Elixir des Merveilles

This is a perfume for strong identity, it smells like power.

I might be biased as this is my mom’s signature scent, but it is just so beautiful and classy goddamnit. so unique and inoffensive. Pure unisex in my opinion. For some reason I get a similar vibe to the noir 29. They smell nothing alike but I feel as though they tap into the same niche. NEED to get a full bottle for myself.

A unique timeless unisex masterpiece. A rare distinguished perfume, fried for so many years, and still relevant. One of the few perfumes made with sophisticated thought, luxurious finesse and an earthy finish. There is nothing superfluous, nothing intrusive, nothing repulsive in it. Only a delicate closeness of an expensive and luxurious sense of identity. Thank you that it has not yet been stopped like other masterpieces.

Another masterpiece by hermes which i can never get bored of. It doesnt screaming in your face but becomes a skin scent and that's why I love hermes. If you like amber and something that tickles your nose like its peppery then go for this scent. Its absolutely such a stunning fragrance clean but amber but peppery and spicy so much happens whilst wearing it. Its such an overlooked fragrance I cant say I have found another that resembles this scent. I love it

starts off sharp & acrid, settles woody & smoky, with a powdery sort of play-doh note close to the skin. it also disgrees with my skin chemistry - it very quickly took on body odor notes for me. combined with the deep, smoky notes, all I could think was an unkempt smoker's room that's always burning incense to cover the various odors simply put, I did not like this fragrance

Not good very woody and old

To me this is a summer morning after sunrise, having a light breakfast in the garden with fresh orange juice, sunlight on my face, and a slightly fresh breeze (the sharper opening). After a several hours it becomes warm vanilla, to me more reminiscent of the hugging warm atmosphere of a summer evening. This perfume always puts me in a good mood without feeling "too much"!

A warm summer, a deep blue sea, and a gentle breeze. Exactly that. Sımsıcak yaz, masmavi deniz, hafif esen rüzgar. Tam olarak bu.

Elixir des Merveilles is such a beautiful fragrance when it's cold. A work of art of resins, precious, smiling ambers, and woods and leaves from northern trees, it seems adorned with cola cookies with sweet, fresh orange zest, mmm 😊. Ahead of its time, a prodigious perfume that remains a symbol of both contemporary and timeless style. This is a Hermès perfume, certainly sir!

First hour of this smells like soap to me and not in a nice way. The dry down is nicer but it's hard to get past the first hour. Same issue with L'ambre.

Diamonds are only for those who can appreciate them! I smell oranges burnt with caramel and chocolate, I smell resins and wood, all perfectly combined together.A bitter sweet and addictive perfume that exudes warmth and passion like a big hug from the person you love the most, in front of the fireplace at night.This perfume has a personality, a strength of character, a complexity and a depth that it is not for the faint-hearted. It is a masterpiece and like no other.Whenever I wear it, I feel I couldn't be happier..

I have been looking forward to finally getting my first Hermes fragrance. But Elixir de Merveilles is terrible to me. Horrible stuff🤢 I have no one to blame but myself. I had this silly idea that a fragrance with these notes (all of which I love) and from such an iconic brand couldn’t possibly fail to delight, and so I blind bought it. A tester, so it was at a reduced price. But still…. I was so wrong. Never again. Lesson learned the hard way. This is a VERY dry, VERY musty, VERY funky and soapy mess of a scent to my nose. And on the dry down, there’s a sharp note that smells literally fecal. I am not exaggerating here. There’s an actual poopy note in the dry down, and it’s STRONG. I’m quite open minded about weird scents. I’ve smelled some strange juices out there and own a few. But this has been a most unpleasant shock. I cannot wear this. Maybe some time in a cool dark corner of my fragrance cabinet will help🤞🏼 Edit 03/15/2026: Ok! Now that it’s been over a week, I tried Elixir again… and thank heaven, this juice now has some structure. Even better, the “poop” note is gone. It’s unisex, but leans more masculine. It’s better, but it’s still a VERY challenging composition for me. The orange isn’t a fresh or candied one. It’s not sweet or juicy or tart. It’s super dry, and smells more like those dried slices of orange in bath salts that float on top of the water. This isn’t a bad thing at all, but it’s unexpected. Along with the dried orange, I get a lot of dry resins, dry amber, and dry woods…really the entire fragrance is a very dry one. Did I mention how dry it is? There’s sweetness there, but it’s very, very subtle. I find myself wanting to layer it with something creamy or musky to give this scratchy, woody and heavily grounded fragrance wings.

