Hiram Green Sample Set

[HMan]

Hiram Green is an all natural house based out of The Netherlands.

I've seen the house pop up from time to time with very intriguing reviews and since he sells a very reasonably priced sample set of all the perfumes in his house, I decided to give them a spin.

I'll post initial impression and update reviews as I work though the set.

 

[HMan]

Arbolé

Opening blast is a bit of a feminine vanilla, but very quickly evolved to what I'd call a mentholated Mennen Skin Bracer like scent. If you're a fan of Mennen style fougeres and what to go upscale, take a look at this, it's very well composed, bright and clean.
The menthol actually really works well here for me, and elevates the otherwise common scent.

That said I'm not huge on this type of scent, a bit bummed as I was hoping for a rich patchouli, which it isn't at least not at this stage.

Scent strength is mild, very clearly can smell it on skin, but it's not a monster by any means. That's with one spray only. I always once give one spray for a first test, not knowing what to expect.

 

[HMan]

Voyage 2019 - This is a tough one to describe, it's lotus flower, which comes off as a spicy aroma, however on dry down it goes very to a vanilla scent. It's very nice, a bit of a retro feel, reminding of the old days in perfumery when more naturals were used I guess., and the makes it absolutely tester worthy. However I'm not sure it's something I actually would want to wear, though that could change after a few trials. The downfall for me, and I emphasize for me, is that vanilla note, which though it's really nice, and you can tell it's quality stuff, just isn't my thing. Perhaps it just makes it lean too feminine, though I'd call this a unisex.

Projection I'd call moderate, longevity very good.

Slowdive - Initial spray, it's honey, I mean photo-realistic honey. As it's drying down the honey is getting darker and a bit more medicinal. I'm really loving the medicinal aspects to these scents, but again, the sweet side is where I'm having problems.

 

[HMan]

Hyde -

Initial spray:
Ok, now we're talking. This one was an award winner, and I see why. Smoke, birch tar, leather, incense, bandaid. What a beautiful concoction!

A few minutes later, there's that amber/vanilla in the base again, but this time it's working for me.

@NurseDave I think you NEED to get your hands on a sample of this.


Slowdive - post wear review - I just didn't like this, it's literal honey, and I felt like I'ld been eating honey from a spoon all day after wearing it, a nibble of honey is ok, and all day forced feed, not so much.

 

[HMan]

Hyde follow up - IMO this is one great scent. If you look online folks describe it as a leather which IMO it's not. Opening is a birch tar campfire bandaid rubber affair. IMO, it's really terrific, though some call it challenging. I didn't find it to be at all. That phase lasts less than 30 minutes and then more incense notes start to come in, then a really nice amber joins the incense. When that passes I was left with what I call a gunpowder skin scent with wifs of incense.

If you like any of those notes, I'd call this a must sample, it's really really well done, unique and totally worth at least one sniff.
At 155€ for 50ml, you have to think about buying a bottle, but IMO unlike many niche brands this one is worth it due to the quality natural ingredients and skill of the perfumer.

 

[HMan]

Luster -

This is a realistic wild rose scent, with a bit of honey (to my nose) and citrus. Think rose water, and you're in the ball park.

I used to wear rose water when I was younger, it lasted all of 5 minutes, but I really like the smell of a natural rose. I spent a lot of time around flowers in when I was younger, and there's nothing like that green rose scent that captures the feeling of being in a room with fresh cut flowers.

The opening on this is quite harsh though, there's some weird green that doesn't belong, thankfully it also doesn't stick around long. Bois de Jamin, a perfume blogger I respect, said that odd openings were part perfumery when naturals were mostly in use, you had to have it to be able to develop the perfume. I can accept that.

Rose isn't for everyone, but as I've said before, there are roses that men can wear easily, I'd call this one.