Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
12/25/2019
Lescentofman
5 Reviews
Lescentofman
Helpful Review
2
Umami-esque perfume with the distinct, yet subtle note of miso-an and shyoyu, aka soy sauce
From the top, Hana Hiraku unveils its magic with a delicious blend of melon. The prominent creaminess of melon is further complemented with the infusion of bergamot, providing a hint of citrus freshness to the top ensemble. That initial whiff somewhat reminds me of having a chilling melon gelato on a hot, summery day here in Singapore. Somehow, I can not detect the presence of the bitter green note of galbanum as perhaps, my skin might have suppressed the accord.
As the fragrance commences to develop its middle layers, waves of white floral accords coming from magnolias and jasmine start to envelop me. I recall in my previous conversations with Satori-san, she mentions in using a lot of jasmine absolutes in Hana Hiraku. The creaminess of tuberose further accentuates the melon accord that still lingers on my skin and by combining with a tinge infusion of chamomile, it gradually adds a layer of subtle sweetness in the heart note.
The base notes, however, comes off as a surprise as the floral heart layer paves the way to something more savoury. The keyword here is subtlety as to how Satori-san envisions her perfume to be, “The flavour (of miso and shoyu) is not so noticeable in this fragrance, just a hint found in the base note.” To keep it more masculine, cedar and sandalwood are introduce here as well, reinforcing the “dryness” when applied on my skin up to this stage.
Initially, I was afraid that I was not able to pull off this scent as it has various accords that are borderline feminine. But the saving grace are the two fermented items, which do give a right balance of virility to the delicateness of the perfume. Hana Hiraku, to me, is a multi-faceted fragrance, from the bright fruity and floral accords at the beginning to somewhat more muted woody and dark notes at the end. This is a unique scent to try out if you like to experience the surreal layers, and most indeed Japanese, all at once.
As recommended by Satori-san herself, I would reserve wearing Hana Hiraku on slightly colder conditions in Singapore or when I need to perk my happiness up. In most cases, preferably in air-conditioned areas (Singapore is forever hot and humid, and it always messes up my hair!) or in colder climates (you, Westerners, are so lucky in a way ????) when I travel in the coming future.
Rating: 9.5/10
Read the rest of the post on my website found on my EssenceVitae page
As the fragrance commences to develop its middle layers, waves of white floral accords coming from magnolias and jasmine start to envelop me. I recall in my previous conversations with Satori-san, she mentions in using a lot of jasmine absolutes in Hana Hiraku. The creaminess of tuberose further accentuates the melon accord that still lingers on my skin and by combining with a tinge infusion of chamomile, it gradually adds a layer of subtle sweetness in the heart note.
The base notes, however, comes off as a surprise as the floral heart layer paves the way to something more savoury. The keyword here is subtlety as to how Satori-san envisions her perfume to be, “The flavour (of miso and shoyu) is not so noticeable in this fragrance, just a hint found in the base note.” To keep it more masculine, cedar and sandalwood are introduce here as well, reinforcing the “dryness” when applied on my skin up to this stage.
Initially, I was afraid that I was not able to pull off this scent as it has various accords that are borderline feminine. But the saving grace are the two fermented items, which do give a right balance of virility to the delicateness of the perfume. Hana Hiraku, to me, is a multi-faceted fragrance, from the bright fruity and floral accords at the beginning to somewhat more muted woody and dark notes at the end. This is a unique scent to try out if you like to experience the surreal layers, and most indeed Japanese, all at once.
As recommended by Satori-san herself, I would reserve wearing Hana Hiraku on slightly colder conditions in Singapore or when I need to perk my happiness up. In most cases, preferably in air-conditioned areas (Singapore is forever hot and humid, and it always messes up my hair!) or in colder climates (you, Westerners, are so lucky in a way ????) when I travel in the coming future.
Rating: 9.5/10
Read the rest of the post on my website found on my EssenceVitae page
