Hyde

Oh my! I wasn t expecting liking it, buy it seems I alreafy love it. Front the 1st sniff, I had yhe same mouthwatering feeling that I got when sampling Andy Tauer Une rose chyprée: delicious mandarine and lime layered by balsam and vanilla. Later, the smoke comes up very strongly, but I don get any kind of bbq or campfire vibe. Isntead, some incense burning, a herbal and balsamic one, like things we use to burn in santerias. And later, oh gosh, I got what I want where Une rose chyprée could have stopped: this retro balsamic and vanila drydown, lightly poudrée and woody and sexy. I don t get leather, it s more fine balsams ( My vocabulary is poor on that matters). I will definetly buy a full bittle (or even two). This is retro yet modern, strong for a natrual perfume. I understand the hype behins hyde, now. Actually, this is not perfume, but sorcelery in bottle. EDIT (after a bottle bought and some full wearings): So many polarizing reviews here and I understand why. Hyde starts full on birch tar, which why is results of keywords such as bonfire, smoked meat, bacon, sausages, etc. For me, its start is right away mouthwatering citrus, nut it only takes seconds. Right after, this beginning is similar to smoked moose leather: like a First Nation's mocassin smell (sublimely heavy). Then, it starts to get a little powdery, maybe the cassie. A little "feminine", with some associations to make-up smell. To conclude, vanilla, moss and labdanum get louder, and is incredibly rich, smooth and similar to vintage amber. It's quite a hyde as said below. In a Facebook live, Hiram Green said that he conceived Hyde as a perfume to "nightlife, loud music...". I cannot disagree more from the perception that I have: Hyde for me smells nature, and it is almost spiritual. Attention. This is a powerhouse: it lasts more than 15 days on fabric and at least 24 hours on skin (but thankfully after shower you won't smell it no longer). It's not by chance that Hyde is Winner of the Artisan Awards at The Art & Olfaction Awards 2019.

There's absolutely no need to hide Mr Hyde. Thought I might as well start off, on the funny side today. Anyways, my first reaction to this fragrance wasn't anythiing to write home about. I picked up a sample from one of the fancy shops downtown, got home and tried. Needless to say, I had my hopes up high, which sadly ended in some sort of anticlimactic experience. I did find it utterly medicinal and very, very malty. The birch tar was there, but not to the extent that I would have wanted. Disgruntled with the whole experience, and straight it went to some dark corner of one of my cupboards. I did however decide to give it another go, having smelled it on a passer-by in the mall and asked him what he was wearing. Dear oh dear, how wrong I had been, beacause now the fragrance opened up in all its glory. This time around the birch tar was heavier, the malt subdued and there was something utterly warm and cozy about it. It's funny how some fragrances can give you that kind of autumney feeling, sitting on the porch, with that blanket nicely swept around you, the smell of burning leaves, with a warm malty vibe and some heavenly touch of vanila in the dry down. Needless to say, I purchased a full bottle shortly thereafter and it has become one of my most treasured fragrances. Does it perform well? That should be the least of your concern. It stays on my skin for 12+ hours, with an armlengths projection for 5-6 hours before turning to a skin scent. It does have a very good sillage as well, and there is no need for more than three sprays. Besides, my experience tells me, that one of the best ways to go nose blind, is to overspray. Not only is it a waste of perfume, but a waste of money as well, and believe you me since I have learned the hard way. The beastier the fragrance, the less you will need to spray.

While many smoky fragrances aim to illustrate bonfires, campfires, and like, Hyde begins as a haunting charred edifice, post-conflagration, lingering smoke rising from its remains. I imagine that the edifice was built for this very purpose: for immolation of a physical symbol that no longer serves a purpose. Perhaps it could even represent a past self. It does feel monolithic, and that's what I love about it. Hiram, while harnessing the power of birch tar, allowed it to be just a bit more ominous here, and I love Hyde for this reason. His addition of cassie absolute is what really sends me, however. It's one of my absolute favorite floral botanical materials, from Acacia farnesiana, famously used in the sublime Une Fleur de Cassie from Frederic Malle. Unlike its cousin the mimosa (Acacia dealbata), cassie has a dense, cinnamic, clove-like, honeyed, violet-leaf-powder feel, and its underpinned with an undeniable feral pungency. With its inclusion in Hyde, the heart is on the verge of smoky floral, but leans more floral smoke. This lends a bit of levity and allure, keeping Hyde from being a complete tale from the dark side. As it subsides, Hyde recalls aspects of a classic Cuir de Russie at its edges, a milder smoke, a lighter haze. The edifice has transformed into a sweeter memory of the way life used to be, before the fire, and now its remains have imbued everything. A malted resin is the ghost, just a little sticky and ashy, a sweeter sensation, but the tar and the char hold fast from beyond. The acrid blast of its opening, while so pleasurable to my own peculiar nose, may have some wince and be unwilling to stay for its evolution, but there will be surely those who will be in rapture over its evocative, savory and flowery smolder.

