See my reviews and demo vids of these perfumes at the list on the very bottom of this page. The highlighted perfume names in that list below have review and demo pages associated with them. All lush perfumes (not just the Gorilla perfumes) are here
The fragrances were inspired by the life and work of Hal Samples.
Art is the only serious thing in the world. And the artist is the only person who is never serious.” – Oscar Wilde
Just like photographers, composers, portraitists and musicians create art through their medium, so too do perfumers.
Solid ones
Gorilla perfumes are about more than fragrance alone. They are the sum of the inspirations, stories and experiences of the perfumer. And while this is the same for Volume IV, it’s also a little bit different…
Enter Hal….
Hal Samples is a photographer and artist from Dallas whose subjects are often the homeless or forgotten souls of society.
He is best known for his work with Tachowa Covington, a homeless actor who made his home in a water tanker, which was consequently tagged by Banksy and then sold for millions.
But what does this have to do with perfume?
Simon Constantine and Hal Simple’s paths first crossed at a Gorilla Perfumes pop up shop in Edinburgh and the two fell into deep conversation, during which Hal shared his eventful life story and artistic adventures.
Intrigued and inspired, Simon spent more time with Hal listening to his stories and getting to know him. They travelled to Dallas to visit the places they had talked about, and to meet Hal’s family and friends.
As their friendship grew, mutual inspiration led to collaboration. Simon began creating perfumes inspired by Hal’s life, and this grew to become Volume IV.
Get to know Hal a little by reading his stories below. Notice how the perfumes mingle with the real-life moments and create art.
Amelie Mae (<—— click to see read and see my review of it)
Simon has created this perfume for his youngest daughter ‘Amelie Mae’. It has notes of delicate lavender, raspberries, sweet ylang ylang and jammy rose.
Blackcurrant Angel contains a particularly piquant note that cuts through the fragrance of burnt pallette wood and gasoline.
Hal spent a lot of time with the homeless community in Dallas. He would take photos and film the people he met on the streets, sharing the results with them.
Many of them had words of wisdom and life lessons to impart, but most people would walk right by without even seeing them. Hal felt he was making his new friends visible.
He described the recordings that he made as messages from fallen angels. These angels would often pass away after something wonderful had been granted to them. Losing his friends this way would break Hal’s heart.
Cardamom and Coffee – “Simon was offered a hot cup of cardomom coffee when he was on a trip to a refugee camp. The rich aroma warmed up his hands and heart. On returning to the lab he recreated this spicy fragrance.”
Iamesh-“Iamesh likes to experience the power of serving others by being himself”-Hal Samples fragrance represents the mesh meeting flesh. Blood and metal combine in a heady, visceral rush.
After losing many of his homeless friends, Hal was raging. As he screamed and yelled his fury, he felt something explode and realised he’d torn himself.
In hospital a surgical mesh was inserted to repair the hernia that had erupted. But, once inside his body, it moved, collapsing around his femoral artery and causing severe pain and health issues. It was so entangled inside him that hospitals refused to help. A surgery to remove it would be complicated and dangerous.
Finally, Hal found a sympathetic surgeon who was able to remove the mesh, but the scar tissue that formed created further problems. In a later operation, the scar tissue was removed and this time a bundle of Hal’s nerves had to be taken out with it. This left him with a huge numb patch, where he had no sensation or feeling, but he finally felt completely pain free for the first time in years.
The morning after surgery he woke up feeling invincible. He launched straight out of bed into his new life, feeling inspired.
Just as a radioactive spider changed Peter Parker into Spiderman, the mesh and its removal transformed Hal into Iamesh, giving him superpowers and irrepressible energy.
I’m Home (<—– click to read and see my video review of it)
it’s been described as lemony with a sprinkle of cocoa
No matter how exciting adventures in far-flung corners of the globe may be, there is nothing like arriving home and putting the key into your own front door.
Sweet, comforting and edible smells draw you into a welcome home hug. Almost as good as returning to cuddles from your family, your favourite spot on the sofa, and a sound night’s sleep tucked up in your own bed.
Model (see ‘Sweet Grandma’ below)
Montauche Zaatar – The traditional Lebanese breakfast Manouche Zataar is a delicious flatbread topped with a mix of herbs, which includes sesame seeds, thyme, wild sage and sumac. It was served to Simon on his travels and on his return, memories of the mouthwatering dish inspired him to create this fragrance.
Rentless (attendees report that they were told that the ‘metamorphosis’ bomb was made with this fragrance).
… “Never been homeless”
Tachowa embodies the spirit of “making something out of nothing”. Everything inside the home he had made inside the tank were found treasures or gifts. He used these gathered items to make his living space beautiful. He was ingenious at upcycling other people’s throwaways into art; cutting up surfboards to make shelves, using broken pieces of CD to design a mosaic that shone up on the ceiling. His home was an art piece before Banksy’s words made it so.
Road to Damascus (the ‘Magic Coloured bubble bar‘ at Creative Showcase was made in this scent. Floral and fresh)After passing through a checkpoint on travels through Lebanon, Simon was warned that he and his companions would not be able to return the same way. Since the beginning of the war in Syria, Lebanon has taken in over one million refugees. For Simon, experiencing checkpoints guarded at gunpoint and talking to refugees about their flight to safety really brought home the reality of how much the world has changed. He chose bitter orange and Damascus rose for this fragrance.
