New Niche Fragrance Review: Parfums Viktoria Minya Hedonist + Sensual Pleasures Sample Draw

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Viktoria Minya

The dictionary defines a hedonist as “one who believes pleasure is of the highest good”, one who feeds their senses and revels in it. Award-winning Hungarian perfumer Viktoria Minya has released her first fragrance and called it Hedonist and it is truly a delight for the senses. Of all the senses, Viktoria has always been guided by her nose…back to when she tried to capture the scent of her father mowing the lawn, as a child, by saving grass clippings and making her first crude extraction attempt! After studying perfumery in Grasse, France she worked for a while for other perfume houses and longed for a time she herself could indulge in fine raw materials and not worry about marketing trends, target audiences or the corporate “bottom dollar”.  This perfume was just as much an indulgence for the perfumer to create, I imagine; as it was for me to wear it.

cafleurebon VM flacon 2

The first sense to be delighted is sight, followed closely by touch. The flacon is presented in a wooden box made to give the tactile sensation of snakeskin leather lined in silky black material. Upon examining it further, one sees tiny Bohemian crystals moving in the golden perfume. The thick round ergonomic bottle, the smooth gold collar and the faceted cap all hint at the opulence and luxury inside. The packaging is indulgent, but not overdone. Not for one who truly enjoys not only wearing great perfume, but also the sensual ritual of it all.

grapefeeding

One’s nose is the next to be enchanted. An opening as sweet and fruity as it is boozy and bright greets the nose. Images of drinking dark rum with a citrus twist and feeding ripe sweet fruit to someone you adore appear in my mind’s eye. This fruit is juicy and golden against the warm sweet woody booziness. I cannot taste the actual juice, but the smell of Hedonist has my mouth nearly watering. Though no honey is listed, it feels very honeyed to me.

 

 jeu-de-mains-nicole-marbaise

Jeu de Mains by Nicole Marbaise

The heart of this perfume is decadently floral. Orange blossom, osmanthus and jasmine together create an almost carnal floral experience, as sensual and creamy as it is fresh and stimulating. The floral notes dominate this scent for a while yet the addition of tobacco into the heart adds a drier herbal aspect. As it lingers and swirls with the other notes it all becomes duskier and more down to earth but the naughty aspects still peek out from time to time.

cafleurebon VM wendyNg abstractwoman 5

Abstract Woman by Wendy Ng

One of the most noteworthy things about this scent is its complexity. The notes sound pretty straightforward; but on sniffing my wrist, exhaling and then sniffing deeply and slowly more layers of this gem became apparent. Undertones of spices with whispers of balms and sweet resins titillate and tease beneath the graceful dance at the surface. Rum, fruit, flowers, leaves…no matter what notes shows themselves at any particular moment, the overall aura of Hedonist is one of luxury, pure and simple! The simple yet elegant dry down of vanilla, vetiver and cedar that remains wraps you in a comfortable cocoon of scent. It clings to the skin, like a personal guilty pleasure; yet, its richly woody floral/grassy scent can be sensed by others and was complimented each time it was noticed, pleasing one’s ears.

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Viktoria Minya at Work

Viktoria Minya has managed to capture and please all five of my senses with this release, and she has done so richly and deeply without overdoing any of these powerful notes. Here all the parts shine stronger and more brightly than they normally would, without being loud or obnoxious. This fragrance is masterfully layered and beautifully blended. I do believe any true hedonist (who appreciated scent) who wanted to pleasure their senses would be proud and happy to wear this perfume. It’s sexy and powerful, in a very reserved and dignified way, never ostentatious yet infinitely rich…not in money, but rich from living life! Sillage: good. Longevity: very good.  

Disclosure: Review based on a sample sent to me by Parfums Viktoria Minya.

Thanks to Parfums Viktoria Minya we have 10 samples of Hedonist to giveaway. To be eligible leave a comment on what is your most hedonistic pleasure. The draw will end on April 12, 2013.

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

-John Reasinger, Senior Editor

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57 comments

  • My greatest hedonistic pleasure has to be my hobby of collecting and wearing perfumes!

  • I have contrived everything in my life to be hedonistic! If one dares do this, you will love it so much that you will share you pleasure with others! So the joy of perfume…and of a life to wrap around it!

  • Fabulous review John and as we are speaking I have a bottle of this fragrance on the way to me and I am now even more excited to receive it 🙂

  • Janet in California says:

    Hedonist sounds wonderful. What a glowing review.

    My favorite hedonistic pleasure is putting on a great perfume, climbing into my soft and cozy bed, reading a book I can get lost in, while nibbling on fine chocolate and drinking good wine. The perfect evening!

  • My hedonistic pleasures often revolves around good food and a good time. I love a good evening of eating a creamy capsicum dip, salty crackers, dark chocolate, alcoholic cider and dancing in my room in my underwear.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    for me its perfumes and continuous self-deception that they keep me away from drugs, smoking, and alcohol (drinking-type, not smelling type) 😀

  • My most hedonistic pleasure is a glass of red wine in one hand and a deep, dark piece of chocolate in the other.

  • One of my most hedonistic pleasures is French macarons, when I can get them. Otherwise, a small glass of green chartreuse…I can’t wait to try this perfume, thanks for the great draw!

