24, Faubourg Eau de Parfum
Hermès (1995)

This is a bouquet of a variety of flowers, but to me, what stands out the most is hyacinth, and I couldn’t be happier about that as I love hyacinth. This isn’t quite the dewy fresh cut hyacinth that’s present in Penhaligon’s Bluebell, it’s a more refined perfume for a sophisticated woman. It has a warmth to it. This is very much a scent I would choose for a garden party in the spring, a brunch at a fancy restaurant, or even something I’d choose to wear to attend church or a christening… something elegant. I don’t think you have to be mature to use this fragrance, but I do think that it’s more likely to appeal to those who like strong florals, without sweetness. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous, but it is strong so go light on the sprayer. This could definitely be considered a bit suffocating if oversprayed. Or if in a confined space with others.

A complex, bitter-sweet 90’s floral which – when you wear it - feels like you're trying to breathe through a chiffon ball gown.
Barbara Cartland would have loved it.

A beautiful warm fragrance for someone who is comfortable with who they are. It's not for a woman who is trying to attract a mate - she already has one. Not for someone climbing up the social/financial/employment ladder - she is already there, and very nice it is too. Very classy.

After The Bath by Joaquin Sorolla 1916

What a gorgeous perfume! When I first tried it, I found it way too amber-y. But over time, I've gotten used to it, and now it just smells like flowers and pure class. This is an "old-money" perfume, and smells phenomenal.

I've been wearing this for about a year now, it gets high marks for simply being beautiful. It's all class, smells expensive ... but it's just not amazing, special or wow on me. Not great silage or long lasting here.

This, is exquisite. Period.

I was given a sample to try, by a BNer. I'm impressed. The only other Hermes I've tried / owned was back in the early 90's. the name of it escapes me just now...

24, blends orange blossom, gardenia, amber, hyacinth, orange, jasmine, iris, ylang, peach, and bergamot into a drink of liquid ambrosia. Vanilla appears, for me, after a few hours upon application. Definitely full bottle worthy. I guess I know what my birthday present to myself will be, this fall.

The top notes are very floral, a lovely iris, with slight iris stem undertones, in the foreground. Soon a discrete jasmine is added in. The floral opening has a rich, traditional character with just a touch of a boudouir-style vibe.

This continues well into the drydown, but the restrained sweetnes of the opening phase is intensified by a tonka impression, which blends in discretely with the floral notes. There is a touch of waxiness present.

The base sees the sweetness gradually waning, with a very subtle transient woodsy spiciness making an appearance.

The sillage is moderate, the projection excellent and the longevity nine hours on my skin.

Well blended indeed, this lovely floral spring scent with a twist is nice for evenings and never too sweet or cloying. 3.25/5.

2003 Neiman Marcus gives me it's card, with a big whopping
Credit Line. First purchase was a 2002 Vintage EDP for my
life's partner. She had initially seduced me with Chanel 5, that is imprinted in my brain. However, when I sniffed 24 Faubourg, I said to myself, this stuff is so utterly Luxurious Feminine, it belongs to my girl.
Well, for some reason, my Queen chooses not to wear it and 75ml remains.
I wear her No 5 occasionally, but once in a while I steal a spritz of this gem, to remind me of it's dreamy Goddess-like beauty.

If the 1990s are really back, fashion-wise, we need to take them as a whole. As someone who lived through the entire decade, I feel like it's my duty to point out that not everyone in the world was unwashed in flannel clothing, wearing linear Calone water, for an entire decade. By the mid-nineties, grunge was dead. So was the whole idea of fashion as some kind of reaction to 80s excess. The same year Chanel released its (massive hit) Vamp nail polish, Hermes launched 24 Faubourg, Maurice Roucel's unapologetic layer cake of floral more-ness. These were like clarion calls that luxe was back.

Sometimes I find that these luxurious perfumes express themselves at the expense of freshness, especially when the perfume is a particularly noisy soliflore like tuberose or a huge blended floral like 24 Faubourg. I enjoy these types of perfumes, but in their presence I sometimes get the feeling that the air I am breathing may be fragrant, but it is also stale. I find myself straining for oxygen like a swimmer above the perfume's silage.

This is, I think, a function of a perfume's construction. From what I can tell, Maurice Roucel has used very minimal aldehydes in 24 Faubourg, which gives its texture a sense of solidity. Instead of throwing off bits and pieces of its large white choral accord, the whole composition hangs in the air, suspended and majestic. At its top is a jasmine dripping with honey, hinting at gardenia, suggesting late spring and decadent nights, with indole to keep things lively and radiance to indicate luxury. Below the white flowers lies a gorgeous, juicy (not earthy) iris buttressed with cedar. The whole bouquet sits on just enough vanilla and salinity to keep it all from needing regular pruning and watering.

I don't know how this perfume does it, but it still leaves room to breathe. There's somehow just enough little pockets of space left in 24 Faubourg that you don't feel suffocated within it. And the just-on-the-edge-of-overripe, animalic drydown is gorgeous. Not only is 24 Faubourg wearable--it's haunting. The last time I smelled it, I pined for weeks until I finally broke down and bought a bottle.

I'm almost sure this is the power of suggestion and nothing else, but I smell the DNA of older Hermes releases in here. Something in this perfume suggests a little neroli and orange; something else suggests amber. Nothing in this fragrance is daring or unusual, except its over-the-top neoclassicism. I love the idea of just a spritz of this with one of my old rock t shirts and jeans. Wearing 24 Faubourg like that would be adding a bit of transgressive fun to an otherwise samey night.

I feel like a queen when I wear this one. It's so beautiful.

This is a gentle and restrained white floral, quite light, and a true tribute to the scent of jasmine. It has a light menthol-like dry down.

Top notes: Neroli, Jasmine Sambac
Heart notes: Iris, Vanilla
Base notes: Amber, Patchouli

Turin gives it four stars and names it a "honeyed floral."

It is recommended for the very young woman - in her early twenties.

Very nice, sophisticated, complex.