Hermessence Vanille Galante Hermès for women and men

Wow, this is one of the biggest let downs I've ever smelled by any fragrance house. I'm surprised Hermes ever released this. I find it hard to smell a single pleasant note. Even the vanilla smells unrealistic and nonexistent. I get a faint undertone of "floral" with no detail or clarity. Honestly pitiful.

On drydown, I'm starting to pick up a melon note, what a confusing profile... Maybe if the scent was called 'Melon Whisper' I'd be accurately primed for the smell.

1/10

Oh well, this is not what I thought it was going to be. I thought this was going to be a refined soft cloud like vanilla scent. I imagined something similar to Sublime Vanilla or Vanilla Insensee a fluffly pastel like scent. Vanilla Galante is basically a Lily scent that has an aquatic vanilla background, something like a diluted Vanilla Vibes mixed with Lys Soleia.
Lily, lily and more lily, followed by aquatic salty vanilla. In the drydown I also get something like fish...

No, I can't stand this type of scent. Sorry Hermes.

Why am I smelling fish? I get fishy seaweed and resinous vanilla. It dries a little less fishy, but it never quite fades. Seashore with fish and vanilla salt. A total pass for me. I generally love Ellena's work but this is a complete fail. Maybe my sample went bad?

I'm not a fan of vanilla, but this case was one of the best vanilly perfumes that I have tested and it justified the reason for my interest in Master Ellena's works.
Along with the clear compositions of Ellena it`s one of the lightest vanilla scents you can try.
The name of the perfume promises the presence of vanilla as a main roll, but in practice this is not.
The presence of vanilla here is like the presence of the oud in "Creed Royal Oud"! Not possible to deny its existence and not possible to say that it is the most powerful note of perfume.
Delicious and soft vanilla dances among lots of white and yellow flowers on a woody base.
Ylang Ylang gives the aroma a bold banana scent and the woody boozy notes have a creamy milky feel.
Cognac in this perfume has cocoa vibes and a little lactonic and waxy smell; with the same aspects, it was also prominent in "Tom Ford Champaka Absolue".
Finally The smell of vanilla cake and milkshake?
Perhaps. But despite the flowers it cant be a gourmand.

طرفدارعطرهای وانیلی نیستم اما این مورد یکی از بهترین ترکیبات وانیلی بود که تست کردم و دلیل علاقم به کارهای استاد النا رو برام موجه تر کرد.
هم سو با روایحِ زلالِ دنیای عطار، از لایت ترین کارهای وانیلی هست که میتونید تست کنید.
اسم عطر نویدِ حضور وانیل بعنوان عنصر محوری رو میده اما عملا اینطور نیست. نوع حضور وانیل اینجا مثل حضور عود در "کرید رویال عود" هست! نه میشه وجودش رو انکار کرد نه میشه گفت پرقدرت ترین نت عطره.
شیرینی وانیلی خوشمزه و اهلی درمیان انبوهی از گل های سفید و زرد روی زمینه ای چوبی در حال رقصه. یلانگ یلانگ بوی موزی بارز و پررنگی به عطرداده و نت چوبی مشروبی کار حالت شیری خامه ای داره.
کنیاک رو در این عطر به شکل شیرینی الکلی کاکائویی و کمی لاکتونیک و مومی حس میکنم که با همین وجوه در عطر "تام فورد چمپاکا ابسولو" هم نمود بارزی داشت.
نهایتا بوی کیک وانیلی و شیرموز؟ شاید. اما با وجود گلها اونقدرهم خوراکی نیست

A boozy, woody tobacco mixed with vanilla and florals. Its very light, but i love the originality. Beautiful wear tho, underrated.

Tobacco, spices, woody notes, some booze.. Too spicy for me

Hermessence scents tend to be quiet but unusual compositions that are light and sheer yet polarising. Vanille Galante is a case in point. An olfactory watercolour by Jean-Claude Ellena, it is a boozy, spicy vanilla that is also barely-there. While I prefer my vanilla scents dry, powdery and woody, I'm not fully convinced by VG, but I can appreciate it as a creative take on a hackneyed note.

VG opens with a alcoholic haze with faint, dry vanilla in the background. I waited for the boozy opening to subside, and it just...didn't - instead it becomes more intense and slightly darker as the cognac note becomes prominent. Light, powdery florals follow, and it becomes an airy, powdery slightly sweet scent.

A hint of cocoa powder complements the dry vanilla, with some soft spices adding interest, but it remains very subtle and reasonably simple. It becomes softly, cleanly musky as it fades. Sillage is intimate and longevity is moderate. It is a transeasonal daytime scent.

A unisex, non-sweet vanilla skin scent, this is unusual and not for everyone, and is perhaps overpriced for its performance. It feels very Diptyque in style, and I grudgingly like it. Subtle artistry that may offend. 3.5/5.

What is the fish note I keep getting? Is it ambergris? I smell it so strongly here and in PDM Sedbury. Breaks my heart because I so wanted to love it. But I just can’t get down with that fish smell combined with vanilla. It’s like rotting food.

this should have been called vanille banane. i'm relieved to find i'm not the only one who gets a pronounced banana note in this. some spices hover faintly in the background. but that's about it. very linear, making it pretty boring IMO. and i personally don't like the smell of banana so it's a no for me.

Hermessence Vanille Galante by Hermès very delicate fragrance by Jean-Claude Ellena that enhances the purity of vanilla in its true essence: vanilla is often vilified and debased, presented in a banal gourmand and sweet way. Hermessence Vanille Galante by Hermès enhances the absolute purity of vanilla, in the opening notes with a pleasant and impactful note of cognac that makes it dry and liqueur, with a delicious faint floral accord, almost impalpable, appreciable the épices, boises and musky notes. When dry down, the bland takes on an enveloping warm and talc spicy appearance. Quiet sillage, moderate duration.

it smells pretty weird and unique at the same time. I can tolerate it but it smells like vanilla but a saltier version? like I have no idea that vanilla can smell this salty. it still has the common vanilla scent but it's just there's something that smells salty and I can't figure out what it is.

A beautiful and delicate creation by Jean-Claude Ellena.

To me it smells like lily of the valley fresh from the garden, maybe amped up a little bit.
Notes are interpretative though, and the reviews here are proof of that.

Smells like holding a freshly served vanilla ice cream while passing next to a sophisticated gentleman smoking a Cuban cigar.

I thought I had COVID symptoms, I can't smell much of anything. First spray smelled alcoholly, like hairspray. Got it as a decant from an online retailer that I trust. Maybe I got a bad one? I do detect a little tobacco under the sweet floral, but it's faint. Sprayed some on a cotton pad and put it in my lingerie drawer to see if I could find more aroma. It's coming up a little more on my wrists but oh boy it's faint.

From the first spray I get strong and very sweet lily (to me lilies associated with funerals) or jasmine. There's somewhere a hint of tobacco. However, the scent to me is 'clean' and maybe I would wear it in spring.

Update: the drydown is better on clothes than on skin.

I like the banana smell, but I didn't get it here...just as I didn't get any vanilla. All I got is salted herring in vinegar and oil. Suntan lotion went off. Pass...

