When the weather outside is as dirty as it is today, with rain, wind, cold and early darkness, people like to remember summer with its hot days - and light, fresh scents. For me, midsummer was associated above all with a certain scent. I have long searched for a citric scent - and found Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose by Hermès. I wanted something citrus, fresh, but also noble, sweet.
Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose immediately inspired me. Pamplemousse is my favourite citrus scent anyway. And if a rose is added harmoniously and the perfumer's name is Jean-Claude Ellena, only something wonderful can come into being.
The fragrance is simply pure summer. One gets into raptures and dreams. He has a cheerful, sunny aura right from the start and is in a good mood that is infectious. It is bright, lively, modern, youthful and fresh. But he also shows very soon that he is not one-dimensional, as is unfortunately the case with many grapefruit scents, in the style of: "Ah, grapefruit!" - and that's it ...
At the latest in the heart note, when this graceful touch of rose is added, I already knew that this is a fragrance that I would like to stay with for longer, because it is and remains exciting and takes you on a journey into summer. A garden with roses in lovely pastel colours, citrus trees in the warm wind, at the end of August on Capri, when it is not quite so hot anymore, but the colours of sky, sea and Mediterranean landscape in the mild sunlight slowly appear much more intense and softer.
The rose brings something romantic, dreamy, elegant into play without appearing kitschy or nostalgic. The fragrance remains modern and is not too sweet or too flowery. Rather powdery-behaviour, but not obtrusive or captivating - this exclusive fragrance does not need that -, but pleasantly present.
The rose reminds me rather of a tender, natural wild rose. It gives the fragrance something floating, transparent, light and Grazile. Nevertheless, the fragrance has power and something unmistakable. In any case, he is more than one of those grapefruit scents that I often find too spicy or too sour or too sugary. He has style, charm and refinement. You can be seen or smelled everywhere with it. It always shows new facets that surprise and make the perfume interesting - perhaps because the fragrance has such a positive aura without being banal. Summertime, and the livin' is easy ... Yes, the juicy grapefruit and the delicate, bright rose convey pleasant associations: the grace of Mediterranean gardens, the azure blue of the calm sea, the sky with its few lamb clouds in endless blue ... The fragrance tells of a life of leisure and beauty, a pleasant, light life, contemplative, but also cheerful and cheerful. Everything in graceful balance. A fragrance like a smile - enchantingly exhilarating, refreshing, lovable, which gives you the feeling of floating.
Even the delicate tart nuance of vetiver in the base note does not change this feeling of weightlessness. Here the tropical grass shows its gentle, aromatic, calm side that brings relaxation.
For me, Concentré de Pamplemousse Rose is a summer fragrance for leisure time or mild evenings, to which one immediately notices its noble origin.
I compared the EdT with the Concentré and was surprised how clearly the two differ from each other, with each perfume having its own charms. The EdT convinces with its freshness and lightness. The Concentré seems softer and more subtle to me. I haven't made up my mind in a long time. Finally I chose the Concentré because the citrus freshness here impressed me more with its intensity and amazing creaminess. But, of course, that's a matter of taste. They're both high quality. And if I had all two, I would love to use them alternately, depending on mood and occasion. What I like about the Concentré is that it somehow seems more full-bodied and manages, so to speak, to square the circle: to be a fragrance that is tart, aromatic and strong, but at the same time remains sweet and elegant. The EdT may be more pleasing and lighter, but it does not have the depth and sensitivity of the Concentrés.
I feel disappointed with both durability and Sillage. I would have wished for more in this high price segment. Anyway, in the true sense of the word, the Concentré became my constant companion last summer. Because I so often felt I had to renew the scent, I always carried it around with me, in handbags, bath bags, shoppers and backpacks.
By the way, I feel the flacon beautifully. He's got style. The simplicity and smoothness of the iced green glass are convincing and go well with the soul of this fragrance.
I did not regret the purchase and will wear Pamplemousse Rose surely in the next summer again gladly.
I can highly recommend this perfume to fans of citrus scents. Even if the durability is somewhat disappointing.
The fragrance is known to be unisex and thus corresponds to the great trend of recent years. So I was afraid it might be too masculine for me. In fact, I can imagine grapefruit and rose being better for women here too. As a men's perfume, I think it could use more vetiver. And cedar. By the way, I imagine myself sniffing out the cedar relatively clearly and quite harmoniously from heart notes, although it is not listed among the fragrances it contains. It gives the fragrance its unmistakable Mediterranean charm. All that's missing now are the cicadas and their chirping. But this can be thought of without great effort even in winter ...
