Athenean

This smells like a more natural, soft and rounded version of Parisian Musc, which I own and like, but didn't looove, because to me it has some sharp edges and smells a bit synthetic and still did not last in hot&humid climate (I wore it in Venice this summer and sprayed more then I usually do and it just disappeared within minutes) I cant speak on the performance of this, but will get a bottle for next summer and report back :D Edit 04.2023: So I've gone back and sprayed this on skin and cloths to try in warmer weather. In the opening the greeness of the galbanum comes off quite punchy, at least on skin, not so much on paper or cloths. To me it has an ambery quality throughout its lifetime. The fig and the melon come out more and more as it dries down, but it still has some sort of darkness from the galbanum mixed in there. All together it reminds me a little bit of Black Orchid, in its ambery-floral-fruity-dark-earthy aspects. It lasts about 6 hours on my skin and has nice projection, though not as strong as Parisian Musc. For a few hours through mid wear it has a really pronounced woodruff smell to, or cumarin I guess, which makes it perfect for spring time :) In the final dry down stages PM and Athenean are really similar - a sparkly, sweet-musky-creamy fig, but Athenean goes slightly more powdery coconut on me, while parisian musc has a noticible synthethic note throughout. I really like both and cant decide if I get a big bottle of PM or this :D Athenean is definately the most interesting fresh fig perfume I've tried!

I admit it had to grow on me, the first time I wore it I wasn't very impressed. It had been a cool spring day. But now in summer, oh my god, I want to drink it. It doesn't last very long on my skin, but on clothes, the notes in the drydown last for days. I let a top hang in my warderobe for 5 days after wearing it and when I took it out again, the scent was still very noticeably there! It doesn't really project, which I don't mind, I'm wearing this scent for myself. It opens very green and, in comparison with actual fig leaves, not really like fig leaves but close enough to let myself believe the illusion. If I want to, I can make out fig notes, but I don't get the melon (luckily) or the tea (sadly). Rather quickly, the scent is supported by a heavenly sweet creaminess, that remains interwoven with botanical notes throughout the day, so that it never reads as boring. In the evening, the sweetness and the creaminess remain, without ever becoming cloying or overpowering. I am not the biggest vanilla fan, and in my ideal world, vanilla would smell like the drydown of Athenean. For me it leans more feminine, but I think anyone could wear the scent. 9/10. (Maybe a 10/10, but I want to leave some room.)

I ordered a small sample of this out of curiosity - along with a few other fig fragrances. I am not sure I am someone who loves fig in fragrances but I’m very intrigued by the note for summer. I am actually a fan of this one, the fig isn’t super strong as I find the melon to be a main player here. It almost smells like really nice soap which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. For me, since I have been looking for a very light, airy, “I just got out of the shower” summer scent, the soapy smell is pleasant to me. It’s winter right now, but I can see me putting a white dress on during a hot summer day and this fragrance matching me perfectly. I always get my husband to smell perfumes I try to see how he reacts - he didn’t have a WOW reaction, but not a bad reaction either. This perfume is exactly like that, it is a very quiet and elegant perfume. I could see people saying “you smell good” while wearing this but just assuming you have a really nice shampoo instead of it being obvious it’s my perfume. I would rate it 4/5 just because on me it doesn’t seem to last as long or hold much power after a short while.

This is a really lovely scent. I'm starting to learn that my skin magnifies sweet and fruity aspects, because on me the greenness dies down quickly and it becomes a fresh, creamy fig for the rest of the day. I don't get many other notes, but I don't mind because it's really pleasant. The longevity is great, lasting at least 6 hours. Another thing I quite like is that when it fades, it does so completely. I've tried a few fragrances now that leave behind a musty, "my skin but worse" smell that's tough to get rid of, but once this has run its course, it bows out fully, like a polite guest leaving promptly at the end of a dinner party. If I had to pick an occasion to wear this, it would be a summer brunch outdoors. It has this languid, sunny sweetness to it that makes me want to sip mimosas on a hot day.

Beautiful fragrance. The green/galbanum in this fragrance is balsamic, resinous, even sweet. At the same time, there is a breathy, ozonic feel (as if a forrest were exhaling after a morning storm). I imagine a Solarium in a gorgeous Art Deco estate, full of greenery & fountains. The white tea is strong on my skin and carries a mild white floral component, the light sweetness of the tea blends into fig & aqueous melon (honeydew jumps to mind on first wearing). The dry down is lovely musk & Amber. I have not experienced the original Figuier, but now I certainly hope to!