Hermes Vanille Galante (2004) - floral vanilla - #jeanclaudeellena ‘s has depth and nuance, yet radiant for a gourmand perfume. The vanilla comes on gossamer-like whiffs complemented by a floral accord (jasmine and neroli). I also get cocoa powder, inflections of spicy cinnamon and chili. Yet how the floral accord & vanilla play around with each other is like a well choreographed dance. All this on a woody accord and white musks. A vanilla that would get an a+ in versatility.

-This opens rather weird. Like mothballs?
-Dries down more inoffensive, floral and mildly sweet.
-Not a safe blind buy due to the opening. (-)

I wanted to try this because of the countless reviewers who detected an unlisted banana note in this. It did not disappoint. I get even more banana than vanilla! Photorealistic banana peels to be exact. Hermes should really put that into the notes list, so it doesn't run under the radar of those who are looking for a refined banana scent.

The notes make this sound like a heavy oriental, but this is light and airy, a typical delicate Ellena creation. It is spicy though, in a soft way. Like a fluffy vanilla and banana soufflé with a pinch of cloves and allspice.
There is also a slightly ozonic floral note. Don't beat me up, but it reminds me of the violet and its leaf in Marc Jacobs Daisy, even though these two are completely different perfumes.

All in all this is an interesting take on a light all-year-round vanilla. I'm not in love, but I appreciate the unique composition.

This one is a shape-shifter, unlike any of the rest of the Hermessences I know (and I know about 3/4 of them). It opens on me as deliciously boozy banoffee vanilla. Three hours later I could swear I am wearing Osmanthe Yunnan, minus the crispiness of the latter. Love it. I don't think it projects for more than 30-40 cm at best of times (I certainly get no comments from my mask-wearing environment). BUT, if I apply a splash on my hair, I can smell it on myself, i.e. this bubble around me, through FFP2 mask for good 6-7 h (but it lasts only half that time on my skin). Carding fingers through my hair 12 h later, at home and finally mask-free, I still get the whiff of milky osmanthus. Hats off to Jean-Claude Ellena.

First blast of.... banana cream? That must be the ylang ylang and vanilla notes that are listed on the Hermes site. Rather pleasant at first but then the musk presents itself after a minute and turns the whole thing into that sweet, rotting, garbage smell. Luckily the musk fades after about half an hour and leaves behind a light, creamy, floral banana that is more acceptable.

6+ hours later: Almost completely gone. I wouldn't want to refresh the scent during the day lest that garbage-y compost smell comes back.

I will say something odd now, but this is what I smell: salted herring in vinegar and oil. Yes vanilla is present, but inside the marinade.

EDIT: please disregard the message above. Something strange happened to me, vanilla notes in some perfumes turns salty fish for me :-(. Same happened to Havana Vanille (L'Artisan) and Rose Water and Vanilla (Jo Malone). I am not deleting my message in case if anyone else experienced same unfortunate event.

to noelohashi: no, nothing like vetiver tonka. just a barely there, pretty insipid vanilla imo (wearing it today for the first time and not digging it. vetiver tonka, on the other hand, is one of my loves.)

A Vanilla accord that doesn’t smell like your common Vanilla.

Starts with an accord of Vanilla extract & Rum, but quickly morphes into White Flowers, specifically Ylang-Ylang or Stargazers. In fact, smelling this makes you easily imagine such flowers in a haze of Vanilla. Dry-down would be white flower & vanilla with a touch of incense.

With such an accord, I understand your concern if it would choke you and everyone around you. But thankfully, as with all Hermes fragrances, similarly ends up zen, soft and delicate.

For those that do not like sweet Vanilla, give this a smell. Interesting and Cozy - in a way - romantic. Longeivity can be solved by buying a 15ml bottle and spraying every now and again.

As a lover of vanillic fragrances, I expected to at least like Vanille Galante which is supposed to showcase the note. However, this was not the case.

This was my experience with Vanille Galante, which I got as an official sample from Hermès:

It opened up with a blast of banana on my skin — a smell which many have mentioned in their reviews and attributed to ylang ylang. After this initial burst, the banana note mellows and eventually disappears, but what surfaces is not vanilla but a smell of dry, rotting wood. I have smelled something similar to this in a fragrance only once before — a spray from a tester bottle of Habit Rouge Eau de Parfum that had turned.

Although the pungent smell of dry, rotting wood does subside after a while, it still lingers on, and although there is a hint of something vaguely vanillic, vanilla never really shines. Some others have likened this to Madagascan vanilla pods, but I have smelled real Madagascan vanilla pods and this does not smell like those.

I'm afraid Vanille Galante is just not for me.

I personally adore vanilla frangrances for their predictable gourmand quality- French Vanilla, as it is known, which refers not to its terroir but to its caramelisation when cooked with yolks; the way I like them in ice cream or other non-challenging confectionery, something to gulp down greedily instead of analyse by the spoonful. That scent, like the flavour, often needs lashing of sugar, which can come in the form of maron glace or deeper woody notes, and, like the flavour, most people are quite satisfied with a synthetic simulacrum of Vanilla.

This one however smells like Madagascan vanilla freshly scraped straight from the pod: pleasingly animatic at first, yet almost a fougere rwo seconds later. If you’ ve ever enjoyed the redolence of Heilala vanilla paste straight from the jar, and tried to dab a smidgeon of it on your forearm in hopes it will last even for an hour (I have) then the opening of this perfume will be an absolute marvel to you - a complex, unadulterated vanilla, for which all the other notes aren’t so much co-stars as they are the theatre acoustics and sound system, such is the manner in which they amplify its nuances.
This is a Vanilla monologue, or vanilla a capella. In the larger scheme of the Hermessence line of perfumes, it seems to adhere to a singular principle of simplicity and capturing the essential crux of it’s named accord- Cuir d’ange is an olfactory version of Hermes’s flawless leathers: soft, supple and as far from a manly wind and sweat-beaten motorcycle jacket as can be, but nonetheless it is all leather, even literally so. Brin de Reglisse is a liquorice strip straight up. So is Epice Marine, which is a brilliant literal sea Breeze without the attendant insinuations of a tropical holiday via coconut or florals or ‘clean’ ozonic notes, unlike anything mainstream aquatic.

My only issue with this scent is how fast it fades to a skin scent, considering the price, maybe three hours in humid tropical weather, but personally I think it would be a paradox to make something so unaffected and natural also bold and extensive.

Vanilla? Woods? Where?! All I get here is a lotta banana with a little lilly on top. If this had been marketed as a 'banana' or 'lilly' fragrance, that would've made so much more sense. That doesn't mean I dislike it - it's kind of a-"peel"ing (forgive me!) ; ) but while a reasonably pleasant scent, I'm just not that interested in smelling like a banana.

After using this again after 2 years, I can say that I enjoy it a hell of a lot more. Which is good, I never like to dislike a fragrance. Not good for the soul. This? This is good for the soul.

It isn't complicated, it isn't odd. It isn't even all that interesting. However, as it falls in line with a lot of the other fragrances from the Hermessence range (even layers well with Santal and Poivre), this cannot be faulted.

It smells like vanilla, a bit green and really dry. It's comforting and smells true to it's source material. That's it. I like it!

