Ho Hang Club

Ho Hang Club is a brilliant masterpiece created 10-15 later than it smells...yet, timeless is the beauty of this. Its amazing, rich and transcendent composition can only come from one house...Balenciaga! Adoration...pure, humble adoration is what this scent evokes. It opens with a brilliant chypre vibe that is of THE highest quality - a burst of bergamot and basil are the main notes, blended with a nice dusting of coriander - with a rich, gorgeous and deep note of carnation underneath (perhaps one of the best presentations of this wonderful floral note in fragrance I have ever found - oh, how I wonder how this would smell next to a Malmaison Carnation from the times of days past in Victorian England when Oscar Wilde wore a fresh bloom). This is nearly immediately blended with the main focus of this scent - the glorious heart, that emanates its rhythmic pulse within a minute of the opening blast...smooth and creamy florals that only a Balenciaga scent can wrap in a bouquet. The carnation is initially sharp, combined with the nice spike of bergamot on top - but it tones down to a warm "mid-range", smooth accord that never fades until this is off your body. The earthy geranium & spicy cardamom blend in, with the slightly-powdery jasmine ...all supported by two essential ingredients - orris root (perfection here) and a wonderful, elegant rose note. Absolutely stunning! Yes - this is a full bouquet, that seems to radiate from your skin...but not too loudly. While this may be a full-bodied composition, it stays wonderfully fragrant and aromatic. While the juniper and cypress give it a nice fragrant lift (and greenness to the bouquet)...it never ceases to amaze me just how amazingly smooth this fragrance is - and how the florals can all be picked out individually! Incredible. It is one of the best skin scents I have ever smelled - and that says a lot. But, then again, Balenciaga Pour Homme is one of my top fragrances of all time. People mention the "honey accord of Balenciaga". There is a light 'sweetness' here from all the blended florals and warm amber (and an incredible soft and smooth feel), but also a nice light, powdery quality. I, personally do not get honey as a note - but Balenciaga does use styrax very well here as a key note as the house does in other top-shelf bottlings, which offers a deep resinous quality. The melange of incredible florals could create a honey accord to some with the styrax, perhaps, but I feel it is the quality of the ingredients (and depth) that create a warm and sensuous smooth quality (a "vibe" more than an accord) that is the signature of the brilliant house of Balenciaga. I get richness that spills over and evokes an image of sheer beauty and harmony. It smells like only something Balenciaga could (and would) put in a bottle. The smokiness comes in from the olibanum (incense) and rich, luxurious leather - definitely an elegant "club"-aroma is created...a dimly lit room with a bit of smoke in the air, warm leather booths surrounding candlelit tables, cocktails and live music. If this came from another house, it would be off-putting or terribly blended - virtually impossible to create this ambiance in a bottle. The composition takes an incredible touch and a brass pair to even think of pulling this off! And, it's done incredibly well. It is epic in its purity and the ingredients are as rich as one needs to ever satisfy their soul. But, herein lies the beauty - it is not too overtly loud (after the first 5-10 minutes, it becomes a gorgeous fragrant skin scent that creates an aura around you...but it does not have the power of the 1990 Pour Homme bottle and I would not consider it a powerhouse, nor would I want it to be one.) The beauty is its balance and wonderful light feel. The base notes are in perfect proportion - carrying the magnificent heart. Main notes are the beautiful florals on a bed of wonderful, green patchouli, warm musk & amber, the previously mentioned slightly smoky olibanum, styrax, and plush leather. I detect a touch of dried cedar and the moss is light and a nice green note (not heavy at all). This stays floral and fresh with a beautiful oriental vibe in the drydown...and not too woody. I would personally call it an Oriental Chypre - Ho Hang Club is unique and truly top-shelf. This is for people who appreciate fragrance at his highest quality. My score - perfection on scent alone! Longevity is good, but Bigsly is correct - projection is moderate. But, after several wearings, I wonder if I would want it to be any louder...again, I think not. This is for those who have quiet confidence and swagger. Ho Hang Club is "exclusive" - only those in the "know" should attempt to wear this. Overall score - 9.5+/10. Another masterpiece from the house of Balenciaga. There are great fragrances, classic scents and then masterpieces. If this was music, it would be smooth jazz. Sheer brilliance in a bottle...

Wow! Balenciaga's Ho Hang Club is a truly wonderful scent: a legitimately masculine floral scent that oozes quality and class. This is clearly made with top-notch, natural ingredients. There are no harsh, artificial or chemical elements at all; just a rich and silky-smooth elegance that deserves to be saved for special occasions, and savored. Ericrico's review below captures all the elements and nuances of this magical fragrance. Balenciaga has produced the only floral fragrance that appeals to me at all, and it does so in a big way. The opening blast is almost frighteningly floral/feminine (I get a big carnation note) but that settles quite quickly into a more safely-masculine dusty-rose/amber/carnation/earthy concoction which defies the senses: how do such seemingly discordant elements fuse together so seamlessly? The basenotes still carry this floral theme, but subtly introduce more traditionally masculine smokey/musk/leather notes that combine for a wonderful long-lasting, low-sillage skin-scent. This is a recent purchase for me, and I find that I like to spray a couple of shots to my chest and neck, and then a spray on the back of each wrist. More than any other scent I have owned, it is Ho Hang Club that has me most frequently sniffing my wrist, marveling at the slowly-changing nature of this unique fragrance. From my perspective, Ho Hang Club should be categorized as a masculine Oriental-Floral scent. According to the description at the top of this page "Ho Hang Club is an intense masculine scent of chypre, leather and woody character." That's a misleading statement, but was probably written by a Balenciaga publicist who worried that men weren't ready for a floral fragrance in 1987. If the truth be told, even today, most men aren't ready for this kind of scent. Fewer still would consider this as a "signature scent." But those few of us who are lucky enough to track down a bottle of this discontinued gem from Balenciaga probably prefer it that way: for a few more years we will still be able to find a bottle if we look hard enough. Ho Hang Club is unlike anything else on my fragrance shelf, and the scope of my fragrance selections is greatly enhanced by its presence. On special occasions, or when I am in the mood for something completely different, this is the one I will reach for. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 6/10 (after the first hour it's a wonderful skin-scent) Overall: 9/10 Caveat: I don't recommend this as a blind-buy, because the florals don't work for a lot of guys, and you aren't going to find a cheap bottle.

