It's more original than you'd think. Voyage d'Hermes Parfum comes out swinging with a big ol' tart lemon note, complimented by spicy, woody cardamom by the cartload. The lemon keeps the cardamom from being overwhelmingly spicy or woody, while the cardamom keeps the lemon from being disgustingly sweet. It rounds out with a pleasantly spicy, peppery character, reminiscent of pink pepper but richer. Really quite lovely.

Little touches of ozone and amber (probably Amber X-Treme or some similar molecule) underpin the opening, but aren't shrill, screechy, or obnoxious. Instead, the slight chemical dryness of such ingredients helps to accentuate the woody characteristics of the spices.

As the fragrance's development progresses, the lemon and most of the cardamom eventually give way to a remarkably realistic and rich tea note, one of Ellena's signatures. It pulls off quite a trick: when I originally smelled Voyage d'Hermes, I was caught completely off-guard by the sudden change, and it remains a delight after several wearings.

After some hours of slightly spiced tea, Voyage d'Hermes Parfum fades into a warm, pleasant musk (which smells very much to me like Exaltolide). It stubbornly clings to the skin for the rest of the day, and remains one of the longest-lived designer perfumes I've smelled. Unlike some of its louder brethren, the fragrance never becomes harsh or unpleasant, instead maintaining an elegant, pitch-perfect balance for its entire life.

Enjoying the review of Voyage d'Hermes Parfum? Why not check out the full article (including a PODCAST) at the Mannscents fragrance blog?