A Star Is Born

In the wonder-struck universe of Eau des Merveilles, Hermès introduces a new star, a marriage of light and shadow to the growing constellation. The nose of the house, christine nagel, shares insights on how she created a scent that celebrates chiaroscuro

- Chelsea Tang

The olfactory tale of Hermès’ Eau des Merveilles journey began in 2004, when perfumers Ralf Schwieger and Nathalie Feisthauer jointly created the first “water of wonders” — a dreamy scent, luminous and feminine at the same time. It was the first chapter in the enchanted world of perfumery for the French luxury house; an indulgence of fantasy, poetry and child-like innocence. Since then, a whole constellation of fragrances has been created, with the scent storytelling stretching from mischievous woody sensuality (Élixir des Merveilles), across carnal ochre notes (L’Ambre des Merveilles), to the sweet-briny freshness of the ocean (Eau des Merveilles Bleue). The newest star in its universe? L’Ombre des Merveilles, which was created by in-house perfumer Christine Nagel as an exploration of the harmony and contrast between light and shadow. How do you capture the scent of a feeling? How do you bottle what can only be seen? A discussion of the mysterious scent is certainly due, and Nagel shares her creative process in writing yet another chapter of the Eau des Merveilles story.

Do share with us the journey through the years with every new scent for the Eau des Merveilles line. What was the thought process behind each one?