Honoré Delights

Floral Fruity Gourmand? My nose says...not really. Musky floral powdery perfection? Absolutely! I've never had the honore pastry, so I can't say if this fragrance smells like the dessert or not. I can only say it doesn't smell like any pastry I've ever had. On top-- Top notes are citrus, but not too bright. I get more neroli than bergamot. They're a little light, which is how I prefer citrus, so we're off to a good start. On my skin, the top notes last about 30 minutes which I found unusual but enjoyed the nice slow transition to the heart. The heart-- The iris is so lovely and powdery in Honore Delights. There is a subtle sweetness during this phase, but it feels like it's coming from the florals (especially orange blossom) and musk mallow. It's not edible in this presentation to me, though with this name, I'm sure it's meant to appeal to gourmand lovers. The heart is softer than the opening, as the top citrus has faded and is very powdery courtesy of a delicate iris. The base-- A soft sweet persistent musk defines the base. Nothing more or less so than that, but it's enough to round Honore Delights out and make this a love for me. Notable-- the softness on the skin sweetish, but not cloying the powder, the musk you have to respray if you want to enjoy it all day--it leaves a bit of an 'after-smell' on the skin when left to simply fade away. For me, there's nothing gourmand here except the name but I still find it a delight.

I was ready to throw in the towel with Ex Nihilo fragrances. None spoke to my nose. This bad boy, however. Wow. Its fluffy, this perfume has a cozy texture to it. Like you are wrapped up in a blanket laying in the clouds. Initial spray is a bit of a peppery musk, but the dry down is magical. Sweet, savory, gourmand fluffy musk. Its angelic, ethereal. I love the review below saying this is what fairies would smell like. Its light and airy, only leaving whispers in the air rather than announcing. I reach for this for daily office wear, its so comforting, welcoming, cozy and quiet. Never annoying or cloying, doesnt project or leave a heavy trail. Great bedtime scent too. I find it lasts a significant amount of time on my skin, HOWEVER, it is very very light. If you want beast mode this is not it. The warm edible, sweet musk will cocoon you all day in the gentlest way. Its a beautiful woman walking through a Parisian city, faint wafts of freshly baked bread and pastries in the air. I love this perfume and crave it so much. Please test it on your skin to appreciate this perfume's depth and beauty (smelling the cap or on paper, you will just pick up a peppery musk)

very, very pretty. honore delights is a fragrance that also has an almost palpable texture - and that's an intense fluffiness, pink and soft. it smells like a bedroom that is entirely pink, adorned with soft furnishings and glittering white light. the neroli and orange blossom give a slight, soft citrus on top of the bed of fluffy, pretty ambrette and iris, and the typical ex nihilo musk sits underneath, soft and clean (this house really does do some objectively good musks, whether dirty and not-to-my-personal taste like is musc infini, or clean, fluffy and soft like in this fragrance and santal calling). it's quiet, it's dainty, it's feminine and it's pure. i really like it, though ex nihilo's offerings as a house on a whole are so damn strong, there's other fragrances from them that i prefer more. and for soft, fluffy, cosy fragrances like honore delights, i do slightly prefer guerlain's cuir beluga, so i feel that this fragrance would be a bit obsolete to me. 8/10 smelled alongside their vision and goals for this fragrance, they absolutely nailed it.

This is a very pretty perfume, with no sharp edges or strong elements. When attempting to rate the strength of the notes for Fragrantica, no single note stands out above any others. I smell a harmony of iris, ambrette, orange blossom/neroli and bergamot. The base is neither too musky nor woody and all the notes flow seamlessly into one another. This is a light and airy "easy reach" for warmer weather, despite the combo of notes making it a tinge gourmand. I'm loving this for summer! I've heard criticism of Ex Nihilo fragrances for having poor longevity. I think part of that may be due to their sprayers-- the stream of liquid from my sprayer is coming out in a wide, fan-shaped mist. It seems like a good portion of the mist isn't connecting with my skin at all, just dissipating into the air. This type of spray lends itself to a very light application and I definitely don't prefer this.

