Halley

Halley smells just like a Maui vacation, instantly transporting you to the lush tropical forests of Kana, the beach-front restaurants of Kaanapali where you can sip pina coladas whilst watching the sunset, the open-air markets of Hana awash in the mouth-watering aromas of ripe, juicy fruit. If I were to describe Halley in one word—it would be “mouthwatering”. The fragrance opens up with passion fruit and peach, set against the creamy, buttery backdrop that smells like a spiced vanilla custard. After half an hour, I get fresh and toasted coconut tempered by the tart tang of cassis, while the cream begins its transformation to a fluffy, white musk. The musk gets stronger on the dry down, reminding me of another favorite scent—Musk Therapy by Initio, minus the white florals. It gives the fragrance an intoxicating, hypnotic quality (I literally cannot stop smelling my arm) and creates a delicious, close-to-skin aura. If you expect a beast mode fragrance, this is not it—while Halley projects fairly well in the first hour or two, eventually it settles into a softer, more intimate scent with just enough sweetness to keep things interesting. Not a safe blind buy, in my opinion, but definitely a scent worth exploring. P.S. Recently I came across Febe by Giardino Benessere (another gorgeous Paola Terenzi line) and I have to say—it is a strikingly close scent profile to Halley at half its price.

In the opening of this fragrance it smells like Mancera Instant Crush and Cassiopeia had a baby. You get that burnt, caramelized sugar feel mixed with tropical fruits. Not overripe or underripe. Very nice, inviting and fresh. Passionfruit really makes it smell juicy and special. I got a good 2 hours of arm length or better projection and still smell a very juicy and sweet passionfruit 6 hours in. It starts to reel itself in around 2-3 hours with 2 sprays. If you sprayed several sprays it would be very cloying initially the same way Instant Crush is. So don’t get trigger happy right off the bat. I won’t invest a lot of money for a full bottle but I think it’s worthy for someone who would. This is a true Terenzi with the signature musks, so if you don’t mind that, you’ll love this. No I don’t find it similar to Erba Pura past the musk..

Ok I want to clarify something, I personally dislike fragrances like Kirke, Erba Pura, Andromeda, Accento Overdose so when I see a comparison to those it completely discouraged to try. All the fragrances that have that strong Ambroxan Musk sort of profile, that could choke you and lean masculine too. This one is not that. This is actually quite pretty and clean, and very subtle on that potent musk those I listed have. In here its very balanced and very tolerable. While others I listed at dry down become a scrubbers for me do to that potent musk that gets stronger, Helley is quite pleasant. Yes it is similar fruity profile with Erba Pura but minus that potent musk. I think it also smells pretty similar to Stricnina and may be a little of Cassiopea.

I'm sorry, but nothing says loving like wearing this to bed. It's so creamy and dream-like a definite love for me. Extremely well-blended notes. Everything just bleeds into each other in the most pleasant comforting way. TT knows how to work a fruity floral fragrance so the fruity notes don't overwhelm everything else there. I know some of his offerings have a kind of chemical opening; this one doesn't. It's worth the price tag. There are so many selections with his brand, that almost anyone can find something worthwhile.

This was a blind buy for me as most of my perfumes in my collection are. I like it a lot. It is not for a 20 year old, this has a sophisticated woman's DNA all over it. Not something to wear to work unless you are going to a board meeting where you need to show the men that you are on top of your game. I highly recommend this as a date night fancy ballroom dancing type of perfume.