Hiram Green Hyde Review + Noble Beast Perfume Draw

Hiram Green

Gouda-based natural perfumer Hiram Green has created the most authentic leather fragrance since Santa Maria Novella’s 1901 Peau d’Espagne (I keep a well-guarded old flacon of SMN’s triple extrait and have contrasted them, side by side). Hiram has created a new classic with legendary longevity: brash, swashbuckling and debonair – it positively ROARS. Those who cling to the notion that natural perfume just fades into the background will simply have to alter their opinion after experiencing Hyde. I even devised a category all its own to describe it: Edeltier. Because Hyde is a Noble Beast of a perfume.

Jean Marais as La Bête apped by MC

If you are a timid soul Hiram Green Hyde is not for you. You’ll need to slink away under guise of a safer, quieter, less smoky leather fragrance, my friend. You either wear this or it wears you, no two ways about it – and if you love it, it’s for keeps. This isn’t to infer that Hyde is sans finesse; far from it. I’d like you to envision it as the marvelous Jean Marais in Cocteau’s iconic 1946 film, La Belle et La Bête (Beauty and the Beast).That sort of Noble Beast.

Tannery via wiki

If truth is an end unto itself, Hyde’s veracity is irrefutable: tanners of yore had completed the most malodorous portion of the process long before we arrived upon the scene. There were commodious vats of urine in which skins were soaked to remove all traces of remaining hair; theythen either pounded the skins with dung or soaked them in animal brains to ‘bate’ or soften them.Tanning hides was referred to as a ‘noxious’ or ‘odiferous trade’  and relegated to the outskirts of town.

Horse scene from La Belle et La Bête

In Hiram Green’s Hyde what we smell is the perfumer’s art, the resurrection of olfactory memory extant since man first hunted and gathered. Bergamot and lemon glitter as they flit across a fragrant firmament in the twinkling of an eye, just long enough to bridge the dense heart/base notes. This can only mean cassie – the complex acacia blossom with its honeyed spicy (cinnaminic) balsamic drydown sprinkled with ionones for violet olfactory hue. All else is base-dense, with traditional birch tar (love it or leave it) and labdanum insinuating their smoky selves to hyperrealistic effect. At this juncture Hiram Green Hyde is scorched skins and honey-drenched, potent and intoxicating; it’s bold, courageous even – are Mongols upon the horizon? Marauding tribes on horseback? You might readily envision it, smell it, even taste it – the effect is so immediate. We are not in violet/iris-tinged pastel Leatherland here. We are leather-in-earnest, hearty, robust with horses and saddles and oakmoss – oh my! Inky oakmoss is an intuitive counterpart, while a malted aspect and vanilla lend their boozy visage to the heady brew gently rounding out sharpness, acridity. Here’s the thing: the morning after (15 hours later, in fact – cooking, cleaning, sleeping, etc. has occurred since application) I can still smell Hyde on my hand.

Jean  Marais once he turned back  from The Beast to a Prince

 It has morphed into a gentler, tamer version of itself and appears more honeyed than ever, with tendrils of smoke which linger in lieu of the entire campfire. Jean Marais’ sovereign has appeared upon the silver screen: elegant, suave, dashing. What a marvelous perfume this is. Arcibravo, Hiram! Hiram Green Hyde is going on my Best Perfumes of 2018 for certain…This is as good as it gets. Notes: bergamotlemon,birch tarcassielabdanum, malt vanillaoakmoss

Samples of Hiram Green Hyde so kindly provided by both Ann of Indigo Perfumery and Hiram Green – many, many thanks! My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumery Editor

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief- Hiram Green has been the recipient of our CaFleureBon Best of Scent 2016 and 2014

Photo by Ann of Indigo Perfumery©

Thanks to the generosity of Hiram Green, we have a draw for one registered CafleureBon reader in the USA, EU and Canada for a 50 ml bottle?$165 of Hiram Green Hyde. To be eligible you must be a registered reader and please leave a comment what you liked about Ida’s review of Hiram Green Hyde, where you live and your favorite Hiram Green perfume. Draw closes 12/10/2018

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like ÇaFleureBon and use our Blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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68 comments

  • I love the contrast between the description of the tanner’s art and the perfumer’s. I’m in Los Angeles, CA and I’m not familiar with Hiram Green, but I love leather fragrances and I think I would love Hyde!

