New Perfume Review: Hendley Perfumes Amora (Hans Hendley) + A Bower of Addiction Draw

Magda Laguinge from editorial ‘Couture Adventure’, lensed by Jumbo Tsui for Harper’s Bazaar China, December 2013

Magda Laguinge from the Fashion editorial ‘Couture Adventure’, by Jumbo Tsui for Harper’s Bazaar China, December 2013 (digitally altered by TSF)

 

 ‘A slumber did my spirit seal;  

I had no human fears:

She seemed a thing that could not feel

The touch of earthly years’.  From ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ by William Wordsworth

 hans hendley perfumer

Hans Hendley Portrait by TSF

I love the work of Hans Hendley, he is a very special guy; when I reviewed his debut collection for the Foxy blog in March 2015, I realised there was something unique and sensual in his stillness and capture of the world whether through his glowing, jewel-like olfaction or the luminescent precision of his photographic hinterland. He has an incredible visual eye that reveals itself in series after assembly of soothing atmospheric images. Hans has a BFA in Photography from the University of North Texas School of Visual Arts and has worked in a lomography store in New York, passing on his skills and visual know how to others.   Everything he creates is informed by his careful, patient persona. There is exquisite attention to detail in his work from the tincturing of materials, the determination to surprise and surpass himself, the inherent beauty of self-improvement alongside his crafted labels, logos, boxes, sealing wax and small personal touches that imbue his work with humble pride and artistry.

violet-dress-secret-shore-harpers-bazaar-china

Fashion Editorial ‘Secret Shore’, Magda Laguinge by Jumbo Tsui Harper’s Bazaar China

I have Fume, Auric, Bourbon and Rosenthal in my collection; all of them beautiful. Fume thrills me with its dirty forest smoke and haunted spaces littered with galbanum tread and medicinal shade. My bottle of Bourbon is shifting in the darkness of my study, the throaty, woozy vanilla, heavy on the tonka and an unusual tawny cognac oil to exalt the sooty sheathed bean. Rosenthal is my favourite, a darkened anisic, chewy rose with darkness on its mind. A mix of unctuous sandalwood, patchouli and spiky juniper add a strange dimension to a smoky and arrestingly sensual rose.  The Hendley collection is signed throughout by a deeply personal signature,

HansinfrontofOrgan

Hans Hendley in front of his perfume organ (Hans Hendley)

Hans has worked hard to control his beautiful materials and accords, arranging them to create intrigue, pulchritude and pursuance. The spearmint and violet of Jade, orris root and ginger of Gia and the patchouli oil, orange blossom and cacao extract in Auric; these things are the imaginings and concrete olfaction of someone who has purpose, on a journey to redolent revelation.

 hendley amora perfume

Hendley Perfumes Amora ©TSF

Now we have Amora, which in this Fox’s humble opinion is not only Hans’ best work to date, but also one of the most addictive and beautiful perfumes I’ve smelled in a while. The addiction of it is part of the perfume’s distinctive character.  You will know what I mean when you try it; you will it very hard to stop inhaling your our skin. I became oddly obsessed with my wrists to the point where they no longer felt like my own. If you had sprayed Amora on me and told me it was a new MDCI or Chanel Les Exclusif, something from Mathilde Laurent at Cartier I might have been swayed to believe you, the blending and quality of materials is that good. I don’t want to sound like I am any way throwing shade at the earlier work, because I love them and wear them all the time, but Hans himself is aware it has been a year and half since he has launched anything and he is a little jittery about the reception to Amora. He has been honing and developing his techniques and any worries he has are utterly groundless. Amora marks that moment when he moves from hardy proud wool to finest molten cashmere, the feel and texture of this composition is exquisite.

