Every time I write a perfume review, it feels like the first time, no matter how long it’s actually been since I wrote that first review. Filled up with emotion inspired by the sensory experience of the fragrance, I’m at a loss for words. What can I say? It’s beautiful?
A great fragrance isn’t just beautiful, as perfumistas across the globe will let you know. In fact, some would even argue that the “beautiful” fragrance can’t be a great fragrance. It’s got to be interesting, or challenging, or whatever.
Josh Meyer has an incredible talent for inspiring fragrance reviews. I was surprised to receive a package including samples of the two newest fragrances in the IA lineup: Mosaic, and Yesterday Haze. Mosaic is beautiful, and I recommend that you try it– it’s the perfect summer cologne, and lasts like an EDT or EDP; however, it’s Yesterday Haze that’s captivated my attention.
Perfume land is much bigger, a different place than it was just a few years ago. We all talk about the flood of new releases every year from the big houses, and independent perfumers are popping up all over the world. It’s hard to keep up, and quite frankly, it’s easy to feel indifferent once the first few years of wild, passionate exploration and acquisition have faded into a more contemplative approach. I don’t add new bottles to my collection often (just three this year, and one was a restock of L’Heure Bleue), and I can’t remember the last time I had the impulse to sit down long enough to write a review.
However.
There are a couple independent perfumers that I have made no secret of my great appreciation for, and Imaginary Authors leads that list. The consistency and quality of each fragrance, the unidentifiable, yet utterly distinct IA signature, the innovation coupled with a clear respect for classical perfume– it’s all there in this latest release. Yet to say YH smells like anything else would be untrue. It doesn’t smell like anything else. That’s kind of a big deal at this point in perfume-land.
Fig fragrances, while not exactly the bread-and-butter of perfume houses, have a dedicated audience. They exist on a scale, from woody green realism (Sonoma Scent Studio’s Fig Tree, or Robin’s acknowledged favorite, Diptyque Philosykos) to milky-sweet (such as the iconic L’Artisan Premier Figuier). While Yesterday Haze is creamy, and sweet, fig has not been downplayed. It’s truly fig, especially if you know what you’re sniffing for, but it’s approachable in a way that some of the photorealistic figs simply are not.
While I don’t imagine Robin will trade in her Phylosykos, I do see a bottle of YH in my future. It’ll be a nice juxtaposition for Laurie Erickson’s Fig Tree in my collection. Because I am a fig-lover who would occasionally like to wear less tree, and more Perfume. Yesterday Haze is beautiful; it’s also an interesting and sophisticated fig perfume.
I think it’s great.
Yesterday Haze is available from Josh’s site, 60mL, $85.
Filed under: Perfume Tagged: Artisan, Classic, Cream, Diptyque Philosykos, Feminie, Fig, Fig Tree, Fruity, gourmand, Imaginary Authors, Independent, Indie, Iris, Josh Meyer, L'Artisan Parfumeur, Orchard Dust, Perfume Review, Philosykos, Portland Oregon, Premier Figuier, Review, Shared Fragrances, Sonoma Scent Studio, Sweet, Tonka, Tree Bark, Unisex, Walnut Bitters, Yesterday Haze
