Eau des Merveilles Hermes for women

Eau des Merveillas, Merveillas means "WONDER" which the whole bottle design with the mystical sparkly design is based around Fireworks && the wonder && joy we get from such a beautiful sight. It is hoped that you get the same experience when you spray it on you && (IMO) you really do its such a beautiful scent, different && captivating I fell in love with it the 1st time I tested it.

The bottle is simplistically pretty. I say its pretty safe using for a year round scent or at least spring into fall && also (IMO) pretty safe for both sexes, even though it is a woman's scent, I have worn this quite a few times && I just love how it smells on me, && its so fresh uplifting.

I get a real clean citrusy soapy ambery smell && when I get a wift of myself its that trigger of "MMMMM AHHHHH"!lol any fragrance that has that reaction is GOOD! in my book. It truly is a magical scent && a must have to your collection female or male. :)

Eau des Merveilles is such a masculine and easy going fragrance to me. It reminds me of my boyfriend when I kiss his arms and his neck, or other unmentionable body parts.. It's so salty, woodsy and VERY earthy to me. Absolutely scrumptious, more men should wear this!

I enjoy each stage of it, the top notes evoke memories of mens aftershave or cologne, but Eau des Merveilles fades into just a perfectly serene and peaceful scent with my chemistry. A bit dry, salty, very much like skin just out of the water, kissed with sand and sunlight. It's almost as if someone said ''I want a perfume that smells like I've been making love on the beach all day and all night while eating oranges for snacks''...That's what Eau des Merveilles is to me..

I enjoy the heart and drydown very much.I want to keep sniffing my wrists for hours and hours! Oh, this would be perfect for the beach or just a really hot & humid climate~! Now I just need a huge bottle and the lotion!

Longevity---excellent
Sillage---outrageous

Great fragrance, very feminine and chic.
To a woman with class.
Can be used all the time and you'll always be noticed but not in the wild way
When I wear it always reminds me Dolce & Gabbana The one
One of my favorites
Sorry for my poor English

I've had to retest this one as I practically couldn't smell anything last time I picked it up. Today I gave my wrist a good spritz and wow! This is how I expect Secretions Magnifique to smell. Salty, lightly citrussy with a definate 'bilge' note that verges on the incontinent. This sounds like I don't like it but actually I love it and find it very interesting to wear. It's more a feeling than a scent and reminds me of sun, sea, sand and ...!

I like this, I don't love it. I find it quite mainstream for Hermes in some ways. There is nothing exotic about it to me, I think I need a touch of sweetness to make it a bit more complex or dynamic. That being said, it is definitely a great scent and I would bet a very safe blind buy or gift for a most people, particularly for ages 30-60. I agree that there is definitely a masculine and aggressive element to it which is probably what I would like toned down a bit. I do agree that there is something mysterious about the scent yet, somehow, it smells intrinsically mysterious without being particularly unique IMO.

UPDATE: NOW I GOT IT... IT STILL SURPRISES ME AFTER 2 YEARS OF SMELLING IT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT SMELLS THE BEST ON ME WHEN I HAVE A DEADLINE DAY AND I GET THE BEST OF ME TO FINISH UP...SO THE EDM-IT GIVES UP THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VERSION OF IT...ON ME. AND I KNOW WHAT I MEAN... IT'S BEEN TESTED SEVERAL TIMES. SO, GIVE IT A TRY! THEN YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!

Quick! Someone get a crowbar, and pry my nose from my wrist!

I've finally tried Eau des Merveilles! And, come hell or high water, I shall own a bottle of this gorgeous stuff (hopefully) soon.

Just like everyone else here says: oranges, a little pepper, lots of warm woodsy notes. And, on me, there's a sort of cholcolate (?) sweetness, too. (However, I don't know where this comes from since, unlike Elxir des Merveilles and Eau Claire des Merveilles, there is no vanilla, tonka bean or caramel listed in its ingredients).

Despite the fact that the absolute end of the drydown is just okay (a sweet talc on me), the other hours of it on my skin are spectacular.

This, right here, is the kind of scent that reminds me of all things cosy and warm.

:-))...mmmmm candied orange peel and spicy tangerines, absolutely gorgeous warm and delicious fragrance, strangely enough, quite well sued for Christmas too as I can (somehow) detect cinnamon in it lol

Gosh this is GOOD.

An effervescent peppery cedar scent. It simply sparkles.

Citruses peek playfully through sheer violet, resinous amber rests upon traditionally masculine notes of fir, oakmoss and vetiver.

Another quality Hermes offering bringing a touch a luxury to everyday living.

Lovin' it.

I gave an initial knee-jerk review recently ... I have since bought a large bottle of Eau and couldn't be more thrilled with my purchase! For an individual like myself, who wears very few perfumes, I am surprised at how much I love this fragrance.

Eau des Merveilles reminds me of the slightly lonely, wind swept, Canadian West Coast shoreline. This is not a pristine, white sand, beach fragrance ... Eau des Merveilles is the raw, Rocky mountain coast line, pressed up against majestic fir and pine dotted mountains. This is where eagles sore, the salmon spawn, and the occasional orca rears it's head. When I inhale this fragrance it returns me to this wonderful place! The gentle violet and mild pepper undertones adds a special feminine allure on my skin, but I can see how this fragrance would work on a mans skin as well. In fact, I think I will convince my non-perfume wearing husband to try this ... is it strange for a husband and wife to wear the same fragrance (smile)?!!

This fragrance shines !!!!! Powdered orange spice, so is my vision for this fragrance.
Quite persistent, with endnotes absolutely wonderful.

Ladies and gentlemen, that smell is undeniable: this is a chypre.

Yes, Eau des Merveilles is a modern chypre, with Hermès signature unique salty orange-kinda note. It works out perfectly, and lasts a good while, because it's well done with good materials.

If you'd like to know what a chypre smells like, this is a decent place to start.

Very very elegant,spicy-fresh,salty orange,green forrest,woody.This is my number one!

Oh my ... I ordered a bottle of Eau Claire from Holt Renfrew and the sales attendant sent me a sample of Eau. I love this perfume!! Feminine and sultry with subtle hints of the orange, amber, and woods ... wow! ... I think I have to become the proud owner of a bottle of Eau ... it smells different enough from the Claire to my nose.

I love Eau des Merveilles! It's so warm, cheerful, and woodsy. There's no sweetness at all; this fragrance rebels against traditional florals and gourmands. I find the lasting power to be fantastic (almost overwhelming), and I have to be very, very careful to spray lightly or this gives me a whopping headache. Eau des Merveilles evokes salty beach air as the winds disappear at sunset.

This review is for the EDT, which smells as different from the EDP as it does from all the other versions.

Eau des Merveilles is a really warm, peppery, resinous amber scent. Many newer fragrances smell the same or better on paper or clothing than they do on skin. Merveilles is one that needs skin to bloom. On paper, notes of cane sugar, amber, cedar, flowers and a hint of lemon blend into a kind of scented silk flower preserved in hairspray kind of scent. On skin, the same notes exist but are rearranged into a warmer, richer mix that seems alive.

Smelling Merveilles on my arm brings to mind a picture of spring flowers on a cold autumn day. The image is incongruous but instead of ringing false it is fantastical and hopeful like a little girl's dream of a perfume. But because the floral and amber lies over a base soft woods and pepper, Merveilles works as unisex. Imagine a well dressed older gentleman smoking peach flavored tobacco in his cedarwood pipe and you get the idea.

Unlike most of the newer Hérmès offerings, Merveilles lasts all day on skin and projects well. Sillage is of the sort that people will smell you coming instead of going. Whether those are good things is up to you.

One spray is enough on most skin types, but be careful where you put it. Merveilles is very difficult to wash off. Even after diligent scrubbing, I can still smell where I sprayed it on my arm and you'll be smelling this until you see your dry cleaner if you accidentally spritz your jacket sleeve.

I'm wearing this right now and I can't stop smelling the snood around my neck that I sprayed it on.
Warm caramelized orange, with soft sweet fir, and a hint of salt. I am also getting clove from this. The difference between this and Elixir to me seems to be that salty note which makes this somehow fresher than Elixir (which I LOVE), and far more marine like. Imagine hot cider on the beach. Beautiful sillage, and great lasting power.

Peppery orange, elegant, nice perfume for winter and night...

This could definitely work as a unisex perfume. I had a girlfriend who always used to wear it and I remember it used to make my nose itch. There is a sharp note in there that punches me in the face and that I guess some people can't stand. But overall, even I have to appreciate the sophistication and elegance. It smells like a classy, loud person yearning for attention.

"I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills
I have to pay
Ain't it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That's too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball...
Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world."

Money, Money, Money by ABBA

Imagine how it would feel to win the lottery: In my dream, there is a rainstorm of money, lots and lots of money. You are swirling around with your arms in the air, then jumping to grab it all and then when you realize you have all of this to your self, fall asleep with a big, fat grin in your heap of money. Then wake up, pull a Tom Cruise on your heap and do it all over again. Utter happiness...

