Hermès

Hermès

• Founded in 1837 in Paris by Thierry Hermès, originally making saddles and harnesses
• Still majority family-owned, now run by the sixth generation of the family
• Entered fragrance in 1951 with Eau d'Hermès, created by perfumer Edmond Roudnitska
• One of the few luxury houses that produces its own fragrances in-house rather than outsourcing to a licensing partner
• Employed dedicated in-house perfumers, first Jean-Claude Ellena (2004 to 2016), then Christine Nagel
• Known for Terre d'Hermès, Un Jardin, and the Hermessence collection

Hermès started as a saddle and harness maker in 1837, and that craft background carried through everything the house later built, including its move into fragrance in 1951. Unlike most fashion houses, Hermès makes its perfumes itself, in its own workshops, with dedicated in-house perfumers rather than outside licensing deals.

The house is known for clean, well-built compositions built around a small number of clear ideas rather than complexity for its own sake, Terre d'Hermès being the clearest example. It's a good choice if you want a fragrance from a house that treats scent with the same care as its other craft work.