Hermès 24 Faubourg EDP Review: a classic floral scent that lasts all day

I’ve seen Hermès 24 Faubourg around for years, usually in duty free or behind glass in perfume shops, but I’d never actually worn it for more than a quick spray on the wrist. This time I bought the 100 ml EDP and used it as my main scent for a couple of weeks. I’m not a collector or perfume snob, just someone who likes a reliable everyday fragrance that doesn’t smell cheap or vanish after an hour.

The first thing I noticed is that this is very much an old-school style perfume. If you’re used to light, sugary, “body spray” type scents, this one feels more grown-up and a bit more serious. It comes on strong at first, especially if you go over two sprays. The brand suggests 2–3 sprays on pulse points, and honestly, for this one, 2 sprays is plenty for normal day-to-day use.

In daily life, I wore it to work, on a couple of evenings out, and just running errands. I wanted to see if people commented, if it gave me a headache, and how it held up on my skin over a full day. I also compared it with a couple of other perfumes I own from Lancôme and Chanel that are in the same kind of “grown woman floral” category, just to see where it sits in terms of strength and staying power.

Overall, my first impression after a week was: good quality juice, clearly not cheap, but also not a light, easy, forgettable scent. You kind of have to want this style of fragrance. It’s not perfect, and there are a few details that annoyed me (and some confusing info on the listing), but it does the job very well if you’re into this type of perfume.

Hermès is not a budget brand, so you’re not buying this expecting a bargain. Still, I try to judge value by a mix of things: how long it lasts on the skin, how much you actually use per day, and whether it feels like a quality product or like you’re just paying for a logo. With 24 Faubourg, the scent quality and the performance do match the price better than many designer perfumes I’ve tried.

Because it’s pretty strong and long-lasting, you don’t need to drench yourself in it. Two sprays a day is more than enough for me, sometimes even one if I’m staying indoors. With a 100 ml bottle, that means it will last a long time, easily several months of regular use, maybe more than a year if you rotate with other perfumes. So even if the upfront cost stings a bit, on a cost-per-day basis, it’s not that bad.

Where I think the value might feel off for some people is the style of the scent. It’s quite classic and a bit old-school. If you’re someone who constantly chases new trendy perfumes and likes changing scents all the time, this might end up sitting on your shelf half-used. In that case, your money is better spent on a smaller bottle of something more modern that you’re sure you’ll wear. But if you like having one reliable, grown-up fragrance that you can grab without thinking and that actually lasts, then the price is easier to justify.

Compared to cheaper options from mainstream brands, you definitely feel the difference in how it wears through the day and how it doesn’t go sour or synthetic-smelling after a few hours. So for me, even though it’s not cheap, I’d say the value is pretty solid if you’re into this style of perfume. It’s not the best deal on the market, but it’s also not a rip-off. It sits in that “you pay a bit more, but you actually get something for it” category.

The design of Hermès 24 Faubourg is pretty straightforward: a square-ish glass bottle with slightly curved sides and a simple cap. It’s not trying to be a piece of art, which I actually appreciate. On my bathroom shelf, it fits easily between other bottles and doesn’t take up a ton of space. The size and shape also make it easy to grab and spray with one hand without worrying about dropping it. No weird angles, no unstable base.

One thing I noticed over a couple of weeks: the cap stays on well, but it’s not super tight to the point where it’s annoying. You can pick the bottle up by the cap without it popping off, which sounds trivial but is something that cheaper perfumes often mess up. I did put it in a bag once (inside the box) and it didn’t leak or spray accidentally. I wouldn’t call this a travel bottle, despite what the listing says – it’s still a 100 ml glass bottle – but for home use or short trips where it sits upright, it’s fine.

The sprayer is honestly one of the better points of the design. It gives a controlled mist, so you can do half-presses if you want less fragrance. There’s no sputtering or weird drips after spraying. Over time, some nozzles get gunky or start shooting unevenly; after regular use over a couple of weeks, this one stayed clean and consistent. Small detail, but it matters when the perfume itself is pretty strong and you don’t want to overdo it.

Visually, it does lean a bit “mature”. If you like modern, edgy bottle designs, this won’t impress you. It looks like something you’d see on your mum’s or aunt’s dresser rather than a TikTok influencer shelf. For me, that’s not a problem, but if you’re buying mainly for the look, just know this is classic and simple, not trendy. Functionally though, the design is solid and practical, and that’s what counts for daily use.

The listing calls the scent “Aquatic”, which honestly made me laugh once I sprayed it. This is not an aquatic scent in the usual sense (no fresh sea breeze vibe here). On my skin, it comes across as a warm, floral, slightly powdery perfume with a bit of sweetness. Think more classic “French floral” than beachy or sporty. Whoever filled in the Amazon data clearly didn’t pay much attention.

On first spray, it’s quite strong and can feel a bit sharp for the first 10–15 minutes if you overdo it. I tried three full sprays once (wrists and neck), and it was too much for me in a closed office. Two sprays – one on the neck, one on the wrist – is enough to smell it clearly without choking anyone out. After the initial hit, it calms down into something warmer and smoother. That’s the part I like: the dry-down is much nicer than the opening, at least on my skin.

