Hendley Perfumes Blond (Hans Hendley) 2018 – New Fragrance Review + Gentlemen Prefer Draw

Hans Hendley of Hendley Perfumes  via instagram apped MC

"Craftsmanship and making beautiful things was ingrained in me from the beginning." – Hans Hendley

Hans Hendley, classically trained photographer and self-taught, perfumer, has added a sixth fragrance, Hendley Perfumes Blond, to his current collection of award winning fragrances. His creations were named among CaFleureBon's Best Fragrances for 2015 (Auric) and 2016(Amora). From my very first moments with the new Hendley Perfumes Blond I found myself enchanted by the perfumer's exquisite, practiced craftsmanship and the beautiful materials he used to create the "panoramic nostalgia" that is Blond.

Marilyn “Norma Jean” Monroe with her natural brunette hair stock photo

Counter to expectations, Blond opens for me as a brunette – dark, soft and smooth as velveteen.  There is an instantaneous sensation of labdanum and supple leather created, perhaps, by the combined notes of suede and ambergris.

Marilyn Monroe The Fruit and Flower Sitting Nickolas Murray 1952©

Within seconds, this tawny brunette transforms into a ripe, luscious golden blonde. Osmanthus, the sweet tea olive, lends her warm peachy tones to the taste of cool, wet muskmelon.  A touch of jasmine and delicate earthy orris root infuse a shy innocence into the otherwise hypnotic and provocative bouquet of osmanthus and fruit. The succulent heart of Hendley Perfumes Blond, still nuanced with the initial dark leather accord, satisfies like the very first bite of a juicy peach or fresh cantaloupe and somehow manages to create this effect without being overtly gourmand.

Marilyn Monroe as Jean Harlow for Life©

Blond is not the fruit itself, but an impression of the fruit – not the leather but a suggestion of leather. This garland of narcotic flowers and musky fruits, tied with soft cords of sueded leather, stays close to my skin for four to five hours (ten or more on clothing) before Hendley Perfumes Blond slowly fades to a shimmering mirage of silky osmanthus, sandalwood and musk. The Hendley Perfumes website describes their offerings as unisex fragrances.

 Marilyn Monroe in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' 1953

Do gentleman or ladies (or both) prefer this Blond? Despite the masculine form of the word, I find  Hendley Perfumes Blond to be totally feminine, an imaginary golden, addictive “blonde".

So what does it mean to be Blond?  Very few Americans really know, as only about 2% of us, as adults, are true blondes. As a young woman I often found myself wondering if the Clairol advertising slogan was indeed true.  Did blondes really have more fun? And if I had only one life should I live it as a blonde?  I never did make the switch from brunette to blond and now that my mane is grey I plan to leave it that way and experience my imaginary “blonde" via scent alone, this season specifically through the heavenly, new Hendley Perfumes Blond. Notes: Cantaloupe, jasmine, osmanthus absolute, suede, iris root, sandalwood, musk complex and ambergris.

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank Hans Hendley of Hendley Perfumes for the sample of Blond as well as for the complete set of the currently available Hendley fragrances.  My opinions are my own.

Gail Gross – Senior Editor

Art Direction – Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Thanks to Hans Hendley Perfumes, we have one 9ml travel spray of Blond for one registered reader anywhere in the world

OR

a Hendley Perfumes Discovery Set (2 ml x 6) Blond, Fume, Rosenthal, Bourbon, Mown and Amora. Please be sure to register. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Gail's review, where you live, your choice should you win, or the favorite blond (blonde) man or woman in your life or in the movies. Draw closes 5/28/2018

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

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24 comments

  • Tami H. says:

    Wow! What a review! This was my favorite part.
    Within seconds, this tawny brunette transforms into a ripe, luscious golden blonde. Osmanthus, the sweet tea olive, lends her warm peachy tones to the taste of cool, wet muskmelon. A touch of jasmine and delicate earthy orris root infuse a shy innocence into the otherwise hypnotic and provocative bouquet of osmanthus and fruit. The succulent heart of Hendley Perfumes Blond, still nuanced with the initial dark leather accord, satisfies like the very first bite of a juicy peach or fresh cantaloupe and somehow manages to create this effect without being overtly gourmand.

    Would love to win the travel spray, I live in the U.S. Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite blonde is Marilyn Monroe.

  • George Lellis says:

    I would like to win the discovery set. I liked how, although the viewer talked with regard to Marilyn Monroe, she made clear the unisex nature of the scent and the ambiguity of calling it “blond” without the “e.” I live in the US. My favorite blondes are my twin daughters.

  • Alen says:

    Great review. The note of cantaloupe should be fun i guess 🙂 i’ve never tried anything with this note. I would love to win that discovery set and test all of them. Favourite blonde is Charlize Theron for sure 😉 I live in the EU, thanks.

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    Oh Gail, what a great review! I especially enjoyed the last part… So what does it mean to be Blond? I was blonde as a child but joined the 98% of the population as an adult. I also love the quote from Hans. “Craftsmanship and making beautiful things was ingrained in me from the beginning.”
    I’m in the USA and would choose the discovery set. Thank you!

  • INYA says:

    I like that they’re unisex. I’d love to win the discovery set. I’m in the USA.

