New Niche Fragrance Review: Histoires de Parfums 1899 Ernest Hemingway + Papa Draw

hemingway

My introduction to Hemingway came in 1964 at the age of five. No I wasn’t a budding genius reading novels before I entered first grade, it was much more mundane than that. We had sailed down to Key West from Miami. The adults were talking about boring things which allowed me to make the acquaintance of the local cat. I was playing with a string when I noticed the oddest thing; the cat’s paws had extra toes. When my father came to get me I mentioned this and he told me it was a Hemingway cat. Of course I didn’t know who Hemingway was, and wouldn’t for many years, but I thought the cats with the extra toes were cool. When I eventually began to read the works of Ernest Hemingway I realized he was a bit of an extra toed cat in the literary world. He was never part of the mainstream or adored by his contemporaries but you just couldn’t dismiss him or his works easily.

1889 hemingway histoires de parfums

My most recent interaction with Hemingway comes courtesy of Gerald Ghislain and his newest release for Histoires de Parfums, 1899 Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway would blaze a path through almost all of the historical turning points of the first half of the Twentieth Century and for M. Ghislain to capture a life so fully lived, in a fragrance, was going to be a challenge. M. Ghislain wanted a fragrance which evoked the travels of Hemingway from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. That means 1899 evolves though an almost traditional Mediterranean mix down to a base of tropical warmth and humidity.  

Picture dated of the 50's showing Americ

Hemingway in Pamplona, Spain

1899 opens with a vibrant bergamot and woody juniper with just a pinch of pepper. The early moments are as bright as the summer sun. The pepper adds a bit of piquant discord as if adding a bit of wanderlust and the need to move along and so 1899 heads to a floral heart. Orange blossom and iris continue the themes from the top and they are extremely well-balanced against each other so that neither dominates and a lovely floral harmony is achieved. Like the top cinnamon is added in a very modest amount and it again signals the early moment of another developmental change. Vetiver is the beginning of the base notes; vanilla and amber join in fairly quickly and they give a much deeper feel than the earlier phases. Now we are in the tropics breathing in the vanilla orchids surrounded by native woods. The amber picks up some of the spiciness of the earlier notes but in the base it has settled in for the long haul.

1899 has average longevity and average sillage.

hemingway and cat

I think there will be some who will be wondering where the tobacco and booze are in a fragrance named after Ernest Hemingway. I admit when I was reading the press release that is what I expected to see in the notes. I think M. Ghislain made a much shrewder choice by going for the feel of two of the regions of the world where much of Hemingway’s life and prose played out. The Mediterranean and the Caribbean along with M.Ghislain’s evocation of them is probably more apt than taking the more obvious path. 1899 makes for an unusual homage to Hemingway but it makes for a beautiful story on my skin and who can ask for more from a fragrance named after Hemingway?

Disclosure: This review was based on a press sample provided by Histoires de Parfums.

Thanks to Histoires de Parfums we have a 5mL press sample of 1899 Ernest Hemingway to giveaway. This is a US only draw. To be eligible leave a comment naming your favorite Histoires de Parfums or your favorite Hemingway book. The draw ends August 21,2013.

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.

-Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

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44 comments

  • I can’t wait to try this one. I love the line overall, but my face is 1969. It’s my go-to fall scent.
    USA. Thanks for the draw!

  • A new HdP, this made my day. I love 1740 and Ambre 114. I could never choose a favorite between the two. Thanks for the draw. Yes, in the USA.

  • Hard to pick just one of their amazing scents but my top two are Ambre 114 and Tubereuse 3. I am in the U.S.

  • I love the pic of Papa and the cat.
    My favorite Histoires is 1740 Marquis de Sade.
    I only read one Hemingway book in school and I barely remember it.
    I’m in the US.

  • I am in the U.S. and my fave HDP is definitely 1889 Moulin Rouge, what a great scent. Everyone should try it, I say! This 1899 sounds really good! Thanks for the draw.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    My favorite is Petroleum but i am still trying to understand it. Quite a puzzle it is. I am in the U.S.

  • Hemingway is one of my favorite writers, with For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms being two of his works I cherish most 🙂 I live in the US and would love to sample this new perfume!

