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.