Hans Hendley Amora

Amora Image ©TSF

I knew as soon as I inhaled it I had such words for it, Amora is a story scent, woven with love and passion. It is built essentially from luscious stone fruit accords, peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots mixed with berries, a stunning rose absolute, blonde tobacco, sweet resins, musks and ambergris.  Everything has a delicious sense of abandonment, a sweet boozy fall, underpinned by decay, lipstick and fumy dust.

girl-in-white-photo

Girl in white – Fashion Editorial for LIFE MAGAZINE 2016 June Issue  Jumbo Tsui

For me Amora tells the tale of a beautiful girl who has left her quiet forested lands to walk runways and grace a thousand glossed pages. Now she is exhausted, homesick, tired of the fluttering hands in cacophonous ateliers, striding runways in shoes of mousebone and peacock feathers while couture pricks blood from her pale skin. The lights and photographers dull her eyes; the judgemental frow and social media erode her. One night waiting her moment in a trailing gown of red silk feathers and hours upon hours of blood-flecked embroidery, Amora turns and walks away; away from the lights and voices, picking up her shoes and running barefoot down corridors and out into the streets and cold night. Traffic and city life exploding around her, she walks, her gown gathered in her arms, in and out of the cars, ignoring the calls and leers. After hours of silent walking, she reaches the edge of the city that has held her tight for so long; beneath is green and the scent of trees, leaves and the sounds of wing and claw.

stair-shot-sui-he-in-the-shadows

Sui He ‘In the Shadows’ Fashion Editorial for Modern Weekly China by Jumbo Tsui

Eyes watch Amora in her red of red gown as she moves though the trees, pale skin glowing in the moonlight. It feels a little like coming home she thinks as the small house appears through the verdancy, overgrown but alive and welcoming, lit she realises by morning sun pouring down from above. Small fragments of scarlet feather and pearlescent beads are discarded across the forest floor as Amora walks languidly to the door. Inside, the room is suffused with honeyed light from rough-hewn stained glass blocks filtering the sun. A scarred wooden table in the centre of the room is scattered with tumbled fruits, golden apricots, cherries, furred peaches, nectarines and an array of green, purple and burgundy plums. Some are fresh and vibrantly alive, others decaying, dropping softly into the table surface. Everywhere is dust, the floor littered with rose petals and some forgotten fruit, the air sugared and acerbic by turn.  A fire has recently been extinguished; the ghost of smoking wood hangs in corners and edges of the room. 

Magda Laguinge  ‘Couture Adventure

Magda Laguinge in a Fashion editorial ‘Couture Adventure’, by Jumbo Tsui for Harper’s Bazaar China, December 2013

Amora is exhausted, she needs to sleep; the heady scented air in the room is making her drowsy. The hints of narcosis, powdered jamminess and glowing fruits cause her to swoon to the bloom-strewn floor. Outside from miles around, birds, deer, lynx, wolves, snakes and bears gather at windows and door to watch over Amora as she slumbers and inhale the exquisite smoky, sweet vanishing. They have seen this before, this sleep, so deep, so beautiful amid the fruits and roses. This is Amora, the delicious addictive fairytale, a scent that will obsess your skin. Hans Hendley has created a perfume of rare magnificence. Buy it, slumber amid the fruit and roses, wear your own skin like a dream. 

 Disclosure: My 9ml bottle of Amora was sent to me by Hans Hendley. Thank you. All opinions my own.

The Silver Fox, Guest Contributor, and Author of The Silver Fox

MC Editor’s Note All photos by Jumbo Tsai and have been digitally altered by TSF: Hans’ Auric won a 2015  Cafleurebon Best of Scent and Hans Hendley has participated in our Perfumers Workshop The Perfume Organ.  Our Reviews of Tama, Auric, Bourbon and Rosenthal here and Fume here

Thanks to Hans Hendley of Hendley Perfumes we have a worldwide  draw for a registered reader (you need to do this or you are ineligible) for a  Amora 9ml travel spray or a sampler set of the seven fragrances in the line Amora, Auric, Rosenthal, Jade, Bourbon, Fume and Gia. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about The Silver Fox’s review (he REALLY REALLY  loves this one folks), where you live  and which of the offers of sampler or sprayer you would chose should you win. Draw closes  10//7/2016

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon @everdandysilverfox and  @hendleyperfumes

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.

