Hermetica
Hermetica Paris builds its collection around Source¹, the brand's first fragrance and a base for its other compositions. The alcohol-free formula is said by the brand to fragrance and moisturise the skin at once. This is an important feature when exploring the house, though the right scent is still best chosen through an unhurried skin test.
About the brand
Hermetica
Hermetica Paris appeared in 2018 as a project by Clara and John Molloy. Source¹ sits at the centre of the collection: the brand presents it both as an independent fragrance and as the basis of its other compositions. A useful introduction is therefore to compare Source¹ with one of the house's more distinctive scents.
The alcohol-free formula perfumes and, according to Hermetica, moisturises the skin; some molecules are derived from bagasse left after processing sugarcane. This base may feel different from a conventional alcoholic opening, so do not rely on the first impression alone. Allow it to develop and assess the fragrance again after several hours.
Compare no more than one or two compositions at a time. Note the opening minutes, density, longevity, comfortable projection, and behaviour indoors. If Source¹ interests you as the key to the brand's central idea, choose a contrasting direction for the second test. This makes both the shared base and the individual character easier to recognise.
Bottles made from recycled glass and fully recyclable paper packaging extend the focus on materials into the presentation. The final choice, however, depends on how a particular composition smells on your skin and how comfortably it fits your usual settings.