If you’re trying to choose the best Hermes cologne for men, you’ll have your work cut out for you — because with an incredibly long history of fragrance creation, Hermes has an amazingly deep and varied catalog to choose from.
As one of the foremost faces of French luxury goods on the market today, Hermes is especially renowned for its colognes and perfumes. Founded on a sense of dedication to craftsmanship and expertise, each of their fragrance is like none other.
How are you supposed to choose the best Hermes cologne for men from among their most famous scents, then? With this guide, of course!
Simply read on to discover our top 5 picks for the best smelling Hermes colognes, complete with detailed notes on their aromatic profiles and what seasons and occasions each cologne is best for.
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5 Best Hermes Cologne For Men In 2022
Narrowing down all of Hermes’ spectacular cologne offerings to these five was a genuine challenge. What this means for you is that every scent that remains on this list is not just good, but great — and we would be proud to wear any one of them.
Terre D’Hermes (Our Top Pick)
A refreshing and invigorating blend of woody, spicy, and citrus scents, Terre D’Hermes is definitely our top pick for the best smelling Hermes cologne. Originally launched in 2006, it has continued to gain popularity each year — becoming a cult classic cologne in its own right. If you can only afford to try one Hermes cologne, Terre D’Hermes should absolutely be at the top of your list!
Leading with notes of white grapefruit zest for an immediate pick-me-up, this cologne then smoothly transitions to a cracked black pepper and mildly floral center. Deep at the heart of the fragrance, though, lies its true magic: Rich cedar tones, exotic patchouli, and a resinous quality that’s vaguely reminiscent of incense.
With its excellent longevity and moderate intensity, Terre D’Hermes will stay with you all day long after only one application. In fact, some wearers report being able to smell the lingering woody aromas for two or three days on their clothes! And thanks to its balanced composition, Terre is a great cologne to wear year-round.
Notes:
- Top notes of mandarin orange and grapefruit peel
- Middle notes of black pepper and pelargonium
- Base notes of vetiver, cedar, patchouli, and benzoin
Best For:
- Everyday wear
- All four seasons
- Any time of day
Un Jardin Sur Le Nil
One of the earliest of Hermes’ “Jardin” series, Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is modeled after the garden islands of the Nile at Assouan. Exotic yet comforting, it’s an unabashedly warm weather loving scent that’s sure to appeal to adventurous types.
Green mango and citrus lead the nose immediately into the depths of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, giving way over an hour to the deeper orange oil and lotus scents. Despite an uncommonly light base of iris, incense, and baking spices, Sur Le Nil has a curiosity-sparking intensity.
Designed for wear by both men and women, the entire Un Jardin series of unisex fragrances tiptoes a line between delicately floral and enticingly masculine. Of the series, Sur Le Nil falls most definitely in the middle — offering rich fruity and floral aromas against a long-lasting resinous and spicy backdrop.
Notes:
- Top notes of grapefruit peel, green mango, tomato leaf, and carrot seed
- Middle notes of bulrush, lotus blossom, orange peel, hyacinth, and peony
- Base notes of musk, iris, incense, labdanum, and cinnamon.
Best For:
- Spring and summer wear
- Daytime wear
- Men who want a neutrally gendered scent
Voyage D’Hermes
Warmly spicy yet punctuated with unexpected floral and green tea notes, Voyage D’Hermes is an intensely rich fragrance designed for both men and women. Of Hermes’ unisex scents, Voyage distinguishes itself as being on the side of masculine, all without going overboard on musk, smoke, or leather scents.
Immediately after applying Voyage, you’ll notice freshly cracked green cardamom pods mingle with lemon zest and mulling spices. As the cologne matures through the day, savory green tea and delicate floral notes will comprise the main aromatic profile — all supported by a richly woodsy and resinous base. It’s an intriguing contradiction of a fragrance, offering equally intense notes of feminine and masculine aromas, mediated by oceanic green tea.
With only a moderate longevity, Voyage D’Hermes is best reserved for daytime wear. A single application in the morning will last through most of a work day, where the exotic intermingling of aromas will lift your spirits and bolster your powers of concentration.
