So far, I’ve reviewed two perfumes from Phlur (Hepcat and Moab) that I’ve absolutely loved. Yes, I was initially put off by their marketing because it made me feel ancient, but when you write about perfume, you have to often ignore marketing if you plan on keeping your sanity. What matters is that Phlur makes great perfumes. Hepcat and Moab both smelled really “niche” without having a niche price tag. Now I have one more reason to love Phlur. That reason is Hanami.
When Hanami was initially launched, the only note listed was “sandalwood”¹. I wasn’t that excited to try it because there are so many boring sandalwood perfumes available. A good sandalwood is hard to find but once you find it, you don’t need anything else! When I sprayed Hanami, I realized this wasn’t really a sandalwood, but a truly wonderful fig. Hanami opens with green fig leaves. The florals are light, delicate but milky. Hanami wear is like being in a shroud of comfort. It’s warm, milky, soft and bittersweet. The heart is a powdery iris and fig. The dry-down has the sandalwood but there’s this realistic hazelnut. It’s almost like a nutty vetiver.
Hamani is a perfume that I didn’t realize my life needed until I tried it. It’s soft, comforting and effortless to wear.
Notes listed include fig, white florals, hazelnut and Indian sandalwood. Launched in 2016. PERFUMER – Nathalie Benareau
Give Hanami a try if you like modern “diffused” scents or milky figs. Or perfumes like Infusion Organique Buddha’s Fig, Diptyque Philosykos, D.S. & Durga Debaser, Hermès Santal Massoïa, L’Artisan Bois Farine and/or Commodity Book.
The company describes the scent as “Weight and sillage is light/near”. Projection is below average with longevity above average, in my opinion.
The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $85 at Phlur. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A gauze-like fig and vetiver. It’s just one of those perfumes that resonates with me. It’s not one of my glamour perfumes, but something that I can wear daily and feel really comfortable in.
¹The brand has since been receptive to feedback and provides a more “traditional” note list on their website.
Want more reviews? Try…
A Piece of Toast – More info on the brand.
This perfume sounds interesting but I wonder what made the company decide to label it just sandalwood initially, if that’s… really not what it is? I must be An Old, I don’t get it. I’ll just go back to complaining about the kids on my lawn, I guess.
I love the name of this brand. I assume it’s a pun on “fleur” and it cracks me up every time I read it.
Initially, they were all about “stripping everything of traditional perfume marketing”. I get their idea. They wanted people to order samples and “blind sniff” as to not influence people’s decisions. Like some people may not try something they love because they think they don’t like the notes (anyone that has worked perfume retail will tell you that note lists are a blessing and a curse). I get where they are coming from. In fact, I try to “blind sniff” when I can. HOWEVER, they are only sold online. It’s difficult to get people to buy things based on some song playlists and a quick description and some pictures of hot, young people. Like, hello, what’s in it?! So, I think they thought they could satisfy people by giving a vague idea of a perfume “sandalwood” or “vetiver”. But, that’s not enough when the perfumes themselves are complex. I think they listened to feedback and provided a more traditional note list. I mean all note lists are abbreviated (there to merely give an idea). It’s not like they lied. It does have some sandalwood-y stuff in there, but there’s a lot more too. It’s more complex and I think they realize that over simplifying wasn’t doing their (complex and good) perfumes any favors.
OMG, I didn’t even think of that. I bet it is. I just thought it was some stupid tech-y sounding start-up name. It didn’t even occur to me that it was a tech-y sounding start-up pun. That is funny.
[…] Phlur Hanami – I love how this is a soft, cuddly scent. It has fig and sandalwood. Retails for $85 at Phlur. Full review. […]