 

 

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41 comments

  • Great job, TSF! “You will know what I mean when you try it; you will it very hard to stop inhaling your our skin…” the review and descriptions were fascinating!

    I’d love to win Amora 9ml travel spray. Thank you so much! (EU)

  • When TSF raves, I pay attention! Beautiful writing (as always)and oh! the article enthusiasm! In the US. Would love the Zamora travel spray and to be addicted to a new frag!

  • doveskylark says:

    I love Silver Fox’s tale of Amora. Sometimes when I am nervous with insomnia, I imagine sleeping in a forest with all the creatures watching over me. It’s a safe feeling. I’d love to wear this scent on the many nights when all I want is to “slumber amid the fruit and roses.”
    I’d love to win Amora travel spray. I live in the USA.

  • Thank you for the wonderful review TSF! I enjoy all of your reviews, they are always different and interesting to read.
    Amora sounds amazing! I would love to win a travel spray. Thanks for the chance! USA

  • What is funny is that when I first read this review, I thought the person writing it must love Modernist poetry, lol. Just the way the descriptions are couched makes me think it.

    The novelization of the scent as a girl was very interesting, very modern fairytale. Our world today often has no peace for anyone, mundane or even spiritual peace. I like the way the fruits are described as working and of course the resins make me feel like I would like it. The comment about smelling wrists but being depersonalized in a way made me laugh as I often wear scents only to smell them myself, as if my skin was the quote cigar to sniff. LOL!

    I am in the USA and would pick the sampler.

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    TSF, your writing was especially exquisite in this article, and it obviously matches your feelings about Amora! I love the description of Amora’s homecoming…

    Thank you for a beautiful review; you have outdone yourself.

    And thank you HH for the generous draw! I’d choose Amora, of course!

  • MikasMinion says:

    I forgot for a moment that I was reading a perfume review and wanted the story to go on. I guess I will need to try Amora and the rest of the Hendley fragrances and create my own fairytale. I’m in the US and since I haven’t sampled the line at all, would prefer the sampler. Thank you.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Thank you so much for wonderful article & review. I also read now the attached links dated Feb 5 2015 (Steve Johnson) and 15 Nov 2015 (The Nosey Artist).
    A fragrance is a framed story, but the Silver Fox review about the Amora is like a journey in reality and I enjoy reading it. The description is lovely & I love that. I am impressed & would like to have all of the perfumes from Hans Hendley specially Tama, Amora & Fume.
    Thanks to the generosity of Hans Hendley for the draw & I’ll chose Amora 9ml travel spray.
    Peshawar, Pakistan

  • The paragraph above the Girl in white photograph got me (I won’t cut and paste it here). So if I win I choose the Amora 9ml travel spray. I have in the past tried Bourbon from the Hendley line. USA

  • Whoa. What a review! This is my favorite part.

    Amora is exhausted, she needs to sleep; the heady scented air in the room is making her drowsy. The hints of narcosis, powdered jamminess and glowing fruits cause her to swoon to the bloom-strewn floor. Outside from miles around, birds, deer, lynx, wolves, snakes and bears gather at windows and door to watch over Amora as she slumbers and inhale the exquisite smoky, sweet vanishing. They have seen this before, this sleep, so deep, so beautiful amid the fruits and roses. This is Amora, the delicious addictive fairytale, a scent that will obsess your skin. Hans Hendley has created a perfume of rare magnificence. Buy it, slumber amid the fruit and roses, wear your own skin like a dream.

    I live in the U.S. And would love to win the Sampler Set. Thank you for the giveaway!

  • I would love to have a go for the sampler set. Reading The Silver Fox’s review made me very curious about this brand, especially Rosenthal, as I am a huge rose lover. I live in EU. Thanks!