An embodiment of the current 'stealth wealth' craze. A beauty dressed in a cashmere sweater, she's lounging in her tasteful upper-class home and answering any money-related questions with the avoidant 'we're comfortable'. Her home points to generational wealth, manners and class - without being stiff or old-fashioned. It has a distinct guerlinade vibe to it which very quickly dries down to iris/musk combo. There are some similarities with L'Eau d'Hiver but Honore Delights is warm and smooth where LdH is cold and chalky. It also bears a striking resemblance to Guerlain's Parfum Initial minus the caramel/vanilla sweetness. The performance is average at best, probably along the lines of 'wealth whispers'...it's the only factor that makes me hesitate when it comes to buying a FB at that price point.

Sampled this for the first time today and my first thought was that it reminded me of Woman in Gold, came on here, and saw that Woman in Gold was the first fragrance listed under “This Perfume Reminds of.” The only common note appears to be bergamot but I suppose it’s quite prominent in both fragrances. Whereas WiG has a generous dose of vanilla, this one has sandalwood. Honore Delights is fresh, musky, floral, and a bit woody. I don’t pick up as much on the iris, and hence powder, as I do the neroli/orange blossom. Personally, I prefer WiG over this one, but Honore Delights is still quite nice and well made. Edit: after giving this another shot, this went from a like to a love. Performance is impressive, and I may actually like this more than WiG. Very elegant scent.

there's a note (the musk or sandalwood maybe) that reminds me from a distance of my own sweat so that tripped me out the first time I wore it in public. in the bottle and on clothing it comes off as light, sweet, and delicate. a good compliment getter, especially the longer I let the bottle rest. i would describe this as a powder puff of shimmery makeup put on in the bathroom during an intermission at the opera. a perfume to spray behind your knees

I agree with violeteme, this definitely gives me Paris-Venise vibes. It’s a beautiful fragrance. I wish I had a spray vial rather than a sample with the dipstick applicator. This is a nice clean, citrusy and powdery musk with light florals. After a couple of hours, it turns into a creamy, vanilla sandalwood scent. I could probably wear this all year around, but I think it’ll wear best in cooler months.

One of the most beautiful things I have ever tested in my life. I am not particularly iris fan and the perfume pyramid would never get my attention but since I was gifted sample I am craving this perfume every day. It does not smell like pastry by any means yet it has similar creamy quality that Lira has without the gourmand notes and is more subtle and chic (it is long-lasting though!).

This is what I imagine fairies to smell like. Airy and ethereal, powdery and sweet, fresh and innocent (without being juvenile). To my nose, this has a similar vibe to Byredo Gypsy Water and a projection akin to Maison Mataha Printemps Blanc; it feels like a subtle soft thing up close, but the real potency is in the magical scent bubble/aura that surrounds you. I adore this scent.

If Chanel Paris-Venise was made into Intense version, it would be this scent as they share the same neroli-iris-musk combination. They are different enough as this comes off more dense and even gourmand and Paris-Venise as more citrusy and light. But I get the same subtlety, femininity, elegance. This is beautiful and lasts much longer. +

This smells like a beautiful angel in a gossamer white gown floated down from heaven on a cloud and gave you a magical lotion. The lotion imparts to you a sparkling aura, makes you ethereal and sexy, and makes your hair blow enchantedly in the wind.

this one is a beautiful your sink but sweeter, it is very sophisticated elegant and protects quite luxury. there is powder in the beginning from the iris and at the musk but the orange blossom and sandalwood gives it a creamy dray down . love it

Absolutely lovely. Powdery and lovely, the right amount of sweetness and just the slightest bitterness (bergamot and ambrette?) to make this interesting. If anyone is willing to sell a 7.5ml travel flask, please let me know!

A candied, sugary lemon musk for those who find Lira and Devotion too sweet. Fluffy and airy, clean and fresh - but very potent if oversprayed. A daytime scent that makes me feel clean and expensive.

This is beautiful. I’m really enjoying the bright and creamy citrus floral facets along with the iris note. The lasting power is quite nice too.

