Se7en

Happyland Se7en is my favorite release from this Ohio-based indie house that launched last year with a robust and growing catalogue of primarily original creations by perfumer/owner E.J. Wells, who described the concept behind Se7en as a mix between a fougere and amber. First off, I love the name, an homage to the 1995 Fincher film starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt—one of my favorites. Regarding the fragrance itself, I positively love the execution on this vision, as it does smell like a classic late 20th century male-targeted fougere with more modern resinous touches. It was a “love at first sniff” but my numerous wearings of it since have confirmed its utility and quality. It’s rich and dense without ever feeling like too much. It has lasting projection and overall superb longevity (easily 12+ hours), a testament to the extrait concentration that is common to all Happyland releases to date. It’s both highly versatile yet rather interesting every time I wear it. For more detail, its note breakdown consists of citrus notes, mandarin rind, neroli, jasmine, rose, pink pepper, amber, musk, and benzoin. So it has fresh touches of citruses and neroli, with spices, resins, and the versatile floral jasmine. The result is something mixed, fougere-like but without the characteristic lavender or oakmoss, though with the jasmine and pink pepper, I frankly get a lavender-like vibe from it, something fresh and sharp but not overdone. It’s fresh, spicy, slightly creamy, and very well-balanced, overall. Se7en’s pricing is $50 for 50ml, $35 for 30ml, often with discounts, and my opinion is that this is superb deal, particular in today’s market, where niche and independent perfumes are rarely in the vicinity of $1/ml price range. Overall, it’s nearly perfect, a brilliant balance of different elements that yields a fragrance that’s rich and classy yet fun and very useful. And it performs very well and is unusually reasonably priced. I’d highly recommend trying out Se7en if you’ve not tried it out already. I regard it as masculine-leaning by traditional standards but, like all perfumes, unisex to the point that anyone can enjoy it. 9 out of 10

SE7EN is as unique as the name and probably will take you on 7 different journeys. It always has a citrus, floral, and amber feel but depending on the opening, mid, and drydown stages you get a different animal. Always being fresh and uplifting, and depending on body heat as well. Sometimes more citrusy, sometimes a tad more floral, sometimes more amber and other times some woods come forth. Unisex but leans masculine a very small touch. This doesn't smell like anything else and was my favorite of the first 6 bottles, but Plum Loco has taken the lead. SE7EN to me is perfectly imperfect if that makes sense. It's not trying to be better than the rest, but effortlessly it is better and on it's own terms. No matter who wears this Juice, they will feel uplifted with a sense of class and sophistication. But don't let that fool you, this can totally be a casual cat too! SE7EN is a mystery that keeps the wearer enjoying every hour of new developments as time progresses. One minute bright, the next soft, and then a tad woody and dark and so on. Not the most Beastly performance from the house, but no slouch either. 8 hours of enjoyment easy! A 10/10 Hands Down Banger! Be Different!

Spicy floral amber; a powdery sweet benzoin tinged with rose and creamy white florals. The warm amber base is lightly counterbalanced by the fresh citrus and heavy pink pepper, which lend a gentle effervescent pop to the scent profile. While the rose is the heart of this fragrance, it's a rather modest and airy one. Nuclear projection for the first couple hours fading over 5-6hr, longevity 10-12hr. Beautiful, gorgeous, cozy spiced rose. The heavy pink pepper and resins give off an almost clove or carnation-like presence, somewhat akin to a rosy version of Xerjoff 1888?

My first blind buy and it didn’t disappoint. I live in the UK so it cost me a little extra for postage. If you live stateside you have to buy this. This is a niche sweet and spicy quality fragrance for not a niche price. It’s good for all seasons except summer I think. You can wear it for any occasion too. Go buy it and you can thank me later.

This is a near perfect fragrance. A little sweet, ambery, spicy, floral, citrusy. This also has a soft cola vibe in the opeining. I think it is ambers mixed with orange type citrus. I have 2 bottles. One older 30 ml I bought on release day and a backup 50 ml as soon as I realized I was definitely going to need it!.

