Ho Hang Balenciaga

Bergamot and lemon explode with mint-sharpened intensity, creating an almost bracing freshness that feels vaguely institutional—something between a barber's shop and a chemist's counter. Beneath this citrus onslaught, you catch the first whispers of dry wood, a sensation like smelling cedarwood pencil shavings mixed with something slightly green and herbaceous.

The citrus gradually surrenders to a woody-spiced core as rosewood and patchouli become the dominant players, joined by pelargonium's subtle geranium sharpness and a faint spiced warmth that prevents the composition from becoming cold. The fragrance settles into something sophisticated and slightly austere—no softness here, just clean lines and architectural structure that maintains remarkable coherence.

Labdanum and benzoin emerge with quiet resinous warmth, anchoring the fading woody notes whilst tonka and vanilla provide only the gentlest sweetness, never cloying. What remains is a whisper of warm wood and spice, increasingly skin-like and intimate, though the overall effect is markedly less present than during the opening hours—this is where Ho Hang's notorious longevity limitations become apparent.