I like iris, musk, and sandalwood, and each time I expect to like this based on the notes. On paper, this smells more like what you would think. On my skin, this turns too sweet for me, and smells like a slightly better-blended Montblanc's Signature. The citrus and musk are prominent here, but unfortunately it's a sweet, vanillic musk, and too creamy for my taste. Nothing about the notes would make me expect anything sweet about this scent - an unpleasant surprise in that regard. On its own accord, its a fine perfume, luxurious, buttery, creamy, but too sweet and a little bit too generic.

If you tried this one and didn't quite love it, try their new Iris Porcelana. Sorry, public service announcement over. This one didn't quite capture my attention. A little too musky, a little too aromatic ~ nothing really wrong with it, it just did blow my socks off like Iris Porcelana. Sometimes I have to wear a fragrance a month or more for it to really click and that may be what's happening. Don't get me wrong, if someone gave me a bottle of this I'd wear it proudly. Ugh, I'm damning it with faint praise and I don't mean to, I guess I was just blown away by the above perfume.

Yet another one I bought a while back and did not reach for. I just revisited it and I like it a lot more than when I first got it. On my skin it starts out with a bit of zest and spice then dries down to a very sweet powdery scent that I kind of like but do not love. I like my gourmands to be creamier and more velvety. This is a nice scent but it doesn‘t wow me, it does not evoke the smell of pastries whatsoever. All in all it is nicer than I remembered.

I've had a sample of this and I've tried it now several times. It's a like, not a love. This is soft and pretty, not heavy... but it's very sweet - in a lemony, creamy, sugary sense. The florals, citrus, and musk are all nicely blended, creating a light gourmand effect. Although I don't see vanilla or caramel in the notes, it hints at the cream puff pastry that it's named for. I can see why many appreciate its musky cocoon, but for me it's just too sweet.

Honoré Delights by Ex Nihilo is quite distinct from their other fragrances. Its musky, powdery, and gourmand notes, which typically don't blend well for me, are perfectly harmonised here. The opening is quite lemony and tart, which is very pleasant. I would consider it a light fragrance, suitable for summer or indoor wear. It is certainly worth trying. I rate it a 7/10.

First impression: Kind of remind me of baby wipes a lil, but somewhat not. Idk we’ll see... I do like it, and it’s a bit angelic. We’ll see what my other opinion says about this one. To be continued...

Honoré opens with a bright, lemony musk that’s clean but not in a sterile, cleaning liquid way—more in a fresh, zesty gourmand sense. From a distance, it’s a delightful, sugary treat, almost edible, with a soft woodiness that adds some grounding. But up close, a synthetic edge peeks through, distracting from its otherwise cozy sweetness. There’s an undeniable syrupy quality, and I'm surprised at the lack of vanilla, yet I'll admit the scent leans overly sweet and slightly artificial. It’s nice in small doses, but the sweetness can become overwhelming, and that synthetic undertone keeps it from feeling truly refined.

I get ambrette and a touch of soft black pepper (not listed) from this fragrance; everything feels gentle, fragile, and delicate. Sandalwood glows beautifully in the drydown. Although it’s described with a gourmand reference (“like a pâtissier”), to me it’s not gourmand at all. It’s more of an airy blend of silky musk and sandalwood. The neroli and orange blossom that surround it are present only at the opening, then vanish like ghosts. Overall, it’s pleasant and refined; yet somehow it never anchors itself in my memory. Tag(s): ambrette, gentle, fragile

In the opening I can definitely pick up on the citrus but there's an underlying sweetness from the ambrette. It dries down pretty quickly though to a slightly sweet and powdery musk. Very pretty but I'd classify this as a subtle gourmand musk rather than a French pastry. It is really pretty though. Stronger projection for about 2 hours. Then it's still detectable but a soft skin scent by hour 4. Wish the projection and longevity was better especially for the price point.

Glad I got a sample instead of blind buying it!! Don’t get me wrong, it is very pretty. It is musky, floral and woodsy (all notes I love) but it doesn’t wow me at all. I feel that I have smelled this before. It is not a perfume that transports me or evokes much when I smell it. It’s just kinda blah... Perhaps I’ll need to re-visit it in the Spring? For the moment though, this is a meh...

