtaposition between the citrus and cedar that is the appeal of Concentre. It is more satisfying and dynamic, and tells more of a story.

It's light, yet robust, glissando in form, where there is the illusion of juicy and zesty is apparent even in later phases where the wood and musk are certain to have taken the lead. It is not ephemeral, but is one that may warrant two or three applications throughout a day, unless one is like myself and is happy to enjoy it for its duration and move onto something else.

Realistic orange note that lasts about 20 minutes on me, then fades to a mossy patchouli with some light herbal aromatics. Performance isn't great but probably isn't meant to be more than a refresher or out of the shower scent. It's pleasant and enjoyable for what it is.

A very nice, albeit straight-forward and linear, orange scent. I got the travel bottle and wore it on a trip to Florida as a refreshing daytime scent. But it's sort of a one-trick pony and was a bit more short-lived on me than I would have liked for a concentrée. I enjoyed wearing it but probably wouldn't buy it again.

Incredible orange experience from start to finish, juicy and realistic with bits of the tree incorporated into the mid, in the base there is a drop dead gorgeous sprinkling of patchouli that elevates the masculinity and keeps it classy, moderate performance on my skin and I'd say that's just about right for a fragrance of this dynamic, I really wouldn't want anymore.

My new go to for the height of summer. The bigarade note in the opening is much more restrained than in Terre d'Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche, and as a result reacts much more favorably with my skin. The overall effect of the opening is a really zingy burst - it's just like green orange peel being flexed under your nose to kick up a fine spray of oil.

The lemon then briefly asserts itself, giving the scent a slight candied edge - not at all dissimilar to Eau Sauvage's opening, just with this candied lemon element dialled down and blended more gently back into the green orange accord.

This is fleeting, as soon the mandarin and aromatic green elements begin to float up and beckon for your attention. This is all extremely translucent and subtle and makes for a beautifully rendered opening.

Past the opening, I just get a really nice minty greenness, a sharp aromatic leafy scent (I'll assume galbanum from reading ZC's review) with hints of citrus threading back in and out. I've never smelled blackcurrant buds before, just the unripe fruit, so I wouldn't even know what to look for.

What I can say is that all the way through its brief life, this is a pleasant, uplifting and extremely enjoyable fragrance.

Linear? Of course. But that's kind of the point. There are times you just want to hear your favourite song on repeat and that's exactly what this is for me - a refreshing walk through a shady orchard on a blisteringly hot day. I live in a climate that gives me plenty of those, so yeah, thumbs up baby.

Still one of the best orange fragrances around. Not too sweet, well balanced with the slight spicyness (from the patchouli?) Very clean and fresh though, but avoids those nasty aldehydes you get in many summer freshies.