Leather metamorphosis. Shapeshifter, skin-walker, changeling. What is happening before my nose...? Bitter, oily, sour, and juicy bergamot burst open but it is an incongruous juxtaposition to the shocking birch tar smoke and immortelle-leaning cassie floral heart engulfing the air around you like a forest fire. The leap from the top to the heart - it doesn’t make sense; it shouldn’t work. Yet somehow for that reason, it does work, like a completely unexpected metamorphosis. Observe from a safe distance. The birch tar smokes like an apocalyptic fire, and the cassie flower brings an oppressive suffocation of the lungs with a heavy, sun scorched, anisic, red earth. Hyde concludes with a melted, smokey, and sticky labdanum and a blackened, unsweetened vanilla - it smells of charred earth and resins, heavy, dense, but also expansive - like standing over a near-black abyss. If it isn’t already obvious from my description, this perfume is big, loud, and incredibly diffusive, so wear it conservatively until you see how it works for you. From a big distance, which is easy for Hyde to achieve, the overall effect is smokey leather just as the brand states. But it’s up close - which it will be for you, the wearer - where you realize this is leather in disguise. There is much more happening behind the leather mask, something of mythical proportions. It took me a while to come to grips with Hyde. At one point it was almost a sure “no” from me, even as someone who has a huge weakness for leather perfumes, but with time and additional wear I became more and more comfortable with this berserker. Not safe, not easy, not comfortable, but very stunning.

Wow - just wow. Even when Hiram Green's fragrances are not quite right for me, I'm blown away by what masterpieces they are. Hyde is a gloriously tarry, birchy, leathery work of genius. Truly a natural perfume, Hyde does not have the lingering smokey aromachemical (I have no idea what it's called) that many other 'smoky' fragrances have at the moment. Instead it has a very pure, birch-driven, smoked but not smoky aroma. It's stunning. Earthy and dry. This is like a campfire and at first you smell the tarry birch and it's quite intense, then slowly it mellows and it's just like a dying campfire in the dark of a mellow summer's evening, you can smell the wild grasses drying around you, you can almost hear them rustling in the slight breeze and smell the faintest hint of clover blossoms in the meadow. This is such an evocative beautiful fragrance. It makes me feel nostalgic not only for things that I remember, but nostalgic for things I have never even experienced. Truly a journey. I started out thinking that this eau de parfum was not for me. Then I thought, but wow, this is stunning. Then I thought how wonderful it would be to be wrapped up in the strong arms of a man wearing this fragrance! But now? You know, I think I actually might like to try to wear it, it's a raw scent and a strong one, it would be incredible on a man, but it has a really strong elegance that I think a woman could own beautifully.

Hiram Green Hyde is my second try from this house (after Slowdive) and a celebrated leather scent, which, upon first spray, absolutely delivers this vision. Much like Slowdive is a dark and spicy (albeit also sweet) honey scent, Hyde is a spicy leather scent with resinous accents and just a touch of sweetness to prevent it from being too sharp. It maintains a bit of a burnt character with birch tar, specifically, and the smoky side of labdanum, I suspect, with just a slight tartness and levity provided via lemon and bergamot. Vanilla being listed as a note is not wholly surprising but Hyde is by no means a sweet fragrance. Instead, it sits spicy without being animalic, peppery, or sharp, always an impressive feat, being spicy but not too spicy. Overall, this is very impressive, with the leather, birch tar, and labdanum telling most of the story, with interesting quirks provided by the other notes, but on the whole, a masterful, rich execution. I just might have to pick up this and Slowdive this year, but I probably will owe both a revisit at some point first. In the US, Hiram Green is priced at $165 for 50ml in EDP concentration, very reasonable in light of its quality and performance (I said the same of Slowdive), and it is sold via several great boutiques: Indigo Perfumery, Tigerlily Perfumery, Luckyscent, and Ave Parfum. 8 out of 10

I'm very impressed by Hiram Green's perfumes. All-natural, but composed with the finesse of haute parfumerie, they are consistently excellent. HG creations tend to be creative and distinctive, even original, but with nods to the classics. All the more impressive, considering Mr Green is self-taught. Hyde is one of the nicest birch tar perfumes I've tried. Compared to the dark, dry Falcon Leather by Matière Première (which I also enjoyed), Hyde is somehow airy and slightly sweet with a lovely amber drydown. Punctuated with florals and vanilla, it is an unusual combination but really works. Birch tar is present from initial spray, bolstered initially by tart, fresh bergamot. While the birch tar is dominant for the most part, floral notes emerge, slightly sweet, polleny and hazy. Again, it serves to complement the bitch tar in a beautiful yet unexpected manner. As it dries down, a rich amber accord develops thanks to the labdanum, a natural progression for the birch tar - sweetened to perfection by smooth vanilla. It becomes earthy and mossy, with a lovely chypre base coming to the fore. Dry, smoky birch tar is still detectable too as it fades. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A wonderfully nuanced birch tar perfume, this is a cold weather scent, perfectly unisex and surprisingly easy to wear despite its artistry. Recommended. 4.5/5.

