New Fragrance Review: Viktoria Minya Hedonist Rose and Hedonist Iris + A Tale of Three Sexy Sisters Perfume Draw

viktoria minya hedonist perfumes hedonist , rose, iris

Viktoria Minya and Hedonist (2013), Hedonist Iris, (2014) and Hedonist Rose (2014)

Following on from the Silver Fox's golden review of Eau de Hongrie, we now take a closer look at Hungarian perfumer Viktoria Minya's two other recent creations- new siblings for her glorious debut fragrance Hedonist. The original is a glowing peachy dream of languid juices, infused with a precisely crafted tobacco note that glimmers with gilded sophistication. These latest releases continue the theme of pursuing one's bliss; of scent as the ultimate satisfaction. Both have Viktoria's signature opulence and smoothness yet are disparate in character. Hedonist Iris is a whispering sigh, Hedonist Rose a radiant smile at a party. I am the original Hedonist perfumes's greatest fan, so you can imagine my delight at the prospect of two more scented indulgences. I've enjoyed both immensely and who wouldn't covet one of those spectacular Swarovski-loaded bottles!

viktoria minya hedonist iris alphonse mucha iris

Hedonist Iris by Viktoria Minya and Alphonse Mucha The Flower Series Iris 1898 (re-imaged MC)

Hedonist Iris features notes of bergamot, pink pepper, black currant, iris, cedar, cacao pod, musk and labdanum. Ms. Minya describes the scent on her website as "a romantic perfume for a graceful woman who cares for sensual luxury. The essence of this pure fragrance is the most expensive natural raw material of all – Iris butter. Its cool elegance is laced with tantalising notes of cocoa and blackcurrant absolute and crowned by a fine blend of musks." Wearing Hedonist Iris is like slipping on a pair of velvet opera gloves; from the start the scent is a delicate shiver of textures. Gentle musks and powdered iris appear first, sweetly touched with an underlying creaminess. There is a slight piquancy from pink pepper and as the perfume warms a deliciously vintage floral bouquet sings beside tart fruitiness. The almost liquid sweetness that is a common thread in all of Viktoria's fragrances is the most muted in Hedonist Iris, yet underneath the dusted mauve petals it is still detectable. This is a scent for those who love a little sugar coating on their irises. A very soft, whispering and elegant perfume indeed.

hedonist rose viktoria minya and alphonse mucha

Hedonist Rose Alphonse Mucha Die Rose 1898 (reimaged MC)

Hedonist Rose is comprised using notes of lemon, clove, peach, rose, amber, musk and white wine. This shimmering pink vision is painted as "an audacious perfume for a woman who recognises the strength and allure of her own femininity, dominated by the most noble natural raw material – Rose oil. The voluptuous body of this sensual elixir is tempered with the aroma of white wine and light ambery notes."  The opening of Hedonist Rose is all celebratory cork-popping and sparkling bubbles. The overwhelming impression is one of a dessert table at a party; champagne glasses overflowing, peaches and cream, rose fondant chocolates and rose petal jelly flecked with shredded gold leaf. It's a radiant scent, aglow with candlelight and decadence. The rose focal point is beautifully balanced with sweet wine and citrus, a deeper richness of amber bolstering these high notes and adding a deeper tone. Where Hedonist Iris is understated, the Rose is joyous and carefree. A truly gourmand expression of roses, matured with an alcoholic fluidity that just oozes pleasure.

The new Hedonists, Rose and Iris are sexy siblings and hold their own next to their older sister.  I would gladly wear any of them every day for the rest of my life if I could.

Disclosure- I gratefully received my samples from Viktoria Minya.