Over a full day, the scent changes gradually. The strong floral top eases off, and it becomes softer, a bit powdery, and more “skin scent” but still noticeable. I got a couple of comments from coworkers in the afternoon saying I smelled nice, not “What perfume are you wearing?”, which to me means it blends well rather than shouting for attention. If you prefer very light, barely-there perfumes, this will feel too present. If you’re used to Chanel No. 5 or similar heavier classics, this will feel in that same family but a bit less heavy.

Personally, I like it, but I wouldn’t call it versatile for every mood. On hot days, it felt a bit too much; it worked better for me in mild weather or evenings. It has a grown-up, somewhat formal vibe, so I reached for it more for work or dinners than for lazy Sundays. There are definitely more modern-smelling perfumes out there, but if you enjoy that classic floral style, this one does the job very well and smells like quality, not like a cheap body spray.

The outer packaging is basic but clean: standard cardboard box, no plastic extras or fancy inserts. It arrived in decent condition, no dents or tears, and the bottle was well protected inside. There’s nothing luxurious about the unboxing, but it’s also not cheap-looking. If you’re giving it as a gift, you probably want to wrap it, but the box itself looks fine for that. Nothing special, but it does the job and doesn’t feel flimsy.

One thing that did bug me is the confusing product info on the site: it mentions travel size, 160 ml, 4 ml unit count, etc. In reality, the bottle I used is a normal full-size EDP. So the packaging you actually get doesn’t match the “travel size” description. If you’re specifically looking for a handbag-friendly mini, this isn’t it. For home use, though, the standard 100 ml format is fine and more cost-effective per ml.

As for storage and daily handling, the bottle fits easily in a bathroom cabinet or on a shelf. The glass is clear, so you can see how much you’ve used, which I like. The only downside to that is if you keep it in direct sunlight, the juice might age faster, so better to store it away from a window. The label and printing haven’t rubbed off or faded so far, even with me grabbing it with slightly damp hands a few times.

In terms of practicality for travel: I personally wouldn’t throw this full-size glass bottle loose into a suitcase. If you do take it with you, keep it in the box or a padded pouch and in checked luggage, not a handbag that gets tossed around. So despite the “travel size” claim in the specs, I’d say this is mainly a stay-at-home bottle. For short trips or nights away, you’d be better off decanting a bit into a smaller atomizer.

Performance is where Hermès 24 Faubourg really stands out. The listing claims about 8 hours of scent duration, and that’s pretty accurate on my skin. On workdays, I sprayed it around 7:30 am, and I could still smell it clearly on my wrist at 3–4 pm without reapplying. By the evening, it was much softer but still faintly there if I smelled my skin up close. So in practice, you get a full workday out of two sprays, which is better than many modern perfumes that vanish by lunch.

Projection (how far it carries) is moderate to strong in the first couple of hours. People around you will notice it, especially in smaller rooms, so don’t go heavy-handed. After that, it settles into a softer bubble around you. I didn’t get complaints, but I did get a clear “you smell nice” comment on two separate days from people who don’t usually say anything about perfume, which tells me it projects enough to be noticed but not in an aggressive way if you keep the sprays reasonable.

Compared to some other fragrances I own: it lasts longer than most of my lighter designer scents (like some Lancôme and Dior options) and is about on par with things like Chanel Coco Mademoiselle in terms of staying power. The main difference is the style, not the strength. If you’re tired of perfumes that smell good but disappear after 2 hours, this will probably feel like a relief. On the flip side, if you’re sensitive to strong scents, you might find it a bit much, especially indoors or in hot weather.

In short, performance is pretty solid. No need to carry the bottle for top-ups during the day, and the scent doesn’t turn sour or weird on my skin over time, which sometimes happens with cheaper formulas. It’s not bulletproof – after 8–10 hours it’s basically gone – but for normal day use, it does exactly what you’d expect from a decent Eau de Parfum: put it on in the morning and forget about it.

On paper, this is sold as a 100 ml Eau de Parfum, but the listing on Amazon is a bit messy: it mentions 160 ml volume and a unit count of 4 ml, then calls it travel size. In reality, what I had in hand was a normal full-size bottle, not a tiny travel spray. So if you’re reading the specs and getting confused, you’re not alone. The product page is badly filled in, but the actual item is the classic 24 Faubourg EDP bottle, made in France, as you’d expect from Hermès.

The outer box is pretty standard Hermès style: orange and simple, nothing flashy. It looks decent as a gift, but it’s not some over-the-top fancy packaging. It’s more “quiet luxury” than showy. There’s no extra pouch, no mini, no frills – just the bottle in the box with the usual leaflet. For the price point, that’s fine, but don’t expect extras.

When you open it, the bottle itself feels solid and well put together. The glass has a bit of weight, the cap clicks on firmly, and it doesn’t feel flimsy or loose. Compared to some cheaper perfumes where the sprayer is wobbly or leaks, this one is clearly better built. The sprayer gives a fine, even mist, not a big wet blob, which makes a big difference because this scent is strong; you want a light, controlled spray, not a soaking.

In terms of first contact, my honest reaction was: “Okay, this looks like a proper classic perfume, not Instagram bait.” No LED lights, no weird shapes, just a normal, slightly old-school-looking bottle that does its job. Nothing that makes you say “wow”, but also nothing that looks cheap. It’s in that zone of: decent, serious, and clearly made to last rather than to impress on a shelf photo.