Eau de Narcisse Bleu by Hermès

Narciso Blue: Fresh and aromatic opening of bergamot and soft orange blossom. Middle: within minutes the fresh opening yields to an aromatic, silky narcissus, with a slight earthy but fresh touch. Dry down: defined by a clean, almost soapy narcissus that becomes talc-like. Projection and longevity: about 2-3 hours close to the skin, lasts over 6 hours without issues, stands out in warm environments. Conclusion: simple yet comforting, floral, earthy and fresh, with that soapy, clean touch typical of blue fragrances. A complete success for any time of day and season.

If you’re looking for the purest narcissus, this is it: blended with green notes and a hint of wood. Hermès once again proves its magic by recreating sublime, mysterious scents.

It’s my spring all-rounder; I reserve it for weekends when I travel and just want to carry one perfume in my suitcase. The bottle is pretty, good quality, compact, takes up little space, and is light compared to others that feel like weapons; it’s easy to transport and very versatile, suitable for a walk in jeans or a formal dinner. I’ve read that others think it smells of iris, obviously narcissuses don’t smell like that; sometimes floral notes don’t match real flowers; orchids smell like nothing in nature but in perfumery they do. It doesn’t smell exactly like iris either, but it has that powdery iris scent. It smells very well, with a beautiful woody base, elegant, cool, classic, with a masculine touch and sober. I love it! The pity is that it doesn’t perform well, has no trail, and lasts only a couple of hours; I’m using it up quickly, applying a lot to make it last longer, and it’s so expensive to use like this. For now, I’m enjoying it immensely, but I don’t know if I’ll buy it again given how little it lasts.

A smart fragrance for those who don’t want to draw attention. The opening notes are a bit artificial, but the narcissus emerges quickly, turning it sweet and irresistible. It’s my favourite; nothing has replaced it. I’m not smitten by the dark blue glass, but it transports me to summer nights. Perfect for shy people yet infinitely sensual.

What fun to find something that gives you a headache yet you can’t stop sniffing your own skin. Most of the time this Blue Narcisse makes me gag, and yet I adore that feeling. It’s a complex, highly characterful eau de parfum. I don’t know what real narcissus smells like, but here I think there’s iris. The opening is airy, blue, and undefined, like a mist that blurs everything. Then the sharp edge of iris appears, fast as a rocket. It’s a unisex iris, very identifiable in an original context. Then comes the anise-like edge of violets, which I don’t like, and worst of all, it turns into a very annoying creamy, oily soap. It reminds me of Prada Luna Rossa: there’s something about to explode that makes me anxious, so I wouldn’t wear it on me. But three hours later, the dry-down is another world: floral soap, powdery, blue, and fresh, with a deep woody touch that gives it strength. I loved this phase a lot, even if the scent feels small. Weak performance, but I’d recommend it for something fun and beautiful.

I tried it the other day because of the leaden blue bottle and the name, which sounds so regal and sober, like a dawn in a northern Italian villa. I knew I’d be disappointed, as is often the case with Ellena, but I didn’t lose my temper. The opening is strange and vintage, lasting only a breath, smelling of freshly cut broad bean pods. Narciso Blue is a lovely lotion where there is no hint of narcissus; here, the lily takes precedence, a cool, velvet blue iris with wood that lends serenity, perhaps a sparkling neroli or citrus for brightness. It’s like Prada’s Infusion d’Iris but less powdery. Why call it Narciso if it doesn’t smell like one? My father brought real narcissus, and it smells musky and faecal, nothing like this bottle. In summary: a pretty bottle containing a lily water, a serene, reflective, ambiguous formula with an old-school twist, reminiscent of a cloudy dawn. A well-made fragrance, notable quality, typical French repressed transparency. Moderate trail, better than others in the line, average longevity, house brand.

Reminds me of a simplified version of Chanel N°5 and Shalimar…

It starts clean with that talcum touch, but the sillage is light and disappears quickly.

The perfumer is Jean-Claude Ellena, so please add that to the description.