Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums

Profile: Perfumery is an art that goes beyond what we can see and hear. It has the power to evoke memories, emotions, and even transport us to places through its captivating notes. Throughout my perfuming journey, my goal has been to tell a story that I am unable to fully put into words. A story so deep, I find myself unable to finish telling it without being consumed with overwhelming emotion. My fragrance creations represent experiences I had before my life was turned upside down with the tragic loss of my beloved daughter, Henya Binkowitz. A time before we knew how sick she was, and when life seemed to make sense. I created Hez Parfums to honor and share the memories from a time in my life that was so special and missed. Hez Parfums tells the story I am unable to fully put into words through an olfactory experience.

Henya Binkowitz, Hez’s daughter tragically passed away

I spent most of my childhood moving around to different cities, such as Memphis TN, Brooklyn NY, and Sacramento CA. Though I made many great memories in these diverse cities, New Orleans will always be my home. To me, the city of New Orleans is not just a nice city to live, but also the place where my roots were planted, my family was started, and an overwhelming warmth that continues to embrace me even when I’m not there.

Photo of Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums as a child with his mom

Around six years ago, life took an unexpected turn. Faced with a challenging medical situation within my family, we had to leave behind the familiar sights and sounds of New Orleans and relocate to Houston Texas. It was a difficult transition, and every moment away from New Orleans made me ache with homesickness. I longed for a way to bridge the gap between the place I loved and the difficult reality I found myself in. During this challenging time, I discovered the therapeutic art of perfuming. Creating fragrances soon became more than a creative outlet, but also a lifeline that brought me back to the present moment. It provided relief during that stressful point in my life.

Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums the Mississippi River

When I started perfuming, I was just an entry-level hobbyist. I had no background in perfuming at the time, and I really just identified as a fragrance enthusiast and collector. I have always been intrigued by the profound impact fragrances can have on people’s emotions and mood. As I collected enough and became a part of the fragrance community, my fascination with the art of perfuming grew. I wanted to be a part of the community that created it. That’s when it became a true passion. More than just learning about how fragrances are made, I also wanted to challenge myself to see if I could make a fragrance that truly stands out. I wanted to create a fragrance that would evoke the same kind of emotion in others that a good fragrance does to me.

Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums holding Bourbon Street

After immersing myself in learning about the raw materials and the intricate art of blending, I was driven to become a serious perfumer. I meticulously recorded my formulas, started rigorously testing various scent combinations, and honed my understanding of perfuming safety protocols. Despite my growing knowledge and many experiments, it took a while before I felt truly comfortable sharing my creations with others.

I wanted to create my first fragrance to truly represent a part of New Orleans that most people can relate to. One of the most iconic and recognizable experiences in New Orleans, is visiting the famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. I wanted the fragrance to be fun and inviting, just like the environment and culture that can be found in the French Quarter. Bourbon Street Eau De Parfum is a sweet gourmand fragrance, with an alluring edge. It includes the notes of apple, cinnamon, booze, vanilla, and sandalwood. I made it completely unisex because the Bourbon Street experience is for everyone. It’s meant to be a party in a bottle, and everyone is invited.

 Hez and wife, Devorah Binkowitz

Looking back on these past few years, I recognize that my progression from a fragrance enthusiast to a dedicated perfumer came with many challenges and rewards. It allowed me the opportunity to explore the intricate world of fragrances and meet some amazing people along the way. My journey emphasized the importance of finding a therapeutic route to handling grief. It truly helped me reduce the anxiety and depression that comes with experiencing such a difficult loss. It provided me with a way to share my story that is too difficult to put into words. I now have the amazing opportunity to share my fragrances with others, and I am so blessed to have such amazing support from the fragrance community.

