The olfactory story of Calèche by Hermès. What an odd idea to name a perfume Calèche. Indeed, this term refers to a horse-drawn carriage that was very common in the early nineteenth century. Nevertheless, rest assured, Calèche is not a perfume that smells like the horse-drawn vehicle or horses.
Calèche is a perfume signed Hermès, whose release dates back to 1961. Known for its timeless sensuality and femininity, it is aimed at a refined woman, endowed with quiet confidence and radiating serene beauty upon the world. Revealing a natural or more sophisticated scent, it has the art of seducing without ever overdoing it. Created by perfumer Guy Robert, it moves in turn through floral, aldehydic, woody, and chypre registers. A true testament to history, it delivers to us part of Hermès's heritage while referencing one of the most widely used vehicles of France in days gone by. But what about its bottle?
Calèche, a perfume presented in Hermès's timeless bottle
While the feminine perfume Calèche by Hermès proves very rich in olfactory terms, it relies more on sobriety when it comes to visuals. Its bottle aims to be elegant and discreet. Let us note, however, that it was not used for the first time upon the release of the perfume Calèche. Its existence dates back to 1951, when it was used to present L’Eau d’Hermès. Since then, it has been considered an iconic, historic bottle, very often used to present the house's creations. More specifically, it is a block of glass rising toward the sky, with softened contours. If it has no sharp edges, that is also because it is inspired by the lamp of a carriage… A detail not to be overlooked, considering that this perfume is named Calèche in reference to the carriages of days gone by. The whole is topped with a hemispherical cap. Here, it is tinted gold, matching beautifully with the sun-kissed hue of its fragrance as well as its label.
The first label of the perfume Calèche by Hermès
The first bottle of the perfume Calèche by Hermès bore an oval label at its center. On this appeared the logo of the Hermès brand, registered as early as 1945. As a bit of trivia, know that this is a replica of a lithograph created by the painter Alfred de Dreux, in the nineteenth century. The Hermès logo thus depicts the image of a coachman standing at the foot of his horse, flanked by a great horned owl. Let us note, however, that this is not a calèche but another vehicle drawn by a horse, a testament to the Hermès brand's love for the equestrian world.
Calèche by Hermès's new packaging
Since 2014, the visual of the Calèche by Hermès bottle has changed slightly. Its oval label has now disappeared, replaced by a new embossed label. This still bears the house's seal, but the latter is meant to be more discreet than before. On the other hand, its name appears more clearly, in a burgundy red hue. This visual conveys a deep elegance and an unshakeable timelessness. As for size, the Calèche bottle exists only in two different sizes. It is available in spray bottles of 50 or 100 ml.