Histria

Histria! What a great journey to Romania you have taken me once again! Histria or Histropolis the birthplace of Mayki Wesker the cocreator of the brand and the site for the ancient Greek polis of the same name on the Dobrujan coast. In my opinion I would say Histria and Deviant are probably the most fun and playful of the creations from the brand. Histria opens as bright sweet yellow lemon candies or a cooling and refreshing lemon cocktail. I envision a sweating mug topped up with a generous serving of lemon-flavored crushed ice. Histria is bright, three-dimensional, cooling and sweet. It is a transportive and leisurely fragrance, optimistic, cheerful and happy. Mood-lifting. I would suggest Histria to be worn on the hottest of summer days where this will be a stunningly refreshing sweet pine and lemon cologne. It is aromatic but not a fougère almost more of a citrus chypre because of its slightly sweet and sour qualities. Almost conjuring the scent profiles of such classics as Eau de Rochas Homme, Eau Sauvage or Armani Eau pour Homme. It is citrusy, arboreal, and raw. Masculine, but with a juicy sweetness allowing accessibility for a female as well. I can see this maybe being too sweet and maybe a tad linear for some and that is why it loses some points for complexity and versatility. In the late dry down Histria transitions almost seamlessly into a relaxing herbal heart that retains a bitter and sweet citric presence but more syrupy in texture almost boozy and tart, but with a green and piney edge. A very juicy and unique fragrance that takes me into the relaxing sensation of drinking a piña colada (Does not smell like one) on a bright day at the beach. So in that case this fragrance has mastered its artistic function. I hadn't known what the name Histria meant before smelling the fragrance and was ignorant of the fact that it was a city near the Mediterranean sea, so this had no effect on me feeling transported, it just happened... A rather difficult task for a fragrance to accomplish. It has truly transported me to the coast, and probably the coast of Histria. Perfectly chosen color for the flacon and packaging as well. My synesthesia is pleased. This will most certainly have to enter my collection before summer next year. 9.5/10 I would say Wesker is a brand for folks that enjoy fragrances with original, quality and artful profiles. Those that have the acquired-tastes for the more sophisticated and 'low-key' indie-niche fragrances that aren't made to impress the masses. Brands like Serge Lutens, Hiram Green, Tauer Perfumes, Nasomatto and Strangers Perfumery. And for these reasons would not be safe blind-buys.

Histria is beautiful and very unique–unique enough that I have a hard time categorizing/describing it in a way that doesn’t sound like word salad. Fragrantica calls it an aromatic green fragrance. However, if you’re looking for something herbal, foresty, or piney, you may be disappointed. Histria is one of those fragrances where the notes come together to create something completely different from the individual notes. It has a mysterious incense quality to it with a dozen different faucets that my nose didn’t expect, but can stop sniffing. The brand describes it quite well, “The ancient heart of the Adriatic. For many thousands of years, this divergent place has fascinated and inspired countless souls that strode down its paths and sailed the seas that surround it. Every breath of air is enchanting, giving a profoundly fresh and aromatic olfactory experience, and telling you a never-ending story of a place you will never want to leave.”

Honestly... This is just utterly fantastic! 10/10 masterpiece in my book! Piercing aromatics, pine & citrus with eternal tenacity & perfectly balanced amber-y sweetness (entirely from the use of elder? I only know it from mixology), composed in a way that lets this get fairly wild while staying opulent instead of overbearing, all day. Fairly linear, in the best way. A stop-you-in-your-tracks sample when I tried it; Now a full bottle I will need a backup for, for sure. The best scents aren't for everyone, & this is one of those. But man oh man... I can't recommend trying this enough. It is unique, well done & about as fantastic as the niche game gets IMO. I would go as far as saying it's more about whether you're ready for it or not. Signature scent worthy & while I'm loving it for myself I think it would drive me wild on a woman, too. Beautiful, clean & classy... It's just easy to love, even if a bit adventurous.

From the first spray you get that classic old school vibe. Clean, sharp, and very barbershop. Feels like a proper fougère with a bit of chypre touch, but done in their own way. I don’t really see a direct comparison. It has that vintage DNA, but it still feels unique. Performance is strong. Longevity is excellent and it projects well without being too much. This is not an easy scent. It’s not for everyone. You need a certain taste to enjoy it. I wouldn’t call it complicated, but it’s definitely not mass appealing. For me, it’s one of the best styles ever made in perfumery, but I know many people won’t like it. I’d recommend you try it first, don’t blind buy. If you’re 30+ and into classic masculine scents, you might really enjoy it. Smell: 10/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 8.5/10 Seasons: All seasons Age: 30+ Main accord: fougère, aromatic, woody, barbershop, slightly chypre

Histria is inspired by the Istrian peninsula, rich in wooded hills close to rocky crystalline beaches, this fragrance captures its essence thanks to lively sparkling citrus fruits that meet the green freshness of a young pine, its light and airy heart is composed of a Mediterranean bouquet of white flowers and aromatic herbs, on the bottom balsamic herbs and resinous woods give structure and elegance to this modern fougére which winks at a chypre making this masterpiece unisex. I see it well as a spring/summer signature scent.