 

David Falsberg of Phoenicia Perfumes courtesy of the perfumer and former CaFleureBon Contributor

Being an American perfumer isn’t just about creating captivating scents, it’s also about connecting with a vibrant community that share a passion for the art of perfuming. The fragrance community welcomed me with open arms, allowing an exchange of ideas from diverse perspectives that enhances each other’s individual crafts. We learn from each other’s creativity and innovation. The sense of belonging with my fellow perfumers has inspired me to push past any insecurities, and to just focus on creating fragrances that I am passionate about. My deep passion for perfuming has continued to flourish thanks to the overwhelming love and support I’ve received from the fragrance community. However, there is one person in the community that truly inspired me to take perfuming to the next level, and I met him right here at ÇaFleureBon. David Falsberg with Phoenicia Perfumes is an absolutely brilliant perfumer, and one of the nicest and most genuine people I’ve met in the fragrance community. I learned about David after reading a fantastic article that was written about him on this CaFleureBon website. After leaving a comment about how inspired I was, I was extremely fortunate to be picked for a giveaway for one of David’s fragrances, Raspberry M’oud. David contacted me to confirm the shipping arrangements, and to my surprise, he was so kind and supportive. Through our conversation, we shared stories and made a nice connection. When I learned David’s story, I was truly inspired and motivated to follow in his footsteps. However, after talking to him I realized that there are tremendous people in the fragrance community that would support me to make my goal come to fruition. I aspire to be like David and create fragrances that can tell a story through an olfactory experience. I want to create fragrances that can bring others the same joy that David’s fragrances and so many others brings to me.  My goal is to embrace creativity, celebrate diversity, and emphasize the power of a community united by the shared passion of the art of perfumery. It is also to stay true to my story and style of perfuming. Hez Parfums is the story of me.

Hez’s studio

On American Perfumery: It is an exciting time for American perfumery, as there are so many great new resources to learn the art. There is also an incredibly supportive community in America and abroad for new perfumers such as me. I am honestly so grateful to have the resources, support and friendships that have allowed me to turn my dream into a reality. So much of my success comes from the tremendous support I receive from the fragrance community, and I feel so honored and blessed to have it.

Perfuming has brought so much happiness and joy back into my life, and in turn I put that energy into my fragrance creations. As a person who lost so much, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities and experiences that perfuming has given me. It is my goal now to give back to the fragrance community in any way I can.

 

Matisyahu via common use

Favorite American Artist: I have been a fan of Matisyahu’s music since he released his first album. Although there is a large Jewish community in New Orleans, it is common to feel like the only Jew in town sometimes. I remember the overwhelming feeling of pride to see a Chassidic Jew performing on the national stage. To see him be embraced by people with different faiths and cultures, and become a true icon of Jewish life. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person when he visited New Orleans to perform a concert. I had the incredible pleasure of praying with him before watching his performance, and it’s a memory that will last forever.  I have continued to watch him evolve over the years, and I feel like I have followed a very similar path as him. We both were raised to be proud Jews, but not overly observant of Jewish customs and religious practices. We both embraced the Chassidic Jewish lifestyle for a period of our lives, and we both experienced what it is like find the balance in between. Matisyahu has inspired me to follow my own path, even if it’s challenging sometimes.

–Hez Binkowitz, Perfumer and Owner of Hez Parfums (https://hezparfums.com )

 

 Hez Parfums Bourbon Street

Thanks to Hez Binkowitz we have a drawing for one 50ml bottle of Bourbon Street AND 10 perfume discovery set from Hez Parfums for one registered user in the USA only. To enter, you must be a registered reader. Please leave a comment with what you found fascinating and inspirational about Hez’s path to perfumery. Drawing closes on 9/16/2023

Hez Parfums Bourbon Street: Top notes of apple and cinnamon. Heart notes of tobacco, bourbon whiskey, and tonka bean. Base notes of sandalwood, cedar and vanilla bean.

Hez Binkowitz of Hez Parfums is 174th in our American Perfumer Series, which officially began with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes on July 11, 2011.

All photos belong to Hez Binkowitz unless otherwise noted.

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