Eau des Merveilles by Hermès

Best Eau des Merveilles by Hermès Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Eau des Merveilles by Hermès is a woody fragrance that opens with bright citrus notes of orange and lemon, intertwined with spicy pink and black pepper. Its heart reveals resinous elemi and warm amber, while the base is grounded in earthy cedarwood, vetiver, oakmoss, and benzoin, creating a complex balance of sparkling, spicy, and woody elements. Those drawn to a sophisticated, warm yet fresh woody scent will appreciate fragrances that echo these notes and facets.

New to Bloom? Get 10% off your first order with code NICHE10
1
Berbera

Berbera by Nissaba £150.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £8.00
  • Key notes:
  • black pepper
  • elemi
  • incense
  • myrrh
  • pink pepper
  • smoke
  • Tags:
  • #smoky
  • Aromagroups:
  • spicy
  • woody

The finest gum extracts from Somaliland — frankincense, myrrh and opoponax — combine in this resinous and sophisticated scent. Berbera is a powerful woody amber suitable for layering, as is common in the Middle East, as well as a standalone manifesto. Opoponax brings nuances of leather and old wood, myrrh swirls in a cola note, and frankincense soars high and dry. A charred-around-the-edges fragrance to uplift your soul and deepen your mystique.

2
Liqueur Charnelle

Liqueur Charnelle by Pierre Guillaume Black Collection £140.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £6.00
  • Key notes:
  • cedarwood
  • cognac
  • elemi
  • pink pepper
  • tobacco
  • tonka beans
  • Tags:
  • #sexy
  • Aromagroups:
  • spicy
  • woody

The five major aromas that give Cognac its unique flavor are vanilla, prune, caramel, orange and apricot. Some can also detects floral and fruity notes in its bouquet, such as dried linden blossom, vine blossom, dry vine shoots and pressed grape with hints of violet and vanilla.

Inspired by this cornucopia of notes, Liqueur Charnelle is a voluptuous, deeply sensual accord in which the perfumer offers a “cognac bouquet” of spices, blond tobacco and powdery woods. Suave and vibrant pink pepper, elemi and black pepper enhance tonka bean and raspberry notes…

Pair this perfume with the indulgent Liqueur Charnelle hand and body wash infused with the same fragrance.

3
Honey & Lemon

Honey & Lemon by J-Scent £122.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £6.00
  • Key notes:
  • honey
  • lemon
  • orange
  • Tags:
  • #fresh
  • Aromagroups:
  • citrusy
  • spicy

A beautifully bittersweet dance between honey and fresh lemon. A surprising herbal nuance undercuts the syrupiness of the honey, with undertones of rose and jasmine adding gentle cushioning. Sandalwood and musk lend subtle structure.

4
Santal

Santal by Floris £100.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £5.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • black pepper
  • cardamom
  • cedarwood
  • cloves
  • frankincense
  • nutmeg
  • sandalwood
  • vetiver
  • Tags:
  • #clean
  • #fresh
  • Aromagroups:
  • spicy
  • woody

Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.

5
Autoportrait

Autoportrait by Olfactive Studio £140.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £6.00
  • Key notes:
  • elemi
  • oakmoss
  • vetiver
  • Aromagroups:
  • woody

A fresh woody perfume with crisp cedar and oakmoss in the coniferous company of elemi and frankincense resins. Autoportrait is a good example of how frankincense can be used in a modern way for its fresh coniferous value, without going into a churchy or oriental interpretation.

6
Civet

Civet by Zoologist £240.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £8.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • civet
  • coffee
  • labdanum
  • orange
  • ylang-ylang
  • Tags:
  • #sweet
  • Aromagroups:
  • floral
  • leather
  • unconventional

As the sun sinks over the dense tropical forest, civets emerge warily from the thickets. Under a carpet of narcotic flower blossoms, a smattering of coffee berries peppers the ground. The moist air is heavy with mossy aromas that penetrate every crevice, but the musky scent of the civets dominates; their marked territory daring one to enter at one’s own risk.

