Hazel - Creative Multi-Concept Theme 4.7

Hazel is a premium, multi-purpose WordPress theme known for its clean, elegant, and highly customizable design. It is a favorite for creative agencies, photographers, and high-end portfolios because it balances artistic flair with a heavy suite of functional "under-the-hood" features.

As of 2026, Hazel remains a competitive choice for designers who prefer the WPBakery/Slider Revolution ecosystem over the more common Elementor kits.

Core Design Features

Hazel is built on the Qode Framework, which provides an extensive options panel.

35+ Demo Sites: One-click imports cover several "Concepts" (Creative, Shop, Agency, Portfolio).

Infinite Header Combinations: You can switch between vertical (side) menus, transparent headers, centered logos, or fullscreen "hamburger" overlays.

AJAX Page Transitions: One of its standout features is the ability to load pages without a full browser refresh, creating a smooth "app-like" experience.

Interactive Elements: Includes advanced parallax sections, video backgrounds, and "zoom" entrance animations for images.

Technical Features & Bundle Value

A major selling point of Hazel is the "Premium Plugin Bundle" included with the theme license (typically valued at ~$200 for free):

Component

Function

WPBakery Page Builder

The primary drag-and-drop editor for the theme.

Slider Revolution

For high-end, animated hero sections.

Ultimate Addons for VC

Adds extra modules like flip boxes, timelines, and advanced icons.

LayerSlider

An alternative slider tool for multi-layered 2D and 3D animations.

Key Capabilities in 2026

WooCommerce Ready: Deep integration with shopping features, including a "Quick View" for products and custom cart styles.

Typography Control: Full Google Fonts integration plus the ability to upload custom .woff or .ttf files directly to the theme options.

SEO Optimized: Uses semantic HTML5 and is compatible with Rank Math and Yoast SEO.

Portfolio Variety: Offers over 10 different portfolio list layouts (Pinterest style, masonry, justified gallery, etc.).

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Huge Customizability: Almost every element (border widths, padding, transition speeds) can be changed via the "Hazel Options" panel without writing CSS.

Visual Polish: It is specifically designed to look "expensive" and high-end out of the box.

Lifetime Updates: Once purchased on ThemeForest, you receive ongoing security and feature updates.

Cons:

Learning Curve: The options panel is massive; it can take time to find exactly where a specific setting is hidden.

Speed (Requires Optimization): Because it loads many features, you should use a caching plugin like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache to maintain high Core Web Vitals scores.

Implementation Tip: The Child Theme

When installing Hazel, always install the included Child Theme immediately. Because Hazel is highly modular, any custom code you add to the main theme will be wiped out during a version update. The Child Theme ensures your custom tweaks stay safe.

Would you like me to help you find a specific CSS snippet for your Hazel site, or should I show you how to enable the AJAX page transitions?