This baby is all orange and money y'all. I know I've said this somewhere in here but I don't mind saying it again: This fragrance makes me sneeze and cry. Sneeze because that is the reaction I tend to have when I smell dollar bills. I think this is where the pepper comes in. Softly spicy. That sharp paper and ink smell. Then cry because as a fragrance, I find it so funny. Imagine the smell of fresh dollar bills and oranges, and it makes me smile. Maybe I'm weird. Yet this makes grin brightly at the end of the day. Now I know how rich people feel in the morning; It's addicting! That euphoric feeling that you are atop of the world is powerful and can make everyday feel wonderful. A happy day for an investment banker...That feeling that you are financial well. That is how I feel when I wear this. You should feel my nervous happiness in my writing of this.

The orange is quite dry here and is followed by that dry pepper. Amber works as the "glue". This is then proceeded by fruity sparkling, almost end of spring woods if that makes sense. It is very elegant, indeed mysterious, but it does have a sense of humor. I've received some compliments on this, but most tell me this is definitely for a more mature person. I also agree, I love it and by no means is it mature, but I find an older woman can have more fun wearing this as the "money" smelling pepper can come off as too "serious" on a younger person. But seriously people, overall, this perfume is awesome! It's insane how well made this is and there is no one clear way to describe this I think. It's multi-dimensional and it would go with anyone I believe. I know I sound like a some crazy person that had too much coffee this morning, and perhaps I did. But this fragrance makes me smile. I think everyone would love this; Who doesn't love some money?!

I find this masculine. I bought it for my husband and he loves it, and I love it on him!

I love this scent. I just can't get it to last.

My boyfriend bought this for me this weekend. I love it! It reminds me of him. It is light and spring-like. It has citrus and spice and pepper. Very unique. I was torn between this one and Elixer de Merveilles. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM BOTH!!! However, my boyfriend convinced me to take the Elixer back and get the Eau de Merveilles since I live in a warm climate. I like the scent of the Eau a little bit better. It is not a gourmand as Elixer and considering that I have Hanae Mori, a gourmand scent, I can apprecite the uniqueness of this.

My only concern...I am not sure about the longevity. The lotion is not available in my town to layer the scent.

All of that said, I do think that it represents my personality. It is a unique mixture of pepper, spice, freshness, spice and sweet. The added bonus is that it makes me think of my beloved.

I'm giddy over this. I finally broke down and bought myself a small bottle and it's SO worth it.
I don't get anything beachy at all. I also actually only get a little orange.
I get alot of warm woods, creaminess and spiciness. It's heavenly. Perfect for this time of year (fall). I can smell it all day, but it's not overpowering at all. It's soft and comforting. I can see why people say this is masculine. It's not a girly girl fragrance. To me, however, the ambiguity somehow makes it more feminine and dare I say sexy?
I have a few fragrances I thought I loved. No, they are merely like-worthy. THIS is love. I can't get enough. I may have found my signature.
I am totally in love with myself when I wear this.

so I was searching for a womans fragrance for my mom and I smelled all the 5 Merveilles collection of Hermes. They didnt scream out to me much but Elixer did. It's more of a gourmand interpretation of Eau des Merveilles. Im not even a fan of Gourmand but i couldnt stop smelling the paper sample. Well I chose that one to purchase and my mom loved it and i told her that I hoped I got the best of the three Merveilles for her. One day at Neiman Marcus I showed her the other 4 and we smelled it and she told me that I did chose the best one of the 5 thank God. I still had the sample paper and rubbed it on my arm man that thing is so strong and yummy that even from the paper rubbing on my skin I smelled Elixer on my skin. I couldnt stop smelling my arm as well throughout the day. Later on I asked for an actual spray sample from the store and I actually wore it out without being worried it was targeted as a womans fragrance cause i didnt find it very feminine anyway. just yummy. The response I got the entire day was amazing. Men and woman telling me i smell so good and asking what am i wearing. Now I have to purchase this Elixer by Hermes as one of my fragrances to wear. It changes and smells more unisex and manly on my/mens skin. On my mom is smells so yummy and gentle. on me it smells the same but a bit more musky and rugged and the gourmand is not so girlishly sweet. Awesome fragrance. should have been unisex but then again Hermes house has always been known for keeping in mind a unisex approach to all their stuff. My question is this...what is the best Merveilles in your opinions? I read here that people find Eau des M masculine. The first time i smelled all of them I took Elixer as more of the fragrance that stood out to me and not so feminine. Since I love Hermes fragrances, let me know as I have the cojones to even wear the other womans fragrances from Hermes lol

Eau de merveilles is a nice perfume but just this, at least for my nose!
Not that masculine as most people say.

Woody- yes
Peppery /spicy-yes
Fruity (orange)- yes
Oriental- I don't think so...
Good scent but not something i would pay for.
I think my sample is enough for me.

Ps: The first perfume i found that i am allergic to.

Perfect. Complete. Masculine at first sniff and deeply sexy at drydown. LOVE it. My signature fragrance forever.

So many people love this perfume, and I'm so sorry that I do not. I wanted to because it's a woody perfume, and I love those so much. This opened with tons of orange. I am not a fan of strong citrus, but I thought I would give it time to settle down. For a brief period, I thought it was turning into something wonderful. The orange was evaporating, and the woods were really coming out, when *POOF* I suddenly was hit with the scent of a very common men's aftershave. All I smelled was pepper and pine. I love those notes, but not without other notes to support them. It is way too masculine for me.

This fragrance does not smell on me at all. I layered it and still it disappeared. Has anyone else had this problem?

Well, it was love at first sniff!

I was introduced to this goreous scent while selling an apartment. In the bathroom the bottle caught my attention. Hermes! Hmmm, must try. Well, after sniffing (and in my haste to put it back) it slipped out of my hand onto the marble floor! It seemed to bounce around for eternity, but no breakage!!! Oh lordy, lordy, lordy, how would have I have explained this?

It seems to travel between light and heavy. This has class for day and night wear.

While elegant, it does not lay all its cards on the table at once. It reveals itself over time.

Love the sweat orange opening. The amber then appears to keep the pepper in check. The base has a nice woodsy finish. Femme with balls! I am wear it and it gets me compliments. Might have sold a few for H! So, are you man enough to be a chick?!?

Sillage and longevity are excellent.

Did I say I love the bottle?

This is a gorgeous,light floral,but is a long stayer,I can smell it all day when I use it.I have used it since I first came across it,and am often asked about it.

Beautiful.

I don't like to wear it when it is too hot outside - but every other time of the year is perfect. (Then, I like Eau CLAIR de Marveilles.) Delicious. Creamy. Sophisticated.

It is a scent that I love to keep smelling. I have it as a hand lotion as well.It is so warm and scrumptious. Amazingly ultra-feminine without being floral. LOVE!

I bought it for the 1st time after a trip to the south of France, feeling it smelled like Nice. It's been my favourite ever since. IMO this is a sparkling perfume, perfect for any time of the year, except hot summer.

I bought this online to try and very much enjoy it with one huge disappointment: after 30 minutes it's totally gone; not a trace of scent left on my skin.

The kind of scent that's wonderful to spray on a pillow before turning in for the night: an intriguing and intelligent scent.

Mmm...

Interesting.
Interesting and reserved are the words that come to me.

Although, I rarely wear it because of its unisex appeal,
it truly is a beautiful and almost magical scent.

Very long lasting - it seems to become a part of your own chemistry! Try it, try to wash it off and you will still feel it on your body for days.

I suggest wearing this when you are feeling sexy in the most reserved way possible. :)

- Lini Darling

Mysterious , woody , elegant , dark but light and femminine..its very differente and special

On me it's a very subtle woody fragrance, what i notice the most is the smell of sweet oranges although it's not a citric aroma. I'm not sure why but it reminds me of Clinique Happy, but this one seems to me a lot more elegant and mature.

Eau de Merveilles! The story of you.
I'm a wood girl through and through and a way back a very lovely lady said why not Hermes Eau de merveilles, for the woods and orange that you search?
I crinkled my nose and moved on, only to come back last year after the Kelly Caleche<3 euphoria faded!

I don't find this like I thought I would! Meaning refreshing wood adrift on a beach salty orange! Nah! Not at all!This is also not summery at all! At all! This is all seasons all day long all night! It is not however light!Nor heavy! It's creamy! It's no typical orange or spicy fragrance! They say it has the inverted pyramid?Whatever that is?!?(eye roll)
It's like they took orange and vetiver and amber and a dash of pepper and blended it in a mixer!The creme de la creme mixed with some cedar freshness!
I said what it's not! Now for what it is: pungent, but it not repulsive pungent, it's like salty skin after a dip in the sea!

On my skin directly amber, woods and vetiver and a spicy sneezy impression! Yet it's clean, soft and airy!
It does evoke a day at the beach, a cold sunny day, windy, sea filled with algae a storm approaching static electricity in the air, a snug wooly cardigan surrounding you, wind messing in your hair sitting on a big rotten log -that kind of feel!

After I read so much about it, I was curious. But to me it's just another of these strong citrusy scents that I find almost masculine.

