Still

The greatest fragrance of all-time...well, at least in my book. I have never smelled anything as good as Still. It is mind-blowing, exquisite, heavenly and addictive. Still is a divine vanilla scent, supported by beautiful floral and woody elements. Jasmine is the most prominent floral note I detect. The vanilla is warm, rich and natural, and while it is sweet, it never gets cloying. The vanilla is assisted by nutty tonka bean, sweet teakwood and lactonic sandalwood, each adding more depth and character to the scent. Similar to Blue Vanille, this pure perfume sits rather close to skin, but the longevity on skin is excellent. The ideal time to wear Still is during the spring season, but it is versatile enough for all-season wear. I would categorize this as unisex. This discontinued masterpiece is evocative of the extremely high quality I have come to expect from HJ and it currently has the honor of being my all-time favorite scent (and I doubt it will be dethroned anytime soon, if ever).

So far this is my most prized fragrance. The scent is absolutely intoxicating. The opening is very fresh and floral, but deep and complex. The jasmine is beautiful and the teakwood adds woody notes that compliments it so well. The bottom of vanilla and tonkabean is heavenly and will last 12+ hours on skin and weeks on clothes. I tend to only wear on special occasions as I don’t want to run out

A truly outstanding vanilla, like no other. An Abu Dhabi exclusive. It’s up there with the best fragrances I have. A love at first sniff for me. A steep price point for sure, but sheer luxury if you can afford it

Still... this one is something I’ve searched for over the last few months. I finally found a sample of the brumes. I liked it, but didn’t LOVE it. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but Blue Vanille is a much better vanilla fragrance. The good: It’s a pretty fragrance. The opening is pleasantly sweet and citrusy. It’s very nice. I think MOST people would enjoy this fragrance. It is very mass appealing, and I mean that in a good way. The meh: It is low on projection and performance. I don’t expect beast mode from HJ. I have three (Blue Vanille, Xantor and Cuba) and Cuba is the only one that’s a big projector. However, I can definitely smell them quite strongly on my skin and it lasts a long time. Still just sticks way too close to my skin. It is hard to smell. It doesn’t seem to last. Conclusion: I love HJ and I love their style. I expected to be blown away by this. I was looking into acquiring this from Abu Dhabi. But for $1100 + shipping + duties... I cannot justify it. I was very disappointed in this fragrance. It isn’t that it’s bad. It’s not at all. I like it. But it is so laid back with what it does. I put on Nishane Ani to compare. It’s similar, without the performance of Ani. I would love to smell the oil or smell it from something that isn’t a decant. But man, I feel let down! HJ has so many others that are amazing. This isn’t one of them. Buy if you are incredibly wealthy and just want another HJ. Don’t buy if you are expecting a very high performing scent that is unique like other HJ. Buy Blue Vanille or Guerlain Vanille Planifolia.

STILL... Lost For Words! About a year back, arrived 4 recovery-vials (from one who does NOT want to be named). Among them a 2006 Ensar. But more on that some other time. Today I honour my one time nemesis & share my journey into attaining oneness with a regal ingredient, even if on one rare occasion. Vanilla in fragrances, has forever been my stumbling block. As a result, I rarely connect with ambers & gourmands. But with vial No. 3, I just couldn’t stop myself from surrendering to the finesse & prowess within- “What’s in vial 3?” I asked. “STILL” replied the discerning one. “What do you mean? Still what?” I probed. “Ha ha. Still. Just STILL @henryjacquesparfums ” was the immediate response. And for the first time in my curating years, Vanilla wasn’t so plain anymore. Befuddled, I soon procured a minuscule sample of the much raved Blue Vanille, expecting the same intrigue. But Alas! In comparison to ‘STILL,’ it was like staring at a kaleidoscope devoid of colours. In the months of unrelenting persuasion that followed, somewhere along the way I found a life-long friend / mentor, who finally decided to part with the rare artwork. And now I have to go hungry for a month 😂🤪😂 Instagram: @Eclectic.Scents