Homme for the Holidays

Happyland Studio Fragrance Homme for the Holidays is a late fall 2019 release with a spot-on name, from this house run by perfumer/owner E.J. Wells. Its blend of coffee, pumpkin spice, amber, maple, and musk. It has some bold bitterness due to the dark coffee but is mostly a semi-bitter/semi-sweet, spicy blend that feels apropos for the holidays in the northern hemisphere as the weather cools down. It’s splendid and slightly off the beaten path while feeling warm and comforting, really a good cross between boundary-pushing and comfortable. I’ve analogized it to the earlier release Cuir Café quite a bit, because two two feel reasonably similar—say, 50%--on my skin. Whereas Cuir Café is, as expected, dominated by leather and coffee, Homme for the Holidays is coffee-intensive but mixed with nuts, spices, and other accords that make it more gourmand-leaning and sweet rather than biting and leathery. When I first tried Homme for the Holidays, it immediately occurred to me that it was a Cuir Café-type variant that was more up my alley than Cuir Café itself. Like most perfumes in the line, Homme for the Holidays performs very well on my skin, projecting strongly for a number of hours after application. Priced at $50 for 50ml and $35 for 30ml, Homme for the Holidays, like the entire Happyland line, is modestly priced and an extremely good deal, given the performance and overall quality, particularly in the current marketplace. There are also discounts to be had, sometimes, that render the pricing even more reasonable. I like the 30ml size for handling and being travel-friendly but the 50ml size is an even better deal. I’m a huge fan of Homme of the Holidays and am glad to have it in my collection. I’d recommend trying it out. 8 out of 10

A must have coffee scent. I am on the quest for a scent that is the perfect fit for me and decided to try this one. I got it in 50 ML size for Christmas and it is amazing. It is a great darker scent. Instead of waffles i get more of a walnut top in the opening with a hint of dark roast gourmet coffee that eventually becomes the front of the scent in the mid, then towards the end of the dry down it all comes together into a nice creamy skin scent. It performs great, the scent is unique and amazing, the only downside i would say is that i would STRONGLY suggest using this only in the winter, fall and cold nights. I can't see myself wearing this in hot weather. Overall a solid 8.5 only because you have to like coffee to really understand it and it cannot perform for a part of the year. E.J does some amazing work, regardless of taste i think Happyland has a fragrance for everyone.

Addicting, can’t stop smelling myself. Coffee lovers rejoice! This thing is spectacular, love at first sniff. Photo realistic coffee note, followed by a sweet, fruity, and spicy mix of cardamom, pumpkin, and maple syrup. Though I will say the maple syrup isn’t very potent (which is good imo). Smelling my hand directly to my nose it’s 90% coffee but walking around and letting it fill the air around you. The scent bubble gives off fresh fruit, citrus, coffee vibes. I hate comparing it to stuff because this is a truly unique fragrance but right now at this moment in time, the sweetness reminds me of the plum note in lattafa vintage radio/ initio paragon. This thing truly transforms, one second it’s coffee, the next sweet and fruity then out of nowhere it turns into the cleanest powdery scent. Put some respect on Toledo, Ohio and Happyland.

Well, I'm a utuber. I was hanging out with my friend Ashton of Gents Scents in the hotel lobby, and we were just smelling fragrances. I took this one out of my luggage, and asked Ash to smell this. His eyes opened, and he said "WOW!" He sniffed his arm for 2 minutes straight, and said this is really great stuff. As I continued to speak with him he continued to keep his wrist up to his nose, and said "this is really excellent stuff". Gents Scents has many vids in cue, and he said he hasn't filmed this one yet, but I hope he tells this story. Monster projection and longevity. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

gourmand with coffee and lots of maple syrup, a pinch of nutmeg and some sweet pumpkin, plus a little cardamon; less Christmas and more Halloween other than the coffee note that throws it into something different but still autumn not winter; as it dries down in the middle it gets a bit more nutty and pumpkin with less coffee and less sweet like pure pumpkin, nutmeg and wood then the maple surrounds it with light coffee, tons of maple syrup, a hint of nutmeg and lots of pumpkin; loving this; in the final drydown it reads almost like a maple pumpkin salted caramel, fantastic

If you love coffee and relaxing great complementary scents, this is a must have! I get coffee from the beginning and all the way through. The other notes are minor players, and blend so well I can’t really pick them out in the first 90 minutes. Maybe I can detect a little of the pumpkin in the late middle. I agree with @gtabasso about the coffee scent getting dialed back and maple + pumpkin increase as time goes on. Not really sure why “Holiday” is in the name, as I’m not picking up Christmas spices. But, I really enjoy this nonetheless.

Whoa. As spectacular as Cuir Cafe, but this cafe is also in a warm homey bakery- serving cookies, eggnog, and lattes. I don't get pumpkin- bummer but I love the spices! Cardamom is my latest obsession. CC combines my fave notes and goes from expresso/heavy metal leather to latte/suede-- it's hard to beat, and remains my fave from this house. But if you love that one and you have a sweet tooth/nose-- get this now. Despite Homme in the name, this is so very unisex.

