Hey, folks! I hope everyone is doing well. I am doing just fine. I have a lot to catch up on and I am trying to get it done. Time just keeps going by so quickly.
I am a bit late to the party on this one. I have had it for around 6 weeks or so, so I have thoroughly tested it. Home for the Holidays is my favorite from Happyland, so I was sure how this one would hold up with the coffee being taken out.
I was sent this fragrance for free from Happyland. However, there was no agreement that I would review it. So, I am under no obligation or pressure to review this or say it is good. This is solely my opinion and it is not influenced by anything.
Without further ado, let's get into it!
Notes
Caramel, Apple, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Rum, Musk, Coriander, Orange, Rose, Labdanum, and Soft Spices
The Story
It's a blisteringly cold night. You decided to walk to the Christmas party this year. Your company requires you to show up. It's times like these that you regret even working for this company. Maybe I regret more the fact that I was too stubborn to take a cab on this frigid and snowy night. Maybe one day I will gain some common sense. I will have to let go of my ego and call one for the ride home, even if it is only a few blocks.
As you arrive at your office building, the warm ambery glow of the lights shifts your focus to a feeling of warmth. Like a hearth for a weary traveler in ancient times, the building beckons you forth to bask in its splendor. You accept its offer of refuge.
As you walk into the building, you realize that it wasn't a mirage cast upon you like a weary man in a desert picturing an oasis. It was calling to you for your safety and it has stayed true to its word. The sound of soft jazz fills in the air with a calming and classy demeanor of joy, while the crackling of the fireplace interjects every now and then. The smell of maple-glazed roasted nuts fills your nose and reminds you of your hunger. It must have taken a lot of energy to walk here.
A young lady approaches in a green Holiday sweater adorned with tacky Christmas designs and offers you a drink and roasted nuts. You accept and take a sip. It's spiced rum. It warms you to your core and brings a smile to your lips that you assumed had been frozen shut before then.
The soft sounds of people merrily chatting is noticeable under the calming music. You grab a blanket and go and sit by the fire. The warm wool and heat of the flames feel like a soft hug to your soul.
This was a blissful evening. A memory of contrasts that would not be so special without the whole story. However, I pick up my phone and call a cab. I have no intention of walking home. There is no spiced rum to save my sanity there.
The Scent
Homme for the Holidays Decaf opens up with what I perceive as maple glazed nuts. It must be the type of nutmeg with the maple. There is also some cinnamon in the opening, but to me, the nutmeg and maple take center stage.
After about an hour and a half, the fragrance shifts gears a bit. That nuttiness subsides and it becomes a warm spiced rum fragrance with warm amber and some soft patchouli to rest on.
The fragrance is somewhat linear after the heart develops, which isn't a bad thing. The spices dance in and out of limbo with shades of maple and amber in the background to give the rum note its spiced and warming feeling.
Other Notes
Happyland Homme for the Holidays Decaf is not just for the holiday season, although it does work wonderfully for that. This spicy and boozy concoction can be enjoyed in the autumn season as well. Early spring would be fine as well, but I don't see this one working very well in the heat due to having a sweetness to it. The spices are also quite potent. Maybe it would work on a cool summer date night.
It's a Happyland fragrance. Do I need to even mention the performance at this point? I am only joking. This is no exception to the powerful scents that owner E.J. Wells creates. You can expect a good 3 hours of projection and another 6-7 hours of longevity. I did test this one with overspraying. One of my friends wanted to try it, so I asked her to spray it 10 times. I didn't like it when it was oversprayed. It takes over everything with powerful projection and the spiciness and amber dominated everything else in the vicinity. The sweet rum and nutty facets aren't as noticeable. I would keep this one as a 3 spray max fragrance, but your own personal testing might yield different results.
This is more of a casual fragrance, but it would be dressed up into semi-formal or business casual wear. I think this fragrance leans a bit on the masculine side, but a woman could certainly pull it off.
These are just my personal thoughts from testing it. Your mileage can vary and you should take every fragrance and explore its full capabilities. I have not been able to test it in warm weather yet, so I am only guessing based on the composition and smell.
My Opinion
Happyland nailed it. I love coffee, but I think this one is more nuanced and tells a better story. The original Homme for the Holidays is certainly great as well, but this one just speaks to me on a personal level and fits my tastes better. I am typically not a fan of gourmand scents, but this one isn't overly sweet and it's blended in a very smooth way that makes it appealing without smelling juvenile or cady sweet. The inclusion of maple and amber would normally make something excessively sweet with rum being added, but the notes are dosed in a pleasing way that makes them work with each other and not against one another.
It's a magical and warming scent that is a pleasure to wear and fans of spicy and boozy scents are sure to enjoy this. However, you should always sample first. My nose is not yours. Happyland offers samples, which I will link below with the full-sized bottle.
I am not sure what the actual concentration is on these, but they are extraits. They leave an oily sheen on your hand for around 15 minutes and I would take caution with spraying this on lightly colored clothing due to that.
The 50ml is $55, which is more than fairly priced for an extrait. Considering you only need 3 sprays at the most, this will last you a long time.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my review. I am planning on getting to Foux de Fafa and Diabolique soon. Remember to always be kind and say some kind words to someone today. You never know who it might help. These are dark times and one act of kindness is one more step towards making this world a better place for all of us. Keep smelling great and being great. Until next time, take care and thank you for the support.
50ml Bottle
Sample
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