Antihero

Today, I'm embarking on an exciting new olfactory chapter with the house of Curatrix. Initially, I surmised this might be an indie brand, but it turns out it's a distinguished niche label, even sold at esteemed retailers like Neiman Marcus. This brand first piqued my interest when I was idly browsing for unusual notes on Fragrantica, and stumbled upon one of their creations featuring a "wet gravestone" accord. That concept alone struck me as utterly captivating, prompting me to explore their other offerings. Later that same evening, I found myself ordering a set of samples, as each note breakdown sounded remarkably compelling. I'm beginning this new journey with Antihero, a creation by the esteemed Honorine Blanc, hopefully anticipating the jubilant realization that I've stumbled upon a hidden gem of a house. Opening: The opening is a truly captivating symphony of luscious fruit, rich sweetness, and enveloping warmth. The primary notes that immediately greet my senses are apple, cognac, rum, and saffron. Apple and cognac are the most commanding presences. The apple is what first announces itself upon the initial spray, presenting a fruity, wonderfully juicy, and subtly tart accord, remarkably akin to the crispness of a green apple. It feels remarkably natural, sidestepping the artificial "apple flavoring" trap that some apple notes can fall into. Trailing closely behind the apple is the cognac, bringing with it an intensely sweet and luxuriously boozy accord, underpinned by an inherent fruitiness that beautifully bolsters the apple's initial contribution. Next, rum and saffron weave into the composition. The rum layers on more sweetened booziness, perfectly complementing the cognac, yet it distinguishes itself with inherent spicy qualities, reminiscent of a shot of dark spiced rum. Lastly, the saffron is discernible in the background, a deep earthiness that is present and noticeable from the very beginning, nestled gracefully behind all the other notes. It's worth noting that both the rum and cognac also carry subtle woody undertones, though this is a textural nuance rather than a central focus. Dry Down: The dry down undergoes a remarkable evolution into an exquisite blend of profound sweetness, inviting warmth, and nuanced spice. The primary notes I discern are rum, vanilla, cognac, and praline. Rum and vanilla emerge as the dominant forces. In the dry down, the rum has elegantly overtaken the cognac as the primary boozy note, presenting a boosted dose of its sweet and spicy accord, now with a touch more pronounced woodiness than in the opening. Meanwhile, the vanilla has blossomed, fortifying the dry down with a supremely sweet and creamy gourmand accord, evoking the rich essence of fresh vanilla beans. This luxurious core is then joined by cognac and praline. The cognac still graces the dry down, but now as a supportive boozy note, lending its fruity undertones to accentuate the rum. Lastly, the praline settles into the base of the fragrance as another delectable gourmand note, but focused on a subtly chocolatey, sugary, almost sticky-sweet accord. The saffron still whispers a faint, earthy warmth in the dry down, though it's primarily an afterthought. Performance: The initial projection is remarkably strong, effortlessly filling a room with its presence. Sillage mirrors this intensity, leaving a dense and heavy scent trail. There was no discernible change in the performance at the 3-4 hour mark. Even after several hours, the performance remained largely unchanged. At the seven to eight-hour mark, the projection was still a generous five to six feet, and the scent trail, though perhaps a touch lighter, remained easily noticeable, proving its remarkable tenacity. The fragrance lasted at least 12 hours before gracefully settling into a skin scent. When to Wear: Antihero asserts itself as a distinctive fall and winter fragrance, ideally suited for evening wear. This rich and opulent fragrance is a perfect pairing for a special occasion, where its luxurious character can truly shine. It could also be worn casually for a touch of refined indulgence. However, its significant density and intensity make it far too substantial to be appropriate for formal daytime events or a typical office setting. Blind Buy: If your preferences lean towards intensely sweet and beautifully boozy fragrances, particularly in the vein of Angel's Share, Antihero presents itself as a remarkably safe blind buy. That is not to suggest it is a direct clone of Angel's Share, as it possesses obvious differences, but they undeniably share a captivating common core of warmth and boozy indulgence. Final Verdict: First and foremost, I must confess I was utterly awestruck by the sheer brilliance of this fragrance's opening. Upon the initial spray, I was nearly brought to tears by its astonishing aroma. It immediately brought to mind Angel's Share, a fragrance I consider a lifelong favorite, yet Antihero somehow felt even more sublime. It ultimately settled into a supremely sweet vanilla gourmand in the dry down, which was still incredibly delightful, but that opening truly left an indelible impression on me. Thankfully, this fragrance carries with it an abundance of power, with my projection and scent trail still present even after twelve hours. This will undeniably be a permanent fixture in my personal collection. If Antihero is indeed representative of the exceptional quality of this house, I anticipate a genuine treat as I explore their other offerings. *Edit* Will no longer be purchasing from Curatrix due to a terrible customer service experience. Their fragrances are great, but I would exercise caution when dealing with this company. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 10/10 Versatility: Low Mass Appeal: Very high Gender: Unisex Value: Overpriced

I love so much of the body of work that's come from Honorine Blanc, and this is no exception - Antihero is warm and decadent and sweet with a sweet fruitiness that's made more complex with the addition of earthy saffron and boozy cognac and rum. I do love this fragrance, but that being said, it's nearly identical to my favorite perfume and the closest thing I've ever had to a signature scent - Drunk Saffron, the fragrance that Ms. Blanc created for BORNTOSTANDOUT. If you already have a full bottle of one, don't feel compelled to get a full bottle of its twin, the price point is very similar for 50ml of fragrance. If this scent turns out to have the same longevity as DS, you'll have a beautiful scent bubble around you all day, but adding both to your collection would be redundant.

A gorgeous take in the sea of cognac and apple combos (thanks to Angel’s Share) that feels so much more refreshing. Opens with a tart and crisp green apple paired with a touch of smokiness coming from a honeyed saffron. I get virtually no spice here which I think is what makes this different than typical apple gourmands. It develops into a rum and cognac booze fest with remnants of that tart apple still there. The dry down is like a warm and rich praline confection topped with apple flavored ice cream melted on top, infused with heaps of booze. Such an indulgent scent that never feels too heavy or too sweet.

I’ve had coworkers come into my office and remark “It smells so good in here!” and people walking behind me say I smell like a wonderful chocolate candy. Needless to say, this is my favorite fragrance.

This is lovely and deep. I can smell the booze, apple and saffron, for sure. It's sweet and although it's not a listed note, I get a tobacco type of smell too. Very rich and warm - love it!