H24 Hermès 2021 Eau de Toilette

I could test H24 meanwhile and I like it better than expected. But that is not particularly much, since name, bottle and comments of others, my expectations had already set quite low.

The fragrance triggers in me overall strangely few emotions. That and the moderated volume in combination with good durability, make it probably suitable for everyday use and universal for some but somewhere that is in my eyes also a real indictment for a fragrance.

The top notes are successful, as I quite like tart freshness and find this rather rare in modern fragrances. Reminds a little of abstract grapefruit at first, represented and freed from any sulphuriness by relatively modern synthetics. In the heart, the whole thing transitions more strongly into green-acidic and slightly tropical (also abstract) passion fruitiness. Here, perhaps more "photorealism" and effervescence or, alternatively, much less fruitiness would have worked better. So I start with it somehow not so much, do not know what the fragrance wants to convey to me.

As the fruitiness fades and the influence of the base increases, more and more the already frequently described coin money aspect comes to the fore. This is m.E.n. by metallic-citric notes (synthetic, you guessed it) in combination with leather, as I know it from worn yellow bags, produced. This is overall not as bad as it sounds but I still do not want to smell like that.
This "used" impression also kind of contrasts with the colocated "futurism", which I don't quite buy H24 anyway. Speaking of which... what surprised me the most was the quite striking overlap of the rest of the base with Dior's megaseller Sauvage. The volume is turned way down here and H24 is already very distinct overall but as the progression progresses into the base, the more they converge. Again, there's a certain tart (slightly shower gel-like) freshness that relatively expertly bridges to the top notes. There's the ambroxan, there's a modern "wood" of the kind you've smelled more often in the last 15 years (in Jubilation XXV or Memoir Man, among others), and there's a scratchy, chemically tart yet somehow delightful facet. I've paraphrased this with Sauvage as a shower gel rub sample, as it reminds me a bit of the printer's ink in magazines. I like.

Probably because of these parallels, H24 strikes me as Hermes' attempt at a commercial hit ala Sauvage or Aventus. I doubt that they will succeed, especially since I also feel the quality impression as only "so lala". Now not really bad but just not as the brand or the price justice.

If I should feel the desire, I can also sniff times at my wallet, which is just happy again something.