Terre d’Hermès Intense by Hermès

It has a touch that reminds me of Zara’s Absolutely Dark Intense.

After using it for over a month, my verdict is that it’s overpriced for what it offers. You’re paying for the brand, but the longevity doesn’t do justice to the hype. The ‘Intense’ part seems like marketing; it smells mostly of licorice, with barely any coffee noticeable at first. On skin, it lasts about 6 hours with a discreet trail. It’s a unique aroma, but I expected Hermès to break away from other designers regarding longevity. Try a decant first. Hopefully, they improve this version.

I bought it for the opening: bold, distinct, even sharp. To me, it smells like smoke from chimneys in big buildings, not wood, with lots of pepper and licorice. I can’t find the coffee, nor the instant coffee others mention. When it dries down, the citrus notes become clear, along with the original DNA and the mineral vibe that smells like lava, just as I imagined. Performance is decent (6-7 hours) with a good trail for the first 3 hours. At 19, I wouldn’t recommend this to people my age; it’s more for the 30-50 crowd. If you want to smell different, bold yet elegant, and you enjoy earthy, sharp, and mineral scents, it’s yours.

Since the Terre d’Hermès original came out, I saw the Intense this year. I thought that since it’s an EDP, it would be the same but stronger, but after using it, I thought, ‘I’ve been scammed.’ I looked up reviews and discovered it’s from the same family but different. At first, I hated it, but then I felt it on my skin and noticed its character and longevity. It has a trail, fresh notes, and citrus and musk that combine perfectly with the tireless pepper that gives it that spicy scent. I already bought another, and a replica with an atomizer came as a gift.

Yes, it smells like coffee, licorice, and then the original Terre. I suppose ‘Intense’ is a trend in perfumery to describe something undefined, because the original seems more intense without this one being weak. It smells very good and is addictive (though if I get too close, it makes me want to sneeze), and it reminds me of nothing (1000 points). It’s for late afternoon or night, for calm, enjoyable moments. The dry-down on skin is phenomenal; it has a slightly retro air, but the semi-sweet coffee makes it more modern without going overboard. Warning: DO NOT use in party settings or if you’re going to sweat, because some notes mixed with sweat make you smell three times more sweaty. Is it the ‘lava’? The ‘stone’? Is that what ‘Intense’ means? Smelling like a tiger but with class. In short, if I’m calm, I love it, and it’s better cold. It’s not for everyone and is challenging, especially in the opening which smells like spices but passes quickly while you’re getting dressed. My girlfriend hates it, so I wear it to keep people away. It has its uses.

Honestly, the opening doesn’t win everyone over, but it doesn’t deserve the low rating it has. To me, it’s spectacular. I’ve never been interested in Terre d’Hermès for its aesthetics or scent, but this new flanker aims to modernize the line, perhaps targeting a younger audience without losing its classic profile. After that strange opening, it smells addictive, masculine, with coffee as the star and a slightly dusty note that gives way to a mineral sensation, like a wet rock. It’s younger than its sisters, but perfect for projecting seriousness, formality, and mystery amidst the flood of vanilla and tonka. I’d say it’s for someone 30 and up. It’s versatile, suitable for day and night, though not for intense heat or very casual settings: it calls for a shirt. Longevity and projection are decent, average performance. It arrived in Argentina a couple of months ago at a very high price (almost $200 for 100ml), but you can now find it on promotion at reasonable prices, so at that price, I recommend it.

It follows the line of its Terre d’Hermès sisters, but with a difference that makes it excellent: licorice and bergamot are very present throughout the fragrance’s life. Pepper and coffee give it the base that distinguishes it, but above all, that stone and ‘lava’ are what make it a very good fragrance to wear. Without a doubt, it has become my favorite of the Terre d’Hermès line.

It’s a follow-up fragrance, but not to the original EDT, rather to the Eau Givrée. The Eau Givrée starts with grapefruit, peel, and metallic accents; here it’s bergamot with peel and those same metallic accents. That phase lasts about an hour, after which a watery note and sensations of warm, wet iris gradually take over, which must be the combination of ‘lava and licorice,’ while the fragrance becomes more personal. Longevity was about 7 hours, with normal-to-low projection. The positive is that they continue modernizing the Terre DNA, moving away from the original but maintaining the naturalness of their oils and their masculinity. The negative is that the potency leaves you wanting after the first hour. Anyway, it’s very likely I’ll buy it.

