Hera

Ms. Moores moves away from Egyptian (Anubis), Near-East (Salomè), and Celtic (Dryad) mithology and looks at the European centre of culture (Hera is Zeus's wife) transforming with her Hera the centre of vintage European perfumery tradition: the Guerlinade (iris, rose, jasmine, vanilla, tonka, bergamot). Hera is Moore's contemporary adaptation to the guerlinade, but an adaptation that has its own life. This scent will enter history. Some drops on my wrist and what I though of was "Let there be light!" radiant and alluminous, this deity extends her hand and invites you to contemplate her. I would focus on 4 structural elements that for me are very important in this composition: narcissus, orris butter, ambrette, and the not-listed resins. Hera opens up with the most beautiful narcissus I ever smelled since Ruade (Parfums d'Empire): not buttery, not maltholate sweetness added, but a natural yellow-pollen smelling flower with evident hay undertones and leathery nuances. I am holding my breath and inspire and inspire and inspire to capture this beautiful rendition of my fav flower. Rose, jasmine, and ylang form the classical French flower bouquet that smells so inviting, slightly sweet, but natural with no added sugar (ethyl maltol) Moors is a master in the use of orris butter here done to perfection; she created that texture, slightly creaminess, and earthiness that complete the picture. The base is made by ambrette and probably a balanced dose of synthetic musks: warm, deep, with slightly boozy undertones, mildly animalic. The more I smell it, the more I am convinced there are resins stemming from the base: some balsam? pehaps even some olibanum? Dear Ms. Moores, This is a prayer, nay a plea: try to make it available in Italy again. Long are gone the time when Papillon were available at LeoPoli and Adnan, but your creations are something that should be share as widely as possible because the emotions you convey are too beautiful to remain an act of selfish exclusiveness. Follow me on IG @alexolympia6

Hera was created by Liz as a special gift for her daughter Jasmine to wear on her wedding day, the name relates to Hera the Greek goddess of marriage and childbirth. Hera opens as a lively white floral bouquet with a fizzy feel, the bergamot adds a fresh citrus tone but doesn’t make it citrusy. Quickly I feel a concrete dust (iris) mixing in with the bright florals. This opening reminds me of some of TRNP’s floral perfumes, Blue Lotus and Honey Amber spring to mind, but when the iris comes in I’m reminded of Irises and Ekaterina. Liz has confirmed there is a very high % of naturals in Hera and it really shows. I find the florals bounce around and sometimes the orange blossom is the most noticeable, other times it’s the jasmine or ylang. I don’t really spot the rose as a single note but I’m finding different things with every wear. I start to feel a creamy iris, like a body cream melting into the bouquet, a little like a drop of Teint De Neige was added (or maybe that new Chanel fragrance mist) but the exotic and heady florals still take centre stage. Gently a hint of green roots start to come in which I believe is the oakmoss (reminds me of freshly chopped up tree roots), there’s a fluffy like powder and also a bit of a spicy carnation but very subtle (think Guerlain Terracotta Voile D’ete but dialled right down.) As time goes by the florals mellow down and the oakmoss gently gains momentum, I also feel a hay like sweetness, maybe a touch of tobacco leaf and some really light sweetness that reminds me of benzoin ( I don’t specifically pick up on vanilla). Hera feels special and I feel special when I wear her. Hera is not for running errands, she deserves a champagne brunch, romantic date or a wedding of course. Sadly I have none of these planned but I’m still going to have Hera in my life and take her to the pub 🍻