  • Now I know why tanneries were placed on the outskirts of town. I’ve not sampled any Hiram Green perfume and would love to try this beastly fragrance. USA

  • Sounds wonderful, and great review Ida. I love bold fragrances and this one sounds right up my alley. I may have seek out a sample should the bottle not land in my lap! CAN

  • Oooh. Ida’s review is absolutely Spot on. This is so fabulous.
    My favorite part.

    It has morphed into a gentler, tamer version of itself and appears more honeyed than ever, with tendrils of smoke which linger in lieu of the entire campfire. Jean Marais’ sovereign has appeared upon the silver screen: elegant, suave, dashing. What a marvelous perfume this is. Arcibravo, Hiram! Hiram Green Hyde is going on my Best Perfumes of 2018 for certain…This is as good as it gets. Notes: bergamot, lemon,birch tar, cassie, labdanum, malt vanilla, oakmoss

    Thanks for the very generous giveaway, I live in the U.S.

  • Gabriel Garcia says:

    Big fan of leather and the craft, as it is one of many that has an unpleasant
    Process, never tried Hiram, and this leather may be intriguing and epic,
    Specifically the oakmoss tends to expand the leathery experience.
    Thank you so much for your review, it’s so classic!

  • To tell you the truth I love everything about this review. This is a fragrance that I have been very interested in sampling, but winning a bottle would be even better. I have yet to try any Hiram Green fragrance. Canada.

  • William S Hawkes says:

    What I liked about Ida’s review is that her experience seemed very similar to mine when I sampled Hyde. I also agree it is probably one of the best of 2018. I need this bottle in my collection! Thank you so much to Hiram Green and Cafleurebon for the very generous giveaway! I live in Colorado, USA.

  • Great review from Ida. Sadly i’ve never got my nose on this house’s fragrances, but i’ve heard pretty good things about their juices and i would love to try this one. The notes sound really nice. I am in the EU, thanks for the chance.

  • Oh, my word, this review is making me swoon without ever smelling the perfume. First, did you say he is Gouda-based? I was there earlier this year and had no idea there was perfume to be had. All we found was cheese – and the cheese was nothing to sneeze at – but I wish I had known there was perfume to be had. Second, the tannery imagery speaks to me. My grandmother’s grandfather had a tannery in the old country, and she used to tell me stories of the sounds and smells of that dreadful, yet magical, place. Thirdly, I have no favorite Hiram Green because I have never smelled anything by him. I live for leather scents, though, so I am absolutely intrigued by this one. North of Boston, USA

  • I liked when she warned the timid souls! I’m in Ohio, USA. Slowdive and Moon Bloom are my faves!

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Awesome review! Love the beauty and the beast comparison, and the idea that it dries to sweet tendrils of smoke the next day. Sounds amazing! Especially since I know Hiram Green does honey, spices, and sweet well. I love their slow dive. But really I love all their work–moon bloom, shangri la. Thanks for the draw! I’m in the US.

  • Matthew Patterson says:

    I’m always on the look out for a new (to me) perfumer who’s works I’ve yet to explore. In a world nearly saturated with niche perfumes, I often find myself disappointed with the results of my searches. I feel as though I’ve become ept at reading between the lines of reviews for authenticity instead of buff and fluff. I want to win this draw because Ida’s review falls into the category of the former. I believe her. I’m willing to place all my eggs of hope in a basket of a “brash, swashbuckling, debonair” leather. I love it when the first Perfume I discover by a perfumer becomes my favorite of their creations. Time for a new love at first sniff experience.

    Portsmouth, NH

  • Thanks for another great review, Ida! What I’m excited about is that this isn’t like any other natural perfume. I like what you said- ‘Those who cling to the notion that natural perfume just fades into the background will simply have to alter their opinion after experiencing Hyde.’ I’ve been wearing natural perfumes and longevity is an issue for most. A rich leather supported by other big notes sounds very interesting. I haven’t tried any Hiram Green yet and I’d love to sample this. Thanks for this opportunity. – California, USA

  • I liked how Ida connected this perfume to the dawn of civilization when men hunted and gathered and the association with Mongols and horsebacks really got my intereset. I am always up to test a strong and bold perfume, unlike those you usually get to find nowadays.
    I am in EU. Thanks for the draw!

  • Monica Beaton says:

    Wonderful review as always and beautiful art work. This fragrance sounds bold and strange and innovative. Hiram Green deserves all his accolades and rewards – he’s walking his own path. I live in Australia.

