Hermann Eau de Parfum

A fragrance of intense duality, Hermann a Mes Coates me Paraissait une Ombre (the unabridged name is a line taken from a Victor Hugo poem that translates to "by my side, Hermann seemed to me like a shadow") is an exploration of your alternative self, the person who rides beside you so closely in the darkness that their opposition seems not contradictory, but rather complimentary. To represent this in a fragrance, Etat Libre d'Orange has delivered an aromatic, woody enigma of a scent both hauntingly cold and surprisingly bright. Hermann opens with chilly top notes of blackcurrant buds, and galbanum, spice without heat, maintaining an alluringly spooky disposition. In the heart, rich frankincense and peppery rose absolute add depth and character while staying shockingly weightless, allowing the aromatic notes to still filter through with impressive longevity. A base of patchouli is similarly elevated with a heavy dose of musky ambroxan, reminding us of the impossibility of holding even the largest shadow in one's hands. As Etat Libre puts it, Hermann itself stays sheer, "enabling light to cast a shadow on your skin." Spooky, sexy and astonishingly different, Hermann is the kind of scent we'd only expect from the always original artists of ELDO.