HAYARI Paris Launches Men’s Fragrances from Grasse, review Basenotes and Blogher for Leather perfume 20 September 2014

Since Creed vaulted Royal English Leather, I’ve been on the lookout for a subtle leather that didn’t really offend or project. That rules out Dior Leather Oud, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather and quite a few others. Per usual, Hednic had pointed out in another thread Hayari’s Le Paradis de l’Homme – which I initially saw over at Fragrantica – and it hit me. The notes caught my attention.

Their mens line isn’t available yet in the US, so in typical “I gotta try it” fashion, I wrote them an e-mail. Halfway didn’t expect anything from them, but within an hour, I received a response and they were willing to tempt me by sending out a sample or two. Score!

They sent both the Le Paradis de l’Homme and the Hayari Only for Him samples. I’m skipping the latter one for now, my mind was set on just the Le Paradis de l’Homme which notes include: Brazilian redwood, vetiver, oak moss, atlas cedar, papyrus, sandalwood and leather. There’s a few other notes, like white musk (I really didn’t get this one until way into the drydown period, like 7 hours later) and a rather gentleman, clean leather. Le Paradis de l’Homme is considered to be a chypre. And mind you, my nose is nowhere near as refined as a lot of you guys. I learn from your posts daily – and appreciate each and every lesson immensely.

So my take? This will replace my love for Creed Royal English Leather, easily. It’s a subtle leather, with great longevity, yet it doesn’t project like a beast, yet it isn’t exactly quiet. It’s a gentleman scent, whereas I’d consider something like Leather Oud a brute. REL comes off a bit floral upfront, almost “old woman-ish” but that gives way to a gentle leather that’s not overbearing. Between this and Dior Cuir Cannage – which I’ll be testing much more closely – I think this one comes off way more masculine, there’s wood with leather way upfront than Cuir Cannage’s floral approach. I blame Cuir Cannage’s iris notes for “un-butching” it up a bit.

I personally don’t get cedar from it, not immediately. There’s woods, but they’re almost non-descript at first. But once the top notes give way to the middle notes, sandalwood comes out that blends into cedar that gives way to white musk and (red)woods and then the leather calms down to a suede like presence.

This isn’t a strong leather. Knize fans, you’ll be disappointed. Expecting Colonia Leather? You’ll measure Le Paradis de l’Homme and will find it lacking. Cuir Tabac fans… yeah, take that expectation down like 20 notches or so. This has a lot in common with something else I’ve smelled before, but instead of florals, add wood. Instead of strong, medicinal leather, imagine smoothed out, expensive fancy leather. And in terms of projection, this is right on par with Cuir Cannage and the midnotes of REL than anything else.

Longevity wise, I can still smell it 10 hours after the fact, just wafts here and there; but it’s now a skin scent mostly. But the first 4-7 hours were going well. I’ll continue to test this one, but so far I’m impressed.

Yep. I’m a fan. Perhaps the first scent of 2014 that’s really gotten my attention and it’ll have a place in my collection.