Beekeeper

Wow! I ordered the main Discovery Set and the Rhubarb Thief Set, expecting that I would love one of the fragrances from the main set the most. Out of all the scents—and there are some truly unique ones—this one surprised me the most. Generally, I avoid common fragrances, including honey scents, because whenever I've smelled honey-focused perfumes in the past, they've come across as sickly sweet or artificial. This one, however, was completely different from what I anticipated. It smells absolutely phenomenal. It reminds me of real honey—the aroma that drifts through the air when some of my neighbors, who are beekeepers, are smoking their hives. It's rich, golden, smoky, and slightly papery, with a quality that feels utterly divine. It evokes the sun, unpasteurized honey straight from the hive, wood smoke, and the scent of real nature. I also used to own pieces of Ancient Egyptian artwork painted on genuine papyrus, and there's a subtle note here that brings those memories rushing back. I like to compare fragrances to other forms of art in my reviews. If this scent were an album, it would be Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp—a folktronica masterpiece that blends the warmth of 1970s California sunshine with the mysticism of British folk culture. If it were a specific song from that album, it would have to be either "Clowns" or "Cologne Cerrone Houdini." Slow, sultry, sunshine-y. The fragrance is relaxing, comforting, sunny, and deeply nostalgic. Visually, I imagine a pastoral British or a colonial New England farm in September. Think Brookdale or Lull Farms in Hollis, New Hampshire, USA. The weather still feels like summer, but the leaves have just begun to turn. You're standing beside a beekeeper's hives, surrounded by fields of wheat glowing gold beneath the afternoon sun. The beekeeper is suited up, and smoking the hives. You get distracted by the wheat swaying golden in the slow breeze. You feel realxed and at peace. To discuss fragrances, follow me on Instagram: @saint_fiacre.

For the love of God, whatever you do, please make this in a full bottle. I feel like I’m going to go broke buying these 15 ml bottles. Not that you need many sprays, because this fragrance is extremely potent. The papyrus and honey, paired with that smoky myrrh incense, make this smell absolutely divine. I have a collection of over 200 fragrances, ranging from Middle Eastern dupes to high end indie/niche, and this is far and away one of the most beautiful scents I’ve ever put my nose on. It lingers for hours, and unlike a lot of fragrances that eventually make you go anosmic or completely disappear, this one keeps coming back to remind you it's still there in the most subtle and beautiful ways. You’ll catch whiffs of it here and there throughout the day, and every time, it feels just as captivating as the first spray. This is nothing short of artistry — a true masterpiece in perfumery. I genuinely can’t say enough good things about it. For those who love fragrances in this natural, dark, smoky, resinous, papyrus-forward lane, you’re going to fall in love.

I ordered the rhubarb thief discovery box as someone new to putting in effort for my fragrance routine who wants to find a daily wear and my wedding scent. My fiance pulled out Beekeeper to sample first, which I wasn't particularly excited about without reading any of the scent notes because after doing some research, it seems that most make honey feminine. So when I took a sniff and found the slightly masculine unisex honey perfume I was imagining I nearly cried. It's complex without leaning on vanilla, doesn't just smell like a flower or sugar, its just more grounded but still sweet. I feel like you could layer it with anything and it would smell amazing. I went to order a full bottle immediately and was shocked when I saw that it was limited run and that the biggest they were offering was 15 ml. If anyone at heretic is reading this please have pity on us, keep all three scents (especially Beekeeper) around ;0;

One of the best fragrances I’ve ever smelled. I really hope they make a full bottle, I’d buy it immediately. Hopefully the price would be a lot better, but I understand this is quality, without a doubt. For the right price I would absolutely make this my signature scent. Sweet, yet dark. Extremely versatile. Can be worn any time of year, by anyone, for any occasion. Lasts a long time, and projects modestly. Ratings are silly imo but this is a 9.5 for me.

Flat out obsessed with this the second I put it on smellling like an apiary with beeswax, dry smoke, and honey without cloying sweetness. In the middle I get almost a cocoa impression with the smoky papery-ness of papyrus. Trailing hours later is beeswax and crystalline resinous magic that is immortelle. Great longevity... I could still smell the impression of beeswax on my skin the following morning. Captivating and sensual.

I was neutral towards this scent at first. I smelled like honey and paper... a natural and neutral scent. Nothing I disliked but not first love. But then, over a day after spraying my hair with Beekeeper, I showered. The honey scent lingered all over the shower, HOW? I will keep using Beekeeper as a hair perfume and layer it with my usuals. Absolutely lovely and engulfing long-lasting honey.

Ugh my first scent from the new Heretic release. This is such a cozy bedtime scent for me (aka it's definitely getting added to my registry). A rich honey with wax, and just the slightest hint of some kind of spice. Not a candy or fake sugar smell to me, but a deep, rich, thick true honey scent.