  • Sounds wonderful! The Silver Fox’s reviews are dangerous, and always send me down the rabbit hole.

    I have yet to try anything by Hans Hedley. I’d love to start with Amara. Please count me in for the draw, thank you. Canada.

  • What a lovely scented fairytale! I always enjoy the beauty of the words of Silver Fox’s reviews. Although he has made Amora sound very tempting, I would like to learn more about this line so would choose the sampler. Thanks for the review. And something about Hans face looks so familiar….hmmm. USA

  • hannahjean55 says:

    I love the description of this scent! MY favorite part is that the name
    Amore reminds me so much of my newborn daughter Aurora and the fairytale that is sleeping beauty. The deep slumber sounds absolutely delightful! I would love the travel size of Amora.

  • fazalcheema says:

    It is clear TSF is quite impressed if he admits he might have mistake it as something from Chanel, MDCI, or Cartier. Hans did his degree in photography and moved to NY. here is really something about NY that attracts artists. Thanks for the generous draw. Given TSF’s enthusiasm, I will choose Amora travel spray. I am in the US

  • Iuno Feronia says:

    Kudos to The Silver Fox and Hans Hendley! this must be a very exiting perfume. Thanks for the draw, I would love to try this on my wrist!
    I live in the EU.

  • Wonderful review as always. Amora sounds incredibly good from the review. I would very like to try it. If I would be as lucky to win, my choice is Amora 9ml travel spray. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • It’s clear TSF likes this Amore so much that he has my wanting to try the entire house to see which ones I’ll like. So if I am chosen I’d welcome the sample set. US 🙂

  • Reading the review was like reading a story, very nice. Would like to smell it my own. I live in Europe.

  • There is something fantastical about a fragrance so fully realized that it seems to come alive. Amara sounds like that scent, one that is more than notes scattered here and there, just as a person is more than a collection of eyes, lips, and limbs. I imagine Amara is a beauty entire that arrests one’s attention and makes one take a deep breath. Thank you to The Silver Fox for telling Amara’s story. A few months ago I enjoyed samples of Gia and Auric. I would love to try Amara, too.

  • What a wonderful review, totally captured me and brought me into the story. I would love to try this fragrance. Amora is a beautiful name for a perfume, I would love the travel spray. I live in the USA.

  • This review was a scent fairy tale. He used very beautiful and vivid imagery. “Shoes of mousebone and peacock feathers”, “the room is suffused with honeyed light”, and “the ghost of smoking wood hangs in corners and edges of the room.” This must be one super perfume! After visiting the Hendley Perfumes site, I would love the sampler set. I live in the USA.

  • This review has almost made me fall in love with this perfume without smelling it! I need this addictive, smoky jamminess in my life. I would choose the travel spray of Amora, I live in Canada, thank you for the draw and the review!

  • skiclimblive09 says:

    I enjoyed the review’s description of the notes and how they play together. I’m learning to enjoy perfumes with sweet notes more and more and am keen to try Amora if drawn. Thanks for hosting the draw. I am a US resident. Cheers!

    C.

  • Salim Khattak says:

    This is a sublime review by The Silver Fox. What an incredible story and description about a perfume. I enjoy reading as a fairytale and made me fall in love with this perfume without testing it.
    Thanks for the giveaway. My choice is bottle of Amora.
    I live in Peshawar, Pakistan

  • cinnamon tree says:

    Another great review by TSF! I’ve never tried any fragrance by Hendley and I’d love to. Amora sounds so great that I’d choose a travel spray. Thank you for the draw. I live in the EU.

  • I love this part of the review, it’s so poetic and vivid: “Eyes watch Amora in her red of red gown as she moves though the trees, pale skin glowing in the moonlight. It feels a little like coming home she thinks as the small house appears through the verdancy, overgrown but alive and welcoming, lit she realises by morning sun pouring down from above…”

    I’d love to feel and smell this moment while spraying Amora on my wrist…

    My choice would be 9 ml travel spray. Thank you for so generous draw! I live in Europe.