Hera is a scent I have been keen to try for a while, given its description as a great powdery floral. It is my first to try from this house, and it lives up to its good reviews. Hera, named for the Greek queen of the gods, is a fittingly regal powdery floral. It is made from high-quality, realistic-smelling ingredients, and is well-blended throughout. To my nose, it is primarily a yellow floral scent, deliciously powdery throughout, and punctuated by a rose-iris lipstick accord. In perfumery, these are a few of my favourite things, and here, it is done beautifully. It has a vintage feel to it, and is reminiscent of two classic Guerlain scents: the iris-led powder of L'Heure Bleue and the aldehydic yellow florals of Vol de Nuit. Hera opens with soft, powdery yellow florals, led by hay-like narcissus. Powdery, clean jasmine is present from the opening, and feather-light aldehydes add a sparkling brightness up top. The orris develops in the background, amping up the powder. As it develops, powdery rose emerges, rounding out the bouquet. Muted ylang ylang adds smooth sweetness as it develops. The musky base emerges, marrying beautifully with the powdery florals. It is a soft, clean musk, somehow cosy, with ambrette being put to excellent use. I get an almond-like nuance thanks to the heliotrope, bridging the gap from the florals to the musky base beautifully. The remnants of the floral heart remain until final fade, forming a sweetly musky, powdery skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting. It is feminine-leaning in my opinion, and is a transeasonal day scent. A soft yet sparkling powdery floral, Hera is an excellent example of its genre. Beautifully-composed with good-quality ingredients, it is classic in style throughout. A gem. 4.5/5.

Thanks Tourtiere for the positive review. I got lucky with Salome as my first introduction to this house. What a treat Salome is. Sweet sex in a bottle. Salome is complex and very addicting. Highly recommend Salome to anyone that enjoy's sweet sexy scents, I say it's blind buy worthy. It's my favorite at the moment, I really can't get enough of Salome. I thought I found my holy grail scent with Amouage silver oud. This one is so yummy, with the Mandarin and bitter orange with the Jasmine, I think really make this one shine. I have been looking at other great fragrances with Hyrax and they all seem to have similar ingredients, with orange and Jasmine as notes together in a lot of them with Hyrax. Looking to try Bengal Rouge and Anubis with that really dark juice, I think I will love it, and Bengal Rouge I see has high marks with one very rich reviewer on you tube with a collection of over $100,000 in value I will take is word for it. The bottle has to be one of the most perfectly designed bottles, not to big, just perfect and these bottles have tops that can spin. I prefer 100 ML bottles just because you get more juice and 100 ML is the perfect size to really give a fragrance a good wear, unlike my Terroni bottle which is practically empty right now, I can say with certainty Papillon has the perfect bottle design over anything I have seen so far, the only possible improvement would be to give them a magnetic cap, would could ruin the experience not allowing the cap to spin. If you have not tried Salome by Papillon you are really missing out on this house and all of it's masterpiece's.

Had a chance to wear Hera a few times and to me it is a major success. On my skin whole composition is soooo smooth and pleasant like a quality sateen. Start is a mix of galbanum, neroli, jasmine and orris. Not a bitter, but contrasting golden green start. I dont necessary sense ylang at the start, but i think when it goes into the 2nd phase(at around 20-30 min mark) - thats where it helps orris glow in white and yellow tones. flowery and balmy, clean and so luxurious. 3rd stage emerges after 3-4 hours, and thats where green chypre comes out of nowhere with its smooth but unmistakeable classic character. It is something close to a more chypre like version of Noun. This stage lasts for another 1.5 to 2 hours, after which it turns back again to a smooth balmy orris and flowers, dying on me around 7th or 8th hour. I have found no issue composition wise, performance wise, ingredients are superior, balance of notes is superior, just overall love from me. I dont quite remember how dryad smells like, as it was pretty boring to me, but mere fact that Hera impressed me so much makes me believe that they share nothing in common, except maybe a galbanum note. It does kind of lean somewhat to feminine side, but in this case i dont care. I will be seeking a bottle, hopefully some discounts will come up, or a bottle on secondary market with a discount, but its so good it moved to #2 spot of my yellow floral compositions right away, just barely losing to Divine by Divine. Very good perfume and definitely should be experienced.

