Equipage Hermès

Aldehydes sparkle with almost soapy clarity as clary sage and mace create a peppery, slightly medicinal opening that feels architectural in its precision. The bergamot arrives immediately thereafter, bright and purposeful, cutting through the spice like morning light through a study window.

Cinnamon and carnation bloom into genuine warmth, but the pine needle keeps everything sharp-edged and austere, preventing any softness from settling in. Jasmine and lily of the valley attempt delicacy but are constantly undermined by the woody dryness that's now fully asserting itself—this is where Equipage reveals its true character as a leather-tinged chypre, rather than the floral it might have promised.

Oakmoss and vetiver dominate completely, their earthy, slightly mossy quality now front and centre, whilst patchouli adds a faintly bitter undertone that keeps tonka bean's sweetness at bay. What remains is something decidedly austere—a skin scent that smells of leather, earth, and a peculiar, honourable restraint that never quite fades completely, even as projection dissolves entirely.