Terre d’Hermès Intense by Hermès

This is a top-tier fragrance, but beware: licorice makes up 90% of the scent and defines the whole experience. It projects strongly, clings to clothes, and lasts a very long time. Because it doesn’t blend well with other notes, don’t buy it blindly if you don’t love that licorice note. It feels genuinely high-quality, not synthetic or alcohol-heavy. It suits a well-dressed gentleman, not for parties or the beach.

After using it for over a month, my verdict is that it’s overpriced for what it offers. You’re paying for the brand, but the longevity doesn’t do justice to the hype. The ‘Intense’ seems like marketing; licorice dominates, and the coffee note is barely noticeable at first. It lasts about six hours on skin with a discreet trail. It’s a unique aroma, but I expected Hermès to break away from other designers regarding longevity. Try a decant first. Hopefully, they improve this version.

Since the original Terre d’Hermès launched, I saw this Intense version this year. I thought, being an EDP, it would be the same but stronger, but upon wearing it, I thought, ‘I’ve been ripped off.’ I looked up reviews and discovered it’s from the same family but distinct. At first, I hated it, but then I felt it on my skin and noticed its character and longevity. It has a trail, fresh citrus notes, and musk that combine perfectly with the relentless pepper that gives it that spicy quality. I’ve already bought another bottle and received a replica with an atomiser as a gift.

Yes, it smells of coffee, licorice, and then the original Terre. I suppose ‘Intense’ is a trend in perfumery to describe something undefined, because the original seems more intense to me, without this implying it is weak. It smells very good and is addictive (though if I get too close, it makes me want to sneeze) and reminds me of nothing (1000 points). It’s for late afternoon or night, for calm moments of enjoyment. The dry-down on skin is phenomenal; it has a somewhat retro air, but the slightly sweet coffee makes it more modern without going overboard. Warning: DO NOT use in party venues or if you plan to sweat, because certain notes mixed with sweat make you smell three times more sweaty. Is it the ‘lava’? The ‘stone’? Is that the ‘Intense’? Smelling like a tiger but with class. In short, if I wear it calmly, I love it, and it’s better when cool. It’s not for everyone and is challenging, especially in the opening which smells of spices but passes quickly while you dress. My girlfriend hates it, so I wear it to be left alone. It has its uses.

Exquisite. It has the classic Hermès qualities but darker. It is pure elegance, a little difficult for those who prefer sweeter perfumes or teenage scents like Stronger or JPG. This is for more mature tastes. MARVELOUS.

The opening smells freshly chopped parsley and coriander… a resounding NO.

It is a continuationist fragrance, but not of the original EDT, rather of the Eau Givré. The Eau Givré starts with grapefruit, peel, and metallic accents; here it is bergamot with peel and those same metallic accents. That phase lasts about an hour, after which an aquatic note and sensations of warm, wet iris gradually take over, which must be the combination of ‘licorice and lava’, as the fragrance becomes more personal. The longevity was around 7 hours, with normal-to-low performance. The positive is that they continue to modernise the Terre DNA, moving away from the original but maintaining the naturalness of its oils and its masculinity. The negative is that the power leaves you wanting after the first hour. Anyway, it is very likely I will purchase it.

My first Terre. On the first try, I must admit it didn’t quite take my fancy. The next day, I gave it another chance and began to appreciate its notes more clearly, enjoying its evolution. A third test during a night out, where I finally fell for its charm. A fragrance that stands out from the crowd, elegant and manly. Discreet projection and satisfactory longevity.

What a delight, such a lovely scent. I was absolutely enamoured the moment I tried it. It reminded me so much of Narciso Rodríguez Bleu Noir EDT just by smelling it, which is why I loved it so much, as I adore that one; when I finish it, I’ll surely grab this. The coffee note makes it delicious and super creamy. As for projection, I’d say it doesn’t project much; it’s quite intimate, and given the price, that puts me off a little, especially considering its older brother, Terre d’Hermès EDT, projects a lot and is thoroughly enjoyable. It also reminded me a bit of Devotion pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, though this Hermès one is infinitely better. The major drawback is the longevity and sillage; for an autumn fragrance, it fades very quickly, and even with ten sprays, it disappears into the air and doesn’t stay with you all day. I think, no matter how well it smells and how wonderful it is, that’s a significant enough flaw to overlook it.