Hera opens with a thick slab of chalky, rooty, musky iris —under a dense old-lace veil of unimaginably beautiful flowers. The jasmine is indolic, juicy with nectar, and full-bodied enough to smell almost crimson. The musk/ambrette haze is as thick as cobwebs, warm as skin and dusty with narcissus pollen. There’s definitely some soft resins beneath. About half an hour in it sweetens slightly, adding a vanilla-iris creamy-lotion feel, still under a blanket of slightly-spicy yellow pollen. I’m getting a phantom sandalwood here as well, a sharp golden spine at the core of the scent. Then an hour in it’s overtly sweet amber, rich and mellow and still saturated with pollen, and it stays that way for the rest of the day. Very reminiscent of the vanilla-amber Guerlain base (eg the far drydown of Shalimar, Vega, and Chamade.) Hera is definitely one of the greats; a lush, layered floral. Liz Moores created it as a “golden” scent for her daughter’s wedding, and there’s certainly a golden-yellow-amber glow, but there’s also ivory (from the iris) and a rainbow shimmer from the florals. The narcissus-and-amber theme is reminiscent of Chamade, but Hera is far warmer and darker, less innocent and more mature. The flowers reach all the way up to heaven but their musky roots and seeds are planted firmly on earth.

Hera was originally supposed to be a bespoke creation for Liz Moore’s daughter to wear on her wedding day, but was later generously shared with the world. To me, this scent is the holy grail of orris root - it’s simply one of the best interpretations of this beautiful material I’ve ever smelled. Upon initial spray, the soapy indolic nature of pure white narcissus and jasmine sparkle in the air before leading you down a path of thick, powdery florals warming the air around you. As it begins to settle, the dense and buttery nature of the orris takes over and becomes gorgeously serene. Ambrette provides an ever so gentle bite of musky bitterness, overall leaving you with a scent that feels so pure and innocent, yet with all the glory and allure of vintage florals of bygone days. Hera is a modern masterpiece, there’s no doubt about it in my mind. There’s a good reason this is priced higher than the rest of the Papillon line, the quality is phenomenal. If you’re a lover of orris, or classical floral perfumes this is a must try.

I bought a sample out of curiosity thinking the bottle was out of my price range, but unfortunately I'm completely in love - probably my favourite floral perfume ever? Just the right amount of sweetness without being too much for my tastes, both bright and easy to like and complex. I'll have to save up to get it next year and hope they don't change anything! Also I didn't find this like Dryad at all - Dryad was bitter and austere, this is sweet and bright. Edit: Just to add that every time I try this I seem to notice different notes dominating - I like all the notes used so this isn't an issue, but I can't recall another fragrance that gave me this much variation. Sometimes the powderiness comes through with the orris and heliotrope and other times the it feels more translucent, with the jasmine playing a larger role. The narcissus is always quite dominant to my nose, and it always has an optimistic "fizzy" quality to it. And yes it is pricey but it's very strong. I've used up about half my 2ml sample with 5+ wears.

Describing a perfume by its notes is like describing a painting by its colors. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. But in this case... Hera is all about color. Hera is to perfumes what yellow is to Van Gogh's paintings. It brings joy, light, power; is a well structured, well balanced perfume that tells a story about beauty and nature. The goddess Hera is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the perfume Hera is a work of art about sun, nature, joy - so much joy! A good scent for a wedding (or this is how the story goes!), and a great scent to wear when one's mood is down. I'm planning to buy a back-up - this is how special this perfume is to me. It's (clearly) not the usual glorified ambroxan/ akigalawood/ iso-e bomb; it does last the entire day though, so if you don't know how you feel about narcissus and orris root, test and don't buy blindly.