(FIRE) GONE WITH THE WIND This perfume is very interesting. It is also quite unique. I only remember of a somewhat similar scent coming from another very unusual scent: Black Tar by Parfumerie Particulière. Hyde brings up different images and associations for me: - It smells like the ‘next day’ of charred wood, as if someone had been burning branches and leaves and then putting them out again. - It reminds me of the typical smell of a traditional English gentleman's country club, with old books, leather armchairs, a glass of whisky and a glowing cigar forgotten on a mahogany table, with an almost dying fire burning in the distance under a broken chimney. - It also reminds me of the smell of boiled smoked spicy sausages or "chorizos". I like smoky perfumes, so I like this one a lot too. The perfume starts fresh and slightly citrusy for a brief period. There's also a subtle, warm, dark sweetness right from the start, immediately enveloped by a dark and spicy smoke. I don't notice the listed leather note much. The smoke remains all through the development and is the only accord present in the dry down, although softened by a slight vanilla nuance. This perfume is addictive to me, perhaps because it lulls me. Well... stinging bees are also calmed by smoke. Music: "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple

Hyde takes all the chypres, the fougères, the woods and watches them burn. This perfume is what you'll find three weeks later, the sun out, morning dew, a slight breeze, is that incense or burnt wood in the air? The first plants starting to come back alive and already forming a green haze and some flowers on the forest floor. Looking down you find the charred remains of what was before. I was apprehensive to try it on skin because on paper the fire wouldn't die down. On skin: From the smell of burnt sweet resins in an early morning smoldering campfire it transforms in to 'parfum de bois brûlée'. It's almost gourmand in an abstract kind of way. But you wouldn't chew on charred wood. At the risk of sounding like a pyromaniac; Holy smoke, delicious fire! PS This smells purely vegan, all the animals escaped the fire. PPS To emphasise: I understand the leather main accord, if there's any hint of it in here it's only of the tannins used to process it. Some years later, after getting the third sample and having a lot more experience with it, I have finally grown to love it and have bought the full bottle. The floral aspect of the perfume now seems to stand out more and gives it a layer of sweet complexity that's hard to resist.

An interesting perfume, although it is something that I would not wear, at least, on a regular basis. On the one hand, I find an accord scent, a tough and powerful leather, in the line of perfumes such as dark lord by kilian or the lovers tale by Francesca bianchi. On the other hand, birch tar gives the perfume a very smoky tone that, due to its woody character, sometimes reminds a little of the smell of barbecue coals. In the background a slight balsamic sweetness, but in general a strong and forceful perfume, even a little medicinal. The final mix, with a certain classic character, also reminds me of perfumes like Rook by rook perfumes or Bravo by Ramón Monegal. It feels very natural, as is usual in this brand, although as I say it is not for me. Of course, as a quality and as an olfactory experience it is worth it. It's a monster in terms of duration. Scent: 7.5 Longevity: 10 Sillage: 7 Quality / price: 5 Versatility: 5 Originality: 9 Global: 8

Being an ardent fan of Hiram Green fragrances, I had to try Hyde. What a great name, to begin with! I was hesitant about the birch tar at first, and on the first wearing it did come across as a bit challenging, but any harshness soon smoothed out into a delectable smoky leather. Hyde is akin to curling up in an ample burnished leather armchair by a smoldering fireplace, the atmosphere just touched by dry vanilla and honey. Then several hours in a gorgeous floral bouquet that to me is reminiscent of Moon Bloom rises to the surface, like the dreamy memories of sultry summer nights, touched always by rich leathery smokiness. Hyde steadily grew on me until at the third wearing I thoroughly loved it. I get superb longevity (this is an all natural fragrance!) and robust but not overpowering sillage. It lasts for days on fabric. In my opinion, Hyde is an excellent perfume to try for anyone who admires Hiram Green or smoky leather fragrances.

