The Hermès collection
In this context, Hermès decided to explore gardens around the world and created a veritable collection of fragrances revolving around this subject. Also, one of the last to date is the famous Garden of Mr. Li. This one takes us directly to China and promises you a complete change of scenery.
The Hermès collection
It was in 2003 that the Hermès house decided to embark on the development of this collection. This aims to make us travel to the most beautiful gardens around the world. Hermès thus set out to conquer the world to find little corners of paradise. The collection of the Hermès gardens is a kind of olfactory walk testifying to the unique encounter between the know-how of the Hermès house with the soul of certain parts of the earth. Like its predecessors, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li invites us to put our suitcases far from here. It was developed by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and it is in China that he decided to take us. He describes this country as being where “life begins the day you start a garden”. Here, it is a question of a kind of earthly paradise, of a point of view on the oriental beauty of this country but also of an introspection. Mr. Li’s Garden is designed as a place of meditation. It invites imagination and spiritual rest. Its scents evoke a Chinese garden dotted with ponds and revealing a poetic kiosk. A place of rest, it encourages people to find their own haven of peace. In reality, Hermès suggests to us with this perfume that we “all have something in us from Monsieur Li”.
The floral and oriental scent of Monsieur Li’s Garden
Monsieur Li’s Garden is a juice that has been designed as a sensory landscape. He knew how to capture the magic and spirituality emerging from Japanese nature. Thus, it all begins with the refreshing scent of a pond in the middle of this garden. This combines a watery sensation with the vegetal crunch of bamboo leaves. Then, our gaze rises little by little until we catch a glimpse of the floral beauty of the plum blossoms. The latter are accompanied by the freshness of kumquats, a sort of small juicy mandarins with a tangy flavor. Then, for more elegance and refinement, jasmine and rose come into play. Nevertheless, the whole is tickled by the presence of Sichuan pepper. This one comes to disturb the apparent tranquility of this garden before the whole ends with a more sensual poetry overflowing with musk. Of course, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is presented in the legendary Hermès bottle. This one is inspired by the silhouette of a lantern of the carriages of old. The transparency of this bottle is here crossed by a green and yellow color for an unparalleled feeling of sunny freshness.
In 2015, the Hermès house presented “Le Jardin de Monsieur Li”. This fragrance, which takes us directly to China, follows 4 fragrances from the “Des Jardins” collection from the house of Hermès. After “A Garden in the Mediterranean” in 2003, “A Garden on the Nile” in 2005, “A Garden after the Monsoon” in 2008 and “A Garden on the Roof “in 2011, Jean-Claude Ellena decides to transport us to Asia. As an Asian haven of peace, “Le Jardin de Monsieur Li” invites us to one of the most beautiful gardens in the world …
Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and the Des Jardins Hermès collection
Since 2003, the date of his arrival as official perfumer of the Hermès house, Jean-Claude Ellena has taken us on a journey through gardens, each more beautiful than the next. With each perfume, Jean-Claude Ellena tells an olfactory story, located in a very specific place or country. A garden is full of different and personal scents and none are alike, hence the beauty of each fragrance. With the Des Jardins collection, Jean-Claude Ellena shares his passion for travel with us. The reason he chose China is because he thinks “This is the country where life begins, where you start a garden.” While imaginary, “Monsieur Li’s Garden” is nonetheless a true paradise on earth. It leaves room for tranquility and leads to meditation. Both green and floral, “Le Jardin de Monsieur Li” gives off endless olfactory sensations.
Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, between the scent of flowers and greenery
About its composition, Jean-Claude Ellena explains “I remembered the smell of ponds, the smell of jasmine, the smell of wet stones, that of plum trees, kumquats and giant bamboos. Everything was there, and even, in their pond, carp which took the time to become centenarians ”. Japanese nature is thus in the spotlight in this new part of the Des Jardins collection. All those who have ever had the chance to walk in a Shanghai or Beijing garden have retained in them the olfactory memory of notes of water, flowers and citrus fruits. “Le Jardin de Monsieur Li” begins with notes of bamboo associated with those of kumquat. Kumquat is a citrus fruit from the Far East.
With dark green foliage, kumquat produces edible fruits. In perfumery, essential oil is used, obtained by cold expression of the zest. The kumquat gives off orange, aromatic and sparkling tones. The heart of “Monsieur Li’s Garden” combines plum blossoms with jasmine and rose, letting a soft femininity express itself. Then, the base slightly disturbs the tranquility of the Japanese garden with the presence of Sichuan pepper and musks offering an ultimate touch of seduction. The essence is contained in the mythical bottle of the house of Hermès, inspired by the lantern of a carriage of yesteryear. < / p>
Floral Green