Bel Ami

In 1867, Hermès was awarded the first-class medal at the Universal Exposition. Its first perfume, Eau d’Hermès, was a genuine success. In 1986, Hermès unveiled Bel Ami, a masculine fragrance built on the interpretation of a then new raw material, leather.

A tribute to Guy de Maupassant

Bel Ami is inspired by the eponymous novel of the same name by Guy de Maupassant. It thus embodies all the clichés conveyed by the literary world of the late nineteenth century. Ambiguity and intrigue are as striking in the composition as in the novel. Against the backdrop of colonial war, Maupassant describes the close ties between capitalism, the press, women, and politics. Bel Ami embodies a man who is fully of his time, of his era. Elegant and mindful of his appearance, the Bel Ami man asserts his virility loud and clear. He masters to perfection the art of appearances and of seduction. Like the hero of Guy de Maupassant, Bel Ami is both lover and friend, strong and fragile. Bel Ami is ambitious and calculating, and his story also tells that of social climbing and success. Bel Ami is a distinguished and refined essence but, above all, timeless.

The leather scent of Bel Ami

Signed by Jean-Louis Sieuzac, the Bel Ami fragrance puts leather in the spotlight, and its scent is ever-present. Bel Ami leaves a powerful sillage and has excellent longevity. Bel Ami opens with citrus notes, lemon and mandarin, paired with aromatic notes, sage and petitgrain. The heart is animated by spices such as cinnamon and cardamom, while the expression of leather already reveals its splendor. Bel Ami reaffirms its virility through patchouli, vetiver, labdanum, styrax, castoreum, and leather. Sandalwood and cedarwood then bring woody tonalities, while vanilla lends a soft sensuality to the whole composition. The bottle is elegant, understated, and novelistic. Revisited, the current bottle is presented in one of the house of Hermès’s iconic bottles. Since 2014, every classic Hermès perfume has been fitted with a label bearing its name. The heavy, transparent glass is topped with a black cabochon, adding a final touch of masculinity.