Hwyl

Hwyl is a fragrance that smells like deliberate restraint—the olfactory equivalent of a carefully composed silence. Aēsop's 2017 creation from Barnabé Fillion refuses the obvious route of these traditionally austere ingredients, instead finding warmth within their mineral austerity. The opening assault of pink pepper and elemi resin creates an almost medicinal sharpness, but it's tempered immediately by thyme's herbal green backbone, which prevents the fragrance from veering into sharp territory. What emerges is something genuinely introspective: the cypress and geranium in the heart provide a cool, slightly floral counterpoint to the woody skeleton beneath, whilst the suede accord—that crucial softening agent—renders the composition tactile rather than merely aromatic.

This is a fragrance that demands something of its wearer: intellectual engagement rather than passive enjoyment. The woody base registers at 100% accord dominance, yet it never becomes predictable cedar-vetiver wallpaper. Instead, frankincense introduces a subtle incense-like spirituality, a slight medicinal quality that keeps the composition from settling into comfortable masculinity. The 88% smoky accord threads through everything, adding a barely-perceptible campfire haze that transforms what could be a straightforward aromatic woody into something more complex—something that catches you mid-thought.