Notes:
- Top notes of green cardamom, lemon zest, and baking spices
- Middle notes of green tea, rose, hedione, and floral bouquets
- Base notes of cedarwood, light musk, and amber
Best For:
- Wearing to work
- Daytime wear
- Spring, summer, and fall wear
Hermes Terre D’Herm Eau Intense Vetiver
A natural extension of the original Terre D’Hermes, Eau Intense Vetiver uses the powerfully aromatic Indian vetiver grass to its fullest extent. The aromatics distilled from the roots of vetiver have long been renowned for their fixative properties, lending perfumes and colognes a much longer duration.
Given its own dry, earthy, woodsy, leathery, and smoky characteristics, vetiver is often thought of as a stereotypically “manly” aroma — and it’s on full display in this cologne. With a brief lead of mixed citrus and a small heart of spicy and cool szechuan peppercorns, vetiver’s rich and smoky aspects are given center stage thanks to the support of amber resin.
If you’re looking for the most masculine fragrance Hermes has to offer, Terre D’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver may be the right choice for you. It has tremendous staying power, lasting longer than a full day’s wear, and notable intensity as well. For the man looking to make a statement with his cologne, Eau Intense Vetiver will do the trick!
Notes:
- Top notes of bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit peels
- Middle notes of szechuan peppercorns and geranium
- Base notes of vetiver, olibanum, amberwood, and patchouli
Best For:
- Men who want an extremely masculine scent
- All day wear throughout the entire year
Concentre d’Orange Verte
Literally translated as “Concentrate of Green Orange”, the last Hermes fragrance in our review is perhaps the most neutral of their unisex fragrances. Built entirely around the aromas of unripe citrus fruit, it’s an interestingly niche cologne for the dedicated lover of citrus scents.
Featuring aromas of both the peel and leaves of unripe oranges throughout the entire composition, Concentre d’Orange Verte is lovingly supported by other “green” aromas: Fragrant herbs, patchouli, and freshly cut cedar are all on display. As the glue that binds these disparate scents together, resinous amber gives a final “powdery” quality as the scent dries on your skin.
Equally suitable for both men and women, Concentre d’Orange Verte’s neutral aromatics definitely trend towards warm weather wear. Though it has a surprisingly long duration for such a citrus-heavy scent, Concentre really needs sunshine and hotter temperatures to show its best side.
Notes:
- Top notes of green orange peel and orange leaf
- Middle notes of basil and patchouli
- Base notes of cedarwood and amber
Best For:
- Daytime wear
- Spring and summer wear
- Sharing with your significant other
The History Of Hermes Cologne
With a company history dating back to 1837, and fragrance design from 1951, Hermes is one of the oldest names in French luxury goods. From their very first perfume, Eau d’Hermes, the company has contracted only the finest perfumers in all the world to create its signature scents.
It wasn’t until 1970, though, that Hermes produced its first cologne: Equipage. Rich with rosewood, cinnamon, flowers, musk, and vanilla, Equipage immediately drew the attention of the entire fragrance industry. Even today, many new colognes are still modeled after the style of Hermes’ first fragrance for men.
Beginning in 2003, Hermes led the way yet again in the fragrance world by creating an intricately detailed line of unisex scents. With each fragrance in the “Jardin” line modeled after a famous garden somewhere in Europe, Hermes has melded the sense of place and sense of smell in an inimical way that leaves wearers wanting more.
What Does Hermes Cologne Smell Like?
Scents are, by nature, a hard thing to really describe. You kind of have to be there to really understand. With that said, according to almost every review, Hermes’ entire line of colognes smell amazing. All that’s left is to pick the right cologne for your specific needs.
For example, Terre D’ Hermes is our top pick because it demands attention from both men and women. It’s the only one on the list that ends with an incense-like quality that attracts people like moths to a flame. Another example is Voyage D’ Hermes, which combines a normally feminine aromas with a masculine scent that stands out in a crowd.
So to answer the question, it depends on the cologne you want. Some are going to citrusy, others are going to be aquatic, and yet others will be a unisex floral scent. In all cases though, you can be that an Hermes cologne will smell good on you.
If you like Hermes colognes, you may also like other brands like Givenchy, Mont Blanc, and Gucci.
Brian Adee
Brian has been fascinated with fragrances since his 8th birthday, when his Dad gifted him a bottle of Acqua di Gio. Since then, he has become a men's grooming & style aficionado who teaches men how to look sharp. Backed by personal experience, Brian's articles are known for his no-holds-barred style where he holds nothing back. You will get his real opinions on the latest men's grooming products and best practices where he reveals the best (and worst) style advice every man should know.
