She

The past springs alive around me in a visceral, rather than nostalgic, sense. From the descriptions of 1970s lemongrass and citrus notes that don’t turn with age, I expected refreshing cologne, but I should know House of Matriarch always surprises. I spray on she and there’s Patti Hansen, Rene Russo, Tiegs, Hutton, fearless for the lens of Helmut Newton, ‘70s models glossy and copper toned, draped in dusky magenta, saturated with ochre and auburn. Coffee grounds left to dry in the dregs of a French press and soiled underwear. In the drydown the lemons fluctuate betwixt shimmery and mineral, like they’re somehow metamorphosizing into citrine - perhaps the vanilla sugar? - or viscous honey in a jar. After wearing she the first time, and ending up completely nonplussed, head-achingly so, I found I was having vivid flashbacks of the perfume, visitations, and I’ve kept putting this on for that sensual clarity for the brain, like dropping the needle on Joni’s ‘Court and Spark’ or Carly’s ‘Hotcakes’ just to reenter the time portal. I was skeptical but converted and claims of lemongrass’ and oud’s mild narcotic psychoactive properties may all be true.

I get an overall lemony white chocolate fragrance. Christi is at her best imo when she combines accords that evoke both flavor and aroma. This is deliciously balanced between floral, warm milky/smoky, musky, and woody accords. Savory, sweet, and aromatic at the same time. This has a citrus aroma (more towards the beginning and gently fading out) but it 'tastes' more like a white chocolate chai. So perfect for fall/winter!

She is one of a kind, a citrusy oud, a smokey lemongrass, lovely all the way. She is an invitation to rediscover perfumery as an art. For me, She appears as an ode to femininity, to nature and its healing power, both on body and soul. She blooms with passion and creativity; a powerful yet delicate caress; a dancing muse on our skin. She plays, she dances, she lives and embraces us with her unique beauty.

I hope they bring this one back. One of my Favorite HOM fragrances. A beautiful lemon incense with amber undertones. Beautifully blended. My favorite summer signature scent. I am constantly looking for good dupes for this if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

this is interesting, i've never smelled anything quite like it. it starts with lemongrass and a lot of smokiness. shortly thereafter i get something that reminds me of burnt sugar which is likely the beeswax (along with the smoke.) it adds a caramelly note. after another 10-15 minutes, more woods come out, balancing out the smoke and citrus. at this point i like it a lot, particularly the smoky beeswax element. it dries down to a smoky wood scent with hints of beeswax, tonka and lemon blossom. very pretty!

A quince rises above, sheltering me alongside groves of cedar, pine, willow, and walnut trees. A pool of water lies gently moving from an upward stream where water cress grows. “Skeeters” glide across the surface as I fish for the little minnows with a short stick, painted from natural rocks, a fish-line gifted from my father and bits of bread from my mother. Lemon Balm known also as Sweet Melissa grows among the mint along the creek. The minty cool water, mineral-damp earth, lemony-herbal essence of melissa, shelter of trees, and tickles of rock-coolness mingle with occasional whispers of horehound, broom, verbena, sage, and mountain misery that sweep down the steep hill into the shade. It is early summer, an Age of Gold, and I am a child; it is long before a fire that will sweep the heart of my homeland in the Sierra Nevada. I leave my imaginary life among the Miwuks, who lived right here, on this creek, their grinding rocks and burial ground around me, and climb my way back to my house, where my mother stands in front of the window over the kitchen skin, jars of fruit, steam rising up around her in the early summer, a sweet-wood, gentle fruited aspect in the air, homemade bread, the comfort of light, of soothing, of safety. I have several HOM perfumes, and I wear them occasionally, as they are quite herbal and different. When I saw a “pre-order” for “She”—I bought blind because the notes Meshell listed were scents of my childhood. I could smell it from afar. I could smell my home. And I was not disappointed! This emerges exactly as it was in my mind’s eye. For summer, some of us switch it up to lighter colognes, citrus essences. This is no D&G Light Blue or Aqua Allegoria or even some of the Mediterranean colognes inspired by European houses or 4711—there is something distinctly American, and I would add, Pacific West/Northwest about this perfume. It is lemony and herbal, but not like “lemons” and typical citrus, and thus has a dark cool quality that turns its face from sunny Amalfi coastlines and more towards the blue-grey complexity of the Pacific. It entirely captures aspects of Thai Lemongrass with Sweet Melissa, Lemon Verbena—and so it has a "lemon-esque" quality with an herbal and wood heart zone. Lovely beeswax adds a gentle sweetness; for those “honey phobes”—this is a very slight honey-wax, lightly perceptible accord commingled with creamy lactones. Just beautiful—and very wearable. The dry down grows sweeter, still with the balm and verbena and tolu ever-present, copal and guaiac more predominant however, creating a lemon grass-herbal-sweet, woodsy essence in total. It’s both uplifting and calming, interesting, soothing, mysterious yet familiar. One of the best from this house—highly recommend! If one is seeking a “Summer ‘Citrus’ with A Twist of Difference”—this is it. However, because of its warmth, it’s easily a year-round wear. Sidebar: While it’s “She” and does skew feminine, I think guys out there would be gorgeous smelling in this as well. So it’s a “unisex” She for me. Silage is moderate and longevity quite good, even as it becomes a skin scent.

