Heliotrope

While a heliotrope note is listed in Durbano's Héliotrope, this is intended as an olfactory ode to the stone of the same name. This semi precious stone, also referred to as the "stone of Babylon" by Albertus Magnus for its alleged magical properties, is also known as bloodstone, was used over the ages as an amulet for longevity, a talisman for success, and a preparation to treat ills and melancholy. It's really worth reading more on its fascinating history. The color of the fragrance matches that of the blood-red flecks that embed the dark pyrite-green stones. The scent itself, built primarily around olibanum, elemi, and myrrh, is perceived by me to be a dry, scorching incense to start, well-suited to warm late summer and early autumn days. There is also this nuanced pimento spiciness, reminiscent of hot paprika, and the overall sensation in the heart evokes sun-baked dunes and sticky maritime pitch pines. There's a chewy, green-needle exudate concoction, blended with orange zest and frankincense burned as some cabalistic ritual. The heliotrope note that appears in the note pyramid may merely be just the power of suggestion to those who sense it, but there is little in the way of almond-cherry-powder. The balmy, lightly sweet woodiness lies closer to the skin after an hour, though it persists as sort of an aura that reignites with some perspiration (I love when fragrances do this). I also smell distant spiced biscuits, almost like speculoos (Biscoff) among the incense and woods, which I rather enjoy here, and I am not one to seek out anything that smells confectionary or of a sweet comestible. Héliotrope is a distinct pleasure.

Wow! This is the most beautyful of Durbano's gems since Rock Crystal and Black Tourmaline. The opening is lovely, it's a potion made of sweet, deeply red mandarine and just right amount of ginger adding juicy spiciness. All that blended with light, balmy mixture of olibanum and elemi and warm, slightly sweet saffron. With time, when citrusy note is starting to disappear, saffron is geting stronger and stroner and of course incensy, balmy notes as well. This drydown made of various resins, incense and woods is what makes Durbano's perfumes so appealing to me. It always brings images of cold morning in mountains to my head.

Wow is this spicy. Peppery and smoky. It's labeled as unisex, but if I smelled this on a man I'd probably follow him for blocks. Later: this gets a little sweeter, less smoky as it dries down. Still peppery. It's a really sultry and sexy. It'd be very hot on a confident woman as well. Two hours later: I think I'm in love with my arm.

Smells like spicy incense, but this incense doesn’t smell like a hippie store... this is youthful, sexy and tantalizing. This spicy incense and ambergris combination smells like gorgeous freshly sun burnt skin that is left with a beautiful semi red sun burnt tone, completely absent from any sunblock or sun tanning lotion. Also smells like sea shells and sand dollars adorning a tiny shrine with incense offerings on a salty rocky shore. One million percent unisex. I think a fragrance is very well done when I don’t usually care for scents like these and I suddenly feel like I want or need it after sampling it. I don’t think a true goddess would smell sweet and cute, she’d smell something like this; a beautiful sunburnt sea goddess. I can’t wait to try Pink Quartz and others from this brand.

I wouldn't have even guessed heliotrope was in here. I associate that note with almondy/powdery florals. This is not that. A very interesting woody and spicy floral that reminds me of the mountains, actually - a chilly morning at a temple gathering wood with a wisp of last night's incense. Sillage is low, wears close to the skin.