  • Just by reading the first lines of the article I already made a picture in my mind of how this one should be. I am glad that Mr. Hiram does not fall to the marketing trap of lately perfumes that are easy to wear and not challenging, but instead he decides to take perfumery one step further by creating something that will stand out in the crowd.

    I live in EU and many thanks for this wonderful draw!

  • Wow, that Sounds like something i Would love to test. I live in Germany and Would like a Bottle of this, if i am Lucky enough

  • fazalcheema says:

    Ida says this is a daring creation with honeyed aspects that has wowed Ida so much that she already sees Hyde as one of her best discoveries of 2018. My fav. from Hiram Green is his limited edition Voyage which I have a bottle of. I am in US.

  • Smokey animalic leather? All in please, exactly how I love it. Unfortunately haven’t tried yet anything from Hiram Green. Thanks for opportunity. I’m in the UK. Cheers

  • Hiram’s work is so enjoyable, very beautiful truly niche and NATURAL compositions. Novelty Hyde is groundbreaking. It is different from the rest of his line but it’s smoky super burning opening actually is not that scary and after a few hours the scent changes becoming more pleasant and wearable. His perfumes have been on my wishlist for a long time and to get Hyde would unexpected and totally cool because winter is the perfect time to pull it off. Germany

  • I have never tried anything by mister Hiram Green, but this one really sounds like something special and very different. I do like a good vintage, bold, strong fragrance and Hyde seems to fit the bill. I am in EU. Thanks!

  • marcopietro says:

    Great review! I love leathery fragrances and with irreverent and untamed animal notes. Moreover, I think the power that Hiram Green puts in its creations is very sexy, so this one is very attractive for me. Among its fragrances my favorite is Arbolé Arbolé.
    I live in EU
    Thanks!

  • doveskylark says:

    Oh, yes, this is the fragrance I have been wanting to try. Leather fragrances, the stronger the better, the inkier and dirtier, the better. I am a shy person, which is WHY I wear brash fragrances.
    I haven’t tried anything from Hiram Green, but I have a friend who raves about Slowdive.
    I live in the USA.

  • This one seems really savage. Wearing it and you make a statement. Just how I like them fragrances
    I am in Eu. Grazie!

  • Oh, Hiram Green creation are sooo wonderful!
    I love Slowdive a lot, IMHO the best beeswax-perfume around.
    About Hyde….When I read Horses Saddle and Oakmoss….oh my god!

    I live in Italy,
    Thanks for the draw!

  • I’ve never smelled a horse’s saddle but I do love oakmoss. I have yet to experience any Hiram Green creation. US

  • I love Moon Bloom. I would love to try this new one. Sounds like Ida loves it. She is such a great writer and reviewer. Thank you so much for the chance. I live in the US.

  • I have never had a chance to try any perfume from Hiram Green perfumes. But the review is very interesting. Hiram Green Hyde sounds wonderfully to me. I would very love to try it. Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    It has been a long while since anything wild and fierce has made its way past the portcullis onto my perfume shelf, although many have been attempted. It is the cassie inclusion that could make the difference here, infusing a sweet spicy, perhaps even romantic element? I have tried Slowdive from this house and would have loved to sample their limited edition Voyage. I live in the US and thank you for this chance.

  • What I love about this one is how beastly it sounds and it’s natural! Just amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced Hiram Green perfumes but would love to! Arkansas

  • I love leather and smoke! Also the sly spelling of the name with a y reminds me of another gentleman/monster transformation immortalized in page and film. I’m familiar with the name but have yet to sniff any Hiram Green scents. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US.

  • WAW!!! I am shocked by this intriguing description! I can not pick up what phrase was intrigued me, because every sentences are so interesting.
    At the first
    Thank you Ida.
    I would love to test this very interesting perfume.
    I am not familiar with Hiram Green perfumes.
    US

  • I loved the central theme of “The Noble Beast” in Ida’s review, as well as the reference to Cocteau’s masterpiece of poetic cinema.
    I’ve never tried a Hiram Green fragrance, I’m most intrigued by the real leather and oakmoss mentioned.
    I live in EU, thank you.

  • Wow Ida. When you compliment a fragrance this much, I must try it. Love the reference to the Cocteau film. It is one of my favorites. I don’t own any of Hiram Green’s fragrances. Thank you for a wonderful review and for this draw. I’m in the USA

  • Very evocative review! Here’s my favorite line: “Inky oakmoss is an intuitive counterpart, while a malted aspect and vanilla lend their boozy visage to the heady brew…”

    My favorite Hiram Green scent thus far has been Moon Bloom – I whizzed through a travel size of it last year. Writing from the US – thanks for the drawing!

