Hermès Paddock – The Equestrian-Inspired Fragrance

Hermès introduced a unique fragrance called Paddock, inspired by the atmosphere of horse stables and the brand’s deep connection to equestrian culture.

Inspiration

The fragrance was created by Christine Nagel, the in-house perfumer and creative director of Hermès perfumes. The idea came from her experience at the Saut Hermès show-jumping event in Paris, where she spent time around horses and the stable environment.

Hermès itself has strong equestrian roots—the brand was founded in 1837 as a harness and saddle maker, so horses are part of its heritage and identity.

The Scent Concept

Nagel tried to recreate the real smell of a horse stable, capturing the combination of materials and natural aromas riders associate with horses. The fragrance includes notes inspired by:

• Hay and straw

• Leather saddles and tack

• Barley and oats

• Wood and wax

• Botanical and woody amber accords

• Even subtle stable elements such as hoof treatments and natural barn aromas

The final composition blends honeyed hay with amber carrot seed, producing a bold and unusual scent profile that evokes the riding environmen