Hera's main axis is a sweet, honey-like floral fragrance, with a hint of freshness, greenness...presumably vetiver. A golden bouquet. A brisk aldehyde with green hues opens it up, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, iris, and rose, five flowers commonly used in the perfume industry, softened by the effect of Heliotrope, with a touch of Ambrette. Narcissus absolute amplifying the complexity and richness of Hera, the dense indole guides the nose, and I capture the faint hint of leather, the tone of Hera deepening at one point. Later, Hera turned creamy and powdery. Floral notes form a halo on a cool, slightly animalistic plush musk-patchouli base. Hera is bright, warm, and soft, with an oily texture, an opaque golden-yellow shade that covers the entire picture, a thick scent without the bones (framework), it's blurry, it should be based on abstract concepts.

I feel like I need to TALK to Liz Moores. Everyone one of her fragrances is some kind of leveled-up version of a fragrance I already love; Salome > Bal A Versailles being the prime example. Hera is similarly like "Chamade, but what if we cut the sweetness with some iris?" and it works. It works so well. I'm dying in this cavalcade of iris and jasmine and ylang. It's clear she uses the finest of ingredients, it's clear (from my perfumer) that she's more artist than businesswoman, and I frankly want to smell like her concoctions for the rest of my life. How can this happen. Hera gets flak for being the most expensive in an already-expensive line, and I can't say it's Moores's most essential (that prize goes to Anubis, or Angelique, or Salome), but it does smell absolutely sensational. Hats off to Papillon, my compliments!!!

Hera starts off very soft and rounded with bright sparkly florals of the highest quality. Narcissus, jasmine, orris and heliotrope combine to form the most beautiful composition. Not longer after the initial spray, ambrette and musk begin to shine which gives the fragrance a slight bitter earthiness. This then dries down to the most stunning blend of powdery florals and buttery orris, it’s intensely feminine and yet somehow feels unisex if you’re a fan of this style of fragrance. The staying power of this scent is fantastic and the quality is incredible. Hera is a modern masterpiece - it leans heavily to a direction similar to Chanel No 5 and Jean Desprez Bal a Versailles, however this scent is much more floral and less animalic. One of the best iterations of this classic scent profile, but unfortunately very expensive.

Ylang-ylang iris. Liz Moores has a clear artistic vision that runs through every one of her perfumes. The Papillon line all convey a powerful, visceral gestault. Anubis is East Asian temples, Salome - tantric temples, Dryad - the power of the ancient forest, Tobacco Rose - roses still on the plant with roots deep in dirt, Angelique - dew dancing in the dawn, Bengale Rouge - the primal comfort of the feline, and Spell 125 - a Druid ritual in the forest. Hera is uncompromising feminine power. Self -sustained. Full within herself. It makes sense to not only name this perfume after an otherworldly being, but also a matriarch. If we take this wedding gift as a message to a beloved daughter, it is that she go into this union empowered in her role as wife and potentially mother. Not as some soft, compliant appendage.

I tried it at the store yesterday and it reminded me of my bottle of vintage Gres Cabochard Parfum when I first smelled it on paper; however, when I tried it on skin, the IBQ leather note got pushed back for about 5 minutes by very smooth notes of Orange, Orris and Heliotrope. The indolic Jasmine and animalic leather notes started to show up after with a melange of floral, herbaceous and earthy notes gradually joining in. About 3 hours later, I started to smell the very familiar scent of Dryad in the dry down. Hera is an excellent fragrance and I could smell the different layers of the scent seamlessly transformed from one to another. The overall scent doesn't sound like a typical wedding fragrance; however, knowing a little bit about Liz Moore's style, I think it totally makes sense.

The opening for me is very green floral, maybe Narcissus or some Lily of the Valley, and a very tame orange flower not sweet. The mid is more sweet with Jasmine but this never goes sweet on my skin more like softer floral natural sweetness if that makes sense. A densely floral perfume that really is better appreciated if you don’t overspray as the sillage and longevity are huge. I definitely get a musk accord DNA that’s very Papillon and it’s an delightful, aha moment like a hug from a friend. I bought the full bottle but it came with a sample so I could return the bottle unopened and I really appreciate this thoughtfulness from the retailer. There’s no doubt that I am keeping the full bottle - a gorgeous creation from Liz!