The design of the bottle is lovely.This mysterious perfume is all I need on a rainy day.Definitely one of my favourite scents.
-magic notes
-woody flavours
-oriental aromas

To me is the ultimate representation of my own personality and when i say that i am referring to the unusual, mysterious, non-floral, sweetless, dark, cold, elegant scent of EAU DE MERVEILLES developing on my skin, totally different from the same EDM i sprayed on paper yesterday. So you should try it on your skin! My perception of this fragrance is not that of an optimistic expression of the woman who's life has been garnished with "merveilles", but more of the elegant, strong,mysterious, self-turned person,that knows who she is and what she wants. A STRONG(as message,not only as concentration) fragrance for the mature woman that doesn't love sweet scents or fragrances that scream sweetly loud for the needed attention.

I just received my hermes samples yesterday evening and i am INFINITELY impressed with what they have to offer. What i got from them is listed in my "selected for test" section of my page if anyone is interested to know.
I think this may have something to do with the high quality ingredients that Hermes uses, but , my boyfriend is able to deeply inhale these fragrances without even a blink. Normally fragrances send him into an asthmatic fit.

This offering reminds me of a HOT summer morning. Going outside, and smelling the boiling, evaporating dew. You pick up a warm fruit from the forbidden tree and take a greedy, toothy bite into it, the nectar dripping from your chin.
In the beginning the juicy almost crunchy orange invites you into a wispy, fly-by-night lemon accord.
As it begins to dry the calming violet and the slightly sweet, vegetal pink pepper decide that they wanna fool around with pepper for awhile. After violet and pink pepper have had their way with peppercorn, collected his juices and laid to rest, the nighttime(dry-down) air blows through their hair.
As the air blows over the two mischievous mistresses they become aware of their surroundings. They can smell the earthy moist mud pit a few yards away (vetiver), the pine trees swaying ever so slightly in the hot humid evening breeze.

I approve

Smell: 10
Longevity: 10+
Sillage: 8

I have been using Eau des Merveilles for two years and I completely love it. It smells woody and soapy in me. Lately I find it kind of masculine.
For some people (like me recently), this can be a bit suffocating in summer, but it's perfect for winter time.

Oh wow! This brought me back to Girl Scout camp :) We slept on cots under the stars. So fresh and woody!

Still very feminine, which surprised me! I thought it would be very unisex and/or masculine, but it is more on the feminine side to my nose...maybe 1/2-3/4 of the way between unisex and feminine. But I'm beginning to suspect that my body chemistry makes things more sweet than they are on most people, or maybe that my nose is more sensitive to sweet notes, so maybe it's just me.

Oddly, my husband thought it was flowery! Maybe he's picking up on the Violet? All I picked up was fresh moist woodsy notes. Reminds me of when I was at Nordstrom's with my mother-in-law and I tried the 2011 Alien Sunessence. To my nose, the jasmine was totally dominant, but all my MIL smelled was vanilla!

Totally in love with this -- I'm now so glad that I accidentally bought 2 samples from the ebay vendor when I meant to buy 1!

This is one weird fragrance for me. Eau des Merveilles is salty and sweet at the same time, floral and cold (am I the only one who gets the violet?) and I like it, yet it somehow doesn't quite impress me. When I try to wear it and it hits my nose during the day, my first impression is that it's not me, that I just happened to walk past one of those women who in the morning spent thirty minutes doing their make-up and another sixty straightening their hair. You know them - they always look impeccable, you can't really tell them apart and they tend to wear Eternity or Euphoria or Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche. I wouldn't liken EdM to any of these, but I would recommend it to this type of woman. You know, if I ever had a reason to speak to one.

evening after a hole day at the beach. on my skin there's still the scent of salt water. cool weather, the ocean is rough and the cliffs are shimmering, sunset.
wearing this perfume takes me back. it's like a painting of that perfect evening time ago with such realism. makes me want to go back.
though i can't, this perfume is like a photography. it evokes memories.

I really like the first citrusy notes at the beginning, very refreshing; then it becomes too masculine with the spicy notes.

Very powerful : )

i was reluctant to start using what i got as a present -Eau des Merveilles, was smelling for me too agressive and overpowering. but i did finish the bottle.... and got the same for my mum.... 6 years over now and i just came across it and it IS the perfume that is ME at this stage of my life... i bought all versions of it. In Eau des Merveilles version i use it day-and-night, - i love to be wrapped in the smell.... by bedding, my pillows, my clothes, hair, - all has this smell..... As some member wrote here: it simply SCREAMS hollidays, also absolute and endless happiness!!! i do not understand how people say it is NOT femenine... First we must differentiate femenine types with this one....It is for a confident, self-sufficient, content, happy personality.

I had my hopes up for this fragrance and was preparing to write something poetic, but alas, I'm one of the few who get a very soft, linear soapy scent. My skin ate up all the woods and spice and left a very mild ambery citrus, very much like soft liquid sunshine with a floral nuance. I can't think of anything but J&J baby shampoo (which I quite like), but it's nothing like what I was hoping for. I might try it again when the weather is different to see if it's more than skin chemistry that affected my experience.

I'm very sad about this scent , i'm testing right now , sprayed myself a few minutes ago , and it's already all gone !(just like CK's "Beauty") :-( Maybe it is just me , my nose , which is not receptive to it :-((
It's very amberish scent, but in a very faint way , which makes it a everyday scent .
I have to try the elixir version, maybe it will be better for me !

I wear this fragrance both on the coldest days and the hottest days in a year.

On the cold days, it's soft, warm, caressing and the woodsy notes are very prominent. I love woody fragrances. They make me feel strong, bold and stable. This fragrance is like an intimate & assuring hug in the winter.

On the sunny days, it's like a summer breeze: delicate, salty & sandy like walking with bare feet on the beach in the early morning. Sometimes I even smell some delicate floral notes. It works very well with the heat and humidity. I find it last even longer in the hot days.

Don't let the strong orange peel smell turn you off from the start. It isn't masculine as many others have stated. Wait for the dry down, you'll find a very refined and feminine fragrance.

This is quite fresh and sparkly on application then it dries down to a strongly woody base. The top notes are very orangey - it reminds me a little of Clinique Happy at the start - and just too orangey for my taste. I also find it a little masculine, which might be to do with the woody base notes.

OK, I wasn't very kind to this perfume in my first review, because I wrote my instant impression, but tired and mildly annoyed in an airport duty free is not the best place for a critique. So I'll do a proper review now. :)
As advertised, there is really nothing floral about this perfume, which is quite interesting. When I think about this perfume my thoughts are of orange and amber. The opening is a flood of citrus, with a biting pepper. It is very strong, so go easy on it. The amber makes it heavier, gives it more depth and softens it considerably. The oakmoss and violet to me make the base musty,and lessen the nice middle stage of this fragrance. I think Tonka or honey at the base would have made this perfume better, more pleasant all round. But this is a warm fragrance, probably given this and it's strength best for the winter months when it can be like liquid sunshine. But personally if I wanted an orange fragrance I would go for Marc Jacobs Orange Splash or a more floral Jo Malone Orange Blossom. I give this one 2.5-3 out of 5.

One the best out there! This smells like gold and every luxury stuff. Reminds a lady, so rich and delicate. Emerges a young feminine sense of being super-attractive. Nicely blended in flowers, it reminds something extremely royal, a swan maybe; a swan in a pool. A baroque stuff!
And it's toilette is better than parfum.
My girl is crazy about it. This is her third Hermes and she's a fan of the house.
10/10 overall.

Eau des Merveilles (EDT).

This is an oriental woody, without any doubt. At head, since is builted in a throwback structure, almost circular rather than pyramidal, we find resins and Peru balsam with the woody notes (perfect symphony of vetiver, cedar and oak tree, this one, like bitter orange, is present in all the scents of the line, to get them the proper common "consensus" as the House of Hermes always does), yet, at first minutes, we are able to smell the citrus notes as well as the exotic indonesian and pink pepper, supossed to be at the base (circular composition)... amber is present in a subtle way all the time (easily to smell than other notes) and the elemi resins and Peru balsam are more perceptible among the hours.

Less creamy and sweet than Elixir, this dry and sharp fragrance is all about spicy and wood... plus the opulent, bitter orange chord that gives it depth and originality.

-Optimal sillage, great longevity on any skin. Elegant, flattering, easy to wear unless you only love fruity or floral scents.

If you're in Montreal, you can only get it at Holt Renfrew (1300 Sherbrooke O.)

I had a wiff of this beautiful scent yestesday on a woman who walked by me. I had to stop her and ask her what she was wearing!!! I have been looking for a new scent for awhile now. Please, please someone tell me where in the Montreal area I can get this amazing scent? I would like to try it to see if it suits me. Do they sell it at The Bay or Sears??

This morning I finished up a small 1 oz. bottle of the Hermes Eau de Merveilles. It is a good fragrance. It does not smell like anything else, that my nose has experienced before. The scent, to me, is like a cedar chested filled with a bag of oranges, a bit of woods and woody elements like a fir trees branches along with some peppercorns thrown in. There is also some sweetness, like amber sweetness. This fragrance is good in the warm weather and when one sweats, i.e. like at the gym, and is not overpowering. I would also say this is a very unisex fragrance and great for all. This perfume does smell medicinal from the bottle but it turns into a pleasant smelling perfume on the body. Similar to an expensive aftershave for men that woment would also enjoy. That's it.

