Hero Eau de Parfum

So, I had to give my thoughts on this one a couple of weeks to settle. Tl;dr: *I* think I love it. It's like a warm woody spicy comfy blanket. My wife, so far, does not, just REALLY does. not. Top notes I get are a bit of piney resin - love that olibanum note - but also a big burst of sweet and spicy and aromatic, like cinnamon/nutmeg and a little fresh ginger, vanilla, definitely amber, plus just a touch of geranium, and maybe... leather? I definitely note the benzoin in the middle (which COMPLETELY turned me me off the Terre d'Hermes). Normally not a fan of the powdery/oily aspect of benzoin (and was legit concerned that it's something about benzoin and my specific skin chemistry), but it's rounder here, better-blended and more stable, so maybe there are source/processing differences, or its proportion is different... something, but it's actually not a problem here. And the incense is there, but subtle enough I don't catch it if I'm not looking for it. It's only a bit in the middle and later on drydown that I even detect actual cedar notes, and they're warm and dry, like in a sauna, not punchy like a cedar chest. One highly notable thing about this scent in my book is the longevity. OMG, this scent just doesn't quit! It lasts on skin easily all day, often longer, and projection stays moderately good for like 8+ hours even before it dries down to skin-level. It stays on clothes (and sheets/pillowcases if you're not careful) for several days. I accidentally got some on my watchband (and it's not fabric or leather, it's the rubber-like synthetic sport watch band) like 2 weeks ago, and I can STILL catch a bit of it if I put my wrist to my nose. And the more long-term intimate aspect of it, to me, is deliciously reminiscent of snickerdoodles right out of the oven - like I get that toasty baked caramel maillard smell, the vanilla, the butter, and especially the spices. The cedar/woody notes are mild enough it's like maybe having the woodstove going in the next room when I take the cookies out. I have NO objection to getting a noseful of that every once in a while (or, honestly, sometimes I just want to stick my face down my shirt for a second). Like, I looked it up and *I do NOT understand why more people don't consider this a full on gourmand scent.* It's SO sweet and dessert-y to me. Love that! As for my wife... the first time she smelled it she had a cold, which (whatever she says) does more than just diminish your sense of smell, it changes it a bit... so all she got was a punch of cedar/juniper and geranium off the top and she outright hated it. I had to give up and shower it off. She's allergic to juniper (so most cedars also set her off a bit, would get anaphylactic if she drank authentic gin, that kind of thing), and even if the allergens aren't in this, the smell bothers her; and she doesn't like floral either, sooo... she's missing all the good parts somehow. In a couple more weeks when she's well over this cold, I might try it again and see if it hits differently. Or I might just wait until fall, because this scent is so warm and sweet-spicy that it's really not well-suited to warm weather. I don't know how it would handle, e.g. being outside and getting sweaty or at the gym. It feels like it would be ill-suited to that anyway, but I fear what a little sweat smell might do to the balance...

9/10 This is for sure a new near-everyday fragrance. Not versatile enough for a go-to no-brainer type fragrance but it's almost there. Smells pretty linear, a little bit lighter on the top but it doesn't absolutely transform through the day. Which some may find boring but for me, I love the scent and would be disappointed if I lost it as it wore down. Very much amber, extremely heavy on the smoky-sweet incense, and rounded out with the wood and pine. On my skin it is very much a masculine, warm, sweet, smoky, spicy scent. Excellent all day for chilly to cold winter and fall days, and could definitely make an impression on a cool spring or summer night. Excellent performance, can reach out and touch noses without being too aggressive, it's a very inviting and comforting masculine scent that should fit most environments other than maybe close-quarters workspaces. Should be fine for larger, more spacious offices. Strong from hours 1-4, moderate from 4-6th hours, and intimate to skin-level from 6-10 hours on my skin. Should be no need to reapply throughout the standard 9-5 workday. The only cons I could possibly see are that it probably isn't as great a choice for hot weather, it smells somewhat nostalgic which is nice but could come off with a church-y, temple-y vibe on certain skins. If I had to sum it up: smells like a firm handshake from the guy that built your house while you share a nice whiskey.

Hero Eau de Parfum is warm, woody, and quietly powerful. It feels grounded, masculine, and confident without being overly aggressive. The opening introduces pine needles, which immediately give a fresh, slightly green forest feeling. Not sharp, more atmospheric. Very quickly, the fragrance becomes warmer and deeper. Benzoin and incense create a smooth, slightly resinous, almost ambery warmth. It’s not overly smoky, but there is a subtle smokiness that adds depth. It feels like walking through a forest and then stepping into a dimly lit cocktail bar in the city. The base is where this fragrance truly shines: Atlas cedar, Himalayan cedar, and Virginia cedar. Three types of cedarwood make this intensely woody, dry, and structured. If you don’t like woody fragrances, this won’t be for you. But if you do this, it's addictive. Performance is strong. On my skin, it lasts between 7 and 12 hours. Projection stays mostly within arm’s length, but it definitely has presence. This leans clearly masculine. It’s bold, structured, and mature. I personally wouldn’t classify this as unisex; it feels very “for him.” Season-wise, this is perfect for autumn and winter, especially evenings. Date night? Absolutely. It gives that refined, slightly mysterious energy. Price-wise, it’s fair for a designer fragrance, especially if you find a good deal. Rating: 8.7/10

I can best describe this perfume's smell as a moderately sweet mix of amber and woody notes. My first association with the smell is cozy, sexy, up-close with your date vibes. This fragrance is the one that attracts the most visceral reaction from my partner for one. Normally she's into more oudy, oriental spicy fragrances, but this one just has that addictively sweet and cozy/warm inviting smell that bypasses logic and works on a more primal level. Great for romantic situations in all weather conditions, but not particularly great in an intensely humid, warm, environment as the intense sweetness gets overwhelming in 23+ degrees celcius. I would imagine it would be a great clubbing fragrance as well or something to wear on a special dinner with family and friends. It's one of those deep sniffers, the kind of scent that makes you want to sniff your own skin constantly as well. It lasts incredibly long on clothing, multiple days at a time, on skin between 6 to 8 hours for me. Sillage is above average and stays quite present in your own scent bubble. If you wear the scent and somebody around you doesn't like it, then they're basically at the mercy of your presence, because this thing's scent bubble just doesn''t dissipate at all. Out of all the basic f-boy style fragrances, I do have a special place in my heart for this one specifically.

This one doesn't get enough credit for being as good as it is. I have a bottle from 2022 and the jus has darkened and aged beautifully into a beast mode syrup. It's sweet, but in a very balsamic flavor that really sets it apart from the fall/winter fragrances that everyone compares this to. For my money, this is a fantastic amber fragrance that's neither mass pleasing, boring, or made for boys trying to act like their dads. This is woody and refined while being rugged enough to suggest the wearer is equally comfortable being alone, deep in the woods for a week, as he is dressed to kill in the board room. Call it whatever you want: boring, unoriginal, weak - on the right 40 year old man walking down the street with his two little kids, your 20 something girlfriend will turn her head while you're lost in some bullshit story and flash him a "fuck me" look behind your back when the two of you pass by. Of course he wouldn't give her the time of day because he has real shit to do, but that's the type of man who wears this one right and I love the combination of amber, smokey/resin, and pine forest. This is a real love and reminiscent of more expensive niche fragrances.