The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Hanashōbu arrived in 2024 as part of VIVE Perfume's Exquisite Collection, created by Nantapat Dejsidchanaporn. Its composition turns toward a particular kind of rootedness through almond, cypress, sandalwood, and garden soil. The result is less a literal portrait of one bloom than an impression held in powder, wood, and earth. It places floral delicacy beside a darker soil note, creating tension through texture rather than volume. The pale floral character gives way to dry woods and a close mineral-earth trace, making the fragrance feel both composed and grounded. Almond adds a restrained sweetness beneath the cooler opening, while cypress and Hiba introduce aromatic dryness and a clean evergreen quality.
The unusual part is the company Hanashōbu keeps. Powdery heliotrope and Japanese iris bring a familiar, polished floral softness. Almond adds sweetness with a slightly nutty edge. Cypress, Hiba, and sandalwood pull the composition toward bark, dry wood, and cool evergreen, while soil tincture introduces the scent of turned earth. These materials don't all behave like a conventional floral bouquet. They temper each other, so the result feels less decorated and more grounded, with clean, earthy, woody, and nutty accords sharing the same restrained register.
The evolution
At first, Hanashōbu feels pale and finely powdered. Heliotrope lends the opening a soft floral haze, while almond places a restrained sweetness beneath it. The heart settles into a drier mood as cypress and Hiba bring evergreen wood, then sandalwood gives the composition a smooth, pale-grain center. Soil tincture keeps the base from becoming too polished, leaving a faint mineral-earth trace close to the skin. That earthy thread is the surprise, because it makes the floral side feel less airy and more tactile. The opening has a cool powderiness, tempered by the almond sweetness and the clean, resinous quality of the woody notes. Cypress and Hiba add structure without making the composition feel heavy, while sandalwood rounds the dry wood with a creamy softness.
Cultural impact
Hanashōbu can be explored as a contemporary fragrance shaped by the contrast between its floral opening and earthy, woody base. Heliotrope provides a soft haze, while cypress, Hiba, and sandalwood create a progression from dry evergreen structure to smooth, pale wood. Almond adds measured sweetness, and soil tincture leaves a close mineral-earth trace that makes the composition feel tactile rather than decorative. Its appeal lies in this layered treatment of familiar perfumery materials, offering collectors a fragrance that feels composed, quietly textured, and worth examining through each stage of its wear.
The House
Vive PerfumeVIVE Perfume is a Thai fragrance house that blends regional botanicals with classic perfumery techniques. Founded in Bangkok, the brand offers a line of niche scents that reference the country's diverse landscapes, from citrus groves in the south to teak forests in the north. Its portfolio includes Santal Exclusif, a sandalwood‑centric fragrance released in 2020, and newer releases such as City Pop (2024) and Oud Monarque (2025). VIVE positions itself as a bridge between Thai heritage and contemporary olfactory storytelling, inviting collectors to explore aromas that feel both familiar and unexpected.
The Creator
Nantapat DejsidchanapornNantapat favors a minimalist structure, often layering a single dominant accord beneath subtle supporting notes. She works frequently with Thai jasmine, kaffir lime, and teak wood, pairing them with European absolutes such as Bulgarian rose or French ambergris substitutes.
