The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
HICKEY is a floral woody musk from Nawaf Saad, built around a contrast between bright fruit, soft florals, and resonant woods. Kumquat and apricot bring a lively fruit character, while peony and violet shape the floral center. Papyrus adds a dry textural counterpoint, and the composition is completed by amberwood, Australian sandalwood, patchouli, musk, and tuberose. Pink pepper and cardamom introduce spice beneath the fruit and florals, giving HICKEY a layered structure that moves easily between brightness, powder, cream, and earth. Co-perfumed by Benjamin Bélizon and Nawaf Saad, the scent presents two perfumery perspectives in one composition, balancing contrasting elements without relying on a single dominant style.
What makes this composition worth paying attention to is the tension between the fruity top and the woody base. Kumquat and apricot are bright and confectionery-sweet, yet the base leans into amberwood and patchouli, pulling the scent into drier, earthier territory. Peony and violet form the floral middle, introducing a soft floral vocabulary between the opening fruit and the woody finish. The notes interact in a measured way: fruit supplies the initial brightness, florals add a rounded center, and woods provide depth and structure.
The evolution
HICKEY opens with fruit and spice. Kumquat brings a bright tart impression, while apricot adds a softer sweetness. Pink pepper introduces a lively edge, and cardamom adds warmth beneath the fruit. The floral notes of peony and violet create a powdery middle, balanced by papyrus and its dry texture. As the composition develops, the woody materials become more prominent. Australian sandalwood contributes a creamy character, while amberwood and patchouli bring warmth and earth. Musk adds a soft underlying layer, and tuberose contributes a subtle floral presence. Together, the notes create a progression from bright fruit through soft florals into dry woods, with spice and musk connecting the different parts of the composition.
Cultural impact
HICKEY is built from a varied fragrance vocabulary that includes fruit, florals, woods, spice, and musk. Kumquat and apricot provide brightness, while peony and violet introduce a floral center. Papyrus adds a dry textural element, and amberwood, Australian sandalwood, and patchouli create a woody foundation. The composition also includes pink pepper, cardamom, musk, and tuberose, giving the scent several points of interaction.
The House
Nawaf SaadNawaf Saad is a Saudi Arabian fragrance house founded by artist Nawaf Saad. Based in Saudi Arabia, the house has positioned itself around a commitment to natural ingredients and quality-focused formulation. Since launching its first editions in 2024, the brand has released multiple fragrances including HIGH, Sea Breeze, Good Mood, HICKEY, Jazful Pure Parfum, and the forthcoming Old Woods scheduled for 2026. The house operates within Saudi Arabia's significant fragrance market, where perfume culture carries deep cultural importance despite the country not growing flowers domestically or housing major perfume laboratories. Nawaf Saad represents a newer entrant in the niche fragrance space, with the brand's Instagram presence describing it as an artist-founded house with natural material priorities.
The Creator
Benjamin Belizon & Nawaf SaadBélizon's work spans woody-amber compositions and fruity-floral structures with notable consistency. He favors sandalwood as a grounding element, deploying it with precision rather than abundance.