UPDATE: Going on 9 months of having this, I would have to attest that while it isn't a top favorite, it is an EDT I truly appreciate and enjoy wearing from time to time. This is a classic fragrance in every sense of the word, and a major bargain at going market prices. If you want this general composition but with sandalwood and ginger included, with greater longevity, check out YSL Jazz Prestige. _______________________________________________________ I bought this blind because I knew a few people who like it that share similar tastes with me. I wasn't disappointed, especially for the going prices at the moment (there appears to be a glut of 50ml bottles, so you'll do better to buy multiples of those rather than a full 100ml bottle). This is the epitome of elegance. I've never encountered a powdery floral leather so properly done so as to make it confident for men. I'm not big on carnation, but wow... is it ever so beautifully blended here. Rose, carnation, and geranium fill the floral notes group, tempered by a healthy dose of leather, styrax, olibanum, artemisia, orris root, cypress, amber and a host of other herbs. I also get a slightly smoky quality that is blended in just enough to give an accent without overstepping other notes. When I first applied this, my initial reaction was that this is a bit too powdery. Too dandified. But part of this was due to the fragrance being so new and different to my nose, and I was impatient for the dry down. My only gripe with this fragrance is that it retreats to a skin scent in fairly short order. It is advisable to apply to clothing and/or multiple body areas for greater longevity. But wow, the compliments sure rolled in on this one. While it does have a "vintage vibe" to it, there's still a freshness that keeps it from becoming an old man's cologne. This is a first rate fragrance that flies well under the radar. I liked it at first but now after a week I'm finding that my appreciation only continues to grow. Fragrance: 9.2/10, Projection: 6.5/10, Value 9.9/10.

The Ho Hang Club, crafted by Balenciaga, unveils itself with a vivacious eruption reminiscent of the methyl anthranilate in Bubbilicious, evoking the essence of pseudo-grape, only to gracefully yield to a rich, oriental incense. Its heart, adorned with the decadence of wilted rose, colossal carnation, jasmine, and geranium, transports one not merely to the '80s, but rather to the storied time of the 1880s. This cologne, truly remarkable, finds its niche in temperate climes, where it bestows its wearer with a subtle warmth, unsuitable for the biting cold and certainly not for the heat. HHC finds its rightful place amidst the gusts of early spring and the gentle breezes of mid-autumn. The right kind of woman could certainly pull this fragrance off with more aplomb than the wrong type of man... let that be known. I'm thinking Rachel Tyrell for the win, Mr. Ralph Furley for the L. In its aura, you become ensnared by visions of an undertaker wearing this while tending to the gentry of the wild west, or maybe a purveyor of fine textile in the bustling streets of 1920s Hong Kong sprinkles a dash on before work... also possible is the cliche vampire hiding in the alleys or Eastern Europe... his cloak and coffin would be adorned by this earthy and botanical masterpiece. The vessel housing this juice is a testament to timelessness and elegance... an art-deco jazz club fine hotel type affair, while its spray nozzle, impeccable in design, diffuses an ultra-fine mist with great efficiency. My rating comes in at 8.2 out of 10. I am sad to acknowledge HHC's dwindling availability, even moreso when located untouched by spoilage.

Immediately feel so happily surprised, one for the powerful blast at the begining, realizing where all those later, similar old school/power house scents actually coming from, then fell so profoundly in love with the dry down! I came across Ferre Uomo prior to this gem, then Oscar De La Renta Pour Lui, followed by a 2007-ish Kouros, top notes of Ho Hang Club definitely reminds me those in vibe, but clearly stronger, more entrenched. After a hour or two, the woody smoky dry down hit me with a lovely surprise, it’s my most addicted base notes found in vtg Boucheron Pour Homme and Mr. Blass by Bill Blass, which I used to hoard as many as 5 bottles just because I cant live without the base notes there! Now what a great little gem that I have! Ho Hang Club even has a better performance on my skin, though it’s come down to a smooth, close skin mist after about five hours, it’s still amazing, lingering here and there with the soft butter-leathery whisper! Such a great journey that I am glad I took, to educate myself about how those wonderful, historical male fragrances have been through, through decades, from one by one another sublime milestone just like Ho Hang Club, hats off! (PS, the 50 ml spray version is the one I'm reviewing here, and later I found the 100 ml decanter bottle was slightly different, lost top notes for sure, however the rose/patchouli/leather is more prominent, and the resinous base is tuned down, more powdery instead, and unfortunately not so long lasting.)