Now this is the vanilla I would bake with if I were a high-end chef — I would concoct an impossibly elegant molecular cuisine dessert with this one.

It’s not an ‘alcoholic’ scent per se, but it reminds me of steeping vanilla beans in a very expensive cognac, so much so that I fully expect the perfume to be brown in color. It is in fact a ‘darker’ perfume — I think of leather and tobacco. It is the vanilla bean that has been stored in a deliciously smelling Barenia Hermes leather box next to some expensive tobacco and then turned into perfume.

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how this perfume maintains the essence of vanilla without smelling like your basic vanilla perfume that makes one crave pastry. It starts out as vanilla (is ripening vanilla a thing? that I how I would imagine it, with a bit of a geeen note), but moves on to the lily scent (and not the obnoxious lily bouquet that would have you wake up with a headache if you put it in your bedroom, this is what a lily for perfume connoisseurs would smell like). I also get jasmine / white flowers. There is definitely some canole in there to add freshness and cut through the florals.

Another way to describe it is going for a walk in California when the jasmine is in bloom and then being instantly transported to Bali when the frangipani and ylang-ylang blossoms (the gland-gland seems to be the banana note I see in other comments). If you mix the two olfactory experiences together, throw in expensive vanilla and some ocean breeze, you get this perfume. And don’t forget the cigars, leathers and cognac. Ok, that is actually a lot for one perfume, but it works really well.

I think people should wear whatever perfume they want, but if you are trying to conform to conventional heterosexual male tastes, this is not for you. There is definitely more flowers than cognac.

Like most Hermessence options, it doesn’t have the best longevity or silage. We know it’s by design to stay elegant in that Hermes way, but there is a part of me that wants more for the price. Having said that, I would still buy it as I think it unique.

I think Hermes makes some decent fragrances. A lot seem to be very experimental.

I'll give you the best possible explanation of what this smells like. No one is ever going to top this. It smells like insect repellent and sunscreen. That's it. Exactly the smell. Imagine you are on the beach, the sun's UV rays are beaming down. You put sun screen all over your body. All of a sudden you notice horse flies/mosquitoes. You get out your spray bottle of insect repellent/bug spray and spritz your body to help prevent bites.

That is something I'm sure all of us have done at the beach. I know that smell because I've smelled it 1,000 times. That smell is exactly this fragrance. I keep on laughing every time I smell this on my wrist because I can't smell anything else but that now.

I can't say I want to smell like that. Perhaps a good fragrance to wear at the beach? Or while camping outdoors? lol

Add one more nod to cocolover's comments. To me this smells like walking into a room in an old house that has just been painted and there is a grocery store bouquet of flowers on the table. There's vanilla in there somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is. To sum up, wet paint and flowers. Full disclosure: I hate wearing florals so only did this on a paper test strip out of curiosity. Threw the paper away in a closed bin so I wouldn't smell it later.

Probably smells lovely on the right person, but I am not that person.

Water, lily, pollen, vanilla, tar, in a silky smooth well blended way. Very beautiful, not ordinary or forgettable, but also not worth the price unless money really doesn't matter.

Not terrible, but not good. I'm sorry, Hermes, but as much as I love so many of your other fragrances, I found Vanille Galante to be unremarkable and totally forgettable. To be honest, I could have stopped reviewing this scent after the first sentence - disappointing at best!

I agree with cocolover below. This was completely forgettable and not worthy of the three figure price tag. There are much better vanilla dominant scents in the market. I sampled a splash vial directly from Hermes, a house I respect and admire. Very disappointing.

Hermès / Hermesscence Vanille Galante:

گروه بویایی: Oriental Vanilla

رایحه: گرم و تند

ماندگاری و پخش بو: متوسط و متوسط به پایین

نت آغازی:

شروعی دودی،سنگین،تاریک و سوخته از آکورد های. اولین ملاقات شما با عطر خواهد بود.کنار اون در چند ثانیه حس شیرین و پودری با همراهی وانیل رو درک خواهین کرد.
سپس با حزف این رایحه چوبی-صمغی،گل بو و ته بوی مشکی-شرابی Cognac به عطر اضافه خواهد شد در مراحل بعدی به سختی درک خواهد شد.
فضای تاریک،دودی،تنباکویی،خاکستری،مرموز با همراهی رایحه چوبی،تند و لجنی با لایه های از وانیل و حس پودری دریافت شما از عطر خواهد بود

نت میانی:

رایحه کپک زده،قارچی و لجنی که وانیل رو احاطه کرده اند قلب رایحه عطر در این مرحله خواهد بود که باهمراهی آکوردهای چوبی-صمغی زیبایی خاصی به عطر میدن و فضای پودری ادویه ای عطر تشکیل میدن برداشت من از این فضا مشابه استشمام فلفل سرخ ترکیه ای هست(بالانس خوبی از حس چوبی،دودی و ادویه ای)


نت پایانی:

دراین مرحله رایحه عطر افت میکنه و بیشتر رگه های باریکی از بوها و آکوردها با فضا شیرین،پودری و گرم و رایحه وانیل برداشت شما از عطر خواهد بود.

Hermesscence Vanille Galante

فضایی ملایم،لطیف و دلنشین داره که خبری از حضور سنگین،مرموز،تاریک و کپک گرفته اوایل عطر نیست با رایحه شیرین پودری وانیل باهمراهی آکوردهای اسپایسی،با قلب چوبی-صمغی و میخکی و ته بوی تند
انتخاب مناسبی برای نیمه دوم سال و یا مجالس های رسمی هست وبیشتر افراد بالای ۳۰سال.

Hermesscence Vanille Galante

آکوردهای اصلی Floral,warm Spicy وانیلی،شیرین
بالانس زیبایی و ملایمی از رایحه گرم،تند و شیرین ایجاد میکنن که حتم دارم به این زودی از پوشیدن این عطر خسته نخواهین شد.
پر از تضادهاست ممکنه برای شما عطری یکنواخت و به دور از هرگونه ویژگی خاص مانند یک مسن نمادی از وقار،پرستیژ و شخص باتجربه,منعطف و تفکرات قدیمی و یا شخص مصمم،سرسخت،با اعتماد بنفس و با انگیزه باشه

تصویر من از عطر فضای تاریک،مرموز،نم گرفته یک عطاری قدیمی با سقف چوبی و باکس های ادویه و گل های خشک بود.

وانیل دودی-بخوری،چوب،گل


Sillage: 3/5

Longevity: 3.75/5

Scent: 3.5/5

Overall: 3.5/5

Hermès / Hermesscence Vanille Galante:

The olfactory group: Oriental Vanilla

Odor: hot and spicy

Shelf life and distribution: medium to medium to low

Starting note:

Smoke, heavy, dark and burned chords from chords. Your first meeting will be with perfume. In a few seconds, you will understand the sweet and powdery feel of Vanilla.
Then, with this fragrance, this cognac, scent, smell and smell of Cognac smell will be added to perfume, and will be hard to understand in the next steps.
Dark, smoky, tobacco, gray, mysterious, accompanied by a woody scent, spicy and slender with vanilla layers and a powdery sense of smell.