  • Perfumes, of course. Not just from the point of view of expense alone but also from the point of view of sheer pleasure. It is hedonistic to spend so much on myself when there’s other expenses to meet, as well. As for pleasure, well books are the only pleasure greater still. I am of course not counting the pleasures of relationship. Thanks for the draw.

  • Definitely perfume…the pleasure of spraying it, bathing in it and wearing it when no one else is there. Oh and wearing it to bed. Alone.

    Hedonist sounds totally indulgent too!

  • Perfume, great food, good wines, travel abroad just for a ballet performance I want to see
    thanks for the draw

  • I’ve been wanting to sample this one!

    As far as my pleasures: Imported chocolates, perfume, more perfume, cooking magazines/books…and sometimes I cook things from them too:).

  • Don’t even get me started about my hedonistic days which start with oysters and champagne, continue with trips along the lake through the farmers’ markets trying tons of amazing fresh cheeses and meats (and mulled wine in wintertime) and ending in a spa high up the mountain with an open-air jacuzzi…. Ah ah.

  • I already sampled this fragrance and loved it!!! But an extra sample cannot hurt, right? 🙂
    My favorite hedonistic moment is a nice trip into the wild, where I feel I am in the middle of Nature.
    Ok this, …and perfumers of course!!! LOL

  • I have a great collection of silk scarves that are kept in the same cabinet as my perfumes. To see, touch and smell both collections at once is definitely a hedonistic pleasure, especially sharing them with a friend and a glass of wine.

  • Of course, my most hedonistic pleasure, besides devoting myself to know more and better about perfumes, is to spend a lot in good restaurants with my friends! I love how it can gather many of the best things in life: scents, flavors, comfort and good company!

  • Definitely my perfume collection and going to perfume events, and also anything about my dog. These are the two things I do/have just for happiness, which I have come to realize is extremely important!

  • I am with the people who say perfume is their most hedonistic pleasure. I would add that I use essential oils everyday too, and one of them is sandalwood, another neroli, which bring me a lot of pleasure every day.

  • My favourite hedonistic pleasure is drinking champagne after a hard working day! but a like others: a good dinner with a great winne at the week-end, a good massage, a foaming bath, lying on the beach in a sunny winter day….

  • Treating yourself to a lot of perfume, aromatic bath and a lot of laze on the same day

  • Well let me see…. Perfume, more perfume and a bit of perfume on top of that!! Also I do love good food, wine, coctails, laying like a lazy cat under the sun!! Beautiful article!! Thank you!!

  • Perfumes, good food, nice wine, great music, massages, vacations in the sun. Thanks for the draw.

  • My hedonist pleasures are fine wine and chocolate! Great review and thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • My most hedonistic indulgence is a day spent in bed with my lover.Truly exquisite and intoxicating!

  • Mary Carol says:

    I would have to say perfume, of course, Aside from that, dark chocolate and good food. Thank you for the drawing!

  • wefadetogray says:

    cooking massive amounts of food for my friends and eating and drinking with them is one of my biggest pleasures. I feel it’s good for my soul.
    melting chocolate and then grabbing a spoon and eating until I get sick feels like heaven to me.
    being with my husband doing nothing but eating and relaxing next to each other is paradise.

  • This sounds lovely. I am looking forward to trying this. I have several hedonistic pleasures but I make no apologies. Good food, great wine, a peaty scotch, the occasional massage, an indulgent vacation – sign me up.

  • My hedonistic pleasures include music and dance. With a good perfume wafting from the dance floor.

  • Beautiful bottle. I would love to try Hedonist!

    My favorite hedonistic pleasure is collecting perfume, of course 🙂

  • My favourite hedonistic pleasure are the perfumes. Like everyone else here. You simply can not resist them. Thanks for the draw!

  • A generous cup of hot chocolate with a good wallop of vanilla topped with marshmallows.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Good food, laughing with good friends, drinking some great local beers, and wearing some great scent while doing all of the above. Thanks! This scent sounds wonderful.

  • Sarah Lathrop says:

    My most hedonistic pleasure is perfume, of course! Thanks for the chance to win a sample of this fragrance. Wearing perfume and really tuning in to the experience can be like a mini vacation.

  • I suppose my most hedonistic pleasure would be skinny-dipping on a warm summer day/evening. Thanks for the draw!

  • Hedonistic pleasures: perfume of course, and body products that smell and feel good, flowers, chocolate, tea, bubble baths, massages, music, art, wearing natural fibers like cashmere, linen, silk, surrounding myself with beautiful touchable things, spending the morning in my warm soft bed listening to a thunderstorm and breathing in the charged air…not sure which is ‘most’ hedonistic since mostl may have health benefits in addition to being pleasures. Generally smell/taste and touch are the senses I think of when I think of ‘pure’ pleasure.

    Nature engages and pleases the senses but somehow I think most people think of being outdoors as wholesome and therefore diametrically opposed to hedonistic.

    Thank you for the lovely review and draw!

  • Perfume of course!
    Reading in bed, a great meal, and high calorie snacks!
    No to-do list is always nice!

  • My most hedonistic pleasure is indulging my sense of smell in perfume, of course! Other than that, I don’t have many vices. Chocolate, tea, come to mind- but of course what is hedonistic to one may not be to another!

  • I must say that European facials are my favorite hedonistic pleasure. I indulge in facials and perfume purchasing as often as my pocketbook allows.