Happily surprised! On me at first this smells like pure creamy cantaloupe with very subtle musk appearing 10 mins after I spray it. The cantaloupe isn't a big sharp hello here I am, more like a subtle light cantaloupe smell in the air. I am not a huge fan of the taste of cantaloupe, but somehow the smell is super comforting and yummy. It's very light, non offensive and lovely. Nice for work, lunch with friends or a cozy day at home. For me it's not ozonic or aquatic at all, just super creamy. Very into this and might have to grab a full bottle.

I wanted to post another review, because I took a break from this scent since my last review nearly two years ago. Either it has been reformulated or my nose has changed, because now the melon smell is much stronger. Before I got a burst of green followed by mellow fig, whereas now it's mainly melon all the way through, much in line with what the review just before this one says. Unfortunately for me I dislike the smell of melon. I'll try it again once the weather warms up, but I'm pretty bummed.

I love everything James Heeley does and have quite a few bottles in my collection. Athenean joined them presently and it is such a nice fig! Green, starts almost bitter(galbanum). It's crushed figleaves, green figs with milk seeping from the stems, some seasalt and lots of fresh air. I enjoy it in winter and imagine it would get even better in spring and summer. Reminded me a bit of Cocobello, but without the green coconut accord.

Best green fig I've ever tried. Way more interesting than both Figuer Eden and Philosykos. Woody and fruity at the same time. The melon makes it into a hot summer afternoon dream. The slight sweetness makes it that more daring than it's counterparts. 100% unisex.

THIS is the actually true fig scent with a vibe of sun-warmed Mediterranean orchard! Absolute must-have for fig lovers! 10/10

A somewhat sweet, creamy almost coconutty scent, though it's not listed as a note. Like summery sunscreen vibes, but a fresh version with a green edge. Melon is noticeable in the opening. I actually don't know what fig smells like, so I can't tell if it's present. Not super green, there's a hint of a bitter fresh edge, but it's rounded off by how creamy it is. Works well on a stuffy summer day, but feels more suited milder temperature. A bit linear, I barely sense the base notes. Stays on the skin until the next day. Overall I quite like it. Edit a year later: It smells rather masculine now. More green, not sunscreen.

If you are looking for realistic fig a la philosykos, you’re going to have a bad time. Fig plays second fiddle to musky green notes rounded out by a very light touch of sandalwood and melon. This is unique in so far as it’s green and slightly aquatic but also musky in a way you don’t expect these kinds of scents to be.

Really nice. As for the fig, the melon and tea notes push this closer to Balade Sauvage than Philosykos. The watery green note, galbanum, ozonic qualities, and woods/amber base are reminiscent of Bottega Venetia Parco Palladiano X: Olivo.

For cucumber note lovers. Crisp, watery cucumber with woody coconut and buttery sandalwood is what I detect. Not much of fig in my opinion.

It smells so good, but it doesn’t last. Reminds me of Womanity by Mugler

Have a full bottle, willing to swap if you are interested. EU based.

Very green, leans bitter but with small hint of creaminess.

Green yes, melon note yes (at first I thought it was coconut but yes it's more melon) This reminds me of a far weaker "Ichnusa" by Profumum Roma and has the green of "Amazingreen" by Commes de Garcon. It also has the airport-emptiness of anything in the Blu Mediterraneo collection where it's nice and inoffensive at first, but soon grows boring and repetitive without much depth of character. It is similar to Heeley's "Sel Marin" in that it quickly dies down to a single linear note that after a while becomes a little tedious and you'd rather it DIDN'T have such longevity at that point. At least Sel Marin is so unique that I can accept that. It needs a dirtier, undercurrent base note of something more sun burnt to carry it on for longer... I'll not be buying this one.

I Live in Athens so always when something has the name of the city you live you expect something good. Here we have something mediocre to the best. The scent is not great the green leaf and melon note create a scent that is not so pleasant and there is something synthetic that makes it really annoying. Boring stuff with no character (and its for sure not Athens lol) Scent: 4/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 6/10 Price: overpriced

I like it less than I thought I would, but I still enjoy this scent. The tea note is very strong on me and I’ve come to find out that I don’t enjoy tea notes in fragrances very much. It’s still very pleasant and nice for warm summer days without being cloying. I won’t be purchasing a FB though.