I tried Hyde in the sample pack from Hiram Green. I love it so much. I'm definitely getting a bottle. Yes, smells like a fire. But I love watching a fireplace or campfire, so it's not a bad thing. I don't get a lot of the indicated top notes, but it's really about what happens next, anyway. It's mesmerizing. So, a fire, then spicy amber, then malty vanilla leather. And I can't stop smelling my wrist the whole time. Easy to imagine wearing in winter or fall. Summer and spring...I'll have to experiment. I can see why it got an award. I can also see why it's polarizing. I'm thrilled it exists. Thank you, Hiram Green! I love your point of view. Updated to add: the more I wear this, the more wearable I realize it is. Amber gourmand, not sure if that's right but I keep thinking it. It performed quite differently on the paper spray vs. my skin, the latter being much more approachable. It's just so gorgeous! My bottle is ordered.

I am too much of a wuss for the first hour of acrid birch tar. However, as always with Hiram Green, incredible drydown. Edit: Subsequent wearings were more pleasant, addictive even. Ignore the challenging opening and let the autumnal, boozy, wood chip warmth surround you. This would make an excellent fall/winter scent for Billy Reid clothing brand. I don’t know why it gives me such a specific image of a chic, modern man of the American South, but it totally does. The late drydown is quite sexy and animalic with the funky warm breath of raw honey/sweet labdanum. I don’t think there is anything out there that smells quite like this rugged take on amber. Big props for originality. Edit2: Okay I’m converted 100%. This is excellent. What more can you ask for than a delicious completely new take on a favorite theme: smokey amber woods? It took a few wears to process and adjust but now I absolutelylove this stuff. 4 out of 5.

A 10/10 birch tar masterpiece, but certainly not for everyone because... birch tar! I'm normally not a big fan of smoky scents myself but Hyde is just so well done & seriously addictive. Not for the faint of heart by any means, but for experienced buyers looking for something adventurous, it's tough to beat, IMO. While some come away from it in shock, it's actually a beautifully balanced & well-rounded fragrance. That's why it's still hovering around a 4.0 even with being a clearly polarizing scent... It's so much better than many people's initial reactions would suggest. Warm & comforting, it's a perfect "scent bubble" scent with excellent performance. Yes it's bold & a bit wild upon application, but such a satisfying ride. I can't promise it will be your new favorite scent, but like Tauer's LADDM, it's really one not to be overlooked. Few scents live up to what Hyde pulls off effortlessly.

Each of the Hiram Green fragrances smell extremely high quality and luxurious and Hyde is no exception. This fragrance is [one of] the most distinctive scents I have ever smelled, which may not make it the most approachable for your every-day consumer. This scent is instantly warm and spicy, with a slightly sticky feeling to it. It's like being a cowboy in the high desert, traveling for days on end, sleeping fireside under the stars with your horse next to you. It is authentically rugged, yet warm and huggable. Of ALL the fragrances I have smelled and sampled on paper, this one lasts the longest and has the most projection! A little goes a very long way however, because when I tried it on my wrist, my skin got a tiny bit of redness/irritation...not to mention that this scent has the MOST projection and longevity of any scent I've ever tried.

What a wonderful fragnance. It starts out with a strong boozy and woody smell. The citrus notes is probably what gives it the "whiskey" smell other people have mentioned. But it quickly develops a strong mossy character. It is really wonderful and long lasting. Don't spray this on white clothing however since it has a slight color. It is masculine and I think the reason people consider it a winter and fall smell is because it has a dark woody character. But it smells great on warm skin. I would be careful with it in an office, because it has a reasonable sillage. I don't smell any notes of leather, but it reminds me of leather. I think 1970 wood veneer and stylish black leather furniture. It is very elegant and I love smelling it on me and on paper.

I didn't know what to think about Hyde when I first smelled it. It seemed like the strong leather scent would never die down on my skin. But when it did, it defied the typical leather drydown dilemma of turning medicinal. A turnoff for many. Hyde accomplished this by adding the note of Birch tar, which transformed the fragrance into an attractive scent of a recently used fireplace filled with smokey resins. Perfect 10 for me. I forgot to mention. Hyde is the perfect dark base for layering. Whether it's a rose, citrus or fruity/floral fragrance, layering Hyde with it, adds the masculine complexity that you didn't know that you were missing.

a brisk chimney fire with dark scents of tar and leather. Then a powdery flower gently emerges from this darkness, and its vegetal, spicy and narcotic facets are soon overtaken by a smooth, balmy, resinous, slightly aromatic, almost medicinal accord. The animal and caramelized notes of vanilla bean and labdanum reinforce the dark side of birch, while cassia flower caresses the skin with its powdery, velvety and fleshy petals, like a moist epidermis. Then the flames die down, leaving only glowing embers mixed with the warm, dry and herbaceous scent of a bouquet of dried flowers with tones of hay, moss and lichen. What a trip !

