The Hedonist Ex Nihilo 2021 Eau de Parfum

For the longest time I've been looking for exactly what this fragrance achieves. I know that some will read this initial statement and think "there's a million other fragrances that have this exact DNA". However, while a lot of them might be similar, they all have subtle differences, and this one scratches the itch perfectly for me. For a while LV L'immensite was my favorite fragrance, but I always felt it's spicy nuance had just a bit too sharp of a bite for me to wear it everyday. Since then I've been looking for something that has that exact same juicy citrus, ginger, soapy, clean, woods, but just a bit smoother around the edges. It's a bit more sophisticated and mature, if you will. If L'immensite is for someone in there 20s and shouts "look at me! Don't I smell good?!". Then The Hedonist is perfect for someone in their 30s+ and says "you'll notice how great I smell. But if we never discuss it, that's perfectly fine."

The bergamot in here is so juicy, and surprisingly long lasting. The ginger helps the citrus sparkle a bite while giving the most subtle spicy edge without being astringent. The akigalawood is clean, transparent, gives the fragrance a bit of back bone, and helps keep the more volatile notes anchored down all while adding a soft peppery nuance into the beginning of the heart notes that slowly eases up. Then the musks and vetiver lend themselves to the soapy cleanliness. The vetiver is a bit more on the fresh lemon grass side to my nose, helping to give the bergamot a longer lasting voice than normal.

All in all, the absolute most beautiful fragrance I've ever come across to date. I love it, I'm purchasing a full bottle of it, and this will be my main signature scent..... SO NOBODY ELSE WEAR IT! lol jk

In spite of what some of the reviews say, this thing has got LEGS!!! Especially if you hit each shoulder on your shirt for longevity, then hit your favorite pulse points for the rest. I'm talking all day HEAVY projection. Plus it doesn't hurt that ex nihilo has one of the best atomizers in the game. Such a heavy yet finely misted spray.

Don’t get me wrong, I like this fragrance. It’s…nice. After an expected citrus hit, you’ll get a softened ginger fragrance. But that is all there is to it. Expect nothing new or exceptional in any way, zero projection, and about 2 hours of longevity.

I expect so much more from a niche luxury fragrance.

Today I went to Saks Fifth Avenue, wanted to buy a summer scent - I stopped by Ex Nihilo and tried Blue Talisman, which was too sweet for me and also I do not enjoy the pear smell in my fragrances. The I tried The Hedonist which on the strip smelled like woody slightly citrusy scent. I bought the 1.7oz bottle and took it home.

I was surprised when at home I sprayed it on my skin and suddenly the bergamot and ginger sprang to the top. This scent reminds so much of Vibrato (I know that Vibrato came out after but I owned it first thus the comparison) - to me it is a more gentle version of Vibrato, the citrus is more muted and less sweet, the wood notes are a touch more pronounced. If I compare both Vibrato is the type A personality person who loves to be the center of attention, while the Hedonist its more introverted and slightly more refined brother.

They should have named this perfume 'The Moralist' instead of 'The Hedonist' because it's more like something the moralist would wear, in my opinion. Hedonist is a woody and citrusy fragrance. It reminds me of a deep forest decorated with yellow and red leaves in autumn and a brown-haired gentleman dressed in brown from head to toe. It's very unisex but leans slightly masculine.

It has moderate to powerful sillage and lasts long on my skin. TH is not for me, but I would like to smell this on others.

I got a 10ml as a gift with an order. Went into this blind, but instantly got the Tygar DNA. It is a bit more woody and has this sparkling note. I have used this twice. Both times 2 sprays each on skin. On my skin, this projects like crazy. To the point it hurts my head. Throughout the day, it just wafts off of my skin. I completely expected it to fade away, but somehow feels like it gets stronger throughout the day. It doesn't smell bad, just not for me due to the headaches. That being said, this is a good all year round kind of scent. Maybe not in hot hot weather.