Released in 2021, H24 was Hermès’ attempt to define the contemporary man without leaning on Terre d’Hermès. In-house perfumer Christine Nagel built the entire composition from four materials: clary sage, narcissus, rosewood, and a molecule called sclarene. The result is one of the more distinctive mainstream releases of recent years, and also one of the more divisive. Here is what it actually smells like, how it performs, and whether the budget clone gets you close enough.
What Does Hermès H24 Smell Like?
The opening is all clary sage, and it is not shy about it. Sage here is herbaceous and green with a hay-like, slightly bitter edge, closer to a botanical garden than a barbershop. Within minutes a second thread appears: narcissus, which contributes a powdery, almost vegetal floral quality that most men’s fragrances simply do not have. This is the note that confuses people at first sniff, because floral-powdery accords are rare in masculine marketing.
The base is where H24 gets strange in an interesting way. Sclarene is a warm, amber-musk material with a distinctly metallic glow, and combined with smooth rosewood it creates what Hermès itself calls a nature-and-technology effect. Wearers consistently reach for the same images: warm metal, a hot iron, sun-heated steel. If that sounds off-putting, it mostly is not. On skin the metallic facet stays subtle and reads as clean rather than industrial.
From opening to drydown, the trajectory moves from sharp green sage toward a softer, musky, lightly sweet powder over wood. The drydown is friendlier than the opening, and many people who dislike the first ten minutes end up liking hours three through six.
Performance
This is an eau de toilette and it behaves like one. Realistic expectations are 5 to 8 hours of longevity, with most reports landing around six. Projection is moderate for the first hour, then settles close to the skin. By the mid-afternoon you will likely need to press your nose to your wrist to confirm it is still there.
That discretion cuts both ways. It makes H24 nearly foolproof for offices and close contact, but anyone expecting the room-filling presence of modern blue fragrances will be disappointed. Two or three sprays rather than one, and a midday respray, are reasonable adjustments.
Best Clone Or Alternative
Perfume Parlour XXIV For Men 0017 is the standout affordable option, sold in the UK at £11 for a 30ml spray against £105 for 100ml of the Hermès original. The retailer markets it explicitly as inspired by H24, using the same clary sage, narcissus, and rosewood pyramid plus the metallic note.
Customer feedback from people who own both is unusually positive for a clone. One reviewer with the original called it bang on, noting it is a little less fresh, which he considered an improvement. Another estimated the extract version sits near 90 percent of the H24 DNA while smoothing out the rougher edges of the EDT. The recurring criticism is strength: several buyers found the spray version fades to a skin scent quickly, and consistency seems to vary between formats and batches.
The practical read is simple. The clone captures the character but not the polish. Hermès blends the metallic facet more elegantly, opens brighter, and lasts longer on skin. Since even a 2ml tester from Perfume Parlour costs £3, trying the clone first is a low-risk way to decide whether the sage-metallic style works for you before committing to designer pricing.
When To Wear It
Spring through fall is the sweet spot, and the community consensus agrees. The green aromatic profile suits mild and warm weather; in deep winter it can feel thin. Occasion-wise it is built for daily wear: office, errands, casual outings, and anywhere a clean but unusual scent is welcome. It is not an evening or date-night statement.
Who Should Buy It
H24 fits people bored of generic fresh masculines who still need something workplace-safe. If you like green, herbal scents, enjoy subtle florals, and want a signature that few people around you will be wearing, this delivers. It also suits fragrance minimalists who prefer quiet, close-wearing perfumes.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you judge a fragrance by projection and compliments from across the room, since H24 will underperform on both counts. Lovers of sweet, warm, or gourmand scents should pass too; there is almost no sweetness here. And if metallic or powdery-floral facets have bothered you in other fragrances, sample before buying because that is the core of this composition.
Final Verdict
Hermès H24 is a genuinely original designer fragrance with a clear flaw: modest performance at a premium price. The scent itself earns respect for doing something different with sage, narcissus, and a metallic hum, and the drydown is quietly addictive. As a full-price purchase it demands certainty, but as a style, it is easy and cheap to explore through the Perfume Parlour clone first. If the clone’s character wins you over, the original’s extra freshness and refinement justify upgrading.