Review of Terre d’Hermès Eau de Parfum Intense. I walked into the perfumery to ask about this scent, and I must say that when the assistant handed it to me to try, I was immediately hit by an extremely strong coffee note. A few minutes later, I remarked that it was like walking into Cioccolata or a café serving bitter chocolate pastries—essentially a double-shot mocha with barely any milk for me, sir. I told myself I’d buy it on Monday; it was Friday when I left, but after about ten minutes, I started detecting a hint of wet hose and fresh green grass (licorice) with a trace of pumice. I decided to return, whether I’m a wealthy country gentleman or not, and I bought it anyway. I need to confirm if pumice actually has a smell, but I know it’s sold in my country and, due to its sulphates, is used to wash feet; it must be the metallic, volcanic scent they advertise. Tomorrow I’ll go to the agricultural terminal to ask the Bolivian and Peruvian vendors who sell it whether it truly smells—I distinctly remember sensing it, though I still need to verify. The other notes are probably there, but I hadn’t fully processed them at the time. Listen, this is good, my goodness, and I’m a follower of this line anyway. It will surely improve considerably as I wear it more. The lineup: Eau de Parfum Intense, the original, and Intense Vétiver. I would not buy: Eau Givré.

Pff… speechless, second test at the perfumerie. As a fan of the Terre saga, the first impression was one of strangeness; I didn’t notice any resemblance to its siblings, but on this second test I appreciated the nuances better (it’s very evolutive). It comes out powerful with liquorice present throughout. At first glance, it shocks because it’s different, but little by little it calms down and the coffee emerges with the woody notes, my favourite part. There, the Terre aroma appears slightly; you can perceive it’s a flanker. To me, it seems brilliant, one of the best I’ve smelled in years. Super pleasant, with presence and elegance, without becoming too mature or serious. Suitable for temperate and fresh climates. Performance: pleasantly surprised; Hermès perform brilliantly, over 10 hours on skin without being overwhelming. Nothing to object to. I recommend trying it, especially on skin to see the nuances, but it seems a treat and I already have a bottle on its way. Along with Eau Givrée, it has become my favourite in the line.

Using Eau Intense is like returning to a familiar place but with changed lights, furniture and soundtrack. And yet, everything still smells like you… but better. It’s not here to seduce you, but to teach you composure. To remind you that a perfume doesn’t have to beg for compliments if it’s built with structure, precision and bite. First impression was treacherous: right behind the citrus smile was him: the liquorice. Bitter, dark, slightly medicinal. Not the cheap candy kind, but the kind smoked in a fine tea salon. Then, the twist: after 30 minutes, the composition settles. The vetiver takes centre stage, dry, elegant, with the texture of earth freshly broken by the sun. And the coffee… it smells of intention, of lucid wakefulness. As if someone were awake by choice. It’s a philosophical coffee, almost Bergmanian. The whole perfume becomes a discourse on maturity.

As a die-hard fan of the Terre line, I felt obliged to try this new creation. While the coffee note wasn’t my thing from the start, and combined with the liquorice, my scepticism increased. I wasn’t wrong. The DNA is there, but the coffee is too prominent for me. That said, undeniable quality; it’s very evolutive and elegant as a whole, like all Terres. I’d say it’s more for cold or intermediate climates. I have a decant; the bottle won’t come with me. For those who like the coffee note, there’s a good product here.

I adore it, it smells so elegant and sweet, mature but not too much. I feel it’s not for everyone, but personally, I loved it.

I wanted to refill my Eau Intense Vetiver bottle and stumbled upon this Terre d’Hermès Intense. They gave me an extra 10% and the sample wasn’t bad, so I snapped it up. I’m giving it the best break-in period possible. At first, it doesn’t smell as ‘Terre’ as advertised; it has a bit of its DNA, but it’s far from the concept—other fragrances by Nagel come closer. I don’t detect the citrus as sharp; instead, there’s a rich, dense roasted coffee, not the fresh brew from a coffee machine, more spices and that mineral note which is the leitmotif of the whole fragrance. I think the sweetness comes from the Lava note, similar to Trussardi’s Primo, and the stone doesn’t remind me of Comme des Garçons’ Concrete, although that one never claimed to have it. Overall, it’s the densest of the Terre series; the name ‘Intense’ is justified. While Intense Vetiver is versatile for spring and autumn, I see this Intense more for autumn-winter, ideal for evening dinners, though it holds up in a fresh spring. It smells sexy, very masculine, well-executed, elegant, and slightly novel within its series. The quality is good and the performance acceptable. It’s a Terre that plays to its own strengths and could have been named differently, but it’s good work from the current Hermès, nothing like the sweet perfumes of my youth. Edit: It lasted all night and I can still smell it this morning, a soft licorice with woods. It’s very evolving, one of the few that make many changes; at first, it smells like the original Terre and the notes come out in relays, showing good craftsmanship. Recommended for testing, it’s not boring.