Middle notes:

The smell of mildew, fungus and slime that surrounds vanilla. The heart of the fragrance fragrance will be at this stage, along with wood-chamomile chocolates, a special flavor of perfume, and the spicy aroma of the fragrance. I picked up this same space as the Turkish snack of pepper. There is (a good balance of the sense of wood, smoked and spicy)


Final note:

At this stage, the fragrance will fall and most of the veins will be smelled with sweets and chocolates with sweet, powdery and warm fragrance, and vanilla scent of perfume.

Hermesscence by Vanille Galante

A delicate, delicate and delicate atmosphere that has a heavy, mysterious, dark, and mild look. It's not an early fragrance. Vanilla powder with vanilla flavor with spice chopsticks, with woody, spiky, carnation and spicy smell.
It is a good choice for the second half of the year or formal meetings and more often people over 30 years of age.

Hermesscence by Vanille Galante

Original Floral Chords, Hot Spicy Vanilla, Sweet
It brings a beautiful, refreshing balm with a warm, spicy and sweet scent. I'm sure you will not be tired of wearing this scent so soon.
It is full of contradictions. It is possible for you to have a steady aroma, away from any specific attributes like an elderly, a symbol of dignity, prestige and experienced person, flexible and thoughtful, or determined, hard-working, self-reliant, and motivated person.

My image of the fragrance was a dark, mysterious atmosphere, with an old carvings with wooden ceilings and spice boxes and dry flowers.

Smoked vanilla-eat, stick, flower


Sillage: 3/5

Longevity: 3.75 / 5

Scent: 3.5 / 5

Overall: 3.5 / 5

A light floral vanilla with a touch of spice, reminiscent of Mexican Vanilla. Vanille Galante is very airy - lovers of rich vanilla scents will not like it. The floral is very present, and smells like mostly lily with a touch of banana-y ylang ylang. I get a touch of dry cacao, some booziness and cinnamon, but mostly this is a simple, pretty lily and vanilla scent. Smells good.

5/10

There's nothing I dislike about this fragrance but, alas, nothing particularly interesting about it either.

If you've smelt any lily/cedar mix with a dry bourbon vanilla, you've smelt this. Boring, completely banal. Well blended, just pedestrian.

Though, I suppose every collection needs its comfortable regular scent that doesn't stand out in any real way. I wish I could smell the fish - at least then I could feel something.

oh yeah, and 100% not worth the $315 aud that Hermes have the nerve to charge for this.

I had the same experience as Redcapricorn, Calvini, Jitterbug, Hellita, Guest_Addicted and Adiro - this smells like raw fish to me, and is simply unwearable. Adiro's experience is very similar to mine - "an upleasant fish scent with a breezy vanilla on top". The Hermessence line is beautiful, but something in this juice does not agree with my nose.

Sunflowers F454 by Vincent van Gogh 1888

The spices are very noticeable. Soft vanilla at the initial stages and develops into an intense bitter sweet spicy scent.

This isn't your cheap run of the mill Vanilla. Upon immediate spray it smells like fresh vanilla. Like real vanilla. Not real vanilla liquid you bake with either. I get a green banana-ish smell. I guess it's banana leaf that other people mentioned. Maybe ylang ylang. Soft and subtle with some floral. But don't let its soft and subtleness fool you. It's a projector. I've wore it two days now with different clothes. I keep smelling something nice in the air and it's me!
I don't get any Tobacco. And, I don't,know why people are complaining about the price. There's a 100ml bottle on eBay right now for $210cdn!

Hermessence Vanille Galante is so light, soft, tender, delicate and divinely feminine, that it's almost not there, except that it is also rich and alluring and incredibly there, and I'm always being told I smell divine, even after about 6 hours. Superbly smooth alluring vanilla, with gentle spices, a lovely deep tobacco, with musk and woods, and sweet feminine flowers, and a drop of scrumptious cognac, all mixed in together. It's beautiful.
I have to re-apply it a couple of times during the day, but that's perfectly fine with me, as it's wonderful to smell the glorious flowery/cognac/vanilla beginning over and over again! I love love love it so much!
The bottle design and the colours, of the liquid and bottle and cap, are magnificently exquisite, and absolutely reflect the feeling of the perfume - elegant, classy, soft and feminine, gentle, creamy and alluring.

My husband loves it, and I get complimented all the time on the divine scent coming from me. It's one of my favourite perfumes; I adore it. It's exquisite.

Calvini and I have the same problem. When I applied this, I immediately thought of the beach, and not in the good way. It reminds me of how it used to smell when my father would clean fish when I was a kid, that fresh-out-of-the-ocean fish smell. Is it just us? I don't get vanilla at all. I really just smell raw fish and seafood. Very strange!

Well, this one well and truly exceeded my expectations! I decided to buy Vanille Galante because I wanted to see Jean Claude Ellena's take on vanilla and, given his amazing track record over the years, I was prepared to pay something of a premium to find out and take the risk of a blind buy. So what did I discover?

Well, in practical terms, first of all, this projects moderately for about 90 minutes to two hours and then settles down to being a skin scent. It just manages to stagger past seven hours on my skin.

When I first sprayed it on, I smelled - as you would expect - vanilla. It is a gorgeous vanilla though, a creamy vanilla, somewhat like Madagascan vanilla pods. After all those cheaper, more synthetic, artificial, cheap gourmand vanillas, this is a real delight. The next thing that I noticed is that it is a smoky vanilla. It's smoky as in a nice tobacco note and also some smoky woody notes as well. And finally, I wondered if there was a floral hint as well. Definitely a lovely opening. And then as the alcohol evaporated and the scent began to take hold of my skin and start to envelop me, I realised what it reminded me of. The olfactory memory was a magnificent one! It reminded me of a couple of lovers from my past who both used to smoke and wore vanilla-based or vanilla dominant perfumes back in the day before I tended to enquire of such details. Well, I certainly felt very happy indeed upon being reminded of beautiful girls in little black dresses and wonderful evenings where the little black dresses came off! And as the next twenty minutes passed, the scent began to open up and project gently about me and around me and then the most extraordinary thing happened - I felt the same joyous post-coital grin on my face for about another hour or so! I felt as happy as if I had had the pleasure of those companions once again and the same giggly afterglow. That sensation alone makes this one a 'love' rather than a 'like' perfume.

Now, alas, the cost of the Hermessence line is quite mind boggling. It makes Creed perfumes look cheap - that's how horrific it is. But, for that effect and the boost in my mood, you know what? I think I can see myself buying many bottles over many years to come. This is simply sensational!

I don't know what the hell was wrong with my skin (or my nose?) that day, but it smelled like raw seafood! Specifically raw octopus at first, then it became shellfish (oyster)... Since I didn't read the review maybe that was the banana peel thing people are talking about?

An extremely light and airy fragrance, which I appreciate. However, I get a lot of a green leaf banana sort of note in this that I'm not a huge fan of. I do get some vanilla that makes this fragrance a bit creamy, but I mostly get the melon/leaf/banana. It's interesting but not my cup of tea.

This is a beautiful fragrance. If only it had more staying power.