I just ordered 50ml, using the 50% Mothers Day discount. Ending today at noon PST I think. Wow. I am pumped for this one. A blind buy based on practical and intuitive confidence in the line. I am forever in appreciation of Kat, the lovely Fragrantian that sorted out a wonderful deal for me on the Sample-filled Discovery Set. The best perfumes I have ever smelled. I like natural oils and love a holistic loving approach. Due to the price point in the current market, I may always be skirting around for deals and discounts on these, but now that I have made She my first order from HoM, immediately I was offered a reduction in price just for sharing their Facebook page. They are generous on the marketing and its reflected in the quality of the product. After She arrives, I am thinking of taking a break from buying anything as I really want to savour what I have. And also to do some study on fragrance construction ; to train my nose more, so I can play around more with layering to create different nuances. Will review She soon - Summer is really here! x

What a treat! The vintage Zanaibar lemongrass is wonderful! It's entwined with a smokey layered accord that makes this a rich dark citrus experience. Not the usual bright lemon, but a nuanced shadowy aroma. Like being in a dark tropical forest, with the singed scent of a fire in the far distance, and the aroma of crushed lemongrass under your feet. There are all sorts of shadings, strange and pleasing wafts. Oud, lemon verbena, broom, beeswax, milk. One interesting effect is that the milk, in combination with something else, kind of gives it a coconut undercurrent. Not exactly, but there's a bit of a creamy tropical vibe. The natural ingredients really stand out, giving subtlety to every stage. So unique and vibrant! HoM is my latest love! I'm entranced with Christi Meshell's perfumes. Meshell has a core, innate ability to create. Her scents are highly wearable, and sublimely artistic. The combination is irresistible. Couple that with the mysticism she imbues into each one, and it's perfume magic!

Beautifully unisex. A bright Lemon world full of citrus accords that evoke the whole plant, leaf stem and root, with smoky masculine woody Oud base holding it all in fluidic and heady haze. I have been testing this during one of the UK's hottest Summers. I got it during some wonderful 50% discount for Mothers Day. It was too much for the heat as its a warming perfume and better feeling when its cooler. Now that Autumn is breezing in, She comes into her own for me. Its a very personal meditative experience and not for the benefit of others in my mind. Delicious selfish focus on some earthy bright and deeply grounding feelings. She is lush and really is luxurious in its generous symphony of notes. She grabs by insinuation. Making you want to lie down and focus on your deep slow breathing. Thank you HoM

Lemon candy opening, dries down to very slight coconut milky-spiced bar of soap, inviting and pretty from start to finish.