Caleche

This is a Chanel 5 distant relative, but in my opinion much more hip and cool yet classy and everlasting. The aldehyde notes are dominant but so beautifully blended. I am not into soapy fragrances yet I could see this one becoming a signature scent. A timeless classic for those who don’t need to explain themselves.

I was gifted a 1981 decant which I was excited to try Caleche as I prefer aldehydic frags and my signature scent is Arpege. And kind of like architecture where I can appreciate the design of a home but would never dream of living in it, I can appreciate the artistry in the creation of Caleche and at the same time know I would never reach for it. There is something unfriendly about it, that says notice me because I'm kind of a brat, not because I have redeeming qualities. My apologies to those who care deeply for Caleche. Perhaps this scent does not mesh well with my body and it smells great on someone else. Caleche does have long lasting power and impressive sillage.

I am just now realizing how very useful "negative" reviews can be. I mean, the respectful ones, the oens that say "I appreciate the quality of this product but it's not something I would wear". Then there are disrespectful reviews that criticize the product and show readers how little they know about high quality products (regardless of personal preferences and nose sensibility). In this case, thanks to the user who mentioned: "this is NOT similar to Amouage -Gold and Chanel no.5" (which I like but I can't wear, they don't suit me) and "it leans towards Paloma Picasso" (which I really liked in the past) = now I have more information and decided to order a sample! :-) Will update my review once I get it! Thank you!!!!!

I purchased it because I adore Amouage- Gold and Chanel no 5. From the notes, I was sure I would like this but No. Users have likened it to with "Gold" and "No5", but this is nothing similar.... this scent is similar with Magie Noir which I dislike😝 Reminiscent to my nose of Paloma Picasso (a fragrance I also dislike). It's a pass.

If luxury had a sound, Calèche by Hermès would be the rustle of a silk yoke sliding on a handcrafted leather saddle. A masterpiece by Guy Robert launched in 1961, it is not just a perfume: it is the olfactory pillar that defined the elegance of the Parisian maison. Timeless elegance. Calèche belongs to the nobility of the Fioriti Aldeidati, the same family as the legendary Chanel N°5, but with a decidedly more aristocratic and "earthy" personality. The top notes are an explosion of clean and light. The aldehydes here are not dusty, but vibrant, supported by a citrus freshness and the aromatic touch of cypress, which immediately gives that "outdoor" character typical of the equestrian world of Hermès. Once the initial effervescence has faded, an extremely refined flower garden emerges. Iris and rose dominate, giving a velvety and soapy texture, never too sweet, maintaining an almost formal rigor. This is where Calèche reveals his true mastery. Oakmoss and vetiver create a dry, woody base, reminiscent of the smell of leather harnesses and woods after rain. Calèche is the "old school" perfume in the highest sense of the word. If you love modern, sweet and gourmand fragrances (vanilla and caramel style), Calèche might seem too austere to you. However, if you are looking for a perfume that communicates authority, impeccable cleanliness and effortless style, this is an absolute point of reference.

The fourth reviewer down from here says Caleche smells like an orthodox church. I'm very glad to read that because it makes me feel less mad for arguing there is an unlisted note of incense in Caleche, ... otherwise it must be a very strange trick of the aldehydes. In any case, Caleche is quite pleasant. I adore the light, yet refined, opening with aldehydes, citruses, cypress, ...and incense. Soon some rose-led florality moves in. There is also some powderiness, with oakmoss, sandalwood, ...and still an angelic hint of incense. I'm really enjoying this in an unexpectedly devout, introspective way. I don't mean to be so oddly vague about it. Je ne sais quoi,

Super strong clean soap

You are in horsedrawn carriage, on a high hillside road at dusk with the fresh cool air descending after a warm spring day screaming past your face, the heat of friction from speed upon the wheels and axles rises up to greet this voluminous breeze whipping through the scarf wrapped carefully upon your head; there is a damp and heaving, warm catlike creature bundled into your lap emanating a feral moist presence. Some time passes before the carriage enters a calmer state, and you are ferried into a great hall with stoles and chic silks, demure grandeur well into the early hours of the evening. I am sure others have explained this perfume more articulately, but this substance is a visceral, photorealistic adventure. I seldom use more than a drop spread carefully between several pulse points, and must be sure of it because it always takes me for a long and insistent ride. Its difficult for me to place or imagine another sort of experience with it.

