HERMES
Un Jardin a Cythere
2023
PERFUMER
Christine Nagel
dry grass
olive wood
pistachio
‘Created by Hermès’ perfumer Christine Nagel, Un Jardin a Cythere eau de toilette is a surprising garden that is neither green nor floral, but… blond. It is the expression of an olfactory quest through Greece that leads to Kythira, a picturesque island that has inspired many artists. A citrus and woody fragrance, Un Jardin a Cythere eau de toilette combines enveloping notes of grasses with the strength of olive wood and the tenderness of fresh pistachio.’ – Hermes
Finally, I got around to reviewing this fragrance. I’d tried it several times in stores and I’ve always enjoyed the first impression. In general, I think that the Hermes Un Jardin collection is one of the best in the designer realm, with Un Jardin En Mediterranee being a long-time staple to me, especially because that’s the one fragrance that my mother always wore around the time I started getting into the fragrance hobby.
Un Jardin A Cythere is probably my second favorite or favorite from this collection, although I also appreciate Un Jardin Sur Le Nil. Cythere opens with a tart, sharp lemon. Hermes lists ‘grasses’ as one of the main notes, but I don’t get the specific grass scent here (cis-3-hexenol), I just get a greenish edge to the citrus. Making for a much more lifelike zesty citrus than the often sweetened, candied citrus we find in these types of perfumes.
It keeps the fragrance fresh, even when some of the warmer tones are introduced. Olive trees and pistachio’s are the theme here, but it’s mostly a clean woody scent alongside the citrus. Like blonde woods in my mind, with some green shrubs. I’m always reminded of rice or even a bread-like scent with Un Jardin A Cythere. Subtle warmth and even some subtle sweetness, with that nutty hint, but in a cozy, zen-like manner.
It evokes the garden theme and Spring/Summer vacations well enough. Simple, elegant, comforting and without any major pitfalls in its wear, like an overdose of sweetness or harsh synthetic feeling. It wears thin, but not screechy, like a delicate citrus oil on a warm sweet skin. In my book, among the nicer designer perfume releases of its time period.