Hey Perfume Junkies,
Do you remember when Kelly Calèche was released in 2007? It was a huge kerfuffle, and it seems both a million years ago and yesterday. There was a while that it was the fragrance de jour in the clubs and I think about one in five young women of a certain cadre were sporting it day and night and smelling so young, hip and fresh, even (dare I say it?) GROOVY! I think that many Sydney girls will have fond memories of fun times in Kelly Calèche,
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Grapefruit, narcissus, lily of the valley
Heart: Mimosa, rose, tuberose
Base: Leather, iris
The opening of Kelly Calèche is a dry, green, astringent burst that shocks you awake and into the here and now. This fun high octane fizz only lasts a few moments but it is an excellent mind refresher. Then the whole fragrance changes into a surprising leather that smells on my skin like the leather, glue, colours and stitchery inside the back of brand new high heels, never worn, straight from box and tissue paper. The flowers and fruits big moment are all over for me so quickly, around 15 minutes, and then play a light backing track to this almost patent leather smell. (From Hermès, Hermès, Hermès in 2012)
Photo Stolen DeviantART
So fun, light and yet very present, that oh so soft suede-ish iris dry down is my favourite part, though other reviewers find it not so good. A whisper of fragrance that huffs out at you every so often to remind you that you’re fragrant. It’s just for you and your nearest and dearest friends. It’s no wonder that Kelly Calèche was such a hit at the time, I wonder if those pretty young things still wander round in a soft fog of sweet iris leather or if they’ve moved on?
I grabbed my 15ml mini bottle from Birgit of Olfactoria’s Travels wardrobe clean-out back in 2012. To be honest it doesn’t see a LOT of wear but I have made decent inroads into it, there is some good air in the bottle. I like to wear it when I need a pick me up, have to be somewhere that a loud or hefty frag would be inappropriate or to remember the lovely girls who wore Kelly Calèche when it was released.
Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Now Smell This
Beauty Encounter has $52/50ml EdT
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3/ml
Are you a fan? Has Kelly Calèche ever been your go to or does its quiet, refined leather waft leave you bored and stone cold?
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Kelly Caleche was a departure for me. As a huge fan of Caleche my curiosity led me to this iteration. The top notes sang but on me its middle was muted and the dry down only pleasant and well behaved . A good ‘office’ scent. Or perhaps, my being of ‘a certain age’ KC is too young for me? I have fond memories of vintage Cabochard, then described as a leather. Kelly Caleche would be good for spring or autumn, but in a pinch I would always pick her elder sister,
LikeLike
Yes, Caleche is one of the all time greatest BWFs. The fragrances have almost nothing to do with each other, it would have been better if they crew at Hermes had called it Kelly.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Hi Portia,
I love KC and wear it all the time, and I’m a guy with sideburns and tattoos! Not sure if it’s unisex in general or if it’s just me that doesn’t care about gender derivation. Pretty sure it’s the former!
LikeLike
I am right with you on lack of gender boundaries. Wear what makes you happy.
Great choice.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I like KC very much, and the rose-y leather never fails to make me smile. However, somehow it feels too classy for me? So I don’t wear it very often…
LikeLike
Hey Nemo,
Too classy? Naah , just spritz & go
Portia xx
LikeLike
Hey there Portia! Love Kelly Caleche. It is different enough from the original Caleche to warrant owning both. 🙂
Sandra xoxo
LikeLike
Hey Sandra,
Totally different. I bet you smell divine in Kelly Caleche.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I saw alonely looking bottle this in Sephora and since I’ve read so much about it I gave myself a spritz. It was so nice at first. Unfortunately it turned really sour and kind of gross on my arm within 10 minutes or so. It was so sad. 😦
LikeLike
Heya Sun Mi,
What a shame.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I am a fan. I wore the EDT when on holiday in temps of 40C in Vegas. It was the only perfume in my travel kit I could tolerate in the heat. Elena of Perfume Shrine thinks Kelly Caleche may be a sleeper, awaiting the laurels of a classic. I have both EDT and EDP but overall I think I prefer the EDT. It is lovely on an older woman (ahem, me) too!
LikeLike
Hey there Courant,
I agree with Elena and you. Kelly Caleche could very easily flip into a classic in time.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I love Kelly Caleche EDP. I’m now on my second bottle. I may be getting the parfum extrait.
LikeLike
Hi there Hajuusuri,
I didn’t know there was a parfum. WOW!
Portia xx
LikeLike
Pingback: Kelly Calèche by Jean-Claude Ellena for Hermès 2007 « AustralianPerfumeJunkies