Susie Baird– contributor and editor of Epiphany.

cafleurebon hedonist, hedonist rose and hedonist iris viktoria minya

Viktoria Minya Hedonist samples and Alphonse Mucha art by Susie

Thanks to Viktoria Minya we have a sample set of Hedonist Rose, Hedonist Iris and Hedonist for one reader anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Susie’s review, which Hedonist perfumes you think you would love and where you live by December 17, 2014

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume

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33 comments

  • Dana says:

    Hmm let’s see, what appeals to me…the scent description, all the Alphonse Mucha references, the fact that these perfumes have been created by a dear friend of mine. I would love to try Hedonist Rose. I live in Montreal.

    Thank you!

  • Tami H. says:

    It all sounds wonderful. I am a huge fan of Iris and Labdanum and the others sound great as well.
    I am in the U.S. Thanks for the draw!

  • Claudia says:

    They are gorgeous, I received my sample set from VM, my favorite is the Iris and I am expecting to see a bottle under the tree this year 🙂

  • Michelle H says:

    The review with the Mucha imagery is a perfect pairing. The wording of the review and the beautiful images of languid women with flowers capture the sensual facets of femininity. I think I would love all three Hedonist creations, as they seem to each fit a different mood.

  • Gillian says:

    I love anything gourmandish, so Hedonist Rose appeals to me. The review made me want to try them both, though. I absolutely love the original, so I’m very excited to try the new additions.

    I live in the US.

  • dina a says:

    These sound like cousins if my fave p.g. And Vero perfomo scents. Would live to try the iris above all.

  • FazalCheema says:

    the bottles are just amazing…Hedonist Iris may appeal to me more, with blackcurrant and musks in addition to iris..also it seems like more radiant..thanks for the lovely draw. i am in the US

  • julesinrose says:

    Everything appeals. As a rose lover, I’d imagined the Hedonist Rose would intrigue me the most, but the Iris sounds divine – iris butter, cocoa, and blackcurrant! Oh my my!! I’m wearing Eau de Hongrie right now (can’t get enough of it!). I would love to smell the rest of the line!! Cheers!

  • Sun Mi says:

    I love the ddescriptionswhispering sigh and radiant smile – what a beautiful way to describe perfume! These scents sound positively amazing! Originally I thought I would like the rise the most, but now in thinking maybe the iris. Thanks for the draw! In the US.

  • orsetta says:

    Lovely review – while clearly listing the notes, also keeps the poetic charms of both scents. i’ve heard so many good things about all 3 new releases that actually everything appeals 😀 . thanks for the draw, i’m in the EU

  • Lyubov says:

    I was drawn by Hedonist Iris from the first time it popped up on the net a few weeks ago. I really have no idea what it could smell like, even after the whole lotta reviews and opinions I have read, but Susie seems to channel my expectations in a certain direction, especially with the phrase “a delicate shiver of textures”. The iris note grew on me over the last two-three years, and I know that it has as many faces as the rose. I love roses, but I find the iris note much more intriguing. Moreover, I love the first Hedonist, and I am a huge fan of Mucha! Thanks to Susie for the fabulous review!
    I am in Bulgaria (EU).

  • Patty P. says:

    As an iris lover, that’s the one I’d reach for first. The description here in the article makes it seem all the more enticing. USA 🙂

  • AMDB10 says:

    What appeals to me in Susie’s review is these two phrases:
    “an audacious perfume for a woman who recognizes the strength and allure of her own femininity” and
    “A truly gourmand expression of roses, matured with an alcoholic fluidity that just oozes pleasure”
    I would really love to try Hedonist Rose. I live in EU.

  • Joker says:

    Very nice review. I heard a lot about Viktoria Minya and her perfumes. I think I would love all of these scents.
    I live in Europe.

