Voyage d’Hermès Parfum Fragrance Review: A Spicy Unisex Cardamom Cologne For Men & Women

Being absolutely infatuated by Terre d’Hermès, I was keen to see what else the historical French house had to offer. When I discovered that Voyage d’Hermès was a unisex fragrance that I could share with my wife, I was excited to give it a try.

After having used Voyage d’Hermès for a number of months, it was time to give it a full review using the Fragrance Formula to see how it fares.

In this review, you will discover Voyage d’Hermès where we explore the following subjects:

• Fragrance Overview
• Blend & Fragrance Strength
• Tested 3rd Party Feedback
• When To Wear The Cologne
• Presentation & Value

You can use the links above to jump ahead or just scroll down to read it all!

Overview

• Brand: Hermès
• Fragrance: Voyage d’Hermès
• Concentration: Parfum
• Introduction: 2012
• Olfactive Fragrance Family: Woody Floral Musk
• Price On Amazon: $80 for 100 ml [Buy Now]
• Price On FragranceX: From $77 [Buy Now]

Following the success of the 2010 eau de toilette of the same name, Hermès released the parfum edition in 2012. Also created by the in-house nose, Jean-Claude Ellena, the parfum promises an enriched experience with a composition of citrusy aromas, spicy blends as well as herbaceous green notes and precious wood.

Download the Voyage d’Hermès Fragrance Formula as a PDF.

Learn More About The Bespoke Unit Fragrance Formula (BUFF)

Voyage d’Hermès Composition

With a rich floral heart over a woody and musk base, Voyage d’Hermès is a proud member of the Woody Floral Musk olfactive sub-family.

Head Notes

• Lemon
• Cardamom
• Pepper

Voyage opens on a deep yet zesty head featuring bitter lemons and fresh pepper followed by the alluring cardamom note. Whilst it’s not the first to appear, the cardamom quickly rolls in to dominate the fragrance’s head with mouthwatering appeal. In fact, the cardamom is the star of the show as you’ll see later.

Heart Notes

• Rose
• Juniper
• Jasmine

As the citrus and pepper notes fade, we’re revealed a floral bouquet featured rose, juniper and sweet jasmine. The juniper adds an almost herbaceous note reminiscent of cedar yet the cardamom continues to persist throughout the heart.

Base Notes

• Labdanum
• Agarwood
• Cedarwood

The juniper is the last of the heart notes to fade, which brings forward an extended cedar scent. Meanwhile, a spicy and leathery agarwood note comes into play. Whilst not quite an oud, it does have the thick and oily prominence that you’d expect. Finally, a touch of labdanum adds an element of musk while the cardamom continues to gives gourmand whiffs.

Voyage’s Life-Cycle, Wake & Strength

Although deep and heady, Voyage is far from overpowering. The notes cycle through their dry-down with a few transitional notes extending others along the way. As mentioned above, the cardamom is really what makes this fragrance sing and is omnipresent throughout its lifespan.

Although the projection and sillage are both quite tight and stay relatively close to the skin, the longevity is impressive. Although you may want to re-apply after a couple of hours, the fragrance’s performance keeps on giving well after its application.

What Do People Think Of Voyage d’Hermès?

Although overshadowed by Terre d’Hermès, Voyage has a cult following among both men and women. Those who try it quickly pick up on the cardamom and thoroughly enjoy the unique note. It’s often considered tasty, gourmand and mouthwatering.

Others also enjoyed the bouquet of spices and woody notes but since the cardamom is firmly fixed in the limelight, it’s the one that receives all the glory. Of course, if you don’t let the smell of cardamom, this isn’t a fragrance that you’ll enjoy!

Being a very deep and sensual fragrance, it was better received by more mature people from their thirties and above. However, it’s a very contemporary if classy blend. Conversely, it came across as a little too prominent for younger people. Nevertheless, it’s a fragrance that both men and women find attractive and this universality is probably the secret to its success.

When To Wear Voyage d’Hermès

Both the time of day and season play large roles in when to successfully wear this fragrance. Firstly, its cardamom and spices aren’t something that you’d wear for winter despite being deep and sensual. In fact, it fares far better during the late spring and summer.

However, it’s probably too heavy and musky for a summer’s day. Instead, it’s the perfect companion for balmy summer nights. Thanks to its paradoxical fresh and warm notes, it complements the heat and offers something that is both unique an alluring.

As for the age range, it’s perfectly wearable for anyone in their late twenties but is probably more suitable for someone who is established. Therefore, it’s a great fragrance for those in their thirties, forties or above.

In terms of occasion, it can be quite versatile. As much as it’s a respectable office fragrance that isn’t overpowering for small workplaces, it’s best reserved for the nighttime. Therefore, whether you’re just going out, staying casual or enjoying your evening, it’s a wonderful companion. We’d even suggest it as a unique alternative for dating!

Finally, Voyage d’Hermès is a strange beast when it comes to the masculine. On paper, its notes are rather masculine and sound like something best worn by men. However, it’s very much a unisex fragrance that can be bought by anyone or even shared by a couple.

Presentation and Value For Money

Voyage d’Hermès features a very interesting and unique flacon. Said to be designed for travelling, the glass swivels inside a metal frame so that it can’t be accidentally pressed when in your luggage. However, I’m not quite convinced that it’s a practical solution.

Nevertheless, it’s visually appealing and looks great when positioned at an angle on your shelf. The parfum distinguishes itself from the eau de toilette by being made from black glass rather than white, which looks almost midnight blue under the light.

Furthermore, there’s no bottle cap and the atomiser can be unscrewed for refilling. Once you’ve run out, there’s no need to buy another bottle but a plain refill, which is slightly cheaper. Speaking of the atomiser, it performs well and provides a burst of thick mist. It’s solid and well-made so doesn’t squirt out like a water gun.

Meanwhile, the packaging is very attractive too. The cardboard features a herringbone texture on the front, top and back with beige sides. An embossed stripe wraps around the cardboard to look like a ribbon whilst “Voyage d’Hermès” is elegantly written in silver text with underscores.

As for the value for money, know that Voyage d’Hermès is a particularly expensive and premium fragrance. Retailing well above $100 for 3.4 Oz (100 ml), it’s quite the investment. However, being an original and well-performing fragrance, it’s worth taking the plunge.

However, you can pick up it for less on Amazon where it’s sold for only $80. Meanwhile, you can pick it up for $77 through FragranceX!

Closing Thoughts

A very contemporary yet timeless fragrance, Voyage d’Hermès is a unique and tantalising experience. Its spicy and woody themes beautifully showcase the vivid cardamom note, which is unforgettable.

If you’re looking for something that performs well to wear on those summer nights, this is an excellent pick. Furthermore, it’s one that you can share with your partner if she or her has taken a liking to it too!