Helios

I like this fragrance a lot. It's easy to wear. I spritzed some in a shop in Suffolk, liked it immediately and was pleasantly surprised I could still smell it a few hours later. A good everyday fragrance that gives you a lift. It does have something of Terre d'Hermes about it but it's less dense with very subtle floral notes cutting through. (I love TdH). I'd happily wear this fragrance all year round but then I don't really do seasonal fragrances. I'm a fan of earthy, woody, leathery, vetiver, citrusy, bergamoty fragrances as well as saline/marine fragrances and this is def a new favourite. Generally I'm not a fan of loud floral notes but this is absolutely fine for me.

I blind-bought Helios (seemed like a safe bet, as I already had, and loved, Laboratory's Gorse and Samphire). Helios is much greener than the notes led me to expect, which is in no way a bad thing. I think it may appeal to fans of Sisley's 'Eau de Campagne' or Miller Harris's 'Wander Through the Parks'.

This was a complete blind buy since I couldn’t even find one review about it. In the beginning it opens very bitter and I was a bit afraid but in a few minutes it sets to a bergamot and grapefruit with a lot of woodiness, moss which are softened with a bit of sweetness by the rose and the lily. The musk and the vetiver are not as strong and what really makes it work is the very slight sweet smokiness in the background. I think this is a perfect unisex, summer fragrance which is office and home safe. It still projects but not in an offensive way.

An interesting smoky citrus. Helios is like a smoked old-fashioned mixed with a fresh lemon. 🚬🍋 The smell is unique to me, as it's the first time I've tried something like it, and after a few days of testing, my thoughts on it have gone back and forth a lot. It sort of seesaws from being fresh to unappealing in a way I struggle to make sense of. One minute I don't mind it, and the next it makes me feel uneasy. The smoke and citrus create this sophisticated booziness that reminds me of smoked whiskey. It's hard to nail down. On paper, the citrus sticks around and stays fresh, but on skin, it becomes a bit dirty as it fades, and that smokiness takes over. I move from a sophisticated gentleman at a bar to the remnants of scotch and ash left behind. It's a really weird one. It feels more masculine and a transitional season and winter scent because of its smokiness. In terms of creativity, I think it has an edge over their original Amber fragrance as an experiment. It's more unique, bolder, and even performs better, but it's not something I've enjoyed wearing, and it seems to get worse every time I've tried it. I appreciate the brand and what they've tried to do with this, but I would much rather drink my fancy smoked whiskey than smell like one. 4/10 💨

Lovely but totally terre d’hermes