The Hedonist

This fragrance reminds me of some of the Louis Vuitton and Bvlgari Le Genme fragrances in that they smell more like a high-class designer fragrance than niche. It certainly follows a contemporary trend - it’s a woody, citrus, spicy, musky scent with a slight sweetness, combining synthetics and naturals. It starts off with some citrus top notes combined with spicy ginger, shortly afterwards the woods come in (pencil shavings), underpinned with a modern clean, powdery musk. The tonka adds some sweetness. Nothing particularly new or groundbreaking and it will probably remind you of other fragrances in this genre. Although they don’t smell the same, I get some similarities with LV’s Immagination, especially with the ginger and musk. It’s quite light so projection is fairly soft but I do find the longevity quite persistent. It leans slightly on the masculine side. I see why people might also make comparisons with Tygar. Again, they don’t smell exactly the same; Tygar is much more pronounced but they do share some similarities in structure and synthetics. Although this is much more synthetic and doesn’t have the juicy citrus, it does, in some ways, remind me of a very stripped back Burlington. Thankfully, though, there’s no cumin here to ruin the party! No rum or tobacco either, so it hasn’t got that warmth or depth, but I still get some similarities. In other ways, I also find similarities to more modern, androgynous scents such as Givenchy’s MMW but with much more substance and detail. As such, I’d imagine this could be good for layering although it’s perfectly good on its own. I must point out though, it doesn’t smell the same as any of the fragrances I’ve referenced, it has similarities in certain notes but each is different in their own way. Having said all that, I really quite like it. It is what it is, so you need to like this genre of fragrance and, of course, put price aside (as with most fragrances of this ilk, it is overpriced). It has a clear quality to it that I’m quite drawn to. At first I couldn’t make up my mind if it was enough as it’s fairly delicate and unassuming in a way. I questioned whether it was lacking but then I concluded that I like the delicateness of it. There’s a slight powdery softness in the background that stops it being abrasive and which moves it in a slightly different direction from some of the other fragrances that I’ve mentioned, although fortunately, this aspect is not overplayed. In fact, I’m not so sure why I like it as much as I do as I’d imagine many will feel it lacks a bit of substance or is too synthetic and whilst I can understand those criticisms, there’s still something about this fragrance that really draws me in. Whilst many won’t like this for the above reasons I mention or its price or because it doesn’t smell ‘niche’ enough, I really like it for what it is. It’s an easy wear that’s also very versatile and the softness works for me. It feels contemporary and sophisticated in an understated way, which is what draws me in and it’s almost watery character is rather quite appealing. I read an interesting article about this fragrance and the use of sustainable ingredients combined with bioscience technologies. Taken in this context, The Hedonist is an interesting and classy addition to modern perfumery. Edit: I’m confused by some reviews stating this is too feminine to be worn by men! I’m sorry, but I don’t get that at all. Although classed as unisex, I see this leaning more towards the masculine end of that spectrum if anything.

The sun is high, casting a brilliant light over the bustling streets of Paris. You’re effortlessly moving through the crowd, your steps slow but purposeful, exuding the quiet confidence of someone who knows they belong in any room. The air is warm but not stifling, and the scent of fresh citrus and jasmine mingles with the hum of the day. You're dressed in a light, crisp Hermès linen shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal the confidence in your style, paired with tailored shorts that are both chic and relaxed. Your Louis Vuitton loafers move with ease over the cobblestones, and the world seems to bend around you, as you walk with the kind of je m'en foutisme that only comes from a life lived without concern for anything but your own pleasure. The fragrance that clings to your skin is The Hedonist by Ex Nihilo—a scent as radiant and sexy as the summer sun itself. It opens with a burst of fresh bergamot and peach, a bright, sparkling citrus that feels like the first sip of champagne—effervescent and playful. The freshness draws you in, light and inviting, like the promise of an afternoon of indulgence. It’s effortlessly sensual, like skin warmed by the sun, a perfect balance of freedom and elegance. As it settles, the fragrance takes on a more seductive quality, as the tuberose adds a creamy floral depth, its intoxicating, almost narcotic allure mingling with the soft warmth of amber and vanilla. This shift brings a touch of something more provocative, a hint of desire buried under the brightness, like the underlying confidence of someone who’s always in control, no matter the situation. It's the scent of someone who flirts with boundaries, not out of need, but out of a sheer love for the game. The Hedonist is the fragrance of those who embrace pleasure without apology. It's light yet undeniably sensual, like the carefree afternoon that stretches into the evening. It’s the embodiment of a day where everything feels possible, and nothing really matters except the present moment. The fragrance lingers, a soft, sexy trail that follows you wherever you go, leaving a whisper of indulgence and freedom long after the sun has set.