I think it's a nice fragrance but I would not buy it. I had a sample and on my skin it is so soft that I can hardly smell anything. Though the fragrance is really nice, a very soft spicy - orangy fragrance, powdery as well. I do like perfumes that are soft, but this is really too soft!

to me, its to hard, sharp. I think its for a women 40+.

A must-have for the season.
It screams " Summer Holiday".

I absolutely love this scent! It's salty, peppery, powdery, and smokey. It reminds me of a cold grey day. I feel very feminine when I wear it, but not the girly-kind of feminine. I feel elegant.

Je l'adore!

Citrus scent with a woodsy-spicy-green base. Very sharp and sour/tangy. Masculine, or at the very least androgynous or unisex. Not my cup of tea. I tested this on my wrist and sprayed some on my blouse sleeve too. I'm particularly not a fan of the dry down, it smells like air freshener or febreze on my clothes the next day. The scent is milder on the skin and more 'organic' and natural (if that makes sense), but still very sharp, and not my thing. My dad is a fan though, and he is very fussy when it comes to scents. As for me, I need my florals and flowery/feminine notes in my perfume.

Tried a tester in the shop, loved it and made my mum bring me some back duty free when she went on holiday. Then I didn't like. I wondered what on earth I'd seen in it. I thought it was somehow saltish and very orangey. What happened to that?? My own bottle was just woods woods woods like a masculine scent. Sometimes my nose does funny things.. I sort of like this again now, but only went it's dried down and got softer and isn't hitting me over the head, plank by woody plank.

I tried this yesterday one more time, in the idea to give it a new try. Nice bottle and great name...Here the good part stops...The juice smells just like a man's cologne. It might be good but it is definitely for a man. I wouldn't wear it...So,the 4th time a tried it confirmed to me try #1,#2,#3...Obviously, it will never be a #5 try.

This is a very strong fragrance for fall/winter day time use or too some it will be night time also. It is an orangy strong fragrance which I do not wear that much because of the strong orange scent. It can be for a teenager...
However, the body perfume cream which I really love to wear with differnt fragrances; the orange scented body cream is wonderful smell

Eventually I could like and even love this scent!
I don't know why I didn't like it before. Hermes fragrances are so unsual and sophisticated! I like them all, but for some reason they always clash badly with my chemistry. So bad. I love Caleche and can't even wear it. Today I wanted to give another chance to Eau des Merveilles (EdT) after a bad encounter when it came out and boom! I found a lovely, uplifting, spicy and zesty scent with a warm sunny edge, very feminine but not frilly. It's an elegant scent, but also quite witty to be easygoing and not putting distances. It smells different, lively with class. The orange smell is very strong in the opening, then I smell spices and pepper, luckily not too much pepper and the smooth aromatic woody drydown is to die for!
It smells softly empowering and conforting like a soft wrap around your shoulder when the weather is cold and you need some cuddling. Anyway I would say it's only for winter. It's a perfume that also a man could wear and feel at ease. I'm not planning to buy FB now, but I highly suggest to try it on your skin when you have the chance. Staying power is good, sillage is average.

LOL! Annelien1987, u already said that for me! Yeah, I agree it smells like vomit sometimes. I have the same thought when I over apply this scent (on my skin, clothes). But I adore this baby too much, I don't really care that 'vomit' smell.

3 words I can describe EDM:-
unusual - mysterious - uplifting.

Oh, the floral notes here are not that flowery (for the violet). In fact I don't smell any FLORAL notes at all. So guys, don't worry. This is not for a lady who wants to seduce others with sweet or beautiful smell of flowers. Think orangey-woody-slightly peppery. U will get what I mean.

On my skin EDM starts off with a blast of citrusy note, but not in a cheap or sickening way like other citrus fragrance. Perhaps because of pepper, it makes the orangey scent come out with more attitude. After 10-15 minutes, I notice this amber-ish scent will start to linger around. And finally, the base part which I love the most! The vetiver, oakmoss and cedar kind of giving me this comfy-refreshing feelings. Even after long hours, the zesty scent will not be so obvious anymore but it's still there quietly sitting on a log of cedar wood.

Sillage: Good (unless you want to be noticed as walking pepper-sprinkled jumbo orange here).
Longevity: Good (I noticed citrus fragrance always have BAD longevity but EDM is quite decent)

I think EDM is unisex, anyone can use it including male. Since this is an unusual stuff you must have some (or lots!) of patience to know EDM. Give chance to yourself, allow EDM to be introduced in a slow and gentle manner. It's really different than other fragrances which Ive tried before, and that's the interesting part of it. EDM should be okay during summer or warm weather. Or everyday scent, office, casual purpose. For winter or colder season you might want to try Elixir version which is more heavy on amber together with incense, resin and Peru balsam. The orangey scent is still there, but not as much as EDM which is lighter and more lively. It's like a playful kitten and grown up cat if I want to make a comparison for that. I mean EDM is like a kitten, and Elixir is the old/grown up cat. Hehe! :-D

I'm thinking to layer this with any orange/citrus lotion or body cream (Bath and Body works maybe?) to see different result. Use some creativity, mix any scent that you like. Different skin and chemistry Im talking about here. You never know what you will get ;-)

Personally I prefer EDM than Elixir. Being a person who always wear strong/heavy fragrance, EDM is my choice when I want something light & orangey with a kick of woody oriental touch. It's refreshing, yet the dark and mysterious side still unrevealed.

I bought this perfume based entirely on reviews (something I swore I wouldn't do anymore) - but I couldn't resist when I saw it on sale in Duty Free.
When I first sampled it all I got was pepper and more pepper (pepper overkill) - and was about to write it off when the saleslady advised me to wait for 20 minutes or so - luckily it was ages before I had to board the plane so I took her advice.
I'm glad I waited because this scent then morphed into a deliciously feminine (only the top notes smell harsh and masculine to me) skin scent that wears close to the skin but not so close that nobody can smell you.
So I had to buy it.
To me its mainly a daytime fragrance but I've since started experimenting with it andlayering it with different body lotions - just to see if I can add yet another depth to it to take it into the evening - and I've discovered it smells absolutely divine when layered with vanilla......
- it creates a whole new middle phase where you can actually smell the oranges, but its not a cheap synthetic orange like you get with Boss Orange.....more like an orange zest......
There's something very special and unusual about this perfume, and to the people who don't like it - my advice would be to give it some time to develop.
Although, I'm pleased that not everybody likes this as I don't want to smell like every other person walking down the street!


Update :

Its been 2 months since I bought this and I can safely say this is fast turning into my favourite perfume of all time (I don't care if some people think it smells masculine - bull!!!!) on me it smells amazing! and I very rarely repurchase a perfume once I've finished it - but I am deffo going to re-purchase this one.

This has a soap feeling - it's cool, refreshing, mossy, foggy, soft, and uplifting.

It's the air from above the pine trees and a dash of soap feeling

Eau des Merveilles kept me intrigued for years as I could never manage to find a tester bottle. I worked this fragrance up in my mind to be something utterly spectacular, a masterpiece and a modern classic. Well, I like this fragrance, I really do, but it's not something that struck me down like lightning.

It's essentially dry, warm and strangely crisp, lemon and orange on a woodsy and peppery base. Very unusual I must say, but also something that relies on the right skin chemistry to make it work.

I'd love to layer this scent over another fragrance, because on its own I feel like it's missing something. It reminds me of the beach and scorching hot Summer weather, yet I crave a subtle hint of floral notes or a touch of sweetness to make it that little more complex and feminine.

I can certainly understand why men would want to wear this. Honestly, it has a very unisex feel. Whenever I smell Eau des Merveilles I am impressed, but I can't help wishing that this fragrance was a little more outrageous. The bottle makes me think of the solar system, a world so different from our own and I guess I wanted Eau des Merveilles to reflect that.

The sillage is quite good, yet nowhere near being a heavy hitter. I'm rather glad because the peppery orange on its own is a little harsh in its already rather subtle concentration. The longevity is so-so, not incredibly long lasting but sufficient to say the least.

All in all, Eau des Merveilles is certainly unique and one of a kind. The dryness and saltiness in this fragrance is quite lovable, however my only issue is that it tends to be more masculine than feminine to my nose.

Normally, the orange keeps running away from me. I can only smell the orange when opening the box. But today, I'm a little sick and right after spraying, I can smell the heavy orange here.

The composition of this fragrance is unique. It is almost impossible for me to pick out any one note since when I wear it it creates its own unique scent. The best description is that it is feminine without the floral or the gourmand, and very sophisticated in nature. Nothing cute , nothing pretty in the typical sense, but the sexual aura of a confident woman.

I smelled this scent on a friend of mine in a summer morning. I loved it! Kinda thought that was unisex because was fresh, citric or green, cannot remember it that well.. She told me that was a present and that at first "spray" she didn't like it (too deep, hard or grandma-ish), but when it dries down smells amazingly fresh and she loved it. Me too. It's quite special but if you can pull it of it's a unique scent.