The vanilla is very subdued and light, not too sweet, and it's backed by very soft florals and a hint of fruit. I'm confused by the reviews that say it's a deep rich fragrance, because I don't get any spice or wood at all, but maybe it's a difference in skin chemistry. It's very airy and delicate on me, like delicate fresh flowers and a touch of summer fruits on a gentle vanilla breeze. It's not gourmand at all, but it is cozy and comforting.

Unfortunately it tends to do a disappearing act. Within an hour, it's almost undetectable on me. I hope it fares better for others, because it really is a joy to smell.

With 'Vanille Galante', Mr. Ellena attempts to abolish the mundane and unoriginal connotations which follow vanilla-based fragrances. He states, “I wanted to respond to this smell which could be described as lazy and repetitive with an invitation to rediscover another vanilla, an unusual, complex and paradoxical one". To achieve this it appears he has elevated vanilla to its upper registry and with a deft hand has turned what is at once dense into something which is quite light and airy. The fragrance opens with a beautiful oriental lily note which is mirrored with a sweet vanilla. It is gentle as a breeze, yet redolent in its splendor. The vanilla featured here is organic and earthy, far from the synthetic vanilla extract of numerous kitchen cupboards. Instead it is sweet, rich and exotic in tone. I smell subtle hints of cocoa, tonka bean and perhaps nutmeg which join with the vanilla-floral accord seamlessly. The effect is intoxicating.

'Vanille Galante' is perfect for spring, reminding me of the sweetly floral scent of freshly blooming hyacinth, daffodils, and crocus bursting forth from the snow covered landscape. This refreshing skin scent is soft and delicate, far from obtrusive or cloying. As with the rest of the Hermesence collection from Hermès, sillage and projection are light and longevity average for this "eau de toilette". Perfect for daywear, 'Vanille Galante' can be utilized for casual wearing around town or for more formal work related functions. I feel the composition leans toward the feminine fragrance spectrum as it is definitely sweet and floral based, although still may be considered unisex. I find 'Vanille Galante' to be an innovative take on vanilla in fragrance. Typically paired with overtly gourmand accords, here is a vanilla which transcends its boundaries and marries effortlessly with airy florals in an imaginative and refreshing breeze.

Read my complete review at my personal blog

Light floral breath of wind( ylang- ylang),nuances of spices,sweet tender wood ( sandalwood ).A sensuous vanilla ,the original fragrance of a crafted natural vanilla with an unexpected lightness.

Maybe it's the combination of the watery verdancy and creamy vanilla, I too get the green banana and melon effect upon applying Vanille Galante. But the fragrance soon turns into a blooming lily as a subtle peppery accord joins in.

The watery verdancy and the salty peppery nuance keep the lily realistic enough, but at the same time, the transparent aesthetic present through all the Hermessence offerings, keeps the lily from being too assertive. The vanilla kind of diffuses into the lily, while its creaminess complements the lily, it also has a fluffy texture that manages to lift up the scent and creates a haziness around the lily.

With time, as the vanilla permeates into the lily, it eventually takes over and the fragrance dries down into an elegant floral vanilla. I can even smell some heliotrope at times. The cognac and woody notes are not very distinct to my nose, but their efforts to keep the vanilla realistic are easy to tell when comparing Vanille Galante to a 'cupcake' vanilla.

The sillage of Vanille Galante is moderate to soft during the first 6 hours. It then stays very close to skin for another 3 hours on me.

With lily playing an almost equal part, I'd hesitate to recommend Vanille Galante as a vanilla fragrance. However, as a lily/vanilla fragrance, its translucency makes it less sweet and more reserved than most fragrances with the same theme, such as Cartier Baiser Volé Essence de Parfum or Guerlain Lys Soleia, without compromising the peppery and creamy characteristics of lily. Vanille Galante is indeed gallant, and I'd recommend it to those who'd like a relatively low-key lily/vanilla fragrance.

All I smell is ylang-ylang and I find it disgusting.

Theres a cool, creamy suedey/leathery note in the opening but its so airy, I cant really smell a distinct vanilla. It reminds me a bit of gelato or the gas from a can of whipped cream but not as sweet :/ all the notes have a frothy well blended quality so none of them really stand out, apart from a hint of soft petals and a vague fruityness.
Oh and there's also something very clean and delicate about that reminds me of clean, slightly fragranced hair.

Ah man, I wanted to love this one so bad...but, unfortunately it isnt a hit for me.

All I get is banana peel (as manhy have mentioned) with watery white florals and a tiny bit of dirty vanilla. After that, it becomes this musky, almost dry musky scent and not a sweet musk at that!

Too bad, overall 6/10 for me since it is not synthetic or cheap smelling, even if I do not much like the smell - it is still an excellent blended fragrance.

-HP

EDIT: I knew this reminded me of something - it reminds me of Jo Malone Blue agava and cacao! thing is, this is not a sweet as BA&C, but I kept thinking about it and they sure are similar.

Sadly, oh so sadly, this is so far the only vanilla/tobacco combination that I've found that I can't stand.

For those tired of foodie vanillas, this may be for you. It's far from sugary, it's not even lightly sweet, it's full on bitter on my skin. I suspect ylang ylang is the culprit, and as if medicinal bitterness weren't big enough an evil, it smells like buttery banana. I smell like buttered bananas in a smoky room.

So very nice in hot weather. A warm vanilla-floral. Soft vanilla and not at all synthetic smelling. Reminds me a litte of Guerlains aqua allegoria ylang-vanille but this one is less heady, less creamy, less ylang, warmer, unisex and more vanilla. I find it more interesting also. It is close to skin but I get whiffs of it throughout the day. Fb worthy in my book. The best I have tried of the hermessences. For me it is only for summer. It blooms then. In cold weather it became sort of mute on my skin.

Quite interesting this one and the way it smells and develops relies on the weather conditions.
On cooler, rainy days it's more of a dirty vanilla with quite strong floral phase. And the florals I'm speaking of are more green house/ field flowers; think of little field flowers sprouting out from moist soil after a rain.
Now, on a warm drier days, it's like a little mist of yellow florals spiced up with warm vanilla. It's not cheap plastic sugary sweet vanilla, it's warm, spicy and quite natural. To give you a comparison, think of when you're baking: you can use cheap vanilla esseence or fine vanilla paste full of sweetly scented seeds.
Then it dries down to this lovely scent of vanilla-spiced carnations.
It can be a bit boozy when first applied, a bit like opening a bottle of Galliano liquer, but after just a few minutes the florals join in the party.
Longevity is not great though. Most scents last on my skin a bit longer than they do on other people, but I get roughly 3-5 hours and have to re-apply.
Definitely a daytime fragrance, and because it behaves differently given different atmospheric conditions it's great all year round. I find it quite fun to observe how it changes depending on weather.
In a way it reminds me of Guerlain Acqua Allegoria Lys Soleia which I own so if that's something you like you might enjoy Vanille Galante too.