Secret Garden As an optimistic gardener, Simon often fantasises about growing plants and flowers to create the perfect, permaculture plot. After a few failed attempts he found it easier to create this gorgeous fragrance.
It captures the smell of his imagined secret garden, and is a tip of his hat to the dear, old friend who taught him all about permaculture.
Osmanthus and immortelle everlasting invoke the great outdoors and the scent of verdant, fertile nature.
Sweet Grandma and Model –Was created with orange blossom, a sweet heart, and a herby twist. Inspired by Hal Samples’ Grandmother, mother
and best friend.
These two fragrances are inspired by Hal’s glamorous maternal Grandma, Mary Ellen. Each one is a snapshot of a different time in her life.
Hal’s childhood was troubled and traumatic. Mary Ellen would rescue him from bad situations and whisk him away to safety. Staying with his Grandma was fun and filled with joy. They would enter, and win, dance contests in Dallas clubs, and she would allow Hal to film her and document their time together to his heart’s content.
In her youth Mary Ellen was a model, and appeared in Vogue. She would reminisce about her modelling days with Hal and show him pictures of her glittering career.
When Hal was older, Mary Ellen offered him a place on her sofa when he needed somewhere to stay. These fragrances are a loving tribute to her beautiful, multifaceted personality.
Tachowa vs. Banksy. The deaths of Hal’s friends were taking a toll, so for a change of scene his friend Dylan decided to take him to LA. The two arrived at the bus station and were immediately approached by an eccentric looking man . Although they had never met, the man walked up to Hal and addressed him:
“Hey you, I had a dream about you! You’re going to make a movie about me!”
The man’s name was Tachowa Covington, and he took Dylan and Hal to visit his place. It was an abandoned water tank, which he had cleared out and turned into a home. He’d installed a floor, chairs, art and even hooked up a generator for power. The tank was filled with Tachowa’s artistic flourishes and personality. It was a beautiful hidden art gallery in an old tank.
Hal and Dylan were intrigued and began filming Tachowa. They spent three years with Tachowa; documenting his art, his philosophies and his life.
But then, when the film was almost complete, Hal received a call…
“Someone has painted on my tank…it was an English dude, said his name was Banksy!”
The words ‘THIS LOOKS A BIT LIKE AN ELEPHANT’ now adorned the tank, visible to everyone who drove past on the busy highway below.
These words were to cost Tachowa his home. Images of the new Banksy piece were broadcast across the globe. A group of opportunists realised they could own a piece of original Banksy artwork and moved quickly to buy it. It was bought out from underneath him and he was rudely evicted.
Tank Battle fragrance pits a burst of spray paint against the musty and damp interior of a rusty water tank.
A real life, fairy tale romance that started in a Lush Spa…
When Hal visited the Edinburgh Spa for a Synaesthesia treatment he was introduced to his therapist, Janine, and immediately felt butterflies in his stomach.
As the music started and Janine began his treatment he felt nervous, and his his stomach began to rumble. But, while silently cursing his noisy belly, he was shocked to hear Janine’s stomach respond!
Her tummy groaned and rumbled as if in conversation with his gastric gurglings. The two would later compare it to whale song – their bodies physically communing when they were both too shy to speak.
Following this auspicious meeting, a magical Edinburgh summer flew by with Janine and Hal’s paths crossing many times. Eventually on the second full moon of the month (yes, a legendary blue moon!) they stayed up all night together dancing. Well, after all, what else would love do?
I was able to get a sniff of this perfume, and i want to get a bottle. This perfume has tangerine and lavender. I love that It’s citrussy without being sweet, the lavender work to bring this sweet tangerine into a light and airy quality. Normally citrus perfumes don’t last as long as i would like on my skin, but this seems to stay longer. Catching whiffs of this all day is a treat. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 rating.
I have these and here’s a video i made of my perfume haul .
I don’t have the one called “Model’
00:00 – 04:32 Bottle sizes, prices, the idea for the perfumes, etc.
04:35 – 05:39 Perfume Solids
05:40 – 07;25 Perfume Washcards
7:30 – 42:00 Individual fragrance reviews start.
08:38 – 10:30 What Would Love Do? (4 out f 5 rating)
10:35 – 11:57 I’m Home (3 out of 5 rating)
12:00 – 14:06 Cardamom and Coffee (4 out of 5 rating)
14:13 – 19:01 Amelie Mae (4 out of 5 rating)
19:11 – 22:14 Rentless (4 out of 5 rating)
22:15 – 26:14 Black Currant Angel (3.5 out of 5 rating)
26:20 – 30:02 Tank Battle (5 out of 5 rating)
30:06 – 33:34 Self Esteem Machine (3.5-4 out of 5 rating)
33:42 – 35:38 Manouche Zataar (3 out of 5 rating)
36:07 – 36:56 Secret Garden (4 out of 5 rating)
36:58 – 40:27 Road From Damascus (3.5 to 4 out of 5 rating)
40:30 – 42:24 Iamesh (3 out of 5 rating)
42:37 – 43:11 Sweet Grandma (2.5-3 out of 5 rating)
43:30 – 43:43 My Least favorites
43:43 – 44:07 My favorites
Wash Card demo video https://youtu.be/m7cnEUW7fco
Road From Damascus bath melt demo https://youtu.be/bS7tRK_YIE4
Magic Bubbles Demo https://youtu.be/KvqOXgsbK9g
See other Lush perfumes here