What a delight, what a good smell. I loved it the moment I smelled it. It reminded me a lot of Narciso Rodríguez Bleu Noir EDT, and that’s why I liked it so much, since I love that Narciso one; when I finish it, I’ll surely go for this. The coffee note makes it delicious and super creamy. As for projection, I’d say it doesn’t project much, it’s quite intimate, and given the price, that’s a bit of a turn-off, since its older brother, Terre d’Hermès EDT, projects a ton and is a blast to wear. It also reminded me a bit of Devotion pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, but this Hermès one is infinitely better. The big drawback is longevity and sillage; for an autumn fragrance, it fades very quickly, and even with ten sprays, it disappears into the air and doesn’t accompany you all the time. I think, no matter how good it smells and how wonderful it is, that’s a huge drawback to overlook.

Unique fragrance, nothing compares to it, not even within the Terre d’Hermès line. Hard to categorize but incredibly addictive. More of an olfactory experience than a daily wear. Recommend trying before buying. On the skin: pepper, coffee, and licorice, with a gourmand and spicy touch. As it dries down, that peculiar blend emerges with a mineral, salty scent, like lava. It’s for those who wear perfume for themselves.

Finally tested it properly. Opens with coffee as the star for the first hour, then gradually gives way to licorice. Between the second and third hour, the Terre EDT DNA appears without vetiver: orange peel, earth, coffee, and woods. It’s like the EDT had the ‘older person’ part removed; I think this flanker is an improvement. The coffee isn’t gourmand; it’s rough and fits perfectly with the rest. Terre isn’t friendly; it’s adult, rough, and rugged. Very good aroma, I’d say the best in the line. Longevity: not more than 5 hours, which is a bit low. Sillage is weak but persistent. Great for fall, winter, and spring. If your job allows wearing a shirt, yes for daily wear. Not for bars, clubs, or the gym. Professional and mature profile. Conveys security and a ‘keep away’ vibe. Price: $200 for 100ml is a steal. If it had better longevity and projection, it would be a masterpiece. P.S.: The stone and lava notes were the sales associate’s pitch. Saying it smells like Mazinger Z’s pancreas is the same thing. P.S. after two months: I couldn’t resist and bought it. For late afternoons in fall/winter, it’s wonderful. Doesn’t need hyper-formality. No doubt, it’s the perfume of the year, even better than Sauvage Elixir. 10/10.

Review of Terre d’Hermès Eau de Parfum Intense. I walk into the perfumery and ask for this fragrance and have to point out that when the lady handed it to me for a test, I felt the coffee hit me extremely strong; then a few minutes later I said it was like going to Cioccolata or some bakery with bitter chocolate pastries, that typical mocha with double the coffee… and less milk for me, sir. I said I’d buy it on Monday, it’s Friday, and I left, but after about ten minutes I started to feel a smell of hose and green grass (licorice) and a hint of pumice stone. I decided to return, whether a rich country boy or a poor one, I bought it anyway. I have to confirm if pumice stone smells, but I know it’s sold in my country and its sulfates are used to wash feet; it must be the metallic and volcanic smell they promote; I’ll go to the agricultural terminal tomorrow to confirm with the Bolivian and Peruvian sellers if it really smells, I remember I did sense a smell but I need to confirm. The other aromas probably are there, but I wasn’t reasoning them at that moment. Hey, this is good, my god, and it happens that I’m a follower of this line. It will surely improve a lot as I use it more. The steps: Eau de Parfum Intense, the original, and Intense Vétiver. Would not buy: Eau Givrée.

Using Eau Intense is like returning to a familiar place but with changed lights, furniture, and soundtrack. And yet, everything still smells like you… but better. It’s not here to seduce you; it’s to teach you composure. To remind you that a perfume doesn’t have to beg for compliments if it’s built with structure, precision, and grit. First impression is deceptive: right behind the citrus smile, there he was: licorice. Bitter, dark, slightly medicinal. Not the cheap candy kind, but the kind smoked by a gentleman in a fine tea room. Then, the twist: after 30 minutes, the composition settles. Vetiver takes the lead, dry, elegant, with the texture of earth freshly broken by the sun. And the coffee… it smells of intent, of lucid vigilance. As if someone were awake by choice. It’s a philosophical coffee, almost Bergman-esque. The whole perfume becomes a discourse on maturity.

It smells super weird, I don’t like it at all. I received a decant but it’s not for me; it smells super dark and off.

The voting on Fragrantica is incomprehensible and ridiculous; people vote on performance with more malice than knowledge, and it’s no longer reliable for those seeking data. Saying this Terre d’Hermès Intense doesn’t last at all is absurd and false: yesterday, with just two sprays on the back of my hand at 7 PM, after several washes and showers, the scent was still strong at 11 PM, and it was present the next morning without me even sniffing it. Regarding the aroma… I need to test it more, but initially, it’s challenging to call it a Terre; don’t expect licorice or coffee gourmand here. It’s more like a very realistic ground coffee with a mineral scent, plus the citrus and vetiver from the house. A gem.