WHAT I SMELL: My first impression of Dilettante begins with a light earthy soil note mixed with a minty soapiness resting on top. Quickly, the earthy moves towards a green tinted orange blossom that at first is rather linear and flattened, but as it progresses becomes puffed liked a cloud with just the lightest of sweetness. The perfume at this point has a very carefree bounce about it. Dilettante is seemingly happy, at the same time it feels like its holding a secret and it’s not going to let you know why it’s in such a good mood, but there’s a reason for it…it’s just not telling! Soon a bit of mentholated tuberose comes to join the orange, but there’s only just a little to add just the right amount of texture and spice. The perfume then begins to deepen and expand. What was so much sun and fun now becomes contemplative. Here the perfume rests its feet under the late afternoon sun with a warm embrace of orange blossom met with an ambered hue and a buttery honeyed finish.
From the Hiram Green website:
It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Inspired by such simple pleasures as a stroll through a luscious garden after a rain shower, Hiram Green’s latest perfume, Dilettante, is an enchanted and light-hearted celebration of summer.
Based on a triptych of orange flower, petitgrain and essential oil of orange, Dilettante is an all-natural fruity and floral eau de parfum that is fresh and sweet throughout.
Still Life with Orange Chair – Anne Redpath
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Orange Blossom comfort.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE DILETTANTE: relaxing, reassuring, at-peace
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DILETTANTE: Kafkaesque, CaFleureBon, Chemist in the Bottle
BOTTOM LINE: Hiram Green does it again. The fact that he doesn’t rush the creation process with numerous and frequent releases is apparent as his perfumes are consistently well blended and full of depth. Dilettante is the perfect antidote for those hot, hazy quiet days of summer.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Floral
- Nose: Hiram Green
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $165 for 50 ml eau de parfum
The Scented Hound 
July 19, 2016 at 6:53 am
Beautiful review. Love the imagery. You are a talented writer for sure. You capture the essence of perfumes in a few sentences and I love it! Can’t wait to try this one.
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July 19, 2016 at 9:59 am
Ahhh, Ricky. Thanks so much for the kind words. This is really nice and not overly complicated. That said however, it really does have a lot of character to it. You must love orange blossom though.
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July 19, 2016 at 9:11 am
I was so excited when I first heard about this one, as orange blossom is my favorite note. How could I go wrong? Allllmost did a blind buy, but considering that many orange blossom perfumes just don’t work for me, I held back and bought a couple of samples. Dilettante is interesting on me – I get a lot of petitgrain up top, and the tuberose note makes me squirm, albeit briefly. After the first hour, I really have to work on getting much out of it, but what I DO get is stunning. It’s quite possible that since I have been so emphatically sniffing that I’ve blown out my receptors! I’m simultaneously disappointed and intrigued, which is actually a good scenario for me as it keeps me in hot pursuit. 😉
Great review!
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July 19, 2016 at 9:20 am
Thanks for sharing your experience. I was wondering about that funky tuberose note. I will sample as well. I have stopped blind buying niches, even ones by amazing perfumers, because what works for one person may not work for another!
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July 19, 2016 at 9:47 am
Tuberose is my nemesis! However, in Dilettante it’s a very subtle frisson. I’m often assured that the tuberose in many perfumes is barely detectable or not at all! but for me it is. An exception thus far has been L’Attesa where I don’t smell it at all.
You’re right about the blind buying for sure, and I think I have finally learned my lesson. So many recent fragrance releases just haven’t done a thing for me. Thanks for the comment – I hope you’ll let us know how this one works for you!
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July 19, 2016 at 10:01 am
Holly… you make me laugh. Orange blossom can be hard for me as well and I was a bit concerned when I saw this was the primary note…here, the sunny opening and then the more somber end really work well and I love the tuberose in it since it gives it just a bit of oomph!
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