Hard Candy Perfume: Who's Behind The Sweet Scent?

Hard Candy is an American cosmetics company, founded in 1995 by Iranian-American sisters Dineh Mohajer and Pooneh Mohajer, along with Benjamin A. Einstein. The company's first product was a baby blue nail polish named Sky, mixed by Dineh herself. Hard Candy entered the world of perfumery in 2007 with its first perfume, also named Hard Candy, a floral fruity gourmand fragrance for women. The nose behind the fragrance is Barbara Zoebelein. In 2022, Hard Candy by Aaron Terence Hughes was launched, a citrus gourmand fragrance for women and men. The latest addition to the Hard Candy perfume collection is Hard Candy Elixir by Aaron Terence Hughes, a 2023 fragrance for women and men.

Hard Candy by Hard Candy

The perfume has received mixed reviews, with some praising its long-lasting sweetness and attractive packaging, while others find it too sweet or generic. Some customers have compared it to other fragrances like Pink Sugar, noting that Hard Candy lacks a licorice note. The perfume has been described as having a strong floral scent that calms down over time, and some have likened it to the scent of Werther's Original candies or a Lush Cosmetics bath bomb.

Hard Candy is produced by the American cosmetics company Hard Candy, which was founded in 1995 by Iranian-American sisters Dineh and Pooneh Mohajer, along with Benjamin A. Einstein. The company's first product was a baby blue nail polish named "Sky," which Dineh mixed herself to match her sandals. With promotion from actress Alicia Silverstone and appearances on MTV House of Style, the company gained popularity, and in 1999, it was acquired by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH).

In addition to the original Hard Candy fragrance, the company has released three other perfumes, with the earliest edition created in 2002 and the newest released in 2017. Hard Candy by Hard Candy can be purchased as a 3.38oz 100ml EDP Spray through online retailers like Amazon.com and may also be available at select physical stores.

Hard Candy by Aaron Terence Hughes

The fragrance has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique and addictive scent, while others find it overly sweet and cloying. One reviewer compares it to Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir Parfum, noting that it has a similar opening but develops into a more complex scent with notes of strawberry, oud, and mint. Another reviewer mentions that it is reminiscent of Paradise Found by Roberto Cavalli and Pegasus from PDM, with its aromatic green vanilla opening and fruity notes.

Hard Candy Elixir, a new iteration of the fragrance, was launched in 2023. This version has added top notes of sweet orange and removed the lemon note. The base notes have been expanded to include white musk, musk, ambergris, and sandalwood. The fragrance has received positive reviews for its sexy, sweet, and intoxicating scent, with some noting that it is a hidden gem among Aaron Terence Hughes' fragrances.

Overall, Hard Candy and Hard Candy Elixir by Aaron Terence Hughes offer unique and captivating olfactory experiences, appealing to those who enjoy sweet, fruity, and gourmand fragrances.

Hard Candy Elixir by Aaron Terence Hughes

The reviews for Hard Candy Elixir by Aaron Terence Hughes are mostly positive, with many praising its unique and captivating scent. Some reviewers describe the fragrance as "sexy," "sweet," "intoxicating," and "seductive," highlighting its ability to draw compliments and turn heads. The performance of the perfume is also commended, with users noting its longevity and projection. One reviewer mentions that the scent reminds them of a sweet candy shop with a slight mysterious vibe, capturing the essence of Hard Candy Elixir's allure.

Hard Candy Elixir is a departure from Aaron Terence Hughes' previous fragrance, Hard Candy, which was released in 2022. While the original Hard Candy is a citrus gourmand fragrance with top notes of lavender, mint, mandarin orange, lemon, and orange, Hard Candy Elixir takes on a darker and more sensual character. The addition of sweet gourmand notes like vanilla, honey, and tonka bean, along with fruity accents of strawberry and sweet orange, gives Hard Candy Elixir its distinctive character.

Aaron Terence Hughes, the nose behind the fragrance, is known for his unique accord assemblies and his presence in the fragrance community. Some reviewers express mixed feelings about his business practices, mentioning limited restocks and high resale prices. However, the quality and performance of Hard Candy Elixir speak for themselves, earning it a dedicated following and positive reviews.

Overall, Hard Candy Elixir by Aaron Terence Hughes is a captivating and alluring fragrance that blends sweet and fruity notes with a mysterious and sensual edge. Its ability to stand out and leave a lasting impression makes it a memorable addition to the world of perfumery.

Hard Candy's brand origins

Hard Candy is an American cosmetics company, founded in 1995 by Iranian-American sisters Dineh Mohajer and Pooneh Mohajer, along with Benjamin A. Einstein. The company's first product was a baby blue nail polish named "Sky", which Dineh Mohajer mixed herself to match her sandals. After selling her first batches at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, and later to other top retailers such as Nordstrom, Dineh soon started appearing on MTV House of Style and in several ads. The company received a significant boost when actress Alicia Silverstone, a fan of their nail polish, began promoting the brand.

In 1999, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), which owns luxury brands such as Donna Karan, Givenchy, Sephora, TAG Heuer, and Veuve Clicquot, acquired Hard Candy. This acquisition played a crucial role in expanding the distribution and popularity of the Hard Candy brand.

Building on the success of their initial nail polish, Hard Candy expanded its product offerings over time. In 2007, the company entered the world of perfumery with its first fragrance, aptly named "Hard Candy". This debut fragrance was designed as a Floral Fruity Gourmand scent for women, featuring top notes of white tea, rhubarb, and pink pepper, middle notes of passion fruit, jasmine, and rose, and base notes of cashmere musk, vanilla, caramel, and cedar.

Since its launch in 2007, Hard Candy by Hard Candy has garnered a range of reviews. Some customers describe it as very sweet, with similarities to other sweet fragrances on the market, such as Pink Sugar. Others note that it has a strong floral scent and draw comparisons to the scent of candies like Skittles and Werther's Original. There are also those who find the fragrance too generic or too sweet for their tastes.

In addition to the original Hard Candy fragrance, the brand has released other perfumes, including Hard Candy Elixir, a 2023 fragrance created in collaboration with YouTuber-turned-perfumer Aaron Terence Hughes. This fragrance features a combination of sweet and fruity notes, including vanilla, honey, tonka bean, strawberry, and orange, along with base notes of musk, oud, patchouli, ambergris, and sandalwood.

Customer reviews

Hard Candy, the American cosmetics company, launched its first perfume in 2007. The perfume, also called Hard Candy, is a Floral Fruity Gourmand fragrance for women. It has top notes of white tea, rhubarb and pink pepper; middle notes of passionfruit, jasmine and rose; and base notes of cashmere musk, vanilla, caramel and cedar.

A few customers have commented on the longevity of the scent, with some saying that it lasts all day, while others have said that it doesn't seem to last very long. One review says that the perfume "didn't last too long" but that it could be reapplied if needed, and the customer would still buy it again. Another review mentions that the scent is "long-lasting", but it is not clear whether they are referring to the original Hard Candy perfume or the Hard Candy Elixir, a new fragrance launched in 2023 by Aaron Terence Hughes.

The Hard Candy Elixir has received positive reviews, with some customers praising its unique scent. One review says that it is "the sexiest thing I've ever smelt", while another describes it as "intoxicating and seductive". However, one customer was hesitant to try the fragrance because it was created by a YouTuber, but they were pleased to find that it was "solid" and "absolutely blind buy worthy". Another customer expressed disappointment with the fragrance, calling it a "huge scam" and criticising the high resale prices.

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