I love love love this one!! The honey and beeswax notes are perfect, not overly sweet. It dries down to a subtly sweet papyrus note which just makes me feel like I'm a historian or something! I'll repurchase this one as a backup before they possible get rid of it, I love it a lot.

I LOVE this fragrance! It smells like beeswax, honey, slightly bit of smoke and spices. This is beautiful. It reminds me of Zoologist Bee, but this one is somewhat less sweet.

So fucking pretty and softly gothic. I know that this is what the fae must smell like

A masterful incorporation of genuine beeswax. 🐝 Warm, a bit dark, kind of sensual, dripping burnished golden honey. Sweet in an innovative way w/ wisps of smoke curling through. 🍯💨 This smoke harkens back to Egypt’s Early Dynastic Period. I am a Hemet Nesut Weret of royal lineage. Beside my Nesut, I glide in a smoky cloud of honied myrrh throughout our royal palace.🕌

A photorealistic honey scent with a touch of smoke that keeps it from becoming overly sweet. It’s smooth, inoffensive, and layers beautifully, though on its own it feels like it’s missing a bit of depth. I still enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who loves honey or anything bee-related.

Truly addicting, realistic honey scent. I love the wax note and the very subtle floral.

The beeswax is definitely at the forefront of this one. Primarily waxy with a subtle smokiness. My brother said it smelled like incense which I totally agreed with once it was pointed out to me. Not incredibly sweet, there IS a faint honey smell but honestly it was hard to get past the wax smell for me. It's a pretty powerful scent - I sprayed only a tiny bit on my wrists and dabbed that on my neck, but I was able to smell it on myself for hours afterwards. I was excited for this fragrance so I was a bit disappointed by it, and the wax smell was honestly a bit off-putting to me. I wouldn't wear Beekeeper on its own again, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for layering purposes.

Very strong smokey honey for me. Not unpleasant, but a bit too strong for my taste. Probably the longest lasting of the Heretic scents I've tried, even lasted faintly through washing.

I got the Rhubarb Thief sample box from Heretic, and I was so displeased with this one. It's VERY popular so I was looking forward to it, but it smells like waxy, smoky, butt. 😭 For me the scent is overbearing and that waxy scent was just so plastic smelling. The smoke was overpowering, and it had a really stinky body order undertone that was just a mess for me personally. I still love Heretic though! I applaud them for their unique blends and I know everyone's taste is different. But to be fair I already struggle with smokey scents.

I was so looking forward to this one. I bought it because I wanted something to smell Ancient Egyptian, like the beeswax myrrh cones dancers wore on their heads. But this one makes me ill. Something about the alcohol content and the myrrh do not compliment the sweet honey. I had a spray, and I had to air out the house. I'll give it another try on skin to see how it develops or even mix it with another perfume. Just... ugh.

Ugh, it’s like opening up a cubbard in an abandoned house, and finding a jar of honey covered in a thick film of dust. Expired, old and dry

Someone wearing Burt’s Bees lip balm while smoking a clove.

I knew I was going to like this fragrance from the notes, and I have been searching for a more "mature" honey accord. When I tell you I am utterly IN LOVE with this fragrance! It is stunning. The honey is warm and sexy, with a touch of smoke that makes me feel like I'm an ancient Egyptian Goddess in a temple. My husband actually commented on it, and he NEVER mentions any of the perfumes I wear (and I have a lot). If you are an incense/smoke/amber type of person who enjoys some sweetness and you are looking for a summer fragrance, THIS is it. I have to hold myself back from ordering 4 more immediately. I will be SO sad if they only have this as a limited edition. Heretic, this fragrance is stunning, PLEASE keep it around!!!!

I got this as a sample in the rhubarb thief set and wasn’t expecting to like it that much. It turned out to be by far my favorite. It is so realistic! It’s sweet and waxy and so smoky. My boss keeps bees and said it smells just like a hive. Intoxicating. I love smoky scents and I’m usually drawn to unisex fragrances. This is absolutely that. It lasts forever. I was they’d sell it in a full size bottle.

I think Imma need a regular supply of this. Sexy beekeeper is one way to put it, but I like to think of it as a pagan burnt offering of honeycomb on a wooden pyre. Sticky sweet, ominously smoky, mysterious and sensual. Lasts long enough too, as lack of longevity is a major turn-off for me. You can also wear it to work too. Got lots of compliments.

This is richly honeyed, lightly smoked. While wearing I keep thinking "soda pop" sweet, like a warm flat cream soda. The scent cloud on myself is resinous yet airy. I think that l will adore this in the fall.

Gorgeous incensey dirty honey wow wow wow. Will definitely be my fall perfume. Reminds me of something Sorce would do, very sweet on the backend but what you pick up the most is the incense/resin.