  • Leather, birch tar… Sign me up! I’m crazy for leather perfumes.
    I was doubtful about “all natural” perfumes, but the description in this review may just change my mind! I need to try this Hyde. I don’t have any favourite Hiram Green since I’ve never tried any of them. This would be a good chance!
    Thanks for the draw! I live in EU.

  • Grrrrrr! In Ida’s review I enjoyed the unabashed acknowledgment in the leather and strong notes in the fragrance. I loved Ida’s statement “You either wear this or it wears you, no two ways about it…”

    Sounds very worthy of a try. Thanks for a wonderful review and giveaway.i live in the US.

  • Ioana Busita says:

    Awsome review, Ida! The perfume sounds amazing and what I like most is the fact that “you need to wear it”; also love love love leather perfumes. I have never tried Hiram Green’s perfumes. Thank you for a lovely giveaway; I am from EU.

  • I think Ida just nailed it with the description of the fragrance and how she compared it to an elegant beast. Love this kind of compositions and I’m sure I’ll live this Hiram creation! Nowhere to Hyde, and it would be my first Hiram Green fragrance I know. Thanks! From the USA

  • Any review that harkens back to La Belle et La Bête is aces in my book! I was at Tigerlily in SF a couple weeks ago, and missed this house while I was in the store, so I’d love a chance to try it out. I’m based in the U.S.

  • I am not a timid soul, and i love the smell of birch tar. As I understand Hiram Green is natural perfumery which is awesome. Never had a chance to try something from the brand, but will try my chances here.
    Thank you!!
    Europe (EU)

  • Hyde sounds incredible. I’ve never tried any Hiram Green perfumes before. The notes are gorgeous. It sounds perfect for colder weather.
    I live in the USA.

  • I really like the jekyl and hyde dynamic this fragrance has,plus some really interesting notes, malt you dont see everyday not sure if I have any juice with malt so look forward to testing.I haven’t tried anything from this house yet unfortunately ,oh and the colour of the juice is really beautiful .

    Canada here.

    Thanks for generous giveaway much appreciated .

  • Thank you Ida for you intriguing review. I enjoy bold fragrances, and Hyde is very bold from your descripton, not for timid souls indeed.
    The most interesting thing is that Hyde, being a leather based fragrance, doesn’t have leather amongst the notes. Instead, the birch tar and cassie form a wonderful leather note.
    “You either wear this or it wears you” is the perfect example of Hyde’s character. Wonderful.
    I love Slowdive from the same house, a wonderful tobacco and beeswax combo. Looking forward to try more from Hiram Green.
    Thank you for the generous draw.
    I’m in the EU.

  • I liked how you described it moving from one to another, from best to prince. I do not have a fav Hiram green scent, so far, tho this could be the one. I’m in the us

  • Another wonderful review by Ida that has me wanting to get a bottle! This sounds like the perfect leather fragrance that I have been wanting to add to my collection. I loved ” I even devised a category all its own to describe it: Edeltier. Because Hyde is a Noble Beast of a perfume.” To me, that line pretty much says it all. Thanks so much for the generous giveaway and I live in the US! 🙂

  • Oh, what a beautiful description! If this is not for the timid soul, then I need to try it and I think I’ll love it!
    Can’t say what is my favorite from HG because I only tried Dilletante and I’m sure he’s done better that that 🙂
    Thanks for the review, I am in the EU.

  • Ida writes like I can smell this Hiram green Hyde. Only favorite part is where she says she can small the perfumers art the resurrection of olfactory memory
    I live in the USA

  • Wonderful review. I’m not a timid soul and Hyde sounds wonderful to me. My favorite Hiram Green ia Moon Bloom. I live in EU. Thank you for this wonderful draw!

  • Ivan.napoleon says:

    I love everything about this review. This is a fragrance that I have been very interested in sampling
    My fav part “Elegant beast!. Really intereting notes.
    I havent try this house yet.
    MIAMI Florida Thanks

  • Loved the fact that Hyde, while being a natural based fragrance, is not for timid souls, something rarely seen with this type of perfume. A noble beast is a name worthy of praise.
    The only one I’ve tried from Hiram Green is Slowdive and it’s beautiful. Looking forward to smelling Hyde.
    Thank you for a wonderful review Ida and for a very generous giveaway.
    I live in the EU.