It actually gets A LOT nicer in the middle, when melon (short lived thankfully) and fig subside a bit and amber and sandalwood take over, borderline love for me, remindes me of Philosykos in the drydown.

I enjoyed the opening notes, but it dries down to cucumber type of smell so I am not sure if this is a good take on fig... :(

Athenean by James Heeley: A lot of melon, like a lot. It's a unique note sure but the scent overall is woody melon and there's not a whole lot else to it. It would definitely work on some people but it's not for me. I can pick up on the tea and other vague green notes but there's no fig to this. I think if the fig was stronger or fig nectar was used instead while the melon was toned down a bit this would work so much better. Good fragrance and good performance but it's not for me. Top notes: Melon, green notes Middle notes: Melon, tea Base notes: Melon, sandalwood 1.5/5

I'm currently trying a sample of this scent. I had high expectations, expecting a prominent fig note from the description: "‘Athenean’ is a reworking of ‘Figuier’, one of the earlier scents in the collection. Here, the emphasis is on the fragrant wood of the fig tree." The opening of Athenean is a milky, melon bomb. The scent is soapy and a tad bit nauseating. Fig is noticeable and carries a lactonic quality that complements the sweetness of the melon. This sweetness quickly takes over any green notes (and masks the fig), making this a photorealistic summer melon fragrance. As the fragrance dries down, the tea notes pull through. I was hoping for more green notes and fig, so I will not be purchasing Athenean. You must be a fan of sweet scents to enjoy this fragrance.

It's fine. Quite sweet. It's not very easy for me to smell on myself. I get mostly a cantaloupe melon, though I admit I have never smelled fresh figs. On a test strip, I got more of the tea note (especially), and some greens and woods. It is summery, light green, and fruity. I wonder if at Heeley, Athenean is "Mediterranean feminine" and Phoenician is "Mediterranean masculine." Might have to check the other one out. I hate comparing things to other fragrances, because not everyone has smelled everything. But this is very much like "Heeley does CK One." It's pleasant!

I wish there was a way for me to try this, but I am in the US and can't justify the costs for a 2ml sample. I was intrigued by Figuier, but never got the chance to smell it. The melon and ozonic notes make me wary, since I tend toward green, aromatic, true fig fragrances, not fruity watery fragrances. Oh well, I guess I will have to wait and see if the availability changes

I am baffled by the most recent comments. Dish soap? Cucumber? What in the world is going on. For me the fig leaf is dominating this scent, really nice dark green scent that remains as such for 5 hours or so. The drydown smells like lovely sweet tea and wood. Similar to debaser, in here my nose focuses on the fig leaf and leaves all else into background.

Athenean smells like a combination of wet grass and mud after playing rugby or going on a cross country run in the rain, typically in the autumn or winter months in the UK. It evokes memories of being at school and that slighly dank smell of the grass and mud after playing sports. For me, it's not a memory I want to recall in a hurry, so this is a pass.

یکی از عطرهای بسیارخوب جیمزهیلی رو تست کردم . عطری متفاوت با نت‌های طبیعی ، با اولین اسپری بوی طبیعی خیار به مشام میرسه که در هیچ عطری به این واضحی من ندیدم .و بعد ترکیب خودش رو نمایان میکنه . بنظرم از اون دسته عطرهای همه پسند اما فاخر و بسیار ارزشمند هستش . آفرین به جیمزهیلی .

بعله بعد تست فهمیدم این عطر جدید نیست و در حقیقت نسخه ریفرمول و بازتولید figuier ئه بعد دیسکانت. تا 80 درصد همون رایحس با اسم جدید. ----------- Scent & Quality: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 8/10 Creativity & Uniqueness: 8/10 Affordability: 4/10 ----------- Overall: 7.4/10

Smells a bit chemical like an insect spray at first then aquatic and melon but not soft and sophisticated aquatic like Neroli Portofino or Lineage.

Melon and a fresh leaves, rain and hail falls. The smell of wet ground on a rainy summer day. The drydown is very creamy sandalwood.

Smells like The song of Achilles💔