So, I’m trying a decant sample of this. Background: a few decades ago, my signature scent was Hermes ED Merveilles. I had visited the flagship store and felt an affiliation with the house. I loved the brightness of EDM, and the lighter variations on the main scent. I’m older now and more interested in perfumes, intense scents. I thought Caleche might be a good fit. Alas, it smells “old” - it smells like the late 1960s in the summer poking around my grandmother’s bureau because I’m bored. It smells like I’m slightly scandalized because Grandmama HAS underwear (rather than any analysis of the type of underwear). And I’m shocked that she has Avon solid perfume (piano version) in the drawer, slightly open, to scent the contents. I want to smell more. I want to smell the details, the unfolding, the bloom. The leather. Alas and alack. I smell one solid scent - I’m being naughty and it is NOT a thrill. It is an invasion of privacy. Maybe this will grow on me, but I probably won’t use it enough for that to happen. It smells like disappointment that I’ll always be American Ms. and never a French Mme. in this life.

Smells like a mass in orthodox church. Absolute niche gem! Definitely unisex!

I found a great book association for this perfume, The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. Takes you back to the slow-paced world without internet full of hand crafted items with personal history passed down through generations. This, and the orthodox church, too.

the most realistic orthodox church smell

The OG skin scent.

Calèche by Hermès evokes the scent of luxury soap but goes beyond that. It narrates cleanliness through an elegant progression—from crisp citrus to creamy softness to a refined powdery finish.

What a surprising discovery - it smells very similar to YSL Rive Gauche! 25 years ago my signature scent was the RG. Last year I decided to buy it again - and sadly I discovered that it had been reformulated - it smelled nothing linke before. They really ruined the fine fragrance 😠... So Caleche - first impression was a bit off putting - like old people frag back in the 80s. I just realised this fragrance is from the 60s - so after a few minutes it developed so nice on my skin - clean, but at the same time addictive - you want to inhale the scent. It is very strong and long lasting. You just have to get over the first 5 minutes ... and the ridiculously high price 😅

Like coromandel83, I upvoted Lovaloo review even though I too don't agree with it at all. People have a right to their opinion and their feelings. You don't have to agree. Just accept it, respect it, and move on. It would be completely bullying and horribly toxic to try and intimidate Lovaloo into submission by shutting Lovaloo's review down. It would be like saying, "Attention! Your attention please! Only. MY. opinion. matters! All others will be cancelled, discarded, and otherwise suppressed! Just remember, it's ALL about me! That is all! You may go back to your regularly scheduled day!" Do you see how cancel culture doesn't work? That is as long as we keep it about the scent and not attack people who wear it by making passive aggressive remarks or flat out sling insults at them. Shutting down their review would be in order then. Don't forget we all have our individual skin chemistry that dictates how a fragrance will smell from person to person and we all have our very subjective tastes. Some of that may be because of culture too. Whatever it is, just respect it and move on. Now, about the scent. On me, I absolutely agree with those who said this reminds of Chanel N5. To me it's an older, cleaner, smoother version of the EDT, but that's just me. It's not exact, but close. Try it for yourself and see what result you get. It's also very long lasting. For an EDT, that's actually a rarity these days. It also can be a bit strong, so you might want to go light on the trigger until you figure out what works for your individual chemistry. Soapy? Yes, and that is the whole idea. I think it's supposed to smell like you took a shower or bath with a great smelling shower/bath gel and used the perfumed lotion too. Therefore you smell nice, clean, and fresh...that's it! It's discrete and has a no nonsense approach. For me, that's what makes it great for an every day daytime scent where the primary focus should be on you, not your scent. Perfect for the office. In fact, if you want to be taken seriously, wear this scent for your presentation. It is also versatile enough to wear for your celebratory luncheon with colleagues or after work cocktails. Powdery? Not really, but then I put it on straight out of the shower so that may tamp down on the powder.

This was my mother's signature scent. I wear it in her honor. If I ever get married I will wear it on my wedding day. I love you mom! Clotilda Francesca Pompeii Rosaria Bruno

Caleche means a horse-drawn carriage. Caleche by Hermes smells utterly noble, much like old palace interiors. The ones with intricate wooden parquet floors that creak under the step, oil paintings, crystal chandeliers and guilded mirrors. And a ghost of burnt-out candles still lingering in the air. Caleche has a golden yellow, even orange, aura to it, due to ylang ylang. Its sparkly aldehydes, clean white flowers, woody cedar and vetiver with leathery undertones create an athmosphere similar to Ysatis and Rive Gauche (though of course not a similar scent).

The smell of ultimate elegance. For me this is a reminder of my summer evenings when I was a student. I think it works really well for summer nights. For me it's a going out on a date perfume/ eau de toilette. If I may say, the people comparing this to Gold by Amouage are confusing Gold with Dia. This smells like Dia by Amouage and although Caleche is expensive, it's better value than Dia. Edit 1st February 25: I take back what I said regarding Gold by Amouage not smelling like this. I just received a bottle today and yes, it also does smell like Calèche.

