What does Hay smell like?
Hay smells of dry grass warmed by the sun, with a sweetness of almond and blond tobacco. Think of a barn in August. Much of that comes from coumarin, which hay contains naturally. In perfume it warms green notes and gives leather a country roundness. It stays in the base and lasts well.
Origin and production
Hay is a mix of meadow grasses that are mown and dried. Hay absolute is made by solvent extraction of those dry grasses. It is brown, thick and rich in coumarin. Perfumers also rebuild it with coumarin, tobacco and honey notes. Sweet vernal grass, which is rich in coumarin, contributes a lot to the smell of hay.
How perfumers use it
Hay brings a rural warmth. Chanel Cuir de Russie, composed by Ernest Beaux in 1927, tucks it into a birch and leather base. Serge Lutens Chergui pairs it with immortelle, honey and tobacco. Le Labo Thé Noir 29 blends it with black tea and tobacco. Hermès Hiris uses it more discreetly in the heart of a powdery iris.
How to wear it
Hay suits late summer and autumn. Chergui is for evenings, while Hiris works well by day. One spray on a wool sweater is enough to enjoy the tobacco side.