Fields of golden, warm, white florals. A radiant, fizzy, golden floral underpinned with vintage labdanum. The orange blossom, narcissus, ylang, jasmine, rose de mai all silkened with ylang and orris concrete. Its luxe, rich, bright, classy, natural, an understated warm elegance. The green stemmy narcissus lends a green bity texture to contrast the natural warm plush white florals.Its a concentrated whole than its parts, that ushers in a velvety cuddly musk. Sensual and quiet elegant strength. Its a bit astounding to see a vintage undercurrent yet... it feels up to date. The orris is a suedy velvety edge makes sure these florals do not veer big and sharp. Its a warm floral embrace. Absolutely stunning.

How much time you got? The short answer: it's great for vintage enthusiasts! Probably one of the best I have smelled in a very long time. It is between this and the Angelos. The long answer: there are many different elements within this fragrance that warrants deconstruction. If you are not into vintage perfume, I do think that you will still enjoy this. It might just take some time to break it down to truly understand. This is my first time wearing it, and at first I wasn't sure. Now that it's been on for about an hour, it's starting to develop really beautifully. I will come back when I have more information. This is my first time try anything from the brand. So far so good.

It is eye wateringly expensive, but you know what? It's every bit as beautiful as Chanel no 5. I expect this to be a future, time honoured classic. I just adore it. It's magical. No wonder it was named after a goddess: Hera is immortal. One to try before you die for sure. Zero issues with silage and longevity. She is pricey but worth the price tag in my opinion. Hera is a very special perfume. If you cannot afford a full bottle, you can buy samples from the official website. Well worth having even a 2ml sample knocking about in your collection.

Hearts in my eyes from the first sniff! Golden is the word that comes to mind (and I’m not alone, judging from the reviews here): the warm golden feel of narcissus and other flowers and herbs and dry moss in the sun. It also feels vintage—I’m reminded of Mitsouko, Chanel No. 19, and some scents with a strong “dry aromatic herbal” accord like Knize Sec. It also feels a fair amount like Dryad in its powdery vintage style, which I adore. Perfect balance between the crisp-natural and the powdery-sweet. This is a super swoon so far.

Incredible hyper realistic floral fragrance that would be my go-to scent if I was a woman. Now, I don't usually agree with fragrances being 'gendered' I think a woman can pull of a men's fragrance and vice versa BUT I cannot pull this off, it's very feminine to my nose but that doesn't stop me from loving it. I don't get much iris here but it's very vintage, powdery and a super realistic narcissus note ties it all together. I would love to call this a 10/10 but I just personally can't wear it so 9.5/10

Papillon Hera (2022) - green Iris - As I said multiple times, #lizmoores is Jacques Guerlain re-incarnated. Automatically, Vol de Nuit comes to mind. Waxy aldehydes, animalic and green Narcissus is mixed with powdery Iris. Plush and complex. An array of florals to support - Ylang-ylang, Heliotrope, Rose and Jasmine. Every facet comes into picture - sweet, indolic, exotic and dewy. As it dries down, Ambrette and White musks create a perfect end.

Fell in love with Hera immediately, but realized my Nishane Tempofluo has similarities and checks the same boxes. I love Papillon, but prefer Nishane Tempofluo.

Stunningly beautiful. Finally found it discounted and bought it immediately. Nods to the past but is firmly planted in the 21st century.

