Hue
Anna Zworykina Perfumes

Of the works I have tried from Anna Zworykina, HUE is the most transportive. It is also the most unusual and unique. A smoky-resinous oud perfume displaying aromatic, floral, fruity, mossy, and aquatic facets.
The perfume delivers a vivid olfactory experience of HUE, the former ancient capital of Vietnam, cruising the Huong River in a rustic rowboat through the pillars rising out of the water to support the wooden houses of the villagers. Stopping by the river market to purchase some aromatic herbs, spices, and fresh fruit, followed by a visit to the many temples in the city for some agarwood incense burning and meditation. Anna uses a combination of seaweed, choya nakh, and pink lotus to suggest the green waters of the river, oakmoss, vetiver, and mitti attar for grounding the imagery of the shore. Green waters adorned with lotus flowers and mosses embellishing the pillars of the houses. A combination of exotic fruits, florals, and aromatic herbs follows the green-aquatic opening, welcoming the wearer to the nearby river markets flanking the shore. These facets are delicately carved. Don't expect big strokes of mango and champaca or frangipani. They are used with a light touch to stimulate the imagination. Finally, the base greets you into the temple with a prominent agarwood note displaying a light ceremonial smoke accord, lavishly adorned with resins like myrrh and spicy-lemony elemi. The buzz outside the temple goes silent allowing for deep meditation.
I love HUE but only wear it as a personal scent. It feels more like an experience rather than a perfume. I tried wearing it out and felt like wasting it. Unique and transportive for when you crave those South-East Asian trips and you want to skip the airport queues.

Review of the Pure Parfum version.

IG:@memory.of.scents

Zworykina describes this as, "An aromatic portrait of the city of Huế, the ancient capital of Vietnam." Having never been to Huế, I can’t vouch for the fragrance’s verisimilitude. The evidence in my vial suggests it’s a camphorous place. Interesting, but I’m not someone who’d drop $10/ml for it. Still, I'm someone who'd try it again; if not enchanting, it's at least intriguing.