One of the best from Happyland. Warm, inviting...reminds me of Home for the Holidays Yankee Candle. Pretty well blended and not a distinct note can be identified in the beginning. As it dries down, it does bring forth more of the coffee note. Longevity and projection above average. Easily unisex. As always, get a sample before bottle purchase. Saying that, this is as close as it comes for me to recommend a blind buy if the notes resonate with you.

EJ is well and kicking butt again. I finally pulled the trigger on this scent and I am sorry I waited as long as I did! It smells exquisite. As if you just walked into one of those delectable coffee shops that has an equally tantalizing bakery inside. It smells very well-blended and projects quality throughout the wearing. I couldn't wait for cooler weather, I just blasted this thing with the a/c on. It's so yummy.

This scent is great, but I slightly prefer the Homme for the Holidays Decaf Edition. I don't see it listed on fragrantica.

A great coffee forward scent that has a powdery dry down. Make you want to cuddle up in a blanket and drink a cup of coffee with loved ones. This is what you wear on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Blended to perfection by EJ and smells incredibly realistic and natural. One of my favorite gourmands I have ever smelled. This will last all day and more (12+ hours) and will go perfectly with a flannel and jeans. Get your nose on this and get a sample or bottle for the upcoming holidays, you won't regret it! The sillage of this reminds me of MMM By the Fireplace. Overall - 8.5/10

Dark roasted coffee with a number of spices that lasts all day. 12+ hours of longevity but you have to be a coffee lover as the drydown is primarily dark roasted coffee. Not as sweet as you would think just by looking at the notes but a winner for sure. I find it strange for a new perfumer to have 2 scents that have a dominant coffee note, this and Cuir Cafe but both do stand there own ground.

Nice scent. Monster Atomizer. Sprays out with a Vengeance.

A poor, lonely old man strolls into his favorite diner on an unusually mild Christmas morning. He orders a most delicious egg, spicy sausage, and cheese sandwich to soothe his wasting soul. The containing sweet roll is overtoasted, but that's just how he likes it. He lightly dips it in a pool of syrup on his plate. In the absence of any other source of happiness in his slowly decaying life, at least he has the steaming deliciousness of breakfast in his mouth right now. He orders a coffee. The waitress grabs her ancient BUNN decanter with stained orange handle and saunters over. She trips, the coffee pot flies. A plate full of bold dark roast YUBAN. A soggy sandwich soaked in bold dark roast YUBAN. A mouth full of steaming breakfast deliciousness and bold dark roast YUBAN. The man closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and takes another bite as he luxuriates in the mixture of savory tastes and aromas. Strong projection for 2-3hr, longevity 10-12hr. A breakfast syrup, strong dark coffee scent with a dash of holiday spices. I'm not sure what a cheap diner breakfast has to do with Christmas, but as a coffee hater this is way too bitter for me. It does become somewhat more palatable as it dries down and the coffee fades, however. The Decaf Edition, which Fragrantica doesn't have a separate page for, is a more complex and interesting scent whether you like coffee or not. It replaces about 80% of the coffee with more amber and a complex array of creamy caramel, rose, plus additional spices (especially cinnamon). It's no longer a lonely old man's unfortunate breakfast mishap, it's Aunt Thelma sipping her hot cup of joe as she smothers her cigarette butt into her dessert plate after the family Christmas feast. Moderate projection for 2-3hr, longevity 8-10hr.

Think. Sip of Hazelnut-flavored coffee washing down a big Maple syrup-drenched pancake bite. This is what I visualize upon initial spray. It's a big in your face blast of coffee and maple syrup with a slight hint of nutmeg, albeit not very noticeable, but gives the fragrance a spicier tinge strearing it away from being overly sweet. This specific concoction takes the fragrance more on the creative side and less off the beaten path of the "chocolate, caramel, almond, biscuit, etc" gourmands that you usually come across in fragrances. A lot of people love it, but its more of a like for me. I find the coffee and maple too strong for my liking. Tho, If you are a die hard fan of gourmands I recommend giving this a try. Overall: 7/10

Perfect autumn scent especially for those cooler October days when the colors of foliage ignites the senses. However, it looks like Covid had an impact on EJ's fragrance business because he's been out of stock on everything for weeks. It sucks seeing so many small businesses getting killed right now to no fault of their own. #SmallBusinessesMatter Update: It appears Happyland is open again for business.

Can definitely see this as a holiday favorite. Opening is maple syrup nutmeg caramel and strong coffee sent In the dry down the coffee sent becomes the predominant note but it is more of a burnt smell not that of a sweeter bean aroma. It pretty much dominates through out the duration of the sent. You really need to enjoy a coffee based accord to appreciate this one. Longevity and silage are great.

What in the world is this? 😂🤢 I respect everything that happyland is doing for sure but what in the entire flip is this. Legit, butter and popcorn kernal coffee. If you want to walk around smelling like a cup of coffee, This is it. Also This is for grandpas only. Im talking bill cosby and older.

If you want to keep people 6 feet from you this would be the one. The coffee note is so overwhelming that I literally had people feel nauseous.

I agree with @Shanetlanders, the Decaf edition needs to be updated on Fragrantica. We've lost EJ but his creations will live on.