I tried Ex Nihilo at their counter for the first time and I fell instantly in love with a few scents: Atlas Fever, Midnight Special and The Hedonist. I struggled there for almost 30 minutes to decide which one to get since their prices are not cheap. Then I did get a full bottle of the Midnight Special because it’s the type of scent that I’m always drawn to but I knew The Hedonist is more suitable for the region climate that I am in (LA where is warm almost all year round and super hot in summer). The SA was really nice enough to give me the samples of all 3 of them when I made the purchase of the Midnight Special so I can try full wears of all of them before I open the bottle so I can return it if I change my mind. I tried and I found out that I miss The Hedonist the most after I used up all 3 samples. I kept thinking about it. Also both Midnight Special and Atlas Fever are really thick and cloying to use in such climate. I own more than too many dark, gourmand, sweet, woody, and oriental scents in my collection that they are being used up so slowly because we don’t get cold often (I naturally love these scents) so I’ve been hunting some summer or spring scents to be added in my collection. I don’t like strong acidity scents so it’s not easy for me to find some summer scents that I like. The citrus in The Hedonist is just the right amount along with the prominent woody (but not dark) in the heart and strong musk in the the base that give a modern sensual feel. I’m also glad that it has tonka bean note in the base that provides some sweetness in the undertone so the whole course of this fragrance is not too masculine. Very nice summer/spring unisex scent that is not too citrusy and last a pretty long time. About 9+ hours on my skin and days on clothes with moderate projection.

Wonderful! I like Tygar but it is very masculine and there's expensive-luxurious business-man feel that's in it (somehow). The Hedonist seems to be as made by Bvlgari and in the Le Gemme line but in a different direction, like a flanker -- or vice versa -- because they are similar in a way. Since The Hedonist is not exuding masculinity, I like it even more. Take the common part of these two: Tygar is like a tangerine version of it (or some other citrus), The Hedonist is like a cedar version and more wearable, less attention-seeking. Cedar is so much stronger that I didn't even note any vetiver at first but it seems to be there, supporting cedar. The Hedonist seems to work on skin much better than on my shirt where it is only a muffled version where the smell doesn't really live and gets lost quickly. I don't like that one component here is called "ginger", both in this one and in Tygar too. I am not really sure what is meant by this. Both of these have something that smells "sparklinkg" or "tingling". Is it this one or something else? Akigalawood? (But that's not mentioned in Tygar...) Anyway, I wouldn't use a perfume that would smell like ginger so this is misleading. So much so that when I was still at the beginning of my interest in perfumes, I left aside any "ginger"-including scent ("Who on earth would anybody like to smell like ginger?"). Only by chance and after a lot of sampling I have found out that what is being described as ginger is actually something very good and also different from the real ginger. So some of those notes are actually just a certain slang used by perfume-interested people.

I (M31) bought a 50ml bottle of The Hedonist yesterday after first sampling it the day before yesterday. It's such a nice freshie, honestly. To give it a comparison with a cheap fragrance, the top notes actually remind me of a less aggressive Turathi Blue (which in turn is supposedly close to Bvlgari Tygar that I can see on the "reminds me of" list) with that citrus zing, but the thing that makes it so much better is the drydown. It becomes a lot more refined and musky but still very light (not light as in not smelling like anything, it's just a... smooth and cozy fragrance) with a hint of woodiness and fresh citrus. This is somewhat of a blue fragrance, but at the same time it doesn't really feel like one. I think it's perfectly unisex, but I still think it might be best as a male fragrance, but it might not be a perfect fit for the the super-masculine machismo guys. I could definitely see women pulling it off though, but it's definitely not a feminine fragrance in my opinion either. I'm wearing it today in pretty cold and overcast weather with some snow still on the ground, not the perfect fit but it absolutely works. Could see this working almost all-year round, but it might be better suited towards spring-summer-autumn. I was specifically looking for a fresh fragrance that wouldn't be TOO blue or too in-your-face, and I think citrus fragrances can be a bit too much, but this is honestly great.