When I first sprayed this I wasn't sure if I liked it but the more I used it the better it became. It is so warm and soft but light at the same time. I think I could wear this at any time of the year. I find that none of the notes are loud and shrieking just beautifully blended but I can still smell each one as it dries down and progresses. I usually reapply this a couple of times during the day (as I do with most of my perfumes) and I definitely get wafts of it as I move around and do things. It is very comforting. Love it!

vanilla and bananas , i know there are no bananas in there but i smell bananas with some cream and vanilla , go figure is nice but not purchase worthy for the price $$$

Vanilla/pistache Italian icecream.
Watery flowers.
Stingy booze note from the beginning.
Medium sillage & longevity.
Not for me.

I dislike most perfumes, but Hermes is the exception that keeps delivering for me.

This scent starts off like a very intense real vanilla extract, and fades into a more subtle mix of vanilla and alcohol. I know it's supposed to be cognac, but it smells more like spiced rum to me.

I'm puzzled by the people who don't smell vanilla in this - perhaps they have never smelled real vanilla? I kind of wish I liked it less, because now I'll have to spend the money on a full bottle. A great, comforting scent for a cold day.

Hermes was kind enough to send me a generous sample of this perfume. While I like it, it isn't my very favorite. The vanilla and floral notes seem to battle with each other while you wear it. Oddly, at the same time it's a light smell that stays close to you. It's very lady like as well as expensive smelling, but I just don't think it's as complex as their Ambre Narguile which I absolutely love.

People into longevity and sillage look away now.

I blame my dislike of vanilla to the plethora of cheap vanilla fragrances overpopulating the market since forever. Most people generally not into perfume, whenever they decide it's about time to buy a fragrance, they go 90% of the times for something vanilla-centered. The problem is that of this 90%, another 90% of the time their choice go towards cheap-goumrnadic and overly sweet vanillas.The result is that we're surrounded by cheap vanilla. As a matter of fact, I very rarely can stand vanilla fragrances (exception made for a bunch of older Guerlains, some ambers and very few others).

With that said, Vanille Galante is completely another thing. I'm generally not a big fan of Ellena's *light touch* but in this case it definitely played in the fragrance favor. To me, VG reads mainly as a watery-floral with vanillic facets. There's a banana peel vibe going on (probably provided by the ylang-ylang) and a bitter, kind of smoky, presence contrasting the overall sweetness. The result is beyond sophistication in my opinion. Light but noticeable, extremely elegant and, in the end, quite an unique take on the main theme.

Now, two more considerations:

1) As most of the Hermessence, I find this overpriced. It's good and I thoroughly like it but it's not better than most of the *regular* Hermes if you like their general style. Both quality-wise and artistically-wise.

2) For the most part, my theory is that there aren't good ingredients and bad ones. Yes, there are better and worst quality vanillas, there are materials that depending on one's tastes are more appealing than others but, the big difference is made by how perfumers use them.

Downline: Vanille Galante is probably not a masterpiece but is a thoroughly enjoyable fragrance in my book.

Rating: 7-7.5/10

I have to confess that I hate vanilla in perfumes.
I can barely stand vanilla only when very talented perfumers hide the note well,so I can't detect that is there.
But my dear friend Desiree send me a huge sample of this and because I am a devoted follower of Hermes,I tested it.
What a beauty!If the name wasn't Vanille Galante,I could swear that isn't a vanilla in there.
A beautiful,ethereal white flower note,reminding me of full in bloom almond trees,blended with light tobacco and woods,maybe?Very light,very poetic,very vibrant.
Well,the thing about talented perfumers,high quality ingredients vs all the rest.
Thank you Desiree for the chance,thank you monsieur Ellena for prove me wrong hating vanilla.

I get very light vanilla, described previously by someone else as sheer - very much so. Light wood, a tiny bit of ylang ylang - sweet & sticky. Lovely but a fast fader!

Apparently the chemistry of this composition is for a few lucky ones. Crudely what I get out of VG is the same thing I smell out of a newly wet baby diaper, a combination of some baby wetness, moisturizer and lubricant.

I really like this one! Sweet, sheer and subtle.

I get a lot of ylang-ylang in here (along with that characteristic faint, yet creamy hint of a banana like note). But what I especially like here is Jean-Claude Ellena's transparent use of vanilla. Forget the heavy, boozy, almost animalic vanilla of Guerlain, etc. Here the Vanilla is wrapped in very light spices and cognac. It's still quite light, but by no means fleeting. I would best describe it as "transparent". Neither too light, nor too heavy and cloying.

His inspiration was the origin of Vanilla as a trading spice, being brought across oceans in long voyages on sailing ships; along with other spices such as cloves and cinnamon, all tightly packed next to wooden barrels of cognac etc. All these ingredients can be detected in this fragrance, and they are all balanced beautifully.

I think Vanille Gallante is actually a really beautiful one. I know other people get rotten banana out of this, and that's a shame. But to me it's smells like hints of spices, Indian chai tea, and a creamy vanilla extract. I find it quite intoxicating. I think this is my favourite use of vanilla outside of a Guerlain perfume. Very different though, but I appreciate his take on it. Not bad Ellena!

On initial application this seemed promising, very sweet and simple like freshly baked vanilla cookies and honeysuckle. Quickly though, it turned into bananas mixed lightly with bug spray. Not a winner for me, sadly.

Sadly unremarkable. Not a warm vanilla, in fact not a real vanilla scent at all. Smells more like a low grade ylang ylang which gives me the impression of my dentists office. No thanks.

Thank you so much for your great review, earthkeeper below. I do believe it might be the testers gone bad, because something smells fishy to me (unfortunately I'm not gonna buy a whole bottle of it because the price is too high to gamble on). I'm glad others get the beauty out of this fragrance. I don't.

I was really hesitant about trying this one because of the reviews, because otherwise, it seemed like it would be right up my alley (flowers and vanilla, and done by Hermes to boot). Now, I am not the biggest fan of most Hermes fragrances but I know I can count on them to make a vanilla that isn't sickly sweet or foody, hence why I really wanted to try this. It did not disappoint! Though I am not sure where many of the reviews are coming from. Fishy? No, not at all. Salty? Nope, just not overly sweet. The vanilla here is a very real, vanilla pod type of vanilla. There is nothing sugary about it, but it is creamy. Also, for me this is really all about the vanilla. There are some florals and spices to round it out but there is no doubt that this is a vanilla fragrance. Maybe If you are used to more gourmand vanillas this might seem to be light on vanilla, but it's not, it's simply a different kind of vanilla. My kind of vanilla. I've been looking for a soft, non-gourmand vanilla for a while and have found it in Vanille Galante. It kind of reminds me of Orchidee Vanille by VC&A but softer in every way. It has that same vanilla and flowers theme but this one is much less sweet (even though I wouldn't call Orchidee Vanille a gourmand either, it is just very sweet). All that said, there is one area I am slightly disappointed in, especially for the price, and that would be sillage and longevity. It could just be my sample (and the fact that I had to dab on a small amount rather than spray, this isn't a parfum so that's certainly not how it would normally be applied), but for the price, I'd want it to be a tad stronger. In any case, it's lovely. Vanilla for floral lovers.

It smells like sunflower, much stronger though, but as if you smelt directly from the middle of sunflower in full bloom.
I like the smell in nature but not on me.

Alright! I believe I can slightly demystify the fish smell that some experience with Vanille Galante.

