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        <p><span>L'Officiel Hommes speaks to perfumer Christine Nagel to explore the narrative behind the perfumery at Hermès, in particular the latest H24 Herbes Vives.</span></p>
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      <p><span>Christine Nagel possesses a nose like no other. As the in- house perfumer for Hermès since 2016, she&rsquo;s entrusted with capturing the essence of scent for this iconic luxury brand. Taking her role with utmost seriousness, Nagel draws upon the rich history and timeless legacy of the French Maison in crafting fragrances that seamlessly blend tradition with modernity &mdash; a reflection of the brand&rsquo;s renowned fashion and accessories.</span></p>
      <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Her task is no small feat, but Nagel is uniquely equipped for the challenge. With a background in organic chemistry, she employs a diverse array of tools, including cutting-edge synthetic molecules, to realise her olfactory visions. For Nagel, every fragrance begins with an emotion &mdash; an artistic endeavour that transcends mere chemistry, delving into the realms of art and narrative storytelling.</span></p>
      <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">While anyone can mix essential oils, crafting a perfume demands a finely tuned nose and a visionary outlook. Nagel possesses both, intuitively understanding what people desire in their scent experiences. In celebration of Hermès&rsquo; latest launch, H24 Herbes Vives, we delve into Nagel&rsquo;s creative process, exploring her approach to formulating scents for the modern man, that challenges conventions and everything in between.</span></p>
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(Image credit: press)

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      <p><span><em><strong>You have been the in-house perfumer for Hermès since 2016. Is there any recipe for creating fragrances that are both timeless and modern?<br /></strong></em></span><span>My luxury as a perfumer for Hermès is enjoying the enormous and perhaps unique creative freedom that is given to me by this House. There are no briefs, no focus groups or market tests; there is just a small-scale collective decision when choosing the fragrance, and this enables me to go where no one else does.<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Coming from a background in organic chemistry, you have listed a broad range of tools, including groundbreaking synthetic molecules. What draws you to synthetic molecules?<br /></span></strong></em><span>It&rsquo;s not a question of pitting natural against synthetic. New methods for extracting materials, new molecules and tools for understanding and analysing materials are shaking up the way fragrance is designed. The analogy with textiles is interesting in this respect. If we compare it to the work of a dressmaker, it&rsquo;s like the creator who will only use silk, wool, linen or cotton &mdash; all the most natural of materials. These collections, these clothes would not have the same hold or the same volumes and lines without modern synthetic fibres. Synthetics bring another rhythm, a true modernity, a different drape and feel.<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Your job title reads as Painter of Scents. How does one paint a scent?<br /></span></strong></em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">A scent alone is just a scent. It needs contrast and nuances, provided by other notes to exist fully. Like an artist choreographing colours, I stage scents that mutually enrich </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">each other. I firmly believe that each of the fragrances I create paints a picture of a life&rsquo;s emotions.</span></p>
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Click here to shop Hermès H24 Herbes Vives

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      <p><em><strong>The new Hermès H24 Herbes Vives holds a new scent that I have never encountered before. If the fragrance is a fifictional character,</strong></em><span><em><strong>how would you describe his personality?<br /></strong></em></span><span>This new creation presents a strong perspective of the man of tomorrow: his plurality and singularity, his paradoxes, his roots and dreams. It expresses in fragrance the attitude of the contemporary Hermès man, firmly rooted in his time and yet in motion, projecting us into a new space-time continuum.<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">How does this new scent expand upon the Hermès perfume catalogue?<br /></span></strong></em><span>With H24 Herbes Vives, I&rsquo;m continuing to follow in the footsteps of this contemporary man who lives in urban nature. I wanted to work this modern, clean note into a softer, more raw and wet green. As if it were zooming in on the green notes, H24 Herbes Vives offers a new balance in the resonance of the ingredients, offering immediate intensity, power and freshness.<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Apart from that, what are some of your discoveries while creating the new Hermès H24 Herbes Vives?<br /></span></strong></em><span>In my pursuit of a fresher, more intense result, I worked with a pear granita that adds a supple, almost juicy quality, as well as Physcool&reg;, a rare and captive substance. This minty molecule, derived by biotechnology by Mane, delivers a burst of freshness and astonishing liveliness when it comes into contact with water.</span></p>
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      <p><span><em><strong>Personally, what are your favourite smells in the world?</strong></em><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">It may seem surprising, but I don&rsquo;t have a favourite smell, really. Each fragrance, each scent, tells a story and opens up a particular imaginative world. Each smell is fascinating when you take an interest in it and work on it. I would not want to deprive myself of a single one out of routine, habit or preference.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><em><strong>If not creating fragrances, what do you think you will be doing?</strong></em><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">To be honest, I&rsquo;ve never asked myself that question because it&rsquo;s so obvious that I&rsquo;m where I belong.<br /><br /></span><em><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Have you already started thinking about the next fragrance? Any hints, such as one ingredient you are looking at?<br /></span></strong></em><span>One thing I can tell you is that my workshop is full of projects and canvases in the making. I&rsquo;m inspired and nourished by the House which offers a bottomless well of inspiring stories for each and every one of us. So I&rsquo;m working on the next one, the one of tomorrow or the more distant future, which may or may not come into being. This brings me to the notion of creative freedom that is so dear to the House and which is exceptional in this industry where marketing reigns supreme. It is the role of a House like Hermès with the creative freedom it offers us to be bold and present new directions.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Visit <a href="https://www.hermes.com/us/en/product/h24-herbes-vives-eau-de-parfum-V113601V0/">www.hermes.com</a> for more information.</em></p>

Interview: Hermès perfumer Christine Nagel speaks personal taste

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