There is a lot of artistry here. How to define Hyde? Smoky ? Yes, of course, but definitely over the top. The opening is very strange: he reminded me of the aroma one feels when one is about to taste smoked food, perhaps meat, and it is really incisive. These fumes then subside and the scent of dull, burnt wood now comes to mind, which will last for a very long time. I love this kind of fragrances, it's very special to wear, but honestly I would, maybe in late autumn or winter. Absolutely to try before buying, here the line between liking it or not is very thin. "The fire of Rome" painted by Andrea Cefaly.

I love this, but how could I wear this in public? This has more birch tar than I ever deemed possible, so intense as to smell more like barbecue smoke than leather, with spicy acacia, citruses from keeping it too dry, and malt to give it more texture. This is one of the most pleasurable dark perfumes I've ever smelled (along with Yatagan and Salome), and I just love being steeped in the weird funky scent of it. but I just cannot imagine subjecting other people to this incredibly pungent and sinister (if beautiful) smell. This has the perfect name, btw.

Hyde perfume is very soulful and warm. It’s as if the owner of the holiday cottages is showing off his smokehouse with sausages. Then he gathers sausages to fry over an open fire, and everyone goes to the fire. The birch log is smoldering beautifully. When the fire subsides, the aromas of wildflowers, forests, and gardens miraculously emerge through the burnt pieces of wood. This is the most wonderful moment in the development of aroma. Everyone quieted down to feel the beauty of nature - and so on until the very end of the dessert perfume base.

A new release from Hiram Green is always an event for me. Even if I don't truly love one of his fragrances I will become obsess with it. Witchcraft or just great talent I am not sure. Hyde is no different. This is beastly as many have said, a tiny (tiny!) drop from a sample vial kept me company all day and night. Hyde is masculine but not overly so. On me, it's more smoky than leathery, the drydown is all about the dark vanilla with a lemony scent. It is most suitable for freezing weather.

Reviewing a bottle from 2024. Hyde was launched in 2018. Another stunning creation by Hiram Green. Hyde opens with clean dry smoke followed by almost animalic leather. I can't really detect the citrus top notes.The labdanum and oak moss add to the beautiful rich base. There is a touch of sweetness and beeswax. Quality- excellent Unisex- leans slightly masculine Performance- excellent Deep, viscous leathery incense - unique and powerful. 9.5/10 2019 Art and Olfaction award winner.

Yes, smokey,boozy and ambery. Under-lying citrus..smooth campfire vibe....oakmoss too for that added chypre-ish vibe. These notes just all WORK together !!! This IMO is a masterpiece scent. I have just a sample now....but full bottle worthy all the way. ....asap !!! Maybe not for everyone, so get a sample first...just sayin'...;-) EDIT: After further smelling this scent....To me, it is "similar" to Interlude Man, but much more smooth and less pungent.

got this as a sample pack. i fell inlove on first sniff. reminds me of winter. burning birch firewood on the fireplace,as i eat some vanilla flavored cookies. it smells amazing!!! after using up the tester,i finally got a bottle. i totally love this fragrance. very smoky and heart warming. not for the faint hearted. a definite masterpiece. lasts forever yet it's all natural. scent;10/10 longevety; 10/10 sillage; 7/10 overall; 9/10

Brilliant. Smoky, sweet, and warm - this fragrance develops throughout the day to show it's complexity. To me, it opens with a warm tobacco, vanilla, honey, and birch tar with tobacco being the primary. Birch tar slowly takes over along with something animalic. I normally am not drawn to animalic fragrances, but Hyde is intoxicating, intriguing, and seductive and leaves you wanting more.

Leathery, smoky, amber-y. It's just incredibly warm and comfortable. The malt and vanilla bring sweetness to the smoke and birch tar. The dry down is just sublime, so good. Hiram Green is a damned genius! It's dark and mysterious and just effing awesome! Perfectly unisex. Decent longevity for a natural perfume too. Nothing out there is anywhere near this - it's truly unique!

I get why this is not for everyone but I personally love it, it feels like what it smells like you've come home at 5am after spending all night at a bonfire and you take off your leather jacket and find there is an ancient dry hubba bubba pink bubble tape gum in the front pocket. I'm obsessed and if I didn't think my office mates would kill me I would wear it every day.

I doubt that I will say something about this that someone else hasn't already said, but here goes: Smoky. Slightly floral. Slightly green. Resinous. Totally unisex. Mysterious. F***ing sexy. Hiram's bottle presentations are pure class. I also love that Hiram lets his perfumes speak for themselves... Another hit for me by Hiram and one of my top for 2018.

Favourite fragrance I've tried in 2022. //Edit (month later): I just got my bottle and love it. Try it for yourself if you'd like very smoky birch tar note with unique acai fruit and malt twist. It's definitely most artistic scent I got yet I learned to wear it as it should be, therefore it will be in my TOP3 scents for a long, long time.