I got a few samples of it from my H store when it first came out and for some reason only came around to testing it late this summer. I have been enjoying it here and there trying to figure out if it truly was full bottle worthy for me. I really like vanilla fragrances but wow am I ever picky with them... VG was definitely on the yay list for me. It is rare that you will find a vanilla centered fragrance that isn't mainly or overly sweet. I'm also a HUGE fan of Ylang Ylang and my nose seems to pick up on this intoxicating flower in the mixture. In my opinion Ellena had hit the mark of perfection where it was such a beautiful, clean, light vanilla that didn't evoke any gourmand images but still managed to offer that welcome, soothing, comforting feeling that vanilla excels at. Light enough to be worn on a hot summer day and have you sniffing away at yourself in sunny bliss. The verdict was YES!

Two days ago I went into my H store in the hopes they had received Epice Marine as I had yet to sample it. Sadly they hadn't.... Anyhow, I asked the SA if I could please have a vial of Vanille Galante as my last vial had but a few drops left and a bottle of VG was pretty far on the horizon for the time being (I had a nice Lutens shopping spree the week prior hehe...).

This morning, I decide to dab some VG on my left wrist before sitting down to enjoy my breakfast. To my great horror it smelled like fish what the...? I run back to my H vials as I couldn't remember if I had used the vial I had picked up a few days prior or my old one. As I suspected, I had indeed used the new one and so I immediately dabbed some juice from the old vial on my right wrist. Whew! No fish smell. What does this mean? Bad batch? Has it turned? I don't know... 2 hours in the left wrist still wreaks of fish, but now, because I smelt the dreaded fishy version of VG, I think I kinda sorta pick up on a slight fishiness from my right wrist as well... It's very mild and fleeting - but I'm pretty sure it's there... Is this just a byproduct of olfactory memory? Could it be because the weather and humidity has dropped here? Or has it been there all along and I just wasn't picking up on it because it was so mild in the old vial?

Update Oct 30th 2013:

So I decided to take the plunge and buy a full buttle of Vanille Galante. I am soooooo happy I moved forward with this purchase. After performing a few more tests with the "fishy vial" in question, it definitely seemed to point towards that specific tester having issues. Which is quite unfortunate as it seems there are a few of those turned vials in circulation based on other reviews of VG. So basically, if you've tried VG and it smelled fishy to you, I strongly suggest you give it another try from a different source.

As I type this I'm wearing VG and it is so special! As I mentioned earlier, VG is beautifully complimented by ylang ylang - to my nose at least. The vanilla and ylang dance together in such beautiful symbiosis and the wood and spice give it its unisex twist. Sweet and light, yet slightly warm and spicy. Perfectly balanced. I cannot wait to properly experience VG in the summer time. Wears close to the skin with good longevity. The classiest vanilla I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. Every single time I spray this beauty it never fails to raise my good mood ratio a couple of notches!! :)

Jean-Claude Ellena has chosen to feature vanilla's upper registry in his transcendent and ethereal Vanille Galante. Here it is vanilla's cloud-like texture which is on display; much like spun sugar, or fluffy creme brûlée. This is however, not your typical gourmand rendering, choosing to be more floral and less "foody". Ellena has included an indolic white floral accord (most likely white lily) which balances nicely with the creamy facets of vanilla. Cognac offers sweetness and depth, while a mysterious wood note (possibly guaiac wood) lends a warm undercurrent. Alongside Creed's "Sublime Vanille", this is another beautiful creation paying homage to vanilla's exotic sensuality. (103)

Smells like a fish market, Pass!

I'm not gonna waste anytime stating my displeasure. This fragrance is full of sweets, woods, and vanilla but this is far from a gourmand. This is a flowery vanilla, not the edible kind...that pretty much sums up my beef. Initial gripes aside, this actually lasts a long time. It's very wearable and light in nature. I definitely wouldn't blind buy this due to one's personal vanilla preference.

This is by far the greenest, saltiest sweet scent i have eve experienced.

I don't have an actual review with the breakdown of all the notes during the marvelous olfactory experience, but this is how it makes me feel... keeping in mind that it's not something you would wanna wear in winter, nor an evening out for that matter.

This is like sunshine, on a beach, that's surrounded by palm trees, next to a vanilla field (i know this is realistic, but neither does Vanille Galante!)

If boat rides, fruity cocktails and white bikinis to be put in a bottle and sprayed, they would be Vanille Galante.

This is basically the love child of Jour d'Hermes and Uncle Serge's Bois de Vanille.

Hermès Hermessence - Vanille Galante

Ohhh My God - What a delicious opening!!! The floral note of Ylang gives me an impression of my skin being a dish of banana flambé au cognac dessert with honeyed topping!!! Hummmm... Yummy!

White sweety floral notes come and i can detect for sure Lily - which gives me peace and, luxury and comfortable wear - particular of this note

I am tired of some ordinary openings i see on many many scents - and this one makes the different - here i feel mesmerized and mouth-watered in front of this beautiful and distinct perfume!

Yes, i know it is a little bit linear, however it is well made for sure. The previous written step now gives place to a different phase which vanilla note appears on background.

Vanilla here is not powdery but sweety and floral. Vanilla is not a main note here, unlike we could expect from its name "Vanille Galante", but it makes the difference. The detail makes the diference! Like a cherry on the Pie!

One of the best Ellena's creations! Yeah, it is quite luminous, simple, minimalistic, But also fabulous, delicious and luxurious!

LOVE!
(♥)

The Hermessence line are supposed to be haikus. It's simple, it's light, and absolutely gorgeous. I love love love this fragrance. I wish it was a bit stronger because this feels like an eau de cologne (with and eau de parfum price). It's lily in salty water and just stunning. Full-bottle worthy.

This is my favourite Hermes (and JC Ellena) perfume. It has a very reassuring and calming effect on me, so much so that I always bring a small bottle from the 4 pack set to sniff when I have to fly somewhere. Needless to say I hate flying but this is the perfect antidote! While it does have a prominent vanilla note it is never cloying or overbearing like other vanillas I've tried. It is very bright and clean. Like previous reviwer wrote, I also get a vision of real vanillapod seeds in a glass jar. A simply cut crystal glass with lots of cold bubbly water, early morning in a dewy spring garden where the grass and flowers have just started to grow. I love it. Any season, any time of day.

Vanille Galante is not about vanilla as the name suggests, its all about ylang. JCE managed to create a beautiful floriental that is almost a lilly soliflore. The scent is very light, transparent and refreshing at the same time, something very Ellena and reminiscent of his Un Jardin line.

Vanille Galante is very linear, all I get is Ylang and a very refined vanilla base. Muscs give a slight velvety texture to the fragrance and there's a greenish aquatic vibe that I suspect could be jasmine. What also comes to my mind is orchids, not as dark as the ones you find in Tom Ford creations like Nu edp, but a white orchid, a vanilla flower. I get a similar orchid effect here as on Nu edp but without the chocolate note and incense.

A lot of people say that this is the most feminine creation of the Hermessence line but I disagree I find it very unisex, specially if you like lily. And its also very easy to wear, cause its light and stays close to the skin, its a personal scent. I usually spray it in the interior of my shirt so I keep smelling it trough the hole day.

