Fieno (Hay)

Fieno belongs to that category of fragrances for which provide not just merely sensory pleasure, but a source of comfort and repose. Faced with the anxiety of having to face some important decisions, wearing this feels like I am swaddled in a reassuring blanket that is neither too warm nor too sheer; an aromatic embrace of tender sweetness does not stifle and overwhelm. The hawthorn blossom (anisaldehyde is its main scent component), a note that I adore, is one note that really stands out here for me, shortly after the pastel citrus of the opening; green, herbal, aromatic, but powdery and somehow ethereal. This is accompanied by all myrtle (yes! I wish it appeared more often in fragrance) that counters this ever so subtly with its cineolic (fresh, medicated, penetrating, diffusive) and leafy bloom. The fresh mown hay note is the centerpiece ("fieno" meaning hay in Italian) and I detect a dose of true hay absolute—the only other fragrances where I've detected it are Serge Lutens Chergui and Lorenzo Villoresi Yerba Mate. It is no way evocative of barnyards or "horseyness"; no, this is the hay itself, in bales, under the sun, evocative almost of sweetgrass or sweet woodruff. It is agrestic, a crossroads between the cheerful and melancholic. It reminds me of autumn drives through the Vermont countryside, listening to Bread on the radio... "If a picture paints a thousand words, Then why can't I paint you? The words will never show the you I've come to know." Fieno is anchored by more substantive notes that carry on the sensation: an amalgam of benzoin, vanilla, vetiver. It is a hearth of coziness, a true beauty, another spectacular one from my beloved house of SMN.

Alright, I'll go first, even though I am new at this. I like this. It starts out both very sweetgrass-y and with a distinctly astringent note in kind of an unpleasant way. Fortunately, the astringent note does not last long. It is not quite a soliflore, but it is close, and I think the hay smell is replicated nicely, in its fresh form, not a dirty smell at all. Upon dry down, there is a powdery note, and, being a novice, I am not quite sure what to assign that to. I would say it is a mellow, casual, youthful fragrance, but the bold could wear it anywhere. Also, I think it tends feminine, though that is by no means an absolute. I use 1 small spray and it has decent sillage - within arms length, maybe more, but not a room-filler. This is not going to be for everyone, just because of what it is, it will go sour on some people. Either way I think it is worthwhile to try for historical interest, and I am surprised that there are no earlier reviews.

My new favourite perfume, it is so easy to wear for any occasion and it's just so comforting. I prefer this as a 'splash' application rather than a spray, as the spray somehow emphasises the farm-like scent of... urinated hay???? It may have not done well with my skin chemistry and the sweat from Italy's sun... But when I was in a cooler climate and used the splash applicator on my wrist, the scent became a sweet summer Italian dream. I guess, I recommend trying this scent multiple times! It's linear and truly smells like European vintage soap at its best!

Fieno is soft, powdery and a little green and herbally due to the hay note. The benzoin provides a coziness and warmth. Lovely.

I love nearly everything I've tried from this house (around a dozen or so) and when I saw a chance to get a heavily discounted bottle I took the plunge without trying first. I really didn't look at the notes — all I knew is it has hay absolute. Initially I was disappointed. I was expecting a big heap of knarly hay, but that's not what I got. What I got was very classically structured scent, that was dominated by coumarin, a very light lavender and hay. Not as herbal or fresh (but still airy) as I'd anticipated either. It reminds me of several things. Mostly a variety of etro dna, serge lutens gris clair (but without the incense) and knize ten without the leather IBQ. After wearing it for a few days, I concluded it's it's meant to be a sweet clean bailed hay, and accents of the other notes I mentioned. Myrtle is not here imo. Hawthorne is here, with a some supportive lavender, musk, and likely some some helio and maybe even hedione. Airy and clean scent. My favorites are still my vintage Ginestra and Melograno. A great scent if you understand it, and you want your hay pristine and flawless instead of green, wheaty, dusty, dank, or tobacco-esque.