Holy cow. I've smelt it once in person, but I only had the opportunity to put it on skin right now. What an amazing smell, the complexity of the florals and the birch tar is beyond me. So well balanced. This is tremendously good. It really does have a resemblance to posthume, this cinnamony, play doughy kind of sweetness. So good.

A very photorealistic scent. It transports me back to a childhood holiday in Scotland. My friend's father telling ghost stories by an open fire in an old stone cottage. Campfires in the woods. It also reminds me of Tudor houses. The smell of ancient wood, impregnated with the aroma of open fires, beeswax and incense. Magnificent.

Beautiful leather softened by vanilla and oakmoss.It does have that dark aspects of bbq smell but it’s incredible in on the skin.Lightly Smokey and complex blend.Labdanum and birch tar plays an important role here.Someone who is into artisan perfumery must smell this one time.Its my favorite from the Hiram green.

I fail to see how this is perceived leathery. This is straight up tar and smoke. The closest thing i can associate this with would be burning incense sticks. Also, nothing animalic whatsoever. Meditative and relaxing,a true masterpiece

The smoky birch note reminds me of Le Labo Patchouli 24. However this one is more interesting, less sour but more charcoal-ish. Smells like an old meat smoker 😂 very interesting but may not be suitable for office.

A moldy raw Pu-erh tea cake ~ with a strong burning sensation of birch tar ~ faintly reminiscent of the scent of a freshly bathed dog ~ explosive in both longevity and sillage! Extremely intriguing.

Starts out a massive smokey bonfire fragrance but then sweetens up as it dries down to a lovely, long-lasting labdanum incense fragrance. And it is very honeyed and beeswaxy. Oh, how I love you.

stale dr pepper concentrate (no fizz) flavored wax vampire lips chewed sitting around, and spat into, a campfire... obsessed

Cannot believe that this is all natural fragrance, it lasted 12 hours on my skin😎

Okay so this is my second Hiram Green review having sampled most of the line now and my thoughts are mixed. Not just because of taste or my preferences, but in as objective a sense as I can be. My opinion now that I've dabbled myself in blending perfume (in a cackhanded manner but still) is that there's somewhat of an over reliance on fantastic featured materials and not quite enough innovation for me. I'm also aware how naive this comment is, knowing just how hard it is to create a base that will hold or top notes that will pop through, also why not showcase amazing things??? Like tuberose/ jasmine concretes or honey or Bulgarian rose absolute?? They are wonderful things! So my critique is minimal in light of these facts because the quality is clearly there and plain for all to see, but I like a perfume to be slightly more layered whether in a classical sense or a more challenging one. The main note/accord having many facets is not quite the same. So that being said Hyde was one that I could smell in the bag of samples I got (as it had leaked slightly) and infected he others with a MASSIVE birch tar smoke that is almost visible from space. When applied, and though it is strong sure, it actually becomes a bit of a pussycat on me. The smokiness it's self is raw but has a hay like, cade quality with a massively malty undertone and a spicy aspect which doesn't quite go into that BBQ'd meat smell nor does it go thin & harsher like the direct smoke from a garden fire. This is hefty and rounded but mellows down into a cozy, warm skin smoke and hyper woody effect. The malt in this fragrance is the key underpinning birch tar and when it's appreciated from a distance(not literally), is actually really good and far more wearable to me than many other smoky concoctions. The key difference being many smoky Indy/niche fragrances kinda go for shock and awe and that's exactly what I I had this one pegged as. Like a macho bro off, who can eat the hottest chilli or whatever?? What brand can go the smokiest and most dark. Well instead of starting out massive and progressively just smouldering away (imagery intended) actually starting to grate on your nerves after a short time and persisting for hours. Hyde actually improves over the course of wearing, after arguably one of the more potent openings in this genre it becomes quite subdued and a very pleasant experience. Nothing can touch the colossal Slowdive though and I'm wearing it today just magic. Hyde is good for those who like a malty fragrance as well as a smoky one and that's just something to bear in mind.