The composition is so etherial that it reminds me modern aldehydic florals like Nº5 Eau Premier and Iris Poudre, not that they re similar but they share lightness and elegance, they are very bright and clean, just incredibly sophisticated. My favorite from this whole line!

rate 4 ou of 5

Beautifully natural vanilla with a floral halo.

(Does it smell like fish?! I really don't know what are you talking about.)

Scroll down to the bottom and find "honeypoppyseed"... I agree with her review on this.

I went to Hermes boutique earlier and tried this. This is one of the best vanilla scents I have ever tried. Guerlain's Double Vanille? Pass. Dyptique Eau Duelle? Pass. I haven't been a big fan of Hermes but I must admit this is a masterpiece. Rich, Woody, Deep, Round, Warm and Classy.

I can't understand why it's said to be similar to fish. If it is, then it must be a gourmet fish that smells so great. Sorry, I don't smell fish at all. I would call it "Gourmand & Woody." There's one fragrance that is totally fishy, Marina de Bourbon's Acqua di Acqua Pour Homme. That is, Salty Fish.

It's been 6 hours since I tried Vanille Galante, and I can still smell it on my skin. Projection is moderate. But I think a good fragrance doesn't have to project loudly, it's just the wearer's privilege.

-Hermessence Vanille Galante-
Notes: vanilla, woody, floral
Scent: 4.5/5
Longevity: 4/5
Projection: 2.8/5
Sexiness: 2/5
Elegance: 5/5
Classiness: 5/5
Versatility: 4/5
Price: 3/5

And no fish. Thankyouverymuch Hermes.

-Mr. Almond-

I am sorry to say this, and you all can vote me off, but on me VG smells like fish ( live fish) and salty water, with a light vanilla breeze on top. It is light, unpleasant and downright shocking with the unexpected fish smell, sorry. Luckily I sampled before commiting, would have been one of my biggest blind mistakes....

Out of all the Hermessence collection. this is my least favorite. Not because its Vanilla, i dont dislike vanilla. But my least fav because it smells just that, vanilla. I was hoping Hermes Vanilla would be complex and the best vanilla ever. But it just smells like everyother vanilla fragrance. And for the price...I'd rather spend it on my fav from the collection. Vetiver Tonka, Ambre Narguile, Santal M & Poivre Sarmaconde.

Like many others, I was somewhat unpleasantly surprised by Hermès Hermessence VANILLE GALANTE upon initial application. It smelled like rank or "off" vanilla. I could not pinpoint the problem and consoled myself with the news that this relatively expensive fragrance would definitely not be going on my wishlist.

As the fragrance developed and dried down, however, I came to terms with the fact that this is not really a vanilla perfume. It's more like an orchid perfume embellished with ylang-ylang, as bizarre as that may sound. Others detect rotting banana peels or melons, so I guess that I am lucky, in the end!

Still not on my wishlist, however, even after this radical reconceptualization.

On me, this smells like a combination of banana peels + lilies + smoked wood. A little too odd for my liking.

Nice but too light. It is more floral aquatic for my nose than oriental vanilla. I don't think this scent is unique or original. And the lasting power could be better. Forgettable fragrance.

On me this smells just like the jasmine blossoms where I lived in Big Sur. I don't smell any vanilla. My mom however smelled nothing but vanilla. It's very nice, soft and spring/summer appropriate.
Stays close to the skin and lasts a few hours.

This is a very pretty vanilla on me, although I don't get a whole lot else from it. It is soft, light, sweet without being foody, and very wearable although it didn't last more than about an hour. I get just a hint of the powdery flowers and gentle spices, without actually being able to smell them. They just add a certain texture to the vanilla. I really liked it, but not enough to actually get a bottle. However, I liked it better than Guerlain's Spiritueuse Double Vanilla, which to me was just plain vanilla with no character. VG stays very vanilla, but there are scents happening under the surface that keep it interesting.

For me, this one turned out to be ripe bananas that simply would not go away until scrubbed off!

One of my treasure scent, i just hope it stay longer, it blend too well with my skin in the end. Discreet is the word.

My first thought upon applying this fragrance to my skin is that it IS boring like some of the reviews here say-yes indeed-green bamboo and melon and another simple fluid sweet vanilla...."Another vanille, another "galante"..."


Second thought: "Hmmm. A gentle pretty floral and what a well-done natural vanilla-all at once!"

I love a little bit of everything--I like a well-done heavy Oriental and a well-done fresh light floral or citrus alike.

This is a beautiful light floral and vanilla (even if just flower) all at once-not foodie even if sweet and melony. I don't feel compelled to save up for a bottle, it's not edgy or surprising in a compositional sense, as an Hermessence, an expensive and rather straightforward fragrance-but I can't imagine this failing on your skin, if these notes work for you-and if you aren't disgusted by the terms "fresh" and "light" you might be just as relaxed and invigorated as I am, you too might find the beauty of Vanille Galante with great ease. You could be bored by Vanilla Galante, but you could also stop, sigh and be soothed by it.

Stop bashing VG for not being interesting only because it is not another loud vanilla perfume. I'd say it's quite a unique and well balanced fragrance, which masterly combines three very different scents (melon, orange lily and vanilla) into one beautiful aroma and yet stays miscellaneous.
Finally, a little gemstone for floral lovers.

Vanille galante smells of vanilla flower, not the vanilla spice we put into the cakes.

The scent is very light floral. It is truly not oriental vanilla. In the top notes I can smell green bamboo, then some watery melon and flower notes come into play. The base is also very very light.

I would suggest this fragrance for people who like fresh and light flowery fragrances. As for me, this scent is boring...

To me Hermessence Vanille Galante came as a surprise-I got it as a gift with an Hermes scarf I bought and almost instantly was taken back to childhood and innocence.
It feels definitely feminine to me-unisex, in my opinion does not apply to it.
Vanilla has a softer presence in it-if I didn't know it was the only ingredient, I would say there are traces of spring wild flowers and some cherry blossom in it.
It is definitely richer than the mono-expectation of vanilla.
The only downside is that it doesn't last long...
Just like childhood.

Sweet overripe melon. Melon and nothing more. Nice sandalwood notes in base, but where almost no odor.

I can't believe it. What dissapointment... Sharp lilly, rough carnation, ephemeral vanilla at the very end of the base, just before fading away ... Nothing I expected of a gallant vanilla.
I feel really sad.

Although the fragrance notes say its purely vanilla, it doesn't smell like it is. There is some spice and floral (honeysuckle or lily maybe?).

This plays in to the whole niche perfume category, and just as I would recommend that one invest in a floral and amber/musk that they love in order to alter, warm, lighten, brighten up any fragrance they own, I similarly believe one needs a vanilla. This is the one. It's deep. It's thick. it's rich. It's like the finest treated leather. It's like a fur throw.

My mother turned me on to this fragrance and it's beautiful on its own for a young woman through until her golden years (my grandmother is also a huge fan). It's great on it's own, and great to mix. It's strong, it's warm. It's very comforting. I feel at peace and serene when I wrap myself in this.

What Hermes managed to do for the orange, is what it is doing here for vanilla.