I don't dislike this fume, but I couldn't wear it. I agree it's a bit masculine, perhaps not in a disturbing way, but not my cup of tea. It reminds me of Xmas: I feel orange, spices and fir, too. It has a great sillage and is long-lasting, too. I gave my sample to my mother-in-law, 'cause she likes unisex scents. If you like unisex, spicy scents, too, recommended.

I been meaning to buy this perfume since it launched. I kept thinking of if,till I bought it. I still like it, as it remind me Christmas time,and give good mood for all seasons. Orange,wood and chocolate-that is what it is for me. I like Elixir better as it stronger,but it was more expensive, and as for Eau Des Merveilles, it is not as strong,or may be that shop dude just gave me a knock off?

Eau des Merveilles’s uplifting sweet citrusy, orange opening make me instantly want it badly. Even though I’m not a citrusy fan, the top notes in Eau des Merveilles somehow reminds me a little bit of lemon washing detergent(in a good way), but it is so gorgeously well blended and it smells quite elegantly expensive.

Soon the fresh optimistic opening’s gone, it smells really dry sweet, warm, and spicy. It makes me think about some kind of orange peel jerky I had once or twice. It’s deliciously innocent. It doesn’t have any of the conversional big, bold, sweet, loud attractive sexy appeal, but to me, Eau des Merveilles is the effortless confident chick girl who makes you feel comfortable to talk with, which is the ultimate sexy to me in a daily content.

It is quite linear, and it goes softer rounder and slightly soapy (but totally different from the traditional baby-powder infused soapiness) towards the dry down.

I would recommend Eau des Merveilles to anyone! However, personally I love Elixir des Merveilles more because Eau des Merveilles has a little bit more freshness, and the bubbly orange smell sometimes in a colder weather smell kinda aquatic (in a good way, not the sports aquatic perfume way) to me, and unfortunately I am not a fan of aquatic perfumes.
If you like something fresher, choose Eau des Merveilles, and if you love something drier and evokes more winter memories, pick the Elixir version.

I feel like this perfume was meant for me - even our names are similar (mine's Merve) :)) it has an air of an elixir and thus, touches my soft spot of adoring anything related to fantastic fiction. But I just cannot get used to it as much as I wanted. Its unique upside down notes make it even more magical yet somehow something stops me from buying it. I think it smells bit too much masculine on me. I like its spicy quality because it's not suffocating; it is very classy and rich. Maybe I'm just not ready for it yet. I'll keep on trying it every other year til I fell in love with it :)

3 years ago, i was 15 and i smelled this perfume in a department store, i immediately fell in love with it and couldn't stop spraying it onto those thin slices of test paper and throw them into my purse so i can smell it all the time.
2 years ago i saved up enough money to go to the Hermes store to pick this amazing perfume. It started out very citrus-y and it gave me headaches for the first couple times. My sister complained it for being even stronger than the Gucci Rush 2 that i've been spraying before this. Then it starts to develop during the day and at the end gave me this masculine based woody smell. I love this scent a lot and those 2 years the scent clings to my skin until the end of the day and i can still smell it when i go to bed. Don't know why though, now no fragrances would linger on my skin anymore. I'm very disappointed because now after the initial burst of citrus it fades into nothing. I bought Eau Claire des Merveilles and that was a bit disappointing too. Now i layer them together and that means 1 spritz of EdM and 2 spritz of Eau Claire, which is pretty strong for an 18 year old. But this is a scent that makes you feel truly special. Not a lot of people would wear it and it has since become my signature scent.
Very woody and mysterious. I would never swap this with anything, even though it lost its lasting power on me.

YOWZA....this is one big bottle of orangey spiced surprise. Hermes "Eau des Merveilles" was a blind purchase for me. I'd heard rave reviews about it and wanted to try it for myself. The opening has a strong citrusy burst of zesty oranges and bitter lemons and the bitterness is extremely potent. Then there's that explosion of woodsy greens consisting of oakmoss, fir, vetiver and cedar. These are the base notes, but I smell them in the opening. They explode in your face unapologetically and they're so strong that during this stage I'm convinced that "Eau des Merveilles" is a completely masculine scent. It's potent and one of these most potent fragrances that I've ever encountered. I was actually shocked when this stimulating aroma finally settled down into a dreamily soft and sweet aroma. How could something so powerfully masculine become so undeniably feminine? I've no idea, but this fragrance is truly one I wouldn't be complete without. Modern, intimate and a pleasure to be worn in the fall.

EdM was my first blind purchase, and also my first Hermes perfume. I must say this scent more than exceeded my expectations!

After falling for a sample of Terre, I wanted to find a similar but slightly more feminine scent to start wearing everyday. A few people mentioned EdM as an option, and I was drawn in by the reviews on Fragrantica, so I took the plunge and decided to buy it online without sampling because it just sounded so 'me'.

I must say, I'm not sure I agree with the comparisons to Terre. Whereas the smell of the cologne was earthy and woody in a very dark way on my skin, EdM is much brighter and complex. I don't get much of the orange note from this, though there's still a hint of citrus. On me, EdM smells earthy and bright, salty and slightly musky in a way that stays very close to my skin. I would say that the descriptions of sea, sand, and skin are not far off at all.

Even though EdM was love at first whiff, I did have to work my way up to wear it everyday. I bought it in the thick of summer and in the heat, I found the scent to be unabashedly sultry on my skin, especially in contrary to my old signature scent (Kenzo Flower Oriental). Once I got used this though, I haven't looked back, and I can't imagine wearing anything else on a regular basis.

My girlfriend absolutely loves the way this smells on me and I can't blame her, it's gorgeous and sexy, sexy, sexy!

Bottom line: I can see how this scent might be difficult for some to wear, but if it suits your body chemistry you're in for a real treat. Highly recommended for those looking for a unique signature scent with real staying power.

Hermes EAU DES MERVEILLES is a bright orange burst of sunshine and joie de vivre. For me, this a daytime, hot weather, feel-good fragrance. The drydown is woody and smooth, but the opening is as citrusy aromatic as they come, which makes this seem at least unisex if not leaning toward the masculine side.

While the opening reminds me of ORANGE VERTE, the tone and overall demeanor of the drydown of EAU DES MERVEILLES puts it in the same general vicinity on the grand olfactory map as the members of the JARDIN series.

EAU DES MERVEILLES is so clean and fresh and spare, that it would be a great daytime fragrance to follow with ELIXIR DES MERVEILLES at sunset for more depth and sumptuosity. I love Hermes!

Hi.

It is not easy to find a Lovely svent Like EAU DES MERVEILLES In perfumery. Everytime i smelled it,i want breathe in slowly and Deeply.it is Definitely a Interesting scent. Woody,Modern,Subtle, Fresh,Clean,Heavenly and at the same time Sophisticated and Elegant.

A bright,Luminous departure.At the beginning this scent seems to melt into your skin and surround You in a Soft cloud of Orange scent.Definitely Citrusy scent with a Touch of sharp. The middle is Feminine and The base is Woody.

This HERMES EDT is the Perfect Touch to start an Unforgettable Day and makes a Delicious Feeling of Freedom and Independence for the Elegance Lady Especially if she is around 30/35 Years old. This scent also is Light Enough for Everyday Use But still Special Enough for Evening Intimate Occasions in SPRING/AUTUMN.

Sillage?Pleasant.

Longevity?Good on my skin.

7.5/10

I cant describe how i loved this fragrance ,i love every thing about it box,bottle,aroma ,every thing .This is in my opinion the best peppery orange fragrance ever made .Absolutely amazing , to me its very masculine fragrance its a type of fragrance that uplift your mood to the highst level .THIS IS DEFINETLY MY NEW TOP FRAGRANCE

The first time I wore this, it reminded me of childhood days at the beach, playing in clean wet sand, and just having my face wiped with a wet nap. I thought it was nice, but I didn't think I would grow to love it as I have. The citrus is not too prominent on my skin and all of the notes are very well balanced. I love the fir in this! I can wear this when it is extremely hot or humid and even when I am not feeling well and no other perfume will do. I find myself reaching for this a lot more than I expected. I will always keep some in my collection.

Mmm, this is very, very lovely. It opens with citruses which I do not like in many perfumes, but in Eau des Merveilles the citrus note is so sparkling and natural, not like air freshener like sometimes seen in other perfumes. Then it changes to lovely, delicate and fresh flowers, especially my loved violet. And then the drydown. The fir makes it a little bit masculine, but in a very nice way. For me the drydown is little bit metallic as well. Really nice.

Reading all the woody, spicy notes you could easily think this was an overpowering oriental but when Eau des Merveilles opens on the skin it gives me an instant lift. This scent sparkles with a freshness that can best be achieved in the absence of forals. Although violet is mentioned as a note, it is not prominent to my nose. What is prominent though, is the wonderful woody drydown that softens into the most irresistible scent. I keep taking sneek sniffs of my wrist throughout the day and have had lots of compliments!
I agree with other reviewers who say it could be unisex. This would be ideal for summer or office wear for someone who wants wear a unique and expensive smelling fragrance.

It's not a feminin scent to me, although softer than the Elixir de Merveilles. I don't enjoy to much when I use this one, because it's really different, strange, with no mildness in it, and that I don't like in perfumes, at all. Maybe it's the peppers and cedar in it.