I was surprised that my rabbit hole journey into samples from Happyland led me to this scent as the one I reach for most. Very satisfying journey and a calming musk drydown.

Untamed Coromandel - Coromandel has uplifting effervescence whereas this has a denser fuzz. Absolutely gorgeous.

To me, this suggests an updated, modern take on several classic mid-20th century men's scents. Think of Habit Rouge and no. 89, but give them a little more edge, a little less stuffy floral-ness, and make them completely amber-y beast mode. Seriously, two sprays of this will choke out a room. Anyway, this isn't really a profile enjoyed by the public these days (alas!), but aficionados and classicists alike will definitely appreciate it.

very bitter and herbal though sweet with oakmoss, bitter orange, pepper, patchouli, amber that rounds out as it dries with the base having a menthol/minty aspect with a hint of rose and incense; complex as all of his frags are and very unique on its journey; the final drydown has this almost tobacco cannibis note, so interesting

So far, I enjoy a few of HL fragrances...this one not so much. Upon opening, I get citrusy rose. The dry down burns off any citrus to expose the rose even more along with bringing forth a spiciness. For me, the spicy rose is what one needs to enjoy to get down with this fragrance. I personally really enjoy amber...but I don’t really get that here. Longevity is good...projection is average. Not saying HP was trying to clone it, but when I saw the listed notes, I was getting ready to smell something close to Chanel’s Coromandel (one of my personal favorites). However, this smells nothing like it. So I was a bit disappointed. I personally find that this one leans a bit to floral for my taste. I find it leans feminine. I always recommend getting a sample to get your own opinion. As for me, it’s a pass. Gave the sample to my wife.

In a bundle I received a few of Happyland Studio’s fragrances and they have proven to be an awesome addition to my collection, all offering something different and unique but overall very well done. They grew on me immensely and are designed uniquely. I find them to be very unisex in the Seven, Wunderland, and Diabolique. The El Goodo does lean more masculine but overall the scents are beautiful, my fiancé smelled Seven off the atomizer and didn’t much like it, but later admitted it smelled nice and completely different on skin. Not even recognizable and the chocolate notes hit immediately when wearing it. It’s incredible and a little spicy, the rose comes out unmistakably after about 20-30 minutes along with the incense bolstering. Light powderiness with a sweet smokiness. If that’s your thing it’s executed really nicely remaining on the darker side but sweeter side too from the vanilla and benzoin, lending warmth but not at all too heavy. Well balanced with a comforting little scent bubble it surrounds you in. This could be great for relaxing at home or going out on a date, even formal events, and it actually comes across quite versatile especially if sprayed lightly for certain environments/occasions. The other HLs I have deserve reviews and will receive them in due time.

I tried a sample and after a few times decided to take the plunge...glad I did. Happyland Studios has made a name for itself with “out of the box” fragrances and gourmands. This one is no less non-mainstream, but infinitely more wearable with less controversy for the masses. Having said all that, the opening is both fizzy and creamy. The middle notes are floral with a peppery bite that lingers into the spicy dry down. The pepper in this is better used than in Eros Flame, which it shares some notes. At full dry down, the musk is very subtle and understated. I get the vanilla/amber thing with a noticeable touch of incense at the end...gives you the spiciness and just a pinch of sweet. Very masculine. As with most of E.J.’s creations, potent stuff that lasts. It can be worn for most occasions including office, casual, formal, dates and day or night. If you like Layton by Parfums de Marley, it’s in that same vein minus the intense sweetness. Really well-balanced and perfect for fall and winter! Scent 8.5 Performance 8.5 Longevity. 8.5 Sillage. 8.5 Value. 8.5

Rose, amber, hearty moss and mild spices. Delightful and resinous. Artisan scent profile. Very niche. Very well done. All purpose but more playful than serious. A pleasure to smell. A crowd pleaser without being a designer.

under rated gem right here. It is a sneaky room filler. Wearing it you can quickly become nose blind to it, but it projects hard. Lasts an entire work day.