  • mark says:

    the cantaloupe note is going to be a curious one for me. specially if this would be considered a unisex perfume. what caught my attention of this review was the beauty of Marilyn, of course. lol.

  • Timea says:

    Very nice review! My favorite blonde woman in real life, is my mother. In the movie world, my favorite blonde man is Thranduil, the beautiful elven king, from The Hobbit movies. These perfumes are all sounds fabulously, so I would try all, my choice is the Discovery Set. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Sounds lovely! Appreciated hearing about the interplay of light and innocent floral notes with more mature and intriguing nuances. Also the idea of osmanthus, suede, and iris can’t help but make me think somewhat of Daim Blond! Curious to see if there’s any overlap. I’d love to win the discovery set, as there are many from the house I want to try. My favorite blond…hmmm…perhaps Alexander Skarsgard (is he blond enough?). Thanks so much for this draw! I’m in the US.

  • audesko1 says:

    Beautiful Review! I love this, Blond is not the fruit itself, but an impression of the fruit – not the leather but a suggestion of leather. Great statement. I would love to try either, but the sample set is my preference. Thank you for the chance to win. I live in the US.

  • Catanosmia says:

    I like that it starts out brunette but then transforms into a golden blonde. So many fragrances open with fruit/flowers and then dry down into the deeper “dark, soft, smooth” notes. I’d love to try the sample set, I’ve been reading great reviews about this line. I’m in the US and my favorite blonde is my daughter (although I suspect she’ll be my favorite brunette by the time she’s an adult). Thanks for the draw!

  • Laurinha says:

    Great review! I find the description of the opening particularly intriguing, with dark labdanum notes coming out first, before the flowers and fruit. I would love to win the discovery set, as I am yet to sample the Hendley fragrances. I live in England. Thanks for the draw!

  • newyork318 says:

    This one sounds really interesting. The transformation from labdanum and leather to a floral centric fragrance sound very appealing. I’d pick the discovery set. US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    The idea of transitioning from brunette to blonde within a perfume is quite interesting. Loved the review and the juxtaposition of the art was spot on. I’d love to try the discovery set. I’m in the USA

  • steve.khoo says:

    Great review! It’s very interesting how you described Blond as a tawny brunette morphing into a golden blonde. I really want to try it, especially as it is more of an impression of fruit and leather which could be a different take on this rather popular osmanthus/leather combo of late.

    And thanks for a great giveaway! I would love to be able to win the 6 x 2mL discovery set and I’m in Sydney, Australia.

  • Lori Laws says:

    Awesome review! I love leathery and fruity fragrances. This one really peaked my interest. I love the duality of this fragrance….brunette to blonde and then leathery to fruity. I was intrigued by this line: ” The succulent heart of Hendley Perfumes Blond, still nuanced with the initial dark leather accord, satisfies like the very first bite of a juicy peach or fresh cantaloupe and somehow manages to create this effect without being overtly gourmand.” If I one I would love the travel spray. Thanks for the draw and I live in the US! 🙂

  • cocacarlo says:

    Wow what an excellent reviewI a loved that Gail described the notes and the experience of the fragrance. More importantly, I appreciated the reminder that blond is not a fruit or leather, but the impression of both. I am in California, USA. I would choose the discovery set.

  • Annatar says:

    I’m intrigued by the description of the fruity heart notes wrapped in leather and musk. This Blond(e) sounds unpredictable!

    I used to be a natural blonde as a child, and I’ve been dyeing my hair platinum blonde for a few months now. Uma Thurman and Charlize Theron come to mind when I think of famous fair-haired women, and, of course, Marilyn. It takes some guts to confront all the stupid jokes but it’s worth it 🙂

    Thank you for the draw. I live in Russia

  • Annatar says:

    I forgot to say: if I win, I’d choose a Hendley Perfumes Discovery Set for all the perfumes seem delightful!

  • Marianne says:

    I love the pure poetry of the review. After falling in love with Auric and Gia I would love the discovery set should I win. I live in Sweden.

  • jeremyn87 says:

    The mix of dark leather and fruity notes sounds good. Kind of like how Tuscan Leather has a bit of an old-school feel to it, as opposed to the modern sweet, gourmand leather frags out there now.
    Not sure if I’d say shes my favorite, but I like Heidi Klum. I used to watch Project Runway a lot since I design and sew.
    I’m in the US. Im interested in the discovery set.

  • StaceyW says:

    I was surprised by Gail’s statistic that only about 2% of the population are true blonds, sigh, my favorite (but not a true) blond would be Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’d love to win the sample set so I can try all the Hendley Perfumes. I’m in the U.S.

  • doveskylark says:

    I loved this review and especially the question of what it means to be blonde (or blond). I am grey now, but way back in the eighties i did a homemade peroxide dye job on my hair (and I used to put chamomile tea and lemon juice in my hair and sit in the sun). I think blondes possibly can have more fun because they possibly can get way with things brunettes can’t get away with. Dolly Parton is my favorite blonde (hope you didn’t mean natural blonde).
    I’d choose the discovery set.

  • Diana D says:

    Ha! I love the description of the development of the scent on the skin – “Within seconds, this tawny brunette transforms into a ripe, luscious golden blonde.”. Such a great concept for this perfume! I’d love to win the discovery set.
    I live in the US.