I have tried Slowdive (gorgeous deep honey), Moon Bloom (intoxicating beachy tuberose), Dilettante (refreshing orange blossom-tree and all), Shangri La (peachy oakmoss chypre) and now Hyde. The thing is, I bought these samples a few years ago and went through them all within a few months...except for mr Hyde. The smoke scared me off when I lifted the cap, instantly smelling like BBQ smoke. I didn't have the balls to try this so back into the closet it went. I recently found this again and decided to give it a go because something magical happened when this was allowed to age. Now I smell what seems like Slowdive underneath the smoke. There is a warm honey-like smell here now more prominent than it used to be (that might be the acacia). The BBQ smoke lasts for about 15 minutes and then turns into this stunning deep vanilla moss honey on my skin. I think I do smell the malt as well. It lasts a fair amount of time considering this is all natural but sillage is close to skin. If I was to buy one, it would be Slowdive because it is a bit sweeter and easier to wear and there is no initial BBQ smoke to that one but Hyde is really nice. Hyde is Unisex in my opinion (I am female and I can wear sweetest of the sweet perfumes and I still find Hyde wearable). Cold weather perfume, feels like it warms you up. I think these natural perfumes need time to macerate because they smell better and richer with time. If you didn't like this initially like me, put it away for a few months and come back to it. Also, some people are describing a "urine" smell, this can happen with honey notes. I personally dont get that urine note here, thank god!

One day, I was on the hunt for a smoky fragrance. When I smelled Hyde at one of the shops I visited, I thought : ho boy, not sure, this is intense. Weeks later, I got a sample, I don't remember why, that I tried at home a few times and thought, hum... this might be growing on me. I eventually wore it for a night out (it was cooler and rainy) and I kept sniffing my wrist and became obsessed. In its drydown stage, I was picturing a well-worn suede jacket, a bit dusty and dirty maybe. Although it isn't officially an animalic fragrance, it does bring such a note to mind. The opening is supposed to be composed of lemon and bergamot, but I guess the THICK smoke makes them hard to recognize, and I won't complain since fresh citrusy fragrances are not for me. They might lend a certain medecinal touch to the the beginning of the perfume development. The heart clearly has the distinctive birch tar's smell of burned wood, mixed with cassie flower, which is supposed to have a green aspect. I certainly get a bitter note that I associate with something green. This twist keeps Hyde to smell of BBQ, which is often the case with many smoky fragrances. The dry down is all leather with a mysterious spiciness and a "malt vanilla" note. This is obviously not the usual gourmand vanilla that is a big no no for me. It is way more complex and dark. I guess this "vanilla" is what gives Hyde its roundness and depth. I love it, but I have to be in the mood for it—and the temperature has to be right. I also never spray it in my neck, as this would be overwhelming. I prefer to spray it on my wrist and get its waft from time to time.

oh my oh my .. what is this . Autumn in a bottle , This is the bonfires ,the crisp air. the burning of leaves and old woods lingering in the air sweeping by you when your out for a walk on the countryside . Blended with hay from the fields and maybe also someone having a bbq in the distanse . Very lovely but not easy to wear . initialy when i smelled it of the bottlesample i thought of Jeke . and i my heart skipped a beat. I love Jeke . This has some similaritys but not the same . smokeynes and warmth inncomen but different notes . i could have sayed its closer to Norne with the smokey note but its not IMO. this also invoked a memory of childhood christmases . burning woods and incense . im thinking of the German christmas incense cones we got for christmas from some german friends at times . Always abit much , but also intriguing and lovely. this one stirs up memorys and makes me feel calm and full of reminiscence of times gone by. It has a feeling of old times for sure . like looking back into the old days and styles of living. (Does not feel modern ) Thats not a bad thing just an observation. the Birch tar is the one that sticks out the most here , i cant find much citrus , some accasia ,slight hint of malt labdanum and vanilla. Truly a smokey scent for the ones that search of this kind of scents for that Autumn feel . i would say its unisex leaning masculine . A bit rugged and robust ,but very warm and comforting at the same time . a strange but beautiful creature

I liked this, but it's quite a big fragrance. Not as big as I thought based on some reviews I'd seen, but certainly more on the intense side. It's a lovely, smokey, leathery, mildly foresty fragrance (not piney, but certainly theres some mossiness and a touch of humid greenness). I'd say it leans more masculine but remains an adventurous unisex scent. There is something in it that tames it a bit and brings it back to the realm of a cologne and away from something in the vein of Pineward Perfumes. I can't pinpoint what, but perhaps some combination of the citrus and vanilla, maybe a bit the oakmoss. There's certainly a boozy sweetness you get from the vanilla/malt combo. The tar gives a lovely smokey/leathery quality that is smooth, warm, and comforting. It definitely gives the feeling of being near a fireplace (not that it smells like Margiela's, it doesn't), in that it brings to mind sitting in a leather chair near a hearth with some whiskey nearby. Overall, I quite liked this. I'm very interested to see how this one ages. I had purchased a round of smokey fragrance samples, and ended up going with Naomi Goodsir's Bois D'Ascese (I wanted more intensity, something closer to fire), but I would certainly like to revisit this down the line, or perhaps upgrade my husband's By The Fireplace. Certainly worth sampling, if you like this sort of fragrance.

