Eau de Pamplemousse Rose

A sharp, sunny citrus with a petal of rose folded into it, Eau de Pamplemousse Rose was created for Hermès by Jean-Claude Ellena in 2009 and is worn by anyone. Citrus is what almost everyone notices first; about half of wearers also pick up the floral side.

The scent is built around three notes rather than a formal pyramid. Grapefruit gives the bitter, juicy sparkle, orange rounds it with a softer sweetness, and rose adds a cool, slightly dewy freshness that keeps the fruit from feeling like plain cologne. There is little in the way of a heavy base, so the character stays light and transparent from start to finish.

Longevity is the common complaint: most people report it weak or very weak, and the projection is intimate for the great majority. Summer leads the season votes, followed by spring, and it is almost entirely a daytime scent. Think of it as a refresher to reapply on hot days rather than something to last an evening.

Eau de Pamplemousse Rose — unisex fragrance by Hermès (released 2009). Notes: Grapefruit, Orange, Rose. — Parfica open fragrance database