Perfumes must make me feel feminine (even the ones made for men), or chic, or romantic, or pretty or powerfull or all those things toguether. Eau des Merveille and Elixir the Merveilles don't.

This perfume is so strange; the first time I tried it I found it very masculine. I didn't give it a chance to settle and grow on my skin. But at my second test, I strangely fall in love with it. Some reviewers said that it is an "upside-down" fragrance and I see what they mean by that: It starts sharp, salty and fresh but than it settles as a wonderful soft skin scent and it keeps the Freshness of the oranges. At the end, I get the amber and I smell the fir note which is still fresh(!) and so beautiful. They also say that it is a "salty" fragrance but on me, it is almost sweet.

It is lovely in the summer; I know so many people who dislike perfume in the summer but not this one. This is not disturbing in humidity, it stays close to the skin but also you get the wind of it time to time.

I love using perfumes and I want smell beautiful even though it is 40 degrees outside. So if you are like me and looking for something different than the watery fragrances this is a must-try.

I should also add, this will surprise you because it is very very long lasting. Definitely worth every penny..

I don't get much more than orange with this - quite one dimensional (but still great) however I will continue to reach for Elixir Eau des Merveilles EVERY time.

I love squeezing orange peel and watching the orange oil squirt from its skin in a soft mist whilst overdosing on the fresh scent as it tingles my nose. Eau des Merveilles is this joyful moment bottled.

I'm surprised I don't get more vetiver which I just adore in a fragrance.

Sex appeal content is too low in the below recipe :-) Probably due to all those pieces of sun-dried wood. Too masculine for my taste - although objectively, a sophisticated, unique and expensive-smelling fragrance indeed!

Ladies & gents, today we are presenting one of the best recipies of Hermes’ fusion cuisine.

Ingredients:
a few pieces of aromatic, sun-dried wood
a couple of handfuls of orange peel
a pinch of salt
a pinch of pepper

Directions:
Blend all ingredients thoroughly. Squeeze. Add few drops of water. Bottle.

Nutrition facts:
Sophistication – 90g, elegance – 75g, self-confidence – 70g, sex-appeal – 60g.

If you’re hungry for something dry, refined, extraordinary, unusual – it is a must-have for you!

I have a very ambivalent relationship with EdM.
On one hand I love the smell of it, on the other hand I don´t like it as a perfume on me.
My skin brings out the woody notes so strong, that I end up smelling like a campfire in a log hut.
Although I normally enjoy woody scents and they work well with my chemistry, EdM gives me an ligneous overdose.
Still I do like the odour itself.
I´d love to spray it on my furniture to add a "natural bosky" feeling to my living room, but using this as an air freshener would seem a little too decadent, even to me. ;o)

Get so many compliments that I HAVE to wear it! The verb have doesnt indicate how beautiful this perfume is though! Its strong, long lasting and sharp but not irritating! Its sexy, deep, mysterious but fresh and awakening! Its elegant but aggressive! A marvellous compromise of contradictions I dare say, Eau des Merveilles <3

Oh my is this one nice! Starts out as almost too strong citrus & cedar but mellows beautifully. Just before the floral was out of balance, the smooth, sexy, but unisex base intoxicates you. It's interesting because it almost seems as though there are distinct accords that aren't going to blend well but when they do, it's so subtle you don't realize it til you've been captivated.

I can honestly say that if I had not read the reviews, I had not discovered this lovely fragrance.
If you like oriental fragrances with dry woods, pepper, orangepeel and gorgeous amber,this is for you. I love this fragrance. Wonderful drydown and sillage. Stays very close to the skin and lasts almost a whole day.

I'm in a mood to spray something on that I haven't worn in awhile...
This fragrance I bought in the in-flight shop on Air-France and forgot all about it ..
believe it or not still in its plastic wrapper ....

I really favor this fragrance
Very Manly ....if there is a flower note
it's very hidden ...
Oranges... !
Warm and Spicy (I really get the Pepper both Pink and Black)
Woodsy (Ceder and Fir notes dominate)...fragrance...

Like discovering a charming Keepsake Box ... in a fancy antique shop..
What a great liitle find!

I like this one a lot because it's so unique & unusual. Sexy in its own way.
In my opinion, it's not "elegant", or "sparkling" sexy. It's more of EXOTIC sexy!...
Reminds me so much of the smell of Sea & sand on my skin in the Summer. Which is sexy enough for me :)

I'm happy I have this in my collection. Not only because it smells nice, but also because it's different from most of the perfumes I own.
1- I'm usually attracted to feminine scents. This is not feminine... not musculine though- I guess it's unisex.
2- I usually like floral/ fruity scents & this is far from both.

I think most people like it for the way it's unique.

Very, very occasionally when I smell a perfume I think - wow, I never need to sniff another perfume again! Of course this only lasts as long as it takes to get to the perfume counter at Myers. But this is one of those scents.

It has a strong sharp opening but this fades fast. Close to the skin, I smell a hint of citrus through the heart, along with pepper and lots of smoky incense woods. As I am typing I can smell a soft, clean, exquisite scent wafting up to my nose. Sigh.

Overall, it comes across as smooth, finely crafted, expensive, sexy & alluring.

I am so excited to have finally found a woodsy perfume which suits me!!!

Nice smell indeed but on my skin No staying power at all...:-((

I absolutely love how this fragrance achieves to be feminine but without any sweet notes. It's salty and ambery on my skin but also refreshing. It smells luxurious and expensive, very Hermès. One of my favorite fragrances. The first time I tried it, I thought: this is perhaps what Heaven smells like.

Good longevity and sillage.

I think the opening is very feminine. Soft. Sexy. However, the middle and base notes slowly start smelling masculine. Salty. Musk.

I was excited about trying this EdT because I had read that it had an ambergris note. It starts off sharp, woody, and herbal with cedar, evergreen leaves, and a tiny hint of something that almost smells like tarragon and/or sage. The pepper is definitely there at first, as is the vetiver. I would have classified this as a “masculine” scent, but I like the fact that Hermes has broken out of the marketing stereotype and classified it as a “feminine” one.

As it dries down, the peppery note becomes more prominent for a while, along with what I suppose is an “ambergris accord”. The drydown is a strong perfumey scent that I remember distinctly from some of my mother’s perfumes. It’s not the same salty, slightly animalic scent that I’ve detected in a few other perfumes that were supposed to contain ambergris, but I think it’s probably the idealized version of what it’s supposed to smell like.

I like E d M in low concentrations, but it needs to be applied with a steady hand and a reliable sprayer. To me it’s extremely strong, with plenty of sillage, and it lasts and lasts. I applied one tiny spray and can still smell the basenotes strongly on my clothing more than 24 hours later.

Ligth, lovely and a bit mysterious. A little too "watery" for me, but still a great fragrance.

I'm really in love with Eau des Merveilles! Explodes with sparkling citrus! Sounds with dignity and expensive! I don't care someone says :"It smels male!" :-) I'm in love! Mmmm....

This is light and citrusy....not dark and aggressive at all. Like a spring day, and kept getting richer and warmer after an hour on my skin. Cannot imagine it being unisex, it dries down very femininely... I just purchased it on-line blindly, then tried it on at Nordstroms.

Just tested if for the first time, and am quite perplexed: it IS very strange and unusual... I do not like the unisex kind of scents but this definitely has something in it. Definitely worth another test to determine if I like it, and if I can wear it. Intriguing!

EDM is a tough one for me. A while back, I wrote a review about lamcome's hypnose saying that I didn't exactly understand it. Still to this day I can't understand hypnose, nor do I understand EDM. Both scents smell slightly similar to me by the way. Now on to EDM. At first spray I smell bitter bitter orange which is quite fresh...then comes a very dry cocoa/woody thing going on. And what remains for me frm this point is a citric metal scent. Not a bad scent, actually very interesting, but not something by senses can wrap themselves around and understand. I know..weird and frustrating! The scent is light on me, but long lasting. I hope to one day be able to understand this complex and wonderful one!

Eau de Merveilles has the same effect on my nose as a shot of bourbon and a wedge of a Meyer lemon would have on my tongue, at an oceanfront bar relaxing as the sun sets. It's not an everyday kind of fragrance for me-very special and even somewhat difficult, as it doesn't settle completely with my olfactory repertoire-so as great as it smells, it feels strange to smell this way...
So woody but not overly dry, tart but slightly sweet, delicately bitter and just slightly salty-intensely different, but not intense-although very very woody not as woody as a lumberyard, not too herbal, sweet, salty, or sour, and definitely not flowery-so amazing, and why is such an exotic (in the fullest meaning of the word)perfume so hard to just sink into and allow to become part of my being?
Even if I don't decide to make it my own, I love it.

Based on the reviews and the description of this one, I was positive EDM would be perfect for me. But it was not to be. This one must really react to body chemistry because although I do get the citrus notes (though way too strong) briefly at first, after they fade away I'm left with a sickening floral scent. No woodsy notes and no ambergris and no pepper! I will give it another chance or two but only if it doesn't give me a headache this first time. I'm SO disappointed! Maybe not totally a surprise since I adore Un Jardin Apres La Mousson.

