Based in London, Timothy Han approaches perfume making a little differently, choosing to produce perfumes in small batches called editions stating that raw fragrance materials vary year to year like grapes for wine. As such, theses variations means each run of perfume is created in a limited volume, with edition numbering to allow you to easily identify which batch of perfume your bottle came from.
Both fragrances in the collection were inspired by iconic works of literature. And each fragrance is accompanied with a numbered work of art on the box cover tied to an individual artist. Similar to differing covers that appear with each new print run of a book, each edition of a perfume will also feature new artwork by the same artist.
ON THE ROAD – WHAT I SMELL: On the Road begins it’s journey with a lush, moist muted lemon and galbanum. The perfume is a little sour in addition to having an undertone of what smells like dirty socks. In a short time, the perfume begins to feel pinched as a birch tar takes over, mixed with what feels like a plastic sole from a tennis shoe. After a few more minutes, the perfume feels as if there is a bonfire that is now lightly burning but which stemmed from a set of tires that once were raging in the flames. Quickly, that aspect of the perfumes development disappears and the perfume moves to more of a rubbery consistence. The perfume softens considerably and begins to become strangely pretty with what seems to be a sweetened patchouli and vanilla stirred into the rubbery mixture.
On the Road notes from the Timothy Han Edition website:
- Top – Galbanum, Lemon, Bergamot, Lavandin
- Heart – Amyris, Cedarwood, Patchouli
- Base – Tonka Bean, Oakmoss, Guaicawood, Benzoin, Birch, Vanilla, Labdanum, Perou
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: On the Road feels like just that…the perfume is all about the base of sweetened rubber hitting the cooled pavement.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ON THE ROAD: modern, industrial, progressive
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ON THE ROAD: No reviews found besides feedback on Fragrantica.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Oriental Woody
- Nose: Timothy Han
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $160 for 60 ml eau de parfum
SHE CAME TO STAY – WHAT I SMELL: She Came to Stay opens up with a warm, inviting geranium topped with cloves and spices. It feels as if you’re walking into an herbal terrarium, with a breeze of lemon wafting through. The perfume however is not light; instead, all of the components feel heavy, heady and pressed with weight. After a few minutes, the perfume does begin to lighten as a metallic edge joins the herbs. This edge actually does feel like a metallic pole that is planted right at the center of the perfume. Although not bad, it does feel as if the perfume rotates lushly around this singular component. There’s a great deal of movement in the perfume and as it continues to develop a mentholated labdanum starts to emerge. Again, the perfume is warm and herbal. After some time, the warmth retreats and the herbaled lemon ends up sitting on top of a woody base with hints of cloves and nutmeg
She Came to Stay notes from the Timothy Han Edition website::
- Top – Geranium, Basil, Lemon
- Heart – Indonesian Clove, Nutmeg
- Base – Patchouli, Vetiver, Labdanum, Oakmoss, Cedarwood
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Wilson from Castaway. There’s something very remote about the way this perfume feels. Even though it’s warm and herbal, it feels very distant and aloof.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SHE CAME TO STAY: herbal, removed, distant
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SHE CAME TO STAY: No reviews found besides feedback on Fragrantica.
- Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Aromatic Fougere
- Nose: Timothy Han
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $160 for 60 ml eau de parfum
BOTTOM LINE: Both of these perfumes are interestingly different in their own right. On the Road is really intriguing in that it captures the post WWII age of a new generation through plastics and the automobile. It has a nostalgic vibe and in the end feels very comforting and secure.
Samples courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary. Opinion my own.
September 5, 2016 at 7:56 am
Hello my dearest…so, from the title, I thought you found a keeper “On the Road Again” and it was so good you decided to buy a bottle and let her stay (anthropomorphizing perfumes which I hardly ever do). My brain shut down after dirty socks and perked up again with birth tar, tonka bean, sweetened patchouli and vanilla. Overall though, I think I’ll keep looking 🙂
The new avatar, for as long as it lasts because I am experimenting, is one of my brother’s dogs. He has three Cavalier King Charles spaniel and this one is the naughtiest.
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September 5, 2016 at 8:19 am
Next time you get to Twisted Lily do check out On the Road. It is one of those perfumes that I wouldn’t think I would like, but it keeps calling me back like some siren song. The perfumer did such an excellent job of capturing an era and a feel. The opening is interesting, but the drydown is sublime…and the price it right too! As for your avatar, how very Charlotte of you 🙂 I love King Charles Spaniels they are incredibly pretty dogs. Happy Labor Day! Enjoy your day off.
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September 5, 2016 at 7:57 am
I suppose it’s better a perfumer be up front about the possible differences between batches rather than be like the large perfume houses who reformulate and think/hope no one notices.
Neither of these make me curious to try them. Plastic and metallic notes aren’t my thing, at least not prominent ones.
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September 5, 2016 at 8:21 am
As I just responded back to Hajusuuri, I am very drawn to On the Road…yes, plastic doesn’t sound like something that would draw me in…but here it works and it incredibly pretty. Go figure!
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September 5, 2016 at 9:05 am
Can’t say I loved either, but On The Road was the better of the two.
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September 5, 2016 at 9:38 am
LOL. Yes, she was a bit aloof for me, but On the Road keeps calling my name!
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September 5, 2016 at 12:23 pm
I will ignore “sour” and “dirty socks” and if I bump into it, I’ll give On the Road a try. Speaking of Wilsons, could this one be Mr. Wilson of Dennis the Menace? Because I do prefer the Wilson from Castaway if that’s the case. 🙂
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September 5, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Uggghhh…not the Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menance. Boy, I hated that show! I just aged myself didn’t I??! xoxoxox
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