Last year, Hermès’s first ‘millenial’ fragrance
burst onto the perfume scene with its
exuberant ginger and tuberose notes—
a white floral with a fun twist. This year,
to give it greater lasting power, the brand has
extended Twilly (the name refers to the slim
Hermès scarves that women often tie to
their handbags) into an entire bathtime
experience with a perfume, soap, body wash,
and moisturiser to indulge in.
What was the idea behind the extensive
Twilly d’Hermès Le Bain range?
Seeing. Smelling. Touching. Discovering.
Listening. Melting.
A bathtime ritual is an invitation to all the
senses, and offers a perfuming experience
just as intense, intimate, and special as
applying perfume itself. The concentration
is not the same, and so you can apply several layers with the
Twilly d’Hermès.
While creating the Twilly, what was your aim?
I was inspired by young women who turn convention on
its head, who are creative, almost irreverent. Playfulness is
in their nature. I observed them, watched them lead their
lives, and I got a sense of them. I then discovered an obvious
connection between Hermès’s free spirit and these young
women. To represent them, I chose three ingredients and
gave them a twist: Tuberose, ginger, and sandalwood.
Which is your favourite product from the collection?
No favourites—they are all my children, but as I’m
especially sensitive to texture perhaps it would be the
Moisturizing Body Balm.
Was there a moment in your life when you knew that
you wanted to be a ‘nose’?
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had this absolute certainty
that I will be a perfumer, that I had to be a perfumer. It was
obvious, a necessity.
I belong to a generation where there are very few women
perfumers. When I started, nothing predisposed me to thisprofession. On the contrary, I had a
number of handicaps—I was not the
daughter of a perfumer, I did not
come from Grasse, and I was a
woman. At that time, to be a woman
and a perfumer were incompatible.
Fortunately, times have changed, and
I am very thrilled about women
becoming stronger, even in fields
usually dominated by men.
Tell us of a scent memory that
stands out clearly in your mind.
The smell of Borotalco, the Italian
talcum powder that my mother
used. It was a constant during my
childhood, and my first real
olfactory memory. I am still drawn
to products that contain some of
the elements that make up that talc. It’s my version of
Proust’s madeleine.
What is a note that you particularly enjoy working
with, and why?
My love fluctuates and I have no preconceptions about
any ingredients. When I discover an ingredient, I want to
know everything—I want to knead it, crush it, work it,
experiment with it. I want to take it where I like, coax it.
I want to push its boundaries. I want to force it, tame it.
I work sparingly, with few raw materials, because I’m
convinced that what matters is by definition simple.
At Hermès, the beauty of raw materials is central to all
their crafts. It’s an absolute luxury that lets me go where
no one else goes.
Fragrance is so entwined with nostalgia. Is there
something that you are nostalgic for?
I don’t think about nostalgia but about emotion.
Fragrances create emotions and touch the sensibilities of
the people that will wear it. They resonate with our
memories and hopes, because they represent something
personal and emotional. ■For the launch of the Twilly d’Hermès Le Bain collection,
perfumer Christine Nagel speaks exclusively to Bazaar about being
inspired by playfulness and her love for fragrancesHIGH NOTE
Christine NagelSEE WHERE TO BUY FOR DETAILSALL IMAGES COURTESY THE BRAND