  • Ferris Égoïste says:

    I love the description of Hedonist Iris”Wearing Hedonist Iris is like slipping on a pair of velvet opera gloves; from the start the scent is a delicate shiver of textures.” I love scents that incorporate cocoa and iris in their formulas. I dont have a favorite because i have not had the pleasure of trying any of Vikoria’s scents. Thanks for the draw. Im in the US

  • Cynthia says:

    I love the description of Hedonist Rose, “The overwhelming impression is one of a dessert table at a party; champagne glasses overflowing, peaches and cream, rose fondant chocolates and rose petal jelly flecked with shredded gold leaf. It’s a radiant scent, aglow with candlelight and decadence”. Such an appealing and beautiful scent description! Obiously, i would pick Rose! USA. Thanks for the draw

  • Lorinda says:

    Iris and rose are 2 of my favorite flower notes, and I LOVE that this review brings up iris butter – a natural ingredient that is costly. The velvet opera gloves is a very apt description for me in regards to the iris butter, I would love to try the Iris. I am in the US, Thank you for the draw.

  • QuoterGal says:

    I think I would love all three Hedonist perfumes (not to mention Viktoria Minya’s Eau de Hongrie, which sounds fascinating) – the lush combinations of florals, boozy notes, and herbal/resiny/wood notes are so appealing, and hit all the sweet spits. (The bottles are also gorgeous.)

    This vivid gourmand-y description from Susie’s review especially drew me in: “The overwhelming impression is one of a dessert table at a party; champagne glasses overflowing, peaches and cream, rose fondant chocolates and rose petal jelly flecked with shredded gold leaf.”

    I live in West Hollywood, CA.

  • Nemo says:

    They both sound scrumptious and beautiful 🙂 I have not tried any of Viktoria’s perfumes yet. I am in the US, thank you!

  • Laurels says:

    I’ve had a brief sniff of the original Hedonist, and would love to get better acquainted with it. The description of Hedonist Rose as “a radiant smile at a party” is more appealing than any advertising I’ve seen this year, and yes, I do like my irises with a little sugar coating. I’m in the US.

  • Anka says:

    Thank you, Susie, for these wonderful reviews and the draw! Up to now I’ve not had the chance to test any of Viktoria Minya’s fragrances and both the rose and the iris sound like “ultimate satisfaction” to me. It’s nice that you call yourself the perfumer’s greatest fan, it makes me even more curious.
    I am in the EU.

  • Missi B says:

    I think I will like hedonist rose: “A truly gourmand expression of roses, matured with an alcoholic fluidity that just oozes pleasure.” And I like the use of Alfons Mucha paintings, they seem fitting to this perfume creations. I am in the EU. Thanks for the draw!

  • MikasMinion says:

    A bubbly sparkling gourmand rose by the creator of Hedonist can only be a winner and I’m actually curious about the Iris as well since I have found few that have worked for me. I love the Mucha illustrations too. I’m in the U.S. thank you.

  • Pam says:

    I keep reading so much about Viktoria minya and hedonist
    I love roses and irises so I am sure I would love both
    The image of the rose and champagne and the iris and evening glove were so beautiful
    I am a devotee to Alphonse Mucha deco style and loved the art
    I live in the USA

  • SylviaP says:

    “Joyous and carefree . . . oozes pleasure” Hedonist Rose I must try asap. I am in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I enjoyed reading Susie’s review and her descriptions of the two fragrances as a whispering sigh versus a radiant smile, I think I would like Hedonist Iris perfume best with its pink pepper, black currant and cedar notes. Her bottles are amazing with the crystals! I live in US.

  • mim says:

    All the sensory descriptions are so appealing and fit with the whole idea of Hedonist scents–luxurious tastes and textures. But my favorite part was where they are each like sisters with different personalities; based on that, rather than only notes, I think I’d most like spending time with Hedonist Rose.
    Thanks for the reviews and draw! USA

  • Irina says:

    “velvet opera gloves” brought long forgotten memories- loved that
    I think I’d go for Hedonist Iris
    thanks so much for the draw
    I live in Israel

  • Ginny M says:

    What I loved about Susie’s review is the absolutely wonderful, evocative language! Beautifully written — a pleasure to read. Hard to say, but I think I’d love the original most of all, but would very much like to sniff every one! I live in the US, and thanks for the draw!