The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
1953 Pour Homme was released by Pell Wall Perfumes in 2013 as a men's fragrance. Chris Bartlett is identified as the perfumer behind the scent, while the sources give no further account of how the name was chosen or what the date signifies. The composition itself provides the clearest point of entry. Bergamot, citron and neroli form the opening, followed by tobacco, rose, jasmine and cinnamon. Ambergris, benzoin, musk, cedar, vanilla and civet make up the base. Together, these notes create a fragrance that moves from a crisp citrus presence to tobacco and florals, then into a warm, layered base with resinous, musky, woody and sweet elements. It's a men's scent built around a clear note progression, with fresh materials at the front and a more substantial combination behind them.
The citrus notes give 1953 Pour Homme its opening lift, with bergamot and citron contributing brightness and neroli adding a floral accent. Tobacco then becomes more prominent as the fragrance develops, accompanied by jasmine and rose, while French orange flower introduces another floral presence and cinnamon adds warmth. The base notes carry the composition through its later stages. Ambergris and civet contribute depth, benzoin adds sweetness, and musk, cedar and vanilla complete the blend with a mixture of soft, dry and sweet tones.
The evolution
The opening of 1953 Pour Homme is led by bergamot, citron and neroli, creating a crisp and fresh first impression. Tobacco enters the composition alongside rose, jasmine, French orange flower, violet leaf and cinnamon, adding a darker note to the citrus and floral materials. The heart has more variety than the opening alone suggests: floral notes provide softness, violet leaf contributes a leafy quality, cinnamon brings a warm spice, and tobacco gives the blend its deeper accent. As the fragrance develops, the base notes become increasingly present. Benzoin and ambergris add resinous warmth, musk contributes a soft layer, cedar introduces a dry woody element, and vanilla adds sweetness. Civet adds another distinctive accent beneath the warmer notes.
Cultural impact
1953 Pour Homme sits within the Pell Wall Perfumes catalogue alongside scents such as Equistem, Green Carnation and Minted Mornings. Its own character is defined by the contrast within its note structure: citrus and neroli at the opening, tobacco and florals through the middle, and ambergris, benzoin, musk, cedar, vanilla and civet in the base. One description compared the fragrance to a springtime posy, with subtle florals and citrus joined by a hint of incense. The composition offers another way to understand it, moving from a fresh opening into tobacco, rose, jasmine, French orange flower and cinnamon before settling into a warmer base.
The House
Pell Wall PerfumesPell Wall Perfumes is a Shropshire-based fragrance house founded by perfumer Chris Bartlett. It combines ready-made fine fragrances with bespoke fragrance creation, consultation, and supplies for home perfumers. Its catalogue spans scents for men, women, and the home, including Equistem, Minted Mornings, Green Carnation, Jacinth, and 1953 Pour Homme. The business also develops coordinated fragrance products and offers practical guidance for anyone working with perfume materials.
The Creator
Chris BartlettBartlett favored natural materials and compositions that showcased ingredient quality over molecular novelty. His leather woody signature appeared throughout his work, from the animalic depths of Zoologist Beaver to the mineral-dusted warmth of Pell Wall scents.
