Helium [2He]

Helium is a fantastic scent for the current season, and one of the few tobacco-based scents I can tolerate. I’ve had it for a couple of years now, but I rarely reach for it. I treat it like a precious, rare elixir, and not because it’s particularly hard to find, although not exactly easy to locate in the U.K., either, but because, like my POL Luctor Et Emergo, I absolutely dig it, but I’m not sure if I’d pay over 100.00 to buy it again once it’s gone. Am I the only one who does this, and is this weird?? *giggle* This is a dry-cinnamon, juicy cherry-tobacco scent with just the right touch of benzoin and styrax to add darkness without feeling like you’re in an opium den. Resinous without stickiness takes real talent, as does blending in patchouli and rose without the two scene-chewers completely taking over. In fact, it’s difficult to pinpoint a few of the accords, and I think that kind of blending takes a masterful nose, as Helium would surely be a wholly different scent without any one of them. The guiac wood accord—one of my favourite woods—anchors the mix, as this, the oakmoss and the patchouli keep Helium from going into cloyingly sweet territory. Has this type of scent been done before? Yep, but remember, that while one fragrance will remind you of another, there really aren’t as many true “dupes” as you may think; I own Dolcelisir (really surprised this isn’t on the “reminds me of” list, and I tried to add it, but it wouldn’t take) and while they’re strikingly similar in the beginning, there’s no contest when it comes to quality. Helium wins, hands down, because while Dolcelisir stops firmly in synth-vanilla-gourmand, Helium keeps travelling, taking me with it on its olfactory trip. I’m moving my bottle to the front for autumn use, man!

This is another very original smelling offering from Nu_Be that is honestly quite difficult to describe (especially at 12:30 at night!). I get a bit of a boozy opening for the first few minutes, that then transitions into a subtle citrus, by way of bergamot, and floral in the form of a gorgeous iris concrete and a svelte damask rose note. The scent seems to remain unusually close to the skin in the opening, but once warmed up sufficiently, it blooms quite well into a unique and very difficult to place accord that I'd say has something to do with a combination of dry wood, herbaceous clary sage, lemon-esque benzoin and maybe a little tobacco hovering in the background. The duration of this scent seems quite acceptable and this heart accord lasts quite a while before You're treated to another metamorphosis based around dark patchouli and one of the smokiest vetivers I've come across. In fact that smokiness is there from almost the outset, but it doesn't seem to reveal itself as vetiver based until we dry down quite a bit. All in all, I really dig Helium. As far as my personal tastes go, it's close to my favourite from this house, depending on the occasion, but not top of my list for a bottle buy. It's a smokey, warm, herbaceous and woody number that sucks you in with its floral, feminine side to begin with, before taking you for a cigar and a cognac in the latter stages. Great work indeed! Nu_Be are fantastic really...

I loved the way Helium used to smell, but sadly, I think it might have been reformulated. I bought this year of release from luckyscent with the OG purple lettering on the styrofoam container. This has become extremely hard to find and the fragrance from the new black letter packaging smells like raid bug spray off my skin This review will be based on the 2012 original with purple lettering This is a very rich strong sweet spicy tobacco scent with a robust guaiac wood backbone that makes this fragrance feel heavy, but without feeling annoying or cloying. This also stays pretty linear throughout its lifespan. Off the top, you are going to get a dry powdery cinnamon tobacco well blended with a deep guaiac wood note and a sweet smooth vanilla smell coming from the benzoin. As Helium begins to dry down the styrax and patchouli become the major players in this scent. It develops and dries down into a rich earthy and spicy slightly floral ambery smell with slight hints of chocolate coming from the iris and patchouli.

Another beautiful creation from Nu_Be, Helium [2He] is less a literal interpretation of the element's "scent" but rather an impressionistic representation. Created masterfully by Sylvie Fischer, Helium is a warm, intoxicating scent of benzoin and spices. Cinnamon is featured prominently, though I must add it is a natural, woody cinnamon not a synthetic "candy" variety. There is a beautiful intermingling between the styrax/benzoin's balsalmic and vanillic notes, with the spicy, gourmand qualities of the included cinnamon. Sweet tobacco leaves along with patchouli create a very subtle smokiness which is quite delicate yet rich in depth at the same time (far from incense-like territory). Rose and powdery iris concrete are added to soften the more masculine notes, but are definitely relegated to the background. Easily unisex with a slight more masculine leaning. Exquisite in fall/winter and will easily garner its wearer with numerous compliments. (125)

Opening with a fleeting note of bergamot and then a good plume of benzoin, Helium [2He]'s welcome then transforms into a spiked vanilla-like haze with styrax and cinnamon. And yes, the haze is there, like a ride in a helium balloon, offered as a powdery miasmic infusion of iris and clary sage without being obvious to the nose. And right here is where the departure from Ambre Narguile is apparent--in contrast Helium [2He] is dry yet still delicious without reducing down into a heavy confection. I really love the tobacco note in this--a gently fresh, sweet rub without the dry smoking burn. The guaiac and vetiver however do offer a dry woody facet with a well-balanced subtle dirty sanding. Patchouli anchors Helium [2He] well in the dry down, providing some cozy warmth. I much prefer this to Ambre Narguile as it gives me room to breathe and is rather serene and contemplative.