I find this so interesting and evocative. Initially I'm in a meditation Yurt....clouds of nag champa competing to cover the smokey stove smell...loads of drums, hand crafted furniture and sheepskins everywhere. Then I find myself recalling the smells of my Dads beeshed. My Dad was a beefarmer and the smell of beekeeping was ever present in my childhood. I'm not thinking of pristine floral honey smells. More like a thick concoction of slightly unsettling smells found in the beeshed. Forbidding stacks of wooden hives. Unruly piles of used frames for cleaning. A shelf of ambiguous lumps of semi processed dark wax. A collection of hive smokers. Blonde leather gauntlets tacky with propolis. That gross bucket of what's left over after honey extraction. An underlying touch of bee excrement even. And then I'm back in the meditation space. I don't think I could wear this, but what a ride! its so interesting to smell. I would reallyappreciate this on someone else though. Dark, intriguing, natural and classy.

Besides calone, birch tar / cade is probably the note I find most consistently off-putting. The smoky, burnt wood and barbecue tones are often overbearing in a fragrance - too reminiscent of meat and campgrounds. Hyde does something rather brilliant, mixing the unavoidable smoke with vanilla and resin, like someone threw a mythical chunk of amber into the campfire. It warms up the birch tar and creates something compelling and endlessly sniffable. However, while I admire this perfume, it clarifies just what I dislike about birch tar. This smells like an intriguing environment - like you’re in the kitchen baking cookies while the neighbours are burning leaves. It doesn’t smell like ... a person. I’d like to be in this space - I’d love this as a candle - but smelling it on someone wouldn’t make me want to be closer to them. But hey, it’s perfect for those times when you just want to be a bit of an antisocial bakery fire.

This is an odd one. Have kind of mixed feelings about it. First, when it's sprayed on it's HUGE. And the sillage isn't the most pleasant.... there's some sweet-powdery, old-lady notes in there. BUT... once it calms down, those notes go away, and it's a whole other matter. Yeah, there's that birch tar. Not as ba-boom as T-Rex, but for sure that's the most forward note for awhile. Then it settles into something dark and smooth after a bit. Have to get close to really pick up on it at that point. There's a little something citrusy - bergamot, I guess. It's... nice. But I've found after wearing it on and off for a month it's less and less interesting to me. Having a bit of buyer's remorse after taking the plunge on a whole bottle. It's one I'll wear but not terribly often, would be great if it was also available in a 10 or 15ml size or something. (Though I could say that about every scent, I suppose)

this opens with purely birch tar. it's extremely smoky and smells like burning wood and rubber. after a few minutes, i get some malt and citruses. this is one that smells much better from afar than from close up. after some time has passed, wafting it smells kind of magical, the birch tar is toned down and mixed with that malt note and acacia. it smells like a field of _i'm not sure what_ but it smells like dried plants and air with a not too distant fire burning. the aspect of the air or wind is the most intriguing part to me at this point. i let this sit on my skin for maybe an hour and it changes a lot. at this point its like a dusty burning bowl of flowers...in the best way? i don't know how else to describe it but it gets this floral nuance with a bit of sweetness that really adds something wonderful here. overall, it's not too wearable for me but a really interesting experience.

Burning woods! a Bonfire! A beginning of a mysterious land where the bonfire is the main shelter! and i mean "Dark Souls" game, original part 1 and not the remastered version. The lightened birch tar is conquering the scene with bits of galbanum, & labdanum. As it calms down it turns a bit like a BBq kind of incense which is kind of similar and tiny bit like "Interlude Man" by Amouage AND the medicinal vibes of Tubereuse Criminelle"" by Serge Lutens A really amusing Bonfire! and sometimes i believe i do sense fireworks! a splashing fireworks which makes it expressingly amusing. It strangely has Hiram's vibes! and maybe it's like a vintage barbershop which as well reminds me of "Burning Barbershop" by D.S. & Durga blend as i think the cooldown gives a similar vibe to Durga's! Very interesting. Be aware, on the plotter it stained and i believe it will stain on light color cloths.

Unholy smokes! this is one of the few beasts where I have to keep the tester sealed inside a zip bag. Super strong. I haven't dared yet to try it on my skin, but all I smell wafting around is wood fire and hints of black tea. Oh and barbecue sauce. This sure makes a statement, whether that's good or bad, I'm not too sure yet! Update: I tried this on skin - only a few smears from the tester vial. Hyde is not as unwearable as I initially thought. In fact, it's quite delightful - and this is coming from someone who usually avoids smoky compositions. The smokiness becomes a lot more ash-like after 20 minutes and resins start to smoulder, bringing with them a light, fantastically balanced sweetness. Another triumph for natural perfumery. Next step - increase dosage with caution! Haha.