The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Hayari Parfums continues to develop its signature style with the Source Joyeuse collection. No2 arrived in 2017, reaching for the second citrus-and-anise cocktail instead of the first. Vincent Ricord structured it with a citrus opening that gives way to anise, creating an aromatic profile that combines bright top notes with deeper heart notes. The composition balances freshness with complexity, offering a scent that feels both invigorating and refined. It's the kind of fragrance that makes you pause and notice, inviting conversation while maintaining a sense of understated elegance. The interplay between the citrus brightness and the anise creates a unique character that distinguishes it within the collection.
What makes No2 work is the tension between its opening and its finish. Basil and tarragon arrive with a green, almost agricultural sharpness that could read medicinal on the wrong nose. But honeysuckle is waiting in the wings, sweet, almost old-fashioned in its charm, and jasmine softens everything into something wearable rather than challenging. The ambergris in the base is a quiet anchor: powdery, warm, close to the skin. It's not trying to fill a room. It's trying to make you lean in.
The evolution
The opening hits with bergamot's citrus brightness immediately cut by basil's green bite. Star anise arrives within seconds, the anis accord the brand itself calls out, lending that slightly medicinal, liquorice-adjacent quality that either intrigues you or doesn't. Jasmine adds body without weight, weaving through the herbal elements to soften what could otherwise feel too sharp. As the top notes begin to settle, the heart reveals itself more fully: the florals emerge gradually, adding warmth and depth to the aromatic foundation. The ambergris begins its slow reveal as the composition moves toward its base, bringing with it a powdery, warm quality that feels almost salty. The drydown stays close, intimate sillage that someone standing nearby will notice before you will.
Cultural impact
Source Joyeuse No2 occupies a specific corner of the fragrance landscape: someone who wants something green and herbal without the commitment of a heavy oud or the sweetness of a mainstream summer scent. The composition offers a middle ground that feels neither overly casual nor intimidatingly sophisticated. Wearers describe it as charming in an old-fashioned way, suggesting a certain timelessness to its appeal. The green and herbal character runs through the fragrance without dominating it, creating something that feels balanced and considered.
