Hermès — Amazone (2017 re-launch)
Essence
The 2017 Amazone revisits the 1974 name as a transparent cassis, narcissus, galbanum, and vetiver EDT. It is less a restoration than a modern green-fruity reduction of the original’s much denser chypre architecture.
Scent Profile
The opening is leafy and tart, with cassis and blackcurrant blossom rather than a broad citrus-and-aldehyde fanfare. Galbanum keeps the center green, while narcissus contributes a soft, faintly creamy floral tone. Red berries add brightness without making the scent sweet. Vetiver dries the composition down to a powdery, hay-like skin scent. The effect is watercolor-light and deliberately uncluttered. It retains a recognizable Amazone outline without reproducing the vintage formula’s oakmoss, floral density, or shadow.
Performance
Performance is moderate to soft, with sillage that becomes intimate fairly quickly. Some skin types get a longer wear, but it remains a subtle EDT. It is best approached as a fragrance that rewards easy reapplication rather than heavy application.
Wearing Context
It fits warm weather, spring and summer daytime, offices, and smart casual settings. The green cassis and dry vetiver make it broadly unisex. It is for understated wear rather than a formal or high-projection occasion.
Comparisons & DNA
The original Amazone is the essential reference: the relaunch is fresher and more transparent, but omits its oakmoss base, aldehydes, and rich floral bouquet. Chanel Cristalle offers a similarly green, clear register, while Estée Lauder Beautiful shares part of the narcissus-galbanum-vetiver idea. Rose Amazone is a useful internal comparison because it shows another lighter variation on the family.
Reception
Wearers who judge it independently often enjoy its elegant narcissus and calm green character. The strongest criticism comes from those expecting the vintage’s depth, who find this version too faint or too simplified. Its price feels best justified for someone who values a quiet, polished everyday green scent.
Versions & Reformulation
The 2017 EDT is the current Amazone after the original, later revisions, Amazone Light, and Rose Amazone. It is built as an oakmoss-free contemporary interpretation, not a direct reissue. No further distinct formula change is documented.
Acquisition Notes
The EDT is available in 100 ml through Hermès and fragrance retailers. Sampling is especially important if the purchase is motivated by the vintage name, because the current scent has a far lighter profile and presence.
Notable Facts & Lore
- The name preserves the original horsewoman mythology.
- Cassis remains the clearest link to the 1974 perfume.
- The relaunch exchanges chypre weight for a transparent contemporary structure.
- It illustrates Hermès’ use of heritage names in a lighter modern register.