Oh Im so glad this worked out. this was my first blind buy and my intuition told me this would be perfect for me. Well it is. So perfect. Its a soft woody amber thats feminine without being flowery. Is so unique. I know many had said it was dry and a bit unisex however on me it has a touch of sweetness and I wouldnt call it unisex. Its so sexy. Me Happy!

One of the most unusial parfums i've ever had.
It was not easy to feel it fully and to see its natural beauty, it took me more than 1 year! but now i adore it! i feel citrus mandarines, sweet gentle amber and a bit of cedar. best for leather clothes. Very gentle, wonderful!

Wonderful scent, complex, fresh, warm, unlike most out there!!! cant smell salt, just soft woods and a beautiful top note!! it isnt gourmand per se, quite invigorating with the vetiver!! it has a certain appeal to me of past Christmases, a magical scent..but for me I cant get past the masculinity in the scent..but I can never forget how special it is!!

On me it smells mostly pepper and also something like elemi. Not bad, but I can't wear it, because sometimes it reminds me an old wardrobe scent.

OK,I would describe this scent as mandarins in a wooden box sprinkled with pepper on top.Very interesting,but not for me.

The one of the most wonderful
fragrance composition. So pleasant and comfortartable, wearable in every occasion. For day and night. Ethereal, sparkling, clear, verry good balanced.
Simply - beautiful.

oh yeah - this one is truly hallucinogenic. I am swimming in an ocean of time, not worrying about what future will bring. ethereal, entrancing, beautiful... aaah

nice fragrance... for MEN !
really all Hermes fragrances that are supposed to be for women are masculine and would be weird on a lovely woman. but if you are a tomboy you can use it as well of course.

So wonderful! A definite upside down fragrance, the opening notes are a bit too rough for my nose, but within 5 minutes it warms to an undeniable femininity and charm. The longer it sits the better it smells, without being overpowering; in fact, I wish it was stronger, I don't find it strong or with good silage, but so lovely and different I cannot help myself but sniff my wrist over and over again. It smells like beach and sun and turqoise ocean, like love and innocence... a very slight resemblance to Kelly Caleche doesn't take away from its personality, but rather enhances it. It's a very "positive" perfume, very happy! I just adore it! lucky me, considering I bought it untried, just because I loved the name and the bottle!

Being an Hermes fan I was really excited to try Eau des Merveilles. Due to my familiarity with other Hermes frags, I was totally unprepared for this totally novel offering.
To me this is a very dry and absolutely unisex frag. It's warm and interesting but also, even with light application, strong to the point of being almost intrusive.
It's staying power is unparalleled and though I can appreciate and respect it for its uniqueness and artistry, I personally don't find it wearable.
I would definitely recommend this one to women who want a scent with no flowers or sweetness, who love woody scents (namely oak) and who need a frag to last well from dawn to dusk, or longer.
I'd equally recommend it to men looking for those same qualities.

I am already using the 2nd bottle now. This fragrance is really "me". I love the fact that it is so unique and people recognize and remember me by this perfume. It is strong, spicy but yet so feminine and sexy in an elegant way. You feel like a confidence unique person when you wear this. It truly enchance my mood everytime I wear this.Some special people even remember me everytime they smell this perfume.

One of my favorites! an incredible fragrance...In the beginning i get a little of the pepper and citrus with some smooth mellow amber and just a touch of delicate tobacco but then it immediately melts into my skin like butter...it beautifully developes into a scent of warm sensual bare skin..i don't detect any of the pepper or citrus in the drydown i think because it is so well made all the notes just blend together harmoniously without overpowering the others...it reminds me of a cologne my Father use to wear i just don't know what it was...I think this would be terrific on men as well ..don't know why it is not Unisex...yes it is great on women but guys you need to try this also for the ladies or men in your lives....EXELLENT FRAGRANCE that should be a classic.

Hermes-Eau des Merveilles starts out with a bang of herbal orange, bitter spice and peculiar dry woods. Merveilles magic REALLY begins as the minutes pass by and the scent gets better and better as the day progresses. Merveilles looses no strength or silage but rather morphs itself through all the layers. The fragrance melts into the skin with caressing hugs of what I smell as fresh orange peel, rice, honey, maple syrup, hot amber and driftwood. It seems to warm up and strengthen with body heat. The sand is present throughout meshing perfectly with the natural smell of skin and the other notes.

Eau des Merveilles is flawlessly balanced by all the elements providing it to wear well in any season and by men or women. I strongly believe this perfume is majorly affected by body chemistry and different climate temperatures bringing out different results for each person. On me it is quite feminine, powdery (floral?) and warm fragrance.

I feel lucky to have this perfume in my collection. The bottle represents the smell fantastically. This is possibly the most unique scent and have quickly fallen in love with it!

It´s too bitter and peppery imho. Don´t like it at all, also becuase of it´s metallic touch. Absoluetly agree that it is masculine.Not suitable for romantic girls at all.

I do believe it...
This smell is UNUSUAL!
this is an awareness to those HERMES'SAINCE

Strong but bit citrus scent!
I don't really like it, I almost adore it if they don't put the bitterness above the high!

But overall, Hermes is still Hermes...This also got a signature of its scent!

The most unusual scent that I ever had a chance to smell. An exquisite composition that sounds unattractive on a paper strip but so intriguing on a human skin or when sprayed in the air (but please dont waste it like that!).

The bottle is almost poetic and deserves a separate review on its own. It reflects the contents so correctly- a balance that is so fragile, grey-silver sparkles on a glass remind of salty water drops, and bottom is slightly orange but not too bright- this orange is quite understated as if the sun is just rising on the horizon, just a first ray of sun, just an expectation rather than a presence.

Have I described the bottle or the water of miracles? The composition of this scent is backwards- what normally constitutes top notes in a perfume ends as a base, but the result is very merveilles. Top notes to me are salty but not too much, almost like a wind blowing from the ocean side, bringing mysterious scents of the salty water and some underwater plants maybe; ambra makes almost animalistic statement. Further I sense some wood but this wood is wet, soaked into salty ocean water. All these scents are very light, as if you smell them while walking on the beach, close but not too close- these scents are almost an afterthought, a distant memory. The base is a complete surprise- sunny orange peel, very delicate, never sharp, a very childhood scent, as if you just ate an orange and now you have some sweet residue on your hands.
I have never smelled a fragrance so sentimental and delicate and yet it has such a strong point! Marvelous water indeed

This is most probably not unisex fragrance but anyway I enjoy wearing it. I love citruses and whole composition is very nice and I like dry-down I find vetiver that is what makes it a bit masculine.

Feel the smell of fine tobacco, sensual and warm and yet so fresh and elegant fragrance. Excellent base notes in a scent; cedar, moss and vetiver that I really like, I thought it could also be good on the male skin. Reminds me of the late afternoon by the sea and the smell of pine trees. Round bottle is so sophisticated.

EVERYONE LOVES EAU des MERVEILLES IN THESE COMMENTS. what an amazing tribute...

Please read the interview with its creator Mr. Ralf Schweiger


when you comment, you let these artists know how much you appreciate their fragrance .

Every perfumer we interview shares theri life and vision with us.it is a great gift to us as readers and lovers of fragrance.

This is the perfect every day scent. Light, orangey, out-doorsy but with sophistitcated undertones of wood smoke and barley sugar. Fascinating and never boring.

GREAT NEWS Perfumer Ralf Shweiger who created this and other fabulous fragrances will be interviewed for fragrantica!!!!!! Michelyn-memechoses

I smelt this on a tester strip and my first reaction was "yuck, yuck, yuck - what fool would wear that?". But all that day and the next I kept coming back to it like a woman obsessed. Eventually went back to the store and tried it on my wrist and ......WOW. I ended up buying a bottle online but kept popping into the store and spritzing every day during the week I was waiting on the delivery - I had no shame! The salty, peppery, softly woody, classy orangey cleanliness of it all amazes me. I LOVE it. Top marks. It makes me stupidly happy and serene.

Yes, this makes a good masculine. It's the DRIEST orange perfume I've ever smelled...reminds me of an Indian treat I had once, a very ripe sliced orange coated with chili pepper.Lasts a long time...I sprayed a little on my arm last night and there's still a trace today!

This is a well deserved triumphant review.I think that Eau de Merveilles is by far the best launch of recent perfumemaking times.
It feels like a collective memory trip around our planet.Indonesian pepper,Peruvian balsam,Italian lemon,the wonderful oceanic grey amber lift you up above to see the Earth's Truth.

Round,euphoric,balanced,perfect.

This is not a perfume of the senses but an illusive concept that is mastefully captured and materialised for us to experience.

I was lucky enough to win this fragrance about a month or two ago (thank you fragrantica!).

The bottle for EDM fits the juice perfectly. It looks like a little sun that fits in the palm of your hand. This is a happy, uncomplicated but unusual scent. For me it has a laid-back chic quality to it that is casual but effortlessly stylish.

On me the most dominant notes are the the wood, musk and salt.

It is very interesting frag.The fir an the citruses dominate on my skin,.Very well done,it changes all the time.I dont find it masculine at all.