The evocation of "gold" in review after review is there for a reason. For me, there's the immediate, familiar Dryad-like pastoral procession of earthy narcissus, smoothly entwining into a gorgeous, violety orris, slowly unveiling pops of golden honeyed sweetness – is that the ylang, the jasmine, or both? I don't know, but it positively sparkles. The overall effect is regal without being stuffy, refined while remaining totally organic, and, like all of Liz's work - poetic as ever. Hera evokes the sheen of tyrian silk with a translucent gold veil, transports you to Elysium with those gentle breezes of smooth orris, and that good, rich, deliciously sun-baked earthen mud underfoot, out of which the fragrant dry-golden grasses & tender-petaled violet & creamy-white flowers open to a delicious golden sun above, inviting you, too, to raise your arms in celebration, in supplication, before the exultant earth's ancient and loving embrace, etcetera. Too much? Too much. Don't care! My nose is happily glued to my arm, and I am thusly transported. In terms of progression - once the narcissus burns off a little, rose de mai peeks through, all lipstick and powder and vintage glamour - and, to extend whatever convoluted metaphor this has become, this feels like a marker of distinctly human beauty rituals synthesized into that Nature's processional of the other notes. Here we are, in the midst of some ancient pagan rites of Spring, and over there, the vestal virgins are applying the sacred rose-de-mai-scented Cosmetics and Whatnot to the celebrants. Rites mean sacred adornment, of course. It's all part of the ceremony! The drydown is a gold-dusted, powdery pollen of gentle Papillon-signature skin-musk and dry green leaves, dry petals. It's very cuddly and comforting, a gentle denouement to what I found to be a very evocative opening. I think it's incredibly special that Jasmine Moores gave permission for this to be shared with the world. It's not a conventional bridal scent by any measure, and that is a very good thing indeed. And, to digress a little - the commonality amongst all of Liz Moores' perfumes, and perhaps fragrance in general, is that they tell stories, that they invite you to construct your own narrative in your personal rituals of fragrance, cosmetics, and adornment. Perfume allows us to take on a form and persona greater than ourselves, or perhaps to better and more wholeheartedly embody our absolutes, whatever those may be. It's a potent sort of spell, and, at least for me, will always transcend the purpose of just smelling good. Perfumes like Hera remind me of that fact. At the end of the day - intentionality matters. It is abundantly clear a lot of love, careful consideration, and profound respect for the ingredients went into the composition of Hera. Of course it is glorious. It certainly might not be for everyone - narcissus and orris can certainly be polarizing! But in terms of composition, this is an artful, multifaceted fragrance worthy of study, exploration, and ultimately - earnest enjoyment.

Well... it’s definitely a Papillon fragrance. Vintage-y floral haze over a lightly mossy ambrette base. I am starting to think there is something of a Papillon-ade at play in a lot of these fragrances, a soft woody chypre backbone that can be played for warmth or coolness, softness or hardness. Here it is all softness and moderates the chilly star of Hera: iris. For me this is all iris, waited upon by heliotrope and ambrette. A fluffy, luminous, slightly buttery spring bouquet. The Narcissus is toned down compared to Hera’s sister Dryad, to an extent that I’m surprised to see it voted as so prominent. Here I think it serves only to reign in the powdery facets of some of the other florals, lend some solidity and faint, sunny, fleshy, warmth. There are moments when this fragrance feels as if it may go jammy, may go sweaty, etc. But truly this is staid, “white-armed Hera.” Sensual, but chaste; columnar and fair. She stands firm, unwavering, but by no means harsh. There is complexity here, but it mostly ads dimension rather than dynamism. Hera’s slightly warmed, richly textured iris lasts and lasts until you realize she has faded into an ambrette cloud. A great signature scent for the right person. For me, the slightly wilder Dryad is a better fit.

Hera is beastly; in the most extreme sense. A single spray fills the room, and the scent lingers on the skin for days. First of all, this is not an innocent, powdery yellow floral. It’s herbal, botanical, and dirty. It’s like inhaling the dust from the heart of yellow flowers; slightly sour, slightly bitter, and intentionally natural. It’s a heady narcissus, not cute, but devilish. There’s also an earthy iris note that accompanies Hera. If someone told me there was galbanum or immortelle in this, I’d believe them. There is also a mossy aspect. I love that it’s named Hera; it suits the character perfectly. Like Nárkissos, she’s vain and has always rejected those who fall in love with her. For a jealous and vengeