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.)

I didn't like Ho Hang Club when I first tried it. God, was I wrong, which happens only once in a Sturgeon Moon and makes me so mad that I could curse myself. Regardless, Ho Hang Club is the epitome of a Woody Chypre fragrance; it sets the De Facto standard and I bless off on it. When I first tried this fragrance, I wasn't very experienced with chypres and many of the the 70s and 80s powerhouse fragrance. Obviously, I have really come to love and appreciate this fragrance since opening myself up to this scent genre the past two years. Unfortunately fragrances like Ho Hang Club, Gres Cabochard, Maxim's Pour Homme, Chanel Antaeus and others are disappearing quickly or being reformulated out of recognition (e.g., Halston Z14, Halston Classic, etc.) Performance is solid on my heavenly skin; 8+ hours and projection is above average. Much like Goldilocks searching for a cologne, this one is just right...but it's certainly not for those who love their porridge too hot or too cold.

Subtle, distinctive and opulent oriental ... An equal mix of intelligent sophistication and 80s funkiness. While this is a superbly-blended chypre and already one of my favorites, it seems to lack the depth of something like Antaeus. But at a third of the price it's too good not to include in one's collection. The combination of notes is niche-like, somewhat androgynous with its floral characteristics, but well-grounded in its satisfying smokey leather drydown. There is also an interesting 'opium den' vibe brought on possibly by the sweet resinous olibanum. Although made in and for the 80s this doesn't feel old or dated ... but rather rich, complex and very wearable. A beautiful masculine tapestry that's not too loud and quite striking. Recommended to anyone looking for a landmark chypre scent and an incredible value. I paid under $ 15.00 for a 50ml spray but prices appear to be rising for this discontinued fragrance.

Shockingly ahead of it's time in it's subtlety, Ho Hang Club is a precursor to the modern niche unisex floral-leather. While opening with a strange smattering of floral ambiguity, cherry pipe tobacco (?) and herbaceous greenness (I've found artemesia to give many classic chypres a strangely bitter almost salad-dressing-like opening, minor here but still noticeable), HHC eventually mellows out into a buttery suede chypre, rife with soft patchouli and a beautiful, tender rose note. While not reaching the heights of the brands eventual masterpiece Balenciaga pour homme, HHC is fantastic and holds up as a classy unisex affair. This could be seen as a rather left-field alternative for Cuir Ottoman as it can be found much cheaper online and they perform identically. Certainly nice, but definitely not the king of the Balenciaga men's classics. 8/10

Not long ago a member suggested me to try Ho Hang Club and Nino Cerruti pour Homme as I love and wear Hermes Bel Ami Thank you for your excellent advice , Aafridi ! I was lucky I could test this velvety gem : Ho Hang Club has an opening to die for , so beautiful that I wish it lasted forever . I bought it immediately .A dark floral chypre with noticeable leather . The perfume Morticia would steal from Gomez's closet :-) Old discontinued Balenciaga's fragrances for woman are magnificent and so are the ones for man ! I added Ho Hang Club to my Balenciaga collection , one of the best houses ever , in my opinion .

I agree with the term creamy rose to describe Ho Hang Club. Masculine rose also comes to mind, maybe patchouli rose, although only a slight touch of patchouli. The first descriptive term that came out of my mouth was very green. This isn't a powerhouse fragrance that I thought this would be. It's more of a fragrance you get to know. You take Ho Hang Club out for a night on the town, drink coffee with her, and start to experience the beautiful nuances of this beauty. Complex fragrance, although I wasn't expecting the beautiful complexities..

Winner all around. Comes on strong, settles down nicely, soft and floral - just the way your evening should go. If you like Lapidus, Bogart, etc., you'll love this. 50ml bottles run $15-$25 on eBay; I'd say they're worth it.

This is a hidden jewel, sophisticated and elegant, but not for the fainthearted, it has character and presence. Get it while you can, is discontinued but still can be found around at such accessible price.

Just got my bottle in the mail yesterday. Oooh is it lovely! Not at all what I was expecting... It's more subtle, sexy and floral that I was anticipating, but definitely a winner!

A dark floral-leather hidden gem.elegant and mysterious. 8/10.good performance.

I found this by accident: I meant to sample the original Ho Hang by Balenciaga, but accidentally purchased this much more affordable flanker fragrance instead. I decided I might as well try it anyway, since I saw it's a chypre (my favorite perfume genre). Initially I was taken aback by the very powerful and bitter green opening (there's lots of artemisia upfront) that seemed--as it is--from a different era. I thought it was too harsh for me at first, but as it unfolded, the softer floral notes began to pre-dominate, and then everything pulls together for a luxurious layered drydown, with the rose working with the patchouli, and rich resinous amber and styrax blending with the leather and the oakmoss. A great deal of thought went into crafting this, and ended up with a wonderfully complex masculine fragrance.