  • RobertNicolasB says:

    Great review, Ida! I loved the idea of awakening the ancient olfactory experiences of our ancestors. My wife wears and loves Moon Bloom and I would love to get my nose on this.
    Thanks for the opportunity! Wisconsin-USA

  • I really love that the perfume lasts a whole day. The review was able to make meimagine how great the perfume must smell.
    I don’t have a favorite Hiram Green perfume.

    I live in California.

  • Other by Hiram didn’t match my taste, they came too old fashioned for me. This one could be right up my alley! Would love to win this to Germany, thanks for the draw!

  • Interesting break my miss Ida Meister .The notes i like , the review is nice – animalic leather , boozy vanilla , birch tar …. this Noble Beast should be pretty good , and unlike not all ,but most other natural fragrances do have a beast-mode performance..Sign me up pls
    I’ve never smelled any Hiram Green perfumes , but i do remember Yana from Tommelise Youtube channel did some reviews,and she was genuinely impressed.
    Tnx for the generosity
    Basically USA and Scotland (EU) at the same time.1 week in US->1 week in Scotland , and so on.

  • Ida Meister and i are like black and white , sun and the moon , ocean and the desert .Of course we all have different skin chemistry , perceptions , taste , notes and noses we love or hate … and so on , but in my ~20 years of fragrance obsession i’ve met only 1 guy except her with such a diametrically opposed opinion about 99% of the fragrances we both sampled/own.
    Of course nothing wrong with all of this-best wishes to her , but it’s a bit odd how is this even possible.Each and every time i’m i’m reading one of here reviews i know we won’t be on the same page if i know the fragrance she’s reviewing.
    I do own and love Slowdive by Hiram (50ml) and i’ve sampled all , and my perception of Hyde is very different.Sure it’s deep,long lasting and opulent fragrance,but i do not get “horses and saddles” or animalic leather at all. There is a leather note from the start,but in the base it’s not a main player,but oakmoss birch tar , smoke , dried fruits and whiskey are.Hyde is sweet-smoky-boozy and a bit herbal concoction on my skin .I reaaly like it , but no Noble Beasts here….at all.
    Of course i do follow @hiram_green on Instagram.
    Virginia USA or London UK almost all the time

  • Intriguing and scary at the same time description. I have a few leather perfumes including Tabac Blond and Bandit, and find them pleasant and wearable. I would love to try this beast of a leather that only allows the strongest to tame it. I live in the US.

  • Great comparison between Hiram Green Hyde and the Beast from Beauty and The Beast. I enjoy bold fragrances and this seems like one of them. I’m very interested in the claim that this is a long lasting natural perfume. I’ve very rarely run into natural fragrances that that can get me through the day. The notes on this sounds amazing as well as your description. US Arizona.

  • The desription of Hyde as a Noble Beast is great. I like how noble, elegant and debonair this perfume is, despite being so beastly bold, courageous and strong. It evokes impressions of „tanners of yore” and „horses and saddles”, yet seems to be completely wearable. I’m not familiar with Hiram Green but I like smoky and leather fragrances, so I think I would like Hyde. I live in the EU.

  • I never had the chance to try Hiram Green perfumes but I would love to! I love bold fragrances, and I am very intrigued by the longevity that is mentioned in this review, and the description makes my mouth water! I live in Canada. Thank you!

  • This sounds like my type if fragrance bold smokey leather yes please especially right now for the winter. The way this is described just paints such amazing imagery I need to try this! Thanks for break down on this interesting fragrance and the generous giveaway. I am in the USA in AZ

  • Ida, what a masterpiece of a review for what seems to be a masterpiece of perfume.
    I love leather fragrances, not not the iris-y, powder-y kittens you describe. I want a lioness. “Inky oakmoss”… you’re killing me. I have to try this asap.
    P.S. What does Edeltier mean and how would you describe this new category? 🙂

  • on the best of 2018 list! Intriguing. Of course I love that it is long lasting. Always learning something, I didn’t know that about the tanning process. I’d love a chance to try this. I’ve not smelled anything from this line. USA.

  • All opinions are welcome !!! <3
    I love to hear your thoughts.

    Dear WaltherP99: It's your right to disagree with my observations: what a boring world we would inhabit if we were each cookie-cutter images of one another! What you posit is of considerable interest and merit!
    It should be noted, however – that it would never occur to me to attempt to discredit someone else so that my opinion appears more valuable. No good ever comes of it, and this strategy has a way of backfiring. Let us agree to disagree amicably with lovingkindness.