My preferences seem to change a lot lately - I used to "not understand" this kind of fragrances, and now - I love them!

I find Eau des Merveilles very masculine, peppery and woody. It is strong and confident, but somehow its masculine nature only emphasizes femininity. It's like wearing loose clothes if you are very thin, will only point out how thin you are. I hope this comparison explains my point.

Anyway, I love it! It is not for any occasion, any mood or any outfit. It is something special that you treat yourself rarely.

I ignored this scent in the fragrance halls forever as it never appealed to me. The tester strips put me off, however I smelled this on a colleague and couldnt believe it when she said it was EDM. It smelled completely different on the skin when I eventually tried it. I fell in love. I like Amber very much, and I really get the Ambergris from this. I dont know what salt smells of personally so I dont get that comparison, nor does it smell masculine to me either, yet it does have peppery spicyness which maybe pertains to a less feminine edge than say a fruity floral. A mixture of sultry, warm and sparkly, yet fresh and sexy with a hint of sweet woodyness. I don't much like strong orange notes, but here, this is blended so well, it is in perfect harmony so I dont feel like an orange soda pop. All in all this is a classy, sexy and sophisticated scent, perfect for day, but doesn't last as long as I would like. The elixir is better for that. The bottle is very pretty too and I like that the cap is secure.

I tried it on today, and it is kind of heavy and at the same time very fresh... but can anyone tell me is it long lastiing...?? Cause it seemed to me it isn't and BTW it is EDT..

I want to like this one.the first time that I smelled it and I found it almost masculine,I thought maybe I was wrong.so I gave it a second try.
unfortunately the same result came to my nose.it's full of citrus scent,but not a fresh citrus I've seen in so many fragrances.it's a warm citrus scent with strong backups of spices.
it's very masculine,specially the dry down is a pure masculine fragrance.bitter,woody and pine scent...I believe it should consider unisex.

It is funny how true all the reviews here are, the positive and negative. I adore its every stage, so beautiful. I get warm and sweet of orange blossom, gorgeous and feminine scent - my best Hermes and one of the best fragrances I have.
I don't have enough of it and will be buying the Intense version for sure.
On my girlfriend though it's nothing even close to the beauty I get, she gets bold masculine version, but not in a good way :(
We both have learned that Hermes fragrances have to be tested before buying, they are so different on each person.

The smell is fabulous, but between Eau and Elixir, I prefer the second.
Delicious orange pepper, it could be easily nominated as unissex. I don´t feel it as a male fragrance but it is obvious far from the traditional female notes on a perfume.
This perfume gives me a good sensation, it´s smell is perfect, keeps me smelling myself al the time.
As an EDT, the lasting is ok (after 9hrs it disappeared).
The bottle is gorgeous.

It reminds me of the moment when you're diving into a luxurious bubble bath, which gives off a herbal fresh scent, the bathroom is full of steam and you can smell your clean wet skin. Wonderful!

for me it was love at first sniff. it's such a unique, individual and sophisticated smell! when you wear it, you feel like a classy, chic and intelligent french lady!:)
i love this perfume not only coz orange and amber are one of my favourite notes but because the scent is so interesting and controversial: warm, but cool, strong, but subtle, sparkling, but calm, ethereal, yet down-to-earth. i could go on raving, go smell it yourself and you will know what i'm talking about.

This blend feels like a part of me, like memories that escaped and transformed into liquid. Memories from old summers coming to an end, tranquil early autumn walks by the -still hot- mediterranean sea... Sunny and bright with a touch of sweet melancholy.

When I wear it , I sense an interesting mix of mouthwatering orange peel, earthy pine trees and a little bit of sweet smelling incense. There is also a hint of very well blended amber. Usually amber gets too intense on my skin, but this time it feels just right. It dries down into a lovely skinscent, smelling exactly like the combination of sunscreen & sea & sun.

Works best with my chemistry in cold weather, although every time I wear it I think it agrees more and more with me. I am looking forward giving it a try again in summertime!

I love this to bits! Urban Skies described it so well. All I can add is that it has so much character, one unlike anything else... It's instantly recognisable. The reversed development is also very interesting - the notes listed above appear in reversed order, the orange appears in the final stage. Personally, I don't find it aggressive at all, unless someone applies too much, in which case it really can have a killer sillage. I honestly think this is a modern classic. Water of Miracles indeed!

wow!

it smells like: sun+beach+sea+sunscreen on beautiful girl's skin. i really enjoy this scent.

by the way for me it should be unisex

This isn´t really a positive rewiev. Having some expectations on it, since I love Ambre Narguillé and also Kelly Caleshe from Hermés. But this one is nothing like them.

I suspect my skinchemistry dosn´t match this perfume at all. On me it is first of all very masculine and that is OK, but after a while it start getting dusty and kind of old smelling. I imagine some kind of forgotten and dusty old bottle of perfume found at the attic of an old and deceased relative. A bottle you only keep of nostalgic reason...

I'm so sorry that I've posted that this scent was so terrible. Today I went to Hermes counter and sniffed it again. I founded it was nice. But nothing feminine. I think it is a unisex scent. And I must did some mistake when I sniffed it at duty free.

At first, I read this perfume review and thought it will be nice. But when I smelled it at duty free yesterday I felt really disappoint to it. I think it has soap - like and medicinal notes more than resin-y, woody note.

it's a strong rather masculine scent that lasts quite a long time. good for elegant bussines women. fit for day and evening wear. should be applied directly on the skin for a sensual touch, it developes a very unusual blend. good quality and original fragrance.

i love scents with a salty quality, and i already own and love The Different Company's Vetiver dd Sel, so i'm afraid i won't need this. I love the lively orange start but after that i can hardly smell anything. Probably i'm just anosmic to it. i only detect something faintly sweet and powdery, likie violet and a very generic vetiver drydown. Urban Skies called this aggressive and i have hard time even smelling it.Mmmmm?

Seduced by the pretty bottle! And the pretty name! I can't help being shallow, plus I do love orange fragrances, they make me smile. This perfume started a little sharp (*pouf!* like one of those tiny rocket fireworks in the ads) Then became quickly lovely... within the opening seconds, my partner detected a note in it 'Like the sea.' I found myself sniffing and re-sniffing my wrist on the way home as the scent metamorphosed from a genial holiday perfume into some magical spell, feminine and very delicate. The amber and woods are well combined here.

Less than half an hour later my partner was distinctly unimpressed; he found it a bit ordinary whilst I was dismayed at the lack of hold. An hour and a half and it was gone. Maybe it's got no staying power or maybe I didn't put enough on in the first place. It's the first Hermes perfume to interest me. I will have to try it again!

Though it is not that much different from Elixir, I find the feel of perfume to change much more.. more airy, orange less pronounced, overall very classy feel to it..though it comes close to Elixir, but it is not the same

OH, NO... I'm gonna have a Merveilles Little Warehouse on my dressing table! :-)

For me this is not an orange scent, although everybody mentions it, the orange is definitely in the background more than the primadonna, here.
It reminds me surprisingly of eucalyptus, although I am not sure if it contains any. It must be the combination of fir, pepper and citruses that altogether bring a medicinal note, that, unexpectedly, is pleasant.
I am sure this could be worn successfully by a man as well, so I could categorize it as universal.
The woods are also noticeable.
I would also classify it as a summer scent. If I had to make a picture of it, it would probably be of a lake in the middle of a fir forest with lots of tree trunks in the water.

This scent had to grow on me, but now I love it as a summer scent!! I kept going back to test it because of the nice reviews I kept finding on this fragance. Now me like!!

I feel in it far growing orange garden - juicy and sweet, but first of all, salty and woody, subtle scent. In integrity this is very delicate smell, but strange and very intriguing.

I agree with Urban Skies description, minus the aggresive. Very pleasant wood with comfortable pepper. I think it would work great as a daytime fragrance, but also at night if you like too. It's a bit on the masculine side and that's what I like.

Love it. The kind of smeel that you always love to feel, at all times of day and night. Could wear it everyday without a problem.

I associate this scent with hollidays, happy times and celebration feel. The orange is strong on me, spiced up by the peper. It reminds me of wine and fruit (Sangria or tropical punch) and orange cake. Not exactly gourmand but toying with the idea.

It is a very pleasant perfume, sweet with orange notes.

The first time I smelt this I asked the girl who was wearing it which perfume it was (I never asked it before), and from that moment Eau des Merveilles has became my favourite fragrance for women.

Eau des Merveilles is truly a dream: it leads you to an enchanted land and it shakes your feelings, making you think 'This is Heaven'.

this is misterious fragance..it makes me feel different, i feel more sensual. The pepper says it all, i must say

To me, it doesn´t smell peppery or even agressice at all, but like a flower garden.
Funnily enough, because it is described to have no flower notes in it. Strange...

Eau des Merveilles on me is faint peppery orange and an overload on the vetiver! To me I think the vetiver and citrus mixes to become a bit sour and very manly. VERY MASCULINE is how I'd describe Eau des Merveilles. I love the pretty & unique bottle tho! I swapped this one away! Not my cup of tea.

Woody and peppery, almost dusty (but in a good way). Dark, mysterious, elegant, and somewhat aggressive.