A very gentle, quite suitable for night times male essence, belongs to same family of strong ones like Rive gauche,Opium, Antaeus, etc, but, sadly,lasting power is poorest than in all of these

green floral bomb, something I can picture a dandy wearing it's masculine, but not overwhelmingly so, due to the powdery floral aspects of it. performance is huge, one spray to the inside of my elbow and it was still pushing out the next day. unfortunately it is not for me. I am MUCH more fond of the masterpiece that is BPH and its sexy cinnamon musk. I have a "new" vintage bottle of HHC from the mid 90s that I am looking to sell or swap if anyone should be interested. Message me if so.

I've been having a love/hate relationship with these 70's and 80's vintage frags. Some of them fall on the first category (Santos, VC&A PH) and some on the second one (Salvador Dalí PH, Oscar Pour Lui, Lagerfeld Classic). This Ho Hang Club however it's a tricky one, since its opening is more on the Pour Lui side: incensy, potpourry-like and kind of 'urinal' but 30 minutes after or so the scent changes towards VC&A PH drydown: clean, floral and leathery (really nice, smooth and classy). To sum up and not be repetitive with all the great previous reviews: it starts 'skanky' and quite off putting by today standards, but quickly transitions into a fruity and floral (rose and carnation mostly) cocktail backed up by a sweet pactchouli and leather base. Totally picture using this in a black tie or tuxedo event (not that I've ever been to one though), just wait 30 minutes before going out in public ;) Projection seems quite restrained but longevity however is correct (8 hrs plus) Edit: After wearing this one a bit more I surely appreciate the composition and quality of this fragrance BUT I cannot get pass from the opening (too 'urinal' and really dated), so it's an interesting one but I can't see myself wearing it TBH. 7/10 ------------------------------------------------------ He estado teniendo una relación de amor/odio con estas fragancias vintage de los años 70 y 80. Algunos caen en la primera categoría (Santos, VC&A PH) y otros en la segunda (Salvador Dalí PH, Oscar Pour Lui, Lagerfeld Classic). Sin embargo, este Ho Hang Club es complicado, ya que su apertura está más en el lado de Pour Lui: incensario, como una mezcla de popurrí y algo 'urinal', pero 30 minutos después el aroma cambia hacia el secado del VC&A PH: limpio, floral y con aroma a cuero (muy agradable, suave y elegante). Para resumir y no ser repetitivo con todos los excelentes comentarios anteriores: comienza 'sucio' y bastante desagradable para los estándares actuales, pero rápidamente pasa a ser un cóctel afrutado y floral (rosa y clavel en su mayoría) respaldado por un dulce pactchouli y cuero de base. Lo ubico totalmente usándolo en un evento de corbata negra o esmoquin (aunque nunca he estado en uno), solo esperaría unos 30 minutos antes de salir en público ;) La proyección parece bastante contenida, pero la longevidad es correcta (8 horas o más) Editado: después de usarlo un par de veces puedo decir que aprecio la composición y la calidad de los ingredientes pero lo cierto es que no puedo 'pasar' la apertura (demasiado 'urinal' y 'demodé'); es una fragancia interesante pero no algo que vaya a usar personalmente (me inclinaría a algo como Antaeus por ej.) 7/10

There is a really, really good perfume store that I go to 3-4 times/year. Usually, on a weekday, I'm the only customer. The clerk and I walk through and check out my long list of wants, except for those that are too expensive and must remain sealed. Great way to kill time on my way back to work. So yesterday we tried about 15 different colognes. Some really good (Ungaro III) some disappointing (Tabac). Then I saw the long discontinued HHC. We both tried it and I paid $55 with tax, cash money. I don't have a lot of experience with leathers. This... You'd spray your nubuck shoes with this to improve them. On skin it starts with the heady floral (carnation) noted by ericrico. On me it turns to leather within 15 minutes, with patchouli making a subtle entrance after 45 minutes. How good is it? I'd sell my plasma for it. I may go back and buy the second bottle. If it became impossible to find I would have to plunge into niche perfumes or something. Why the hell don't they make stuff like this anymore???? I'm going to try it against Guerlain's Heritage, which is the most beautiful thing I own. I know Heritage has better projection and longevity, but HHC may be just as purty and certainly is more wearable at work. Probably more appropriate than Givenchy Gentleman, my other best leather (GG has much more patchouli). On fabric, the carnation stays and stays. I like it, though it's "hot"--very strong. My wife does NOT like it, though she does like it on skin. Take your choice. Projects at arms length for several hours, though the fabric trick amps up both sillage and longevity. 3-6 hours with skin, longer on cloth. Scent: 10/10 Sillage: 5/10 Longevity: 6/10

