Hotel Lobby

This smells exactly how the writeup reads - It is one of my most unique scents (next to Agatho's 195 a.c, PDM's Kalan and Zoologist's Bat or Snowy Owl). The difference is that those are novelty smells that I can't really wear anywhere while this one has quickly become a signature scent. The opening is friendly and approachable while being rich at the same time. The dry down starts to get serious: You are someone when you wear this perfume. Others can talk about the ingredients they smell, and the various stages of the dry down but what I shall say is this: In the 50+ perfumes, I own, I find myself reaching for this (and PDM's Haltane) the most often for formal occasions. The dry-down is very similar to Stephanie De Brujin's Cashmere, which was a gorgeous smell (the original) but it suffered from longevity and projection. Hotel Lobby, on the other hand, I can smell it on my shirt and skin the next day. This and Sunday Service (which to me is a more refined take on Zoologist's T-Rex) are show stealers for Side Story. I hope this perfumer can put some marketing behind this scent. I have been gate-keeping it, but I noticed Bloom London was not restocking them any longer.

I have recently purchased this fragrance and am completely blown away. I have around 40 niche fragrances in my collection and this maybe my favourite so far. Smells as described and a compliment getter from my female colleagues. Now I’ve tried this house I’m going to order Sunday Service next.

Purchased after working through the discovery kit. There is a common thread running through the range with clever use of warming vanilla and smoky sandalwood, rum and boozy coconut notes. Very much reminds me of a decades old parquet floor in a luxury hotel. A real thinker, serious without being heavy. Managed to get in the sale at £130, a lot of fragrance for the money at 100ml. Special mention to the incredibly cool bottle!

This has a smokey, almost melting plastic top note. Not quite a flinch but certainly a suprise. The Oud is very present with some significant medicinal facets. Underneath is the promise of a warm wood, that for me just about saves this from being scrubbed off. I did not like the opening one bit, no matter how many times I closed my eyes and tried to visualise myself at a saw mill where bitter wood sap is also perceptible alongside the usual. For all of its swish presentation I found this fragrance a little raw round the edges which might be a testimony to the ingredients being allowed to shine or just means it’s more aligned to something one might pick up at a small boutique because this does seem niche. Longevity was reasonable, and there is a jarring sweetness comes through on dry down with the coconut, this just compounded the medicinal vibe. To have such sweet coconut and vanilla sat under that burning, woody, medicinal top seems so incongruent. What it isn’t is warm wooded simplicity. Definitely one for the niche lovers. Not a safe blind buy but it is interesting trying to work out which bit is going to offend me next 😂.