  • julesinrose says:

    Histoires de Parfums is one of those houses I’ve missed entirely and after looking at their site I am puzzling over why that is exactly! There’s much I want to try including this Hemingway. Bravo for not doing the expected! My favorite Hemingway is The Sun Also Rises, which was one of the only “assigned” books I actually enjoyed in High School, even though I was (and am) an avid reader. I’m in the U.S. Thanks for another great draw!

  • My favorite from the house is 1725 and Ambre 114. Both are super. The 1899 sounds amazing as well. In the USA. Thanks a million.

  • LOVE Hemingway. We lived in Key West for awhile and loved to visit his old home and see all the 7 toed cats. I live in the U.S. The Old Man & the Sea is my favorite Hemingway book.
    Thank you for the draw!!

  • My favorite HDP is 1804 George Sand, with the really nice pineapple note. I also enjoyed the picture of Hemingway and the cat. I am in the US.

  • susie frankel says:

    I don’t have any scents from the house…however, I do love HEMINGWAY…who like Capote…began a new way of writing stories…to the point. I loved the Karsh photo in his turtle neck sweater so much I hung the page copy from Life magazine in my apartment for years. Later in life I drove to Ketchum to visit his home/ hunting grounds/ stateside and his grave site…calm for the master at last.
    Thanks for 1899 HdP… and the draw. USA

  • Favourite is Noir Patchouli but am still exploring the line
    Favourite Hemingway? Having to think about this I realize I have never read his books – how did that happen? Off to amazon!
    (in the US)

  • Steve Porkpie Hat Johnson says:

    I’m in the US, and my favorite Hemingway book has always been A Moveable Feast. This book encourages me still to live a life unfettered with be surrounded by daring peers at all times.

    Also, massive respect for this amazing review. Any time I want to write about perfume, it has to hit this standard. Fantastic job of deconstructing the fragrance in a way that makes me insanely curious to try it. This site is doing more to distract the hell out of me from doing anything but thinking about perfume. GRAH!

  • My favorite Historie de Parfums scent is Mata Hari. Am interested to try a Hemingway inspired scent without tobacco and booze. Thanks for the draw.

  • This scent sounds divine! I’ve yet to try anything from Histoires de Parfums. This sounds like it would be a great way to start! 😉
    My favorite Hemingway book is The Old Man and the Sea.
    Interesting note about the cats with extra toes. Both of my kittens do, and I hadn’t heard it referred to as Hemingway before.

  • I love your childhood sailing adventure stories, Mark! And I love the Histories line in total. My favorite is Eujenie de Montijo 1826, but my bottle is the original. I didn’t understand why they reformulated the perfumes. I loved the original Hopefully I will like the new version, when my bottle eventually runs out.

  • I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read any Hemingway and I’ve never smelled any of the Histories line. I do know that Hemingway’s granddaughter Margaux was the face for one of my first favorite fragrances growing up–Babe. I was so sad when her life ended tragically at a young age. This scent does sound lovely and I would be thrilled to try!

  • In the US. Hemingway is definitely a literary maverick and I can’t wait to smell this capture a part of him in perfume. I haven’t before tried any HdP but this may be the shove I need. Favorite Hemingway’s are A Moveable Feast and Farewell to Arms. Thank you for the draw! 🙂

  • I have not tryed any HDP before,myfavorite book is the old man and the sea. Yes i remember Margaux, she has a sister too i remember,Mariel i think. I live in the US thanks for the drawing!

  • I am located in the U.S. My favorite HdP is Tubereuse 3. The Sun Also Rises is my favorite Hemingway, and one of my favorite books ever. Thanks for the draw.

  • Ambre 114. Probably one of the more well known fragrances from that house, but hey, it’s popular for a reason. In the US. Thanks!!!

  • Ooh thank you! I’m in the US, and my favorite HdP is probably Vert Pivoine for being really close to being the perfect peony scent.

  • Vidi is my favorite from the house of HdP. The notes seemed like a strange combination for me, but the cucumber and spices worked really well. US here, thanks.

  • “The Sun Also Rises” is the only book I’ve read but hear that it was one of his best. Would love to try this new H de P as it would be my first. Thanks! I’m in the US.

  • 1725 Cassanova. The name says it all. Usually not a fan of lavender, and I prefer it over the other famous lavender-vanilla combo, Invasion Barbare. In the US, thanks.

  • One of my favorites of the many rose and oud combinations out there is Rosam. I live the US. Thank you for the draw.