Cola

Hendley Perfumes Cola was part of the 2020 Laboratory Series but was recently given a wider release, with spray samples sold. It’s highly resinous, sweet, and spicy, and is certainly reminiscent of a cola beverage like Coca Cola or Pepsi while also hinting at Tom Ford Amber Absolute, interestingly, while not being quite as dark or smoky/incense-leaning. Cola instead rather effectively blends the slightly bit of orange with cinnamon, nutmeg, various resins (opoponax, styrax, tolu balsam, labdanum), with vanilla, tonka, and musk to sweeten and provide a warm, comforting, smooth landing spot. It does not evolve significantly on my skin, but more often than not, I find that to be a good thing, particularly when a fragrance has a lovely opening, and the opening in Cola shows its many facets promptly and in my case is fairly convincing from the onset, as I love both resinous fragrances and cola beverages. Like most offerings from Hendley Perfumes, of whom the owner/perfumer is Hans Hendley, Cola is extrait concentration and performs quite well. Unlike most, though, Cola seems to be sold exclusively through the Hendley Perfumes website, with slightly higher-than-usual pricing of $200/125/35 for 50/30/7.5ml, but that fits the exclusivity and limited run, no doubt due to limited supplies. Overall, I’m really impressed, as Cola fits my personal tastes, performs well, and executes on the concept very effectively, and certainly I’d recommend that fans of resinous fragrances specifically seek out a sample. 8 out of 10

A beautiful, harmonic balance between the spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) and the resins -- it is all in perfect balance -- it just sits perfectly in that 'just right' zone. Completely realised, nothing missing and a pleasure to sniff.

It doesn't smell like Cola if I smell in on a paper strip, but when I wear it I definitely get a Cola vibe. Not a cheap synthetic, but rather deep, rich resinous. It is gorgeous!

This isn't a literal cola in the least (which is great news to me). Its a soft mix of spices and resins that has a fizzy and sweetly powdery effect on skin. There are very subtly nutty and coffee-like qualities that are complex and shift ever so slightly throughout the wear, a bit like a cardamom coffee or cinnamon latte but far from a too-literal gourmand. Blend is super smooth--I personally don't get clove but I get why others do. Clove has a more cold eugenol smell on my skin whereas Cola is all about cinnamon and nutmeg, and the latter is what I get. Quite enjoying this one so far.

Cola by Handley is not smell of Coca Cola. What Cola is, is warm, slightly sweet mix of spices. Closest thing it reminds me of is smell of Karak tea on the bed of Interlude man. It is not a copy of Interlude, not mega strong, no, its not a clone either. Main players are Cinnamon, Orange and Tolu. There is Labdanum giving it some darkness and i really want to say orris, turning this composition into a balmy type of scent rather than dry dust as Ambre Loup is to my nose. I say its very well made perfume, arabic direction, at first i even wanted to draw parallels to Overtures spicy opening. Longevity is good and projection is footlong.