The vintage Caleche, well preserved and equally well loved never ceases to thrill me. Unique, dignified, perhaps too old fashioned and lady like for hip modern noses, it is in a class of its own and remains the epitome of what was once considered a crisp, floral Chypre. An iconic gem.

Current formulation. Pretty... for the hour it lasts, top to bottom to very subtle lingering skin scent. Chèr.

I don't agree at all with Lovaloo, but I upvoted their comment because I agree they have a right to their opinion. On the other hand, I came here to remind myself why I very much admired Caleche at the time my mum used it. I hope reformulations haven't destroyed that perfume. Now it seems I'll have to go and try it somewhere.

Angry Hermes Caleche fans nuked my negative review, so here we go again. Shrill metallic citruses and fatty, soapy aldehydes. Powdery woody fake oakmoss blah. The scant florals in this perfume are lost amidst the industrial fuzz. Perhaps the vintage is nice, but the modern iteration is downright ghastly. I've tested it several times over the past year. The opening is jarring enough, but my nose can't find a way around the barren woodiness of the drydown. -Caleche is not "more masculine", or "more modern", it's worse. If you want Chanel No. 5, get the real deal. If you don't like No. 5 EDP, try the EDT. -If you want to smell like aluminum foil, sawdust, and soap particulate, try it. The appeal is completely lost on me, but it's less expensive and more nuanced than Tom Ford Metallique. I've said it before and no doubt I'll end up saying it again. What exactly is the point of having a review section if negative reviews get removed from the page? I understand many love it, but to me it smells like aluminum foil, soap, and sawdust, and other people have the right to know.

I was eyeing a scent from the Jardin line but when I tried this, I was taken aback and surprised. While it is a classic fragrance, I don't find it old, dated, or mature at all. It's elegant and timeless, even comforting and inviting. In layman's term, it smells like a soapy baby powder with soft white florals and a tinge of citrus. In my opinion, people of a certain aura and personality can pull this off, no matter the age (those who like to live elegantly, speak eloquently, love to engage in intellectual discussions, and those who like to use "nice/quality" things to elevate their every day experiences). Caleche is an elegant, comforting, and fresh versatile fragrance. A rarity today in an era of candy-and-dessert-smelling perfumes.

My honest opinion is that Madame Rochas is a much better product at a much more affordable price. The dry down of Caleche is better than the initial spray, but not worth the price, and then it fades away pretty quickly. I blame the synthetic oakmoss. More reasonable alternatives: Madame Rochas Jean-Louis Scherrer Aliage

I bought a vintage miniature of this perfume, and it smells old, very old, and heavy. Old as in old furniture, old house, old fur coats. At some point, it smelled like an old church. I would definitely see an 80-year-old, sophisticated, and uptight woman wearing it. Maybe new batch perfumes smell better (hope so) than my miniature but in this form, it will have to wait another 50 years for me to find it even remotely interesting or wearable.

When I first tried Calèche, I immediately made a reference note, and I quote: “goody goody!” And I meant it. Calèche is gorgeous! If I was asked to describe what a perfume is I would give the description of Calèche. Yes I spent my formative years around aldehydes. Here aldehydes are blended into the most luscious and creamy soapy (a compliment!) blend. AI description above mentions words like mature and old fashioned but within this type of scents Calèche, I believe, is closer to the modern world than many!

Opens with rich "aldehydic" notes: classy, floral, feminine. Becomes "airier" and more expansive, with soft white florals. Natural greenery follows. Becomes a little more powdery, dry, "narcotic"and musky. The floral notes return intermittently, and fluctuate between white-floral blossom and traditional flowers. Some honey like sweetness, a waxy aspect off the skin and a grassy undercurrent. Papery-woods linger behind... It's clean, classic perfumery. Projection/sillage not too overbearing but consistently present. High quality. Smells like a mature woman with style and effortless, understated elegance. A bygone profile, nostalgic and homely.

I've had exactly the same tester/non tester experience as simetra23. They've ruined this beauty TOO, haven't they? A mere 'facsimile' wisp remains. Shame on you, Hermès.

If Balmain's Ivoire is a photorealistic bar of soap, Caleche is a more abstract representation of "clean" as a concept. Fizzy, retro aldehydes galore with a whiff of that signature Hermes woodiness. Wear this when you want to feel like pristine old money. I have to say that after the very fleeting citrus top notes, Caleche is almost identical to Estee Lauder's White Linen, as some other reviewers have noted. I don't think you need both!