I'm pretty disappointed in this purchase because I had smelled the calligraphy version, which has the exact same notes but has been discontinued, and thought they would be the same. Well, they aren't, which is very strange because the difference is pretty significant. This fragrance smells more soapy and kind of like that orange scent you smell when walking into a Lush store. The calligraphy is gorgeous and has so much depth to it. It's warm, sexy and mysterious... This one just smells like the ugly step sister of that fragrance. Really kind of regret buying this but I'm hoping that maybe as it ages it picks up more of that depth.

At first sniff I loved this one, I never smelled something like it, super unique. But after a few minutes I became gradually less and less enthusiastic about it and more and more offended by the scent. It does have something that reminds me of a scent in the past but I cannot pinpoint an exact memory. It's sweet and syrupy but also smells like a male shower gel. It is well made and blended but it's definitely an acquired taste. I wouldn't recommend blind buying it, I can see why it's a masterpiece for some people and how it could work for some but it makes me squint uneasily when I smell it on myself.

The Forest Alchemist- Elixir des Merveilles is the ultimate winter masterpiece—a sophisticated, resinous glow in a bottle. This scent feels like walking through a deep, verdant forest where the earth is damp with moss and bark, yet warmed by an ethereal haze of incense. The composition balances the ruggedness of cedar and amber resins with the creamy, dark sweetness of tonka beans and a whisper of vanilla. It’s dense, woody, and unapologetically luxurious. Perfect for cold, crisp days when you want to carry a spark of amber warmth and Gods ray of light with you. Orange glass aglow, Cedar smoke and tonka warmth, Winter’s golden soul.

If you have this and Liquid Brun, layer them together and thank me later 🤩😘

Ordered a bottle, looks like it could easily be unisex!

You have to hand it to Jean Claude, he is the Van Damme of perfume art. He really turned the Eau into Elixir. It's one of the better ambers. Ofcourse Shalimar is Shalimar but Elixir is festive. A festive oriental whereas Shalimar is a sensuous oriental. Eau des Merveilles is more of a discreet freshie like Wood Sage & Sea Salt. If you own WS&SS from Jo Malone give Eau a pass. To be honest I kinda feel let down that I got the big bottle of Eau and smaller of Elixir. The 🍊 amber in Elixir is just sumptuous. I hope I do not grow tired of it.

This scent immediately evokes a serene walk in a forest just moments after the rain has settled. It captures the perfect balance between nature’s freshness and elegant warmth. The opening is a vibrant, natural sweet orange zest—bright and uplifting, avoiding any artificial cleaner scent. This quickly melts into a luxurious, glowing amber heart that provides warmth and sophistication without becoming cloying or overly heavy. The foundation is a base of rich, precious woods (perhaps cedar or sandalwood), grounding the fragrance and ensuring a sense of tranquility. The projection is noticeable but refined. It is an absolutely stylish and definitely unisex composition. Most impressively, the longevity is fantastic; I get a solid 8+ hours on my skin. A sophisticated signature scent.

A lot of resin! And balsam! Then orange peels, then amber. Not cozy for me. When I layered a heavy, syrupy vanilla over top it reminds me of GRAND SOIR sans cinnamon. This is how I am going to wear this!! 😊. Ok, I bought this as a blind buy to along with MICHEAL KORS SEXY AMBER to test out 2 amber heavy scents. So, I am happy that I found a way to be happy with this blind buy test because the resin & balsam are very heavy.

Elixir des Merveilles by Hermès is a warm, festive fragrance that always reminds me of Christmas. It’s full of the scent of fresh oranges, soft spices, and a hint of sweetness cozy and joyful at the same time. I don’t wear it often anymore, but it will always feel like the perfect perfume for the holidays.

This fragrance has a nostalgic feeling to it but it's not because it came out in 2006. Even when I first smelled it, theres something familiar yet never smelled before and you just can't help but keep smelling it. It is a strong fragrance, and envelopes you in the most cozy notes. I save it for special occasions usually in the evening in cooler weather but definitely try this on skin, because on paper its quite harsh.