  • If The Silver Fox says “Hans Hendley has created a perfume of rare magnificence. Buy it, slumber amid the fruit and roses, wear your own skin like a dream.” then who am I to disagree? 😉 I’d love to try this fragrance, I’d choose a travel spray. Thank you for the review! Greetings from Norway.

  • I have been searching for a fume to be addicted to forever. I would love to try this as it sounds totally addictive. I have Fume and it’s very unique for sure! completely different. the artwork was lovely in this review. I would choose the sample set so I can try all of the others as well (although it was kind of tough to not go for just the rollerball) – but then I thought – I can always get more! Thank you. I’m in US and registered.

  • “A scarred wooden table in the centre of the room is scattered with tumbled fruits, golden apricots, cherries, furred peaches, nectarines and an array of green, purple and burgundy plums. Some are fresh and vibrantly alive, others decaying, dropping softly into the table surface. Everywhere is dust, the floor littered with rose petals and some forgotten fruit, the air sugared and acerbic by turn.” I would like to enter this room … or to win a travel spray and to sniff a fragrance in it. Thanks! I am in EU.

  • Did I mention that I am a big fan of your reviews? This one is amazing and I can almost smell Amora. I’d love a travel spray. I live in the EU, thank you for so nice draw!

  • Miss Almond says:

    What a beautiful fairy tale. Sounds hypnotizing and I bet Amora is as fascinating as the review. I’d love a travel spray. Thank you for the draw! I live in Europe.

  • Stunning images and the perfume portrayed as a woman pursued by photags is incredible story telling
    Please enter me I live in Canada

  • How wonderful to be able to understand Hans Hendley’s evolution as a perfumer through reading this review! I’ve never had the chance to try his fragrances, so I loved hearing about The Silver Fox’s experiences with the line. “Amora marks that moment when he moves from hardy proud wool to finest molten cashmere…'” I hope Hans takes that to heart and loses his jitters! They all sound wonderful, though. I’d love to win the sampler to compare them all. I live in Canada, thank you.

  • I was dreaming away in this review and would like to change the draw into a date with Hans Hendley. I think i’m in love, haha!
    And i would love to test all fragrances from his making so i will go for the sample set.

    Good smelling regards from the Netherlands!

  • Yes, I also wouldn’t say no to a date with Hans Hendley 😀

    The review is great, I loved the story and I’d love to experence the smell of Amora on my body, hair, dress…

    Thanks for the draw! I live in the EU.

  • I love this quote of Wordsworth.
    I believe this can be a fragrance teling its own intimate story about “earth’s diurnal course, with rocks, and stones, and trees”.

    I would love the travel spray of Amora. Thank you for the draw and the review! I live in Europe.

  • If these fragrances are as interesting as Hans Hendley himself, I am ready to become a fan! And, looking at the notes, Amora certainly is: stone fruit accords, peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots mixed with berries, a stunning rose absolute, blonde tobacco, sweet resins, musks and ambergris… All of them in one fragrance! It must be beautiful. Please, can I have a travel spray to discover by myself all that TSF described? EU.

  • Thank you TSF for so fantastic review. The story is hypnotizing and I can’t wait to try this perfume. My choice would be the 9 ml travel spray. I live in the EU.

  • What I think is most interesting in this composition is the contrast between “luscious stone fruit accords, peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots mixed with berries, a stunning rose absolute, blonde tobacco, sweet resins, musks and ambergris” (which sound very happy and sparkling to me) and the impression that “everything has a delicious sense of abandonment, a sweet boozy fall, underpinned by decay, lipstick and fumy dust”. I can imagine this is a fragrance of many surprises and I’d love to have a chance to be surprised. Thank you for so inspiring article. If I win, my choice would be Amora spray.

    (EU)