Civet pays homage to the age-old ingredient, civet, as well as chypre perfumes of bygone days – perfumes that refused to be intimidated by raw, alluring, animalistic musks. Civet is a moody and complex brew entwined in mystery. It opens with a spicy floral accord, threaded through with dark coffee tones. Slowly it prowls forward, unraveling base notes of leather, moss and vanilla that combines with distinctive civet musk to create a bewildering, sophisticated scent with the promise of a sultry nighttime rendezvous.

Perfumer: Shelley Waddington

7
Orange Crush

Orange Crush by Fugazzi £140.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £7.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • iso-e-super
  • orange
  • Tags:
  • #clean
  • #fresh
  • Aromagroups:
  • citrusy
  • woody

More is less. Orchestrated with just three main ingredients. One: Iso-e-Super (with its sensation of soft, transparent wood). Two: white amber (with its comforting, almost skin-like warmth). Three: orange (lavishly applied). The effect: a warm/fresh velvetiness that intensifies the longer it lives on the skin.

8
Aer

Aer by Ortir Apothecari £114.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £5.00
  • Key notes:
  • cedarwood
  • orange
  • peppermint
  • rose
  • woodland litter
  • Tags:
  • #clean
  • #fresh
  • Aromagroups:
  • aromatic
  • woody

AER translates to air and is pronounced "air-r".

Cool coastal breeze in a bottle. This uplifting niche perfume offers an initial hit of cool aromatics, crisp and light on the skin. A slight wood-smokiness unfolds, dry and elegant, bringing you gently back down to earth.

9
303 Marbre Rouge (Red Marble)

303 Marbre Rouge (Red Marble) by Bon Parfumeur £175.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £7.00
  • Key notes:
  • amber
  • benzoin
  • chilli
  • incense
  • pink pepper
  • tolu balm
  • vetiver
  • ylang-ylang
  • Tags:
  • #beast
  • #sexy
  • Aromagroups:
  • spicy

The fusion of the Taj Mahal's cold marble and its surrounding garden. Marbre Rouge brings the flowers inside the palace walls.  Initially spicy, the fragrance warms up around cardamom before revealing its ylang-ylang heart. The amber notes of benzoin and Tolu balsam leave intensely sensual scents on the skin.

Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur

10
Celestial Robe 羽衣

Celestial Robe 羽衣 by Zhiwuzhi 挚物志 £120.00

Not sure yet? Try a 1 ml sample for £4.00
  • Key notes:
  • grapefruit
  • oakmoss
  • orange
  • pine needles
  • rhubarb
  • Tags:
  • #fresh
  • #savory
  • Aromagroups:
  • citrusy
  • green

Within the grand halls of the Tang dynasty, a solitary dancer, Yuyi, steps into the light. Her grace feels almost celestial, a fragment of heaven quietly descended into the mortal world. One dance is enough to captivate an entire city. Celestial Robe traces her steps with this fougere, starting with the zesty opening movement: tart orange, lemon and rhubarb, with pine and grapefruit adding sharpness and clarity. Galbanum underscores the green aspects, as a bouquet of woods (cedarwood and guaiac wood) and plush musk and ambergris round off the choreography.

Perfumer: Fanming Meng

About Eau des Merveilles by Hermès

How does Eau des Merveilles differ from these similar fragrances?
Eau des Merveilles balances bright citrus, spicy pepper, resinous elemi, warm amber, and earthy woods in a complex woody fragrance. The selections here share some notes but vary in emphasis, with some leaning more towards smokiness, sweetness, freshness, or spiciness, rather than matching the exact layered character of Eau des Merveilles.
What makes a fragrance woody?
Woody fragrances prominently feature notes derived from woods such as cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, and oakmoss. These notes provide a warm, dry, or resinous base that is often combined with spices, citrus, or amber to add complexity.
Can I find a fresher alternative to Eau des Merveilles?
Yes, fragrances like Honey & Lemon, Orange Crush, Aer, and Mister Bungalow offer fresher interpretations by emphasising citrus, herbal or clean woody notes while reducing the spicy or resinous elements found in Eau des Merveilles.