Fragrance Favorites
Arianna Huffington, the Greek-American author and co-founder of The Huffington Post, has named Hermès 24 Faubourg as a favorite fragrance. It is a grand, sunlit floral from one of the most respected houses in luxury, and a scent with real staying power in every sense. Here is what it is like and how to experience it for yourself.
Signature Scent
- Hermès 24 Faubourg
About the Fragrance
24 Faubourg was launched by Hermès in 1995 and composed by perfumer Maurice Roucel; the name is the address of the house’s flagship store on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. It is usually described as a floral oriental with chypre leanings: a radiant opening of peach and bergamot gives way to a lush heart of orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, and iris, finishing on a warm base of vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli, and resins. The effect is golden and expansive, a scent meant for silk scarves and long evenings. It has been reformulated over the years, so vintage and current bottles can differ noticeably.
Wearing It Yourself
24 Faubourg is big and long-lasting, so one spray on skin is plenty for a first test, and you should give it most of a day before deciding. The juicy, floral opening and the warm, resinous drydown are almost two different fragrances, and both deserve your attention. A public figure’s favorite is an invitation to explore, not an instruction, so let your own reaction be the judge.
Why it matters
Choosing one grand floral as a signature says a lot about wanting presence without fuss. If that appeals, 24 Faubourg is a fine benchmark against which to measure other rich florals from Hermès and beyond.