I bought this perfume just by looking at the notes, adding it to my collection for its contribution to my resinous perfume culture. Yes, it was a blind buy. The title says it’s a women’s fragrance, but to me it feels distinctly masculine. In fact, smelling it took me back to an old memory I can’t quite recall. It smells very resinous and dusty; I never got any caramel at all. I want to love this fragrance, yet that masculine vibe doesn’t fade. Specifically, I picture a solitary, bookish, mature man wearing this. It’s definitely a scent that requires a certain age to appreciate. Ah, how much I wanted to love you, Elixir des Merveilles…

It’s magical and super quality, blabla, great creation from Hermes, good performance, feels like I’m rich when I wear this, BUT!! From the first impression to the late drydown, it has some kind of tooth decay undertone, it’s there, all the time, on the skin or on textile, something bothers me, someone mentioned potpourri, others “amber doesn’t fit for everyone” or stuff like that.. it has something disgusting but in such doses that It doesn’t make me gag.

This is a stunning ambery, balsamic, orange, resinous scent. If you like orange and resins/ balsams, Elixir des Merveilles is a safe blind buy, without a doubt. After testing recently L’Ambre de Merveilles and not getting much out of it, I was thinking that’s just another boring perfume. But today I decided to try the Elixir. This is it! The magic is in the Elixir flanker!! Warm, rich, deep and delicious, alluring and complex, Elixir de Merveilles is first and foremost an orangey, citrusy, sweet, incencey, vanilla, resinous concoction. It’s something that worth investing the money because it’s also stronger and more radiant in the air than Eau de Merveilles! Fall and winter season appropriate because of its richness and warmth. Imagine having this on around Christmas time while indulging in all the delicious, decadent typical festive season desserts. A match made in heaven, let me tell you that!!!

Élixir des Merveilles is neither your typical citrus nor amber fragrance. It opens with a distinct orange note, but rather than the fresh, bright, juicy sweetness you normally expect from orange, it leans into a deeper, drier territory. It smells like bitter orange rind, dried tangerine peel, and the aromatic oil that bursts from citrus skin when you twist it. There’s a slightly spicy, almost potpourri-like edge to it—warm, textured, and rich. This citrus oiliness lingers throughout, but the real evolution happens as a warm caramel, resinous amber, and woody base begin to rise. The transition is smooth and natural, giving the scent an almost balsamic quality. While most citrus fragrances focus on freshness and sparkle, Élixir des Merveilles explores the resinous, sticky, and even slightly bitter gourmand side of citrus. It smells like orange peels slowly simmering in caramel-amber resin—dense, comforting, and quietly sensual. The result is a fragrance that feels both radiant and cozy—sweet, but never cloying. It’s perfect for cooler weather, where its warmth truly shines, but it also performs surprisingly well in heat, where the citrus cuts through and the resin softens into a golden glow. Performance is excellent: it lasts all day on skin with moderate projection that’s present but never overwhelming. The drydown remains warm, woody, and lightly sweet for hours. Unisex to the core, Élixir des Merveilles is a unique and artistic interpretation of citrus. A must-try for anyone seeking a different kind of citrus or amber experience.

This is fruity and spicy, but I am not into resins and balsams in my scents so it’s not one for me. It lasts a surprising amount of time and shifts slightly over time.

A beautiful kind of spice, slightly powdery and heady. Definitely a luxurious smelling fragrance for someone who's got their life together.

I’m glad I did not believe all the reviews here knocking this gem and tried it at my local Neiman Marcus. People who know perfumes will find this a magical shape shifting beauty. It open up bright with a burst of citrus - not in the cheap cologne way, but like the actual fruit from a platter in the Ritz. It’s tame, smooth, and energetic at the same time. This lasts for a few minutes and moves into the resin-filled gooey sumptuous phase. It reminds me of buttery caramel, but not the indulgent, greedy, overly sweetened kind. It feels stoically unassuming, like a person who doesn’t care that they’re gorgeous, and don’t primp and preen. It’s easy, gooey, thick comfort. This forms the foundation for the hint of amber that lingers mysteriously like shades hiding deep penetrating eyes. The final phase is like being in an orchard filled with woody, strong sappy trees bearing deliciously ripe oranges. This is an underrated slice of heaven.

I found this to be quite unappealing on my skin. So glad I got a decant before purchasing because I would never wear this. Not only was it not a feminine scent, it was also just bad. Not all ambers are created equal and this just had too many difficult notes for me to enjoy. It wasn't a scrubber, but pretty close to it. I highly suggest you try before you buy. My skin and ambers don't always agree.