So weak - really disappointing as this is the first from the house that I have tried. I did 5 sprays and can barely smell anything. I just smell a really faint orange blossom and violet scent if I sniff really hard. Will let it sit a bit and will revisit. Hoping it will get better.

Smells 98% similar to Liquides Imaginaire Blanche Bete

Very very oh so sweet scent; too much for me.

Honore Delights is Gucci Rush all grown up

Something is jarring very badly with the musk in this and the combination is just not harmonious or enjoyable.

I got to test this a couple of times, but it was lost between other scents. I tried this from my cousin who just got back from a trip I was definitely envious of. And omg, I am hyper fixated. Its beautiful!! And am I crazy, or is this everything I've been looking for? The intial spray reminds me of Kilian's 'Woman in Gold' with the marshmallowy orange blossom and citrus and I also pick up vanilla. And honestly, I don't like that specific perfume because of the aldehydic powderiness that is quite sharp and reminds me of deodorant. But with this one, it has a beautiful ambrette and sandalwood drydown. Two of my favorite notes. Very warm, yet soft. It's almost reminiscent of a creamy milky chocolate but still sits very close to the skin. I'm always in search of a scent that reminds me of a mac lip gloss. That amber, vanilla-cocoa like scent. I think this is a sophisticated version of that and it's just as soft. It's so weird how I literally own 10 scents from this brand and feel like I've experienced most of their creations, and I just now fall for this one. In the most random way, might I add. Am I hyper fixating or do I actually need it? Lol

I’ve been testing a lot of musk scents and orange blossom scents recently. This is the perfect marriage of the two. The bergamot and neroli give a nice zesty citrus opening. For me, the OB really dominates the mid. I love ambrette and can smell it in the sillage, but up close it’s 90% OB with a touch of cool iris and sweet, fuzzy ambrette. The sandalwood in the base is exactly what I’m drawn to: sweet, creamy, milky. I would not classify this as a gourmand at all. This has floral sweetness, but it never smells edible. Even though the performance isn’t great, the skin scent it leaves behind is beautiful. I get about 3 hours of wear. Edit: As the wearer, I don’t smell this too much on myself. However, it seems to have a large sillage because I get compliments from about 5 feet away when I wear this. This sort of soft musky OB really reminds me of Contre Ta Peau and APOM (both of which I’ve worn recently during my OB/musk obsession) but this is sweeter than those. This is possibly my favorite of the 3.

I am searching for a gateway iris fragrance. I blind bought Chanel No.19 and I just can't with it (sorry for all you No.19 lovers - is it the galbanum? I strongly dislike it) Anyways, in my mind I want an iris fragrance that is soft, feminine, maternal, comforting, yet beautiful. I have Iris de Champs on blind order based on many reviews. I read some beautiful reviews on various fragrances from @KatherineC (I trust her judgement) and Honore Delights was one of her suggestions that I just happened to have a sample of. If this is iris, sign me up! It's soft and cocooning in a beautiful way. This reminds me a bit of Jasmins Marzipane which I have several backups of, but honestly I like this more. A little sweet for what I'm after, but this is such a calming, timeless, gentle beauty! The ONLY body cream I enjoy from Bath & Bodyworks is the Lavendar Vanilla and I do enjoy that one. I feel like Honoré Delights would go on top of this body cream gorgeously. Edit: play-doughy Hypnotic Poison is that you?