So... this is what we call niche nowadays; back then, it was the norm. A truly sad state of affairs. Onto the fragrance. HHC by Balenciaga for me, is the blueprint of its younger brother, Balenciaga PH, that came 3 years later. But PH is amped up differently, with a very prominent honey/cinnamon note, among others that I truly can not pin point. HHC is... floral, yes, but it is also skanky. Deliciously skanky, and I assume it's coming from the mix of leather and musk... maybe the patchouli too? This is an initial impression review, but I can tell you I get whiffs of that lovely musk that makes Dzing so unique. And rose. Yes, there is a very distinctive rose note. There is a marvelously erotic aroma that surrounds HHC that I think is absent or toned down on PH. This is strong stuff. A statement fragrance, like most of the 80's offerings. More subtle than its younger brother, but totally worth it. It is fascinating to see how both HHC and PH anticipated the craze for attars almost two decades ahead. Truly visionary for its times. Smell great, my friends.

This is a very gentle blend, unlike what you would expect from a fragrance released in 1987. The opening is interesting, unique to my knowledge, but doesn't last all that long. The drydown reminds me of Giorgio for Men VIP. This is quite floral and I think some women might want to give it a chance, especially if they like the idea of a scent that can give off the impression of mild tobacco. The balance is very good and it's certainly natural smelling. Some might consider this too powdery, and so for formal occasions only (since it's not more than a bit sweet), leading me to think it is more for the aficionado. This is one of those rare 80s scents that works and doesn't have any obvious lavender, if it has any at all. Nor does it possess any obvious aroma chemicals, such as dihydromyrcenol, which means it has a niche-like quality these days (though most niche is rather clumsy compared to this one).

Balenciaga Ho Hang Club is a wonderful fragrance. It starts off brash with an unforgiving patchouli note and then it softens up as it dries down. A must have for the 80's powerhouse fragrance lover. It is no powerhouse tho but has a lot of 80's charm. This fragrance unfortunately only projects for about a hour then it's a skin scent. I'm torn... If it had better performance I would buy 5 more bottles, wear it all the time and it would be a staple in my wardrobe. Sadly that is not the case so I will enjoy this fragrance casually until the bottle runs out and respect it for what it is...I will not buy another bottle the performance is a deal breaker, also the cap is a joke.

Say what you will about the "blue trend" these days or the "aquatic trend" before that, but Ho Hang Club is part of the trend in the 80's of masculine leather chypres that all smell alike or very close: Antaeus, Maxim's Pour Homme, Sybaris, Montana Pour Homme, Furyo, etc. They all had their variations on top notes, but they all basically dry down to the same thing. All are very good, but they are also about the same. People complain how most modern releases keep releasing blue fragrance these day, but the 80's was doing the same with a different scent profile. If you have Ho Hang Club, you really don't need any other of the above "similar" and vice versa.

For me - this is 80-ties in a bottle. Creamy, nostalgic, spicy sweet smell, "outdated" but beautiful. This would have been my signature smell during the 80-ties. Smell of the times long gone, when the life was simplier and more down to earth, without mobile phones, fear of the future and internet with all of its horrors. The smell of Italo Disco music, Barcelona and Milano night-life during the 80-ties. Warm and sensual, mesmerizing smell of the times long gone.

Totally vintage chypre that screams the time period it came from. Love it! It has a pleasant pissy, urine cake men’s room vibe that smooths out beautifully. It brings back olfactory images for me of well appointed locker rooms at a tennis club in the 1980’s. Very male, less gentlemanly, a little complicated and a classic winner. Damn.

I think of mixing this with another perfume, it is very strong, not long lasting, so I want to fill these gaps, but without citrusy smells...I don't regularly mix my perfumes, or wear more than 1 at a time, but without altering and improving this one I wouldn't be able to wear it, keep in mind that I own 3 bottles.

This is unique !! I always think of glitter ball, dark smokey room, a private party, polished shoes, when I smell it. Heavy. Classy. Animalic. Not for everybody. Still a bottle full 50 ml inside my drawer. I don't want to use it often, since I know it's hard to find. Scent : 8 Longevity : 9 Projection : 7

It's like kouros and anteaus' younger nerdier brother. Masculine, yet mellower version of the two mentioned above. I love this, makes me want to bare my hairy chest, and wear a bunch of god chains. MANLY!

Cold weather masterpiece. Balenciaga only made two fragrances that would be forev6loves.... 1. Balenciaga Pour Homme 2. Ho hang Club

Excellent reviews for an Excellent and Wonderful scent. Love at first smell. One of the best scent I've bought.

The review below this reads like someone asked an AI to write a parody of an overwritten perfume review.