House Of Ain

[holy-wood]

I learned about HOA on reddit earlier this year and was quickly drawn to the brand, looking forward to one day listening to what perfumer @abeerbalbeera truly has to say with his creations. His talent and style are apparent throughout all the releases I got my nose on, varying in themes, high quality ingredients and showcasing of animalic ingredients. House of Ain carries an authenticity, a reverence for nature and an aesthetic I enjoy every aspect of, from materials used, the branding, designs and imagery featured throughout the storytelling (no AI used across the board). Abeer takes pride in punjabi heritage and culture, he voices his morals, ethics, and values publicly and I have found alignment in those aspects as well, which are important to me as a consumer. Im very excited to sit with each of these in the future, giving them the time and attention they deserve and report my experiences in this thread.

Maharaja Mrig Singh 3ml (attar)

Dastageer (attar & spray)

Anbarsariya (spray)

Summer Musk (spray)

Ghaliya Tibet (attar / paste)

MAHARAJA MRIG SINGH

I secured myself a 3g v-vial, which really looks like at least 3 grams of oil PLUS a heaping pile grains occupying at least one third of the total volume. I was initially taken aback, and didn’t quite know what to think, only able to think of and mutter the words “holy shit” over and over throughout the evening, returning to the bottle repeatedly for a wiff. It is deliciously a spicy, and beautifully camphoracious, rose-musk that has a sort of earthy funk. I love the camphor aspects of both musk and oud being highlighted in this way. It moved me actually, I was transported to a time, a place, a space that indeed felt very sacred, a place where the ancestors convene, a place to remember the self. “Holy Shit”

• a smooth and slightly funky camphor blast fills the opening with an herbacuous character, surrounding a warm and earthy, honied rose. A leathery, smokey oud trailing behind it. Theres a melange of spices that are lifted and slightly sweetened up by the rose. Spices like saffron and a shamama, who together illuminate a soft glowing heartbeat. The sichuan musk is slightly sweet, but mostly spicy and a little leathery; it is prevalent, addictive and perfectly complimented by the rose and tripura oud. The dry down is a resinous (frankincense) sandalwood, powered rose and musk skin scent, each taking turns calling my hand back to my nose.

It doesn’t last very long on my skin, which does tend to lean spicy all on its own, but I actually enjoy reapplying especially when grains are involved. The weather was cool, overcast and slightly humid. I could actually see it blooming bigger and lasting a little longer for me in slightly warmer and dryer weather. Also, on the first wear I gave my wrists a few taps together and the top-to-heart note transition only lasted about an hour or so. After this review, I wore again the next day without tapping or rubbing of any kind and the gorgeous and complex opening lasted much longer.

If I had any critique I would say that I can see the function of ambergris in a ghaliya, this being my first experience with one. I can see an additional benefit for either an umami or saltiness note added in the base to draw it out a bit longer and / or to bring forward more contrasting complimentary aspects to what is a sharp, spice forward, rose musk. This sharpness is however, the intention of the artist and aligns well with the story and artwork used for this fragrance: a sharp toothed and taloned creature of royalty.