-Two words: Absolutely Divine. -Honore Delights is a fresh, bright and invigorating scent. -I see this being the signature scent of a pretty, feminine and confident woman. -She has long, silky locks that cascade down her shoulders. She is wearing a yellow chiffon dress that hugs her in all the right places. Her nails are perfectly manicured into pretty rounded tips of a manageable length. Her lips are glossy, painted in a timeless MLBB rosy shade from the Byredo lineup. (Yes, she's a little fashion-forward and prefers Byredo's edgier offerings over the typical array you might find at a Chanel boutique.) -Dries down largely linear. Airy, soft musky floral. -I'd like this in my collection someday. (+)

Have you ever used Monsavon Au Lait - Lait et Vanille shower milk? It is a French brand and not officially distributed in the US but you may still see it being sold every now and then on Ebay. So this is effectively that shower milk's in a perfume form. Milky vanilla. Only difference is a very subtle hint of pepper in the fragrance, I dont care what the scent pyramids describes. The sheer fact that it is a scent I grew up associating w shower time justifies a 3.3oz/100ml bottle lol. I placed my order on Saks. It is on sale for effectively the same price as FragranceNet. Longevity and sillage are weak.

On and off, I get olfactory flashes of a perfume I have: Estee Lauder's Sensuous Nude, without the watery green coconut in the background. I think it's due to the copious amounts of woody and woody-amplifying notes that brings the pencil shaving accord into a sharper focus (no pun intended). The perfume briefly transitions into a cinnamonny-spicy and creamy, crisp, white floral before it dries down to a soft musky sandalwood. For some reason, I think of this scent more for a beach than the streets of Paris.

Very beautiful sweet musky silky iris scent. I own Milk Musk by Molton Brown and it’s not similar to me. I don’t understand that comparison. For me, style-wise, it’s in the same vein as Dama Bianca and whereas there you’ll find candied violet, here it’s candied iris. Not dupes by any means, more like in the same broader family group of scents. I’ll need to spend a bit more time with this one to decode it. It might be leaning too sweet for my liking.

I absolutely love this one. I only wish it lasted a little bit longer and projected a little bit more. It’s really quite soft. But it’s part of the scent, it is a soft scent. I wholeheartedly disagree with the comparison to woman in gold. This is powdery soft cashmeran. Woman in gold is an aldehydic vanilla. I very much like that one too! But I find them so so so soooooooo different.

Meh. I'm not wowed. It is a pretty scent, but basic. Has a lotion-y accord, kind of reminiscent of cocoa butter. It is sooo weak, though. I have to inhale my wrist to even smell it. I'm upset, because according to the notes I should LOVE this, but I just don't. However, if you want THE iris fairy princess perfume of your dreams from Ex Nihilo, try Iris Porcelana!

Being an iris lover I am happy to have discovered this is beauty, it is just heaven. It's slightly creamy and ever so slightly floral but most of all a cloud of warm sweet airiness. If this didn’t lack performance and longevity this is signature scent worthy, it doesn't stand out but it deserves to have a place in your collection.

This is a powdery, warm, gourmand scent.. but it’s not sugary, syrupy or thick. This has a light sweetness and an overall airiness that makes it feel elegant. This is the perfect subtle summer gourmand fragrance. Very much a skin scent, it would make a wonderful scent memory for when you give a long hug to an old friend.

Honore Delights smells like sweet ambrette. I find this weak and unmemorable and although there is a VERY vague citrus scent in the background, I am not getting anything close to lemon cake. I don't think it's awful but this can very well be something you find for $15 at TJ Maxx...

After sampling this, I’m shocked more people aren’t drawing comparisons to Malle’s L’Eau d’Hivier. Both are very peppery to my nose. I love d’Hivier and have a full bottle so I will pass on this but seriously, am I crazy for thinking they’re so similar?

A clean scent: Musks, Bergamote, Ionona (aka synthetic iris) and a dusty sandalwood. This is Ex Nihilo, well done perfumes that could be better, in my humble opinion. For the lovers of the brand, here you have Ex Nihilo's DNA. Cons: Too much bergamote.

Warm and starchy iris with noticeable bergamot and ambrette accents- perfect fall/winter scent- The more I wear it, the more I like it-

Ugh this smells like something designer to me. Maybe flowerbomb? Or la vie est belle? I cant put my finger on it. Bummer.

This is everything I wanted killian’s woman in Gold to be. This is literally what I was thinking sniffing this on my arm

The scent is the spitting image of Chopard's 1992 Casmir. Plagiarism is not fun...

Woodie, irisy fragrance, it's nice, but not my type