The creative director of Herm&egrave;s Perfumes is inspired by the power of fire for her latest creation, Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau de Parfum Intense.

In your opinion, what makes Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s so iconic?
Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s was a breakthrough fragrance, a pioneer at the time it was created and now widely followed and imitated. It expresses the masculine at <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/every-look-hermes-mens-fall-winter-2025-collection-menswear-fashion-week-runway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herm&egrave;s</a> in a very strong way. This scent has become a classic in that it glides over times when it is out of fashion. It is an artistic success, a success of judgement and a commercial success that never runs out of steam. Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s embodies a <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/living/jaeger-lecoultre-nicolas-bonneville-scent-signature-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">perfumer&rsquo;s</a> ideal.

What is your approach when creating a new Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s expression?
Working on an icon like Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s is challenging, because its spirit, structure and imaginative world must be maintained while still imparting one&rsquo;s signature. By changing perspectives, I am offering a new balance in the resonance of the materials, while preserving its quintessence, its canvas, its woody-mineral architecture. I approach the subject without apprehension, which allows me to take things a long way. For me, it's a fascinating exercise that I take to with great enthusiasm: Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau Intense V&eacute;tiver in 2018, Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau Givr&eacute;e in 2022 and now Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau de Parfum Intense.
Tell us about the genesis of Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau de Parfum Intense.
Reworking Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s always begins with an essential question: &ldquo;What fascinates me about the earth?&rdquo; I have always been amazed by erupting volcanoes, by the power of the lava gushing out of this black, arid earth. I feel a great aesthetic emotion at seeing this subterranean impulse, this original fire that rises from the bowels of the earth in the form of a rock that is dense and absolute in its blackness, and yet so light.
For this new creation, I wanted to explore deep into the earth. An earth under which a fire smoulders. An earth that is darker, but warmer, more fiery, more intense. At the same time, I wanted to explore a more intimate, more intense side of Man, one that expresses the inner fire that drives him.

A Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s inspired by volcanoes and lava is certainly evocative. Have you ever encountered them in real life? How did you capture the &ldquo;heat&rdquo; in this scent?
I drew my inspiration from a distant memory. I once climbed a volcano in Guatemala and I thought I was going to die because the climb was so difficult &mdash; I was out of breath, my legs hurt, I had a stitch in my side... But when I reached the top, I could feel the force of this molten earth. As for lava, I have pieces of it and I still get the same pleasure from holding them, observing them and weighing them in my hands.
To evoke this subterranean drive, I worked on a bergamot that was assertive and lively, tinging it with a black pepper that had a strong signature to give it a more fiery, piquant edge. I warmed this vigorous opening with a note of burnt cedarwood, which conveys the power of this inner fire. It's two incredible raw materials that have given me this sensation: roasted coffee and natural liquorice root. Lastly, we can&rsquo;t talk about Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s without mentioning its backbone: the mineral note. I reinterpreted the emblematic Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s flint accord with the idea of lava stone and its duality in a texture that is both dense and light.
Describe the personality of Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau de Parfum Intense.
I do not believe and have never believed in a standard profile, as I am firmly of the mind that fragrance is a question not of style or personality, but of emotion and sensitivity. Perhaps those who loved Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s 20 years ago will be pleased to discover a new facet of it. As for the younger generation, who may not be familiar with it or who don&rsquo;t necessarily want to wear their father&rsquo;s fragrance, perhaps this new, more intense expression will appeal to them.&nbsp;

Terre d’Hermès - Eau de Parfum Intense

Finally, how have men&rsquo;s taste for fragrances evolved today, and does Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s Eau de Parfum Intense reflect that evolution?
Men&rsquo;s fragrances the world over have fallen victim to a universal phenomenon: the pursuit of strength, the kind that bludgeons the senses. This one-upmanship to see who can make the most noise is reflected in ever-increasing concentrations and ever louder creations that are quite overpowering. I can illustrate this trend with a culinary metaphor: a dish that is too hot loses the subtlety, finesse and delicacy of its flavour. I don&rsquo;t need to tell you how much this upsets me, so when I decided to work on a more intense Terre d&rsquo;Herm&egrave;s, I went against this heavy-handed approach by looking for strength in its signature rather than a powerful scent. Herm&egrave;s never does things like everyone else!

&ldquo;I have always been amazed by erupting volcanoes, by the power of the lava gushing out of this black, arid earth.&rdquo;

Christine Nagel on Crafting the Latest Terre d’Hermès Scent

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