The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Hunter was released in 2019 for women and men, with Yili Li credited as perfumer. That timing places it early in the life of Yili Olfactory Art, a Beijing-based niche perfume studio founded in 2018 by perfumer Yili Li. Its name suggests focus and instinct, but the available record gives no named place, person, or event behind that idea. What can be said comes straight from the composition: coriander, cumin, blood mandarin, and pink pepper create an immediate opening, while tobacco, cedar, olibanum, and patchouli give the scent a grounded second half.
The interesting part is the handoff between spice and mandarin. Coriander and cumin introduce an herbal, lightly earthy quality, while blood mandarin and pink pepper bring a juicy brightness and a clean edge. Tobacco, cedar, olibanum, and patchouli then pull the whole composition toward the ground. It is a balanced vocabulary, yes, but the progression is specific: herbaceous and peppery up front, warm woods underneath, with patchouli preventing the finish from becoming too polished.
The evolution
The opening is the cleanest part of Hunter, with coriander, cumin, blood mandarin, and pink pepper arriving first and giving the scent a lifted, uncomplicated start. As that brightness recedes, tobacco and cedar introduce a warmer, more aromatic character, while olibanum adds a resinous layer. The composition then changes weight, moving toward patchouli and the soft warmth of the base. That foundation is where the fragrance gathers its character: earthy and woody, with the sweetness and warmth suggested by its accords lingering beneath the cooler opening. On skin, expect the first impression to soften, the pepper to become more legible, and the woody base to remain as the lasting shape. The progression rewards attention, revealing new facets as the scent settles from its bright opening into a warmer, more grounded finish.
Cultural impact
Hunter belongs to Yili Olfactory Art's catalogue, the Beijing-based niche perfume studio founded in 2018 by perfumer Yili Li. Its appeal comes from the interplay of coriander, cumin, blood mandarin, and pink pepper with tobacco, cedar, olibanum, and patchouli. The opening feels bright and peppery, while the middle and base notes introduce warmer woods, resinous depth, and soft sweetness through labdanum, vanilla, and tonka bean. That measured transition gives the scent an inviting sense of movement, from a vivid first impression to a more grounded and enveloping trail.
The House
Yili Olfactory ArtYili Olfactory Art is an independent fragrance house known for expressive compositions built around oud, woods, spices, smoke, and aromatic materials. Its catalog takes a direct approach to scent naming, with fragrances such as Golden Oud, Pimp, Hunter, Harlot, Desert, Hustler, Witch, and Desperado. The names establish a playful, confrontational frame, while the titles and Chinese counterparts add another layer of character and cultural reference. Rather than presenting perfumery through a soft floral vocabulary, Yili Olfactory Art favors compositions that feel vivid, tactile, and narrative. Its recent releases, including Golden Oud and Desert from 2020, sit alongside a series of distinctive scents introduced in 2019. This makes the house particularly compelling for collectors who enjoy fragrances with strong identities and the atmosphere of a small creative atelier.
The Creator
Jacques BattiniJacques favors a clean, linear structure that highlights the purity of each component. He often begins with a bright top—bergamot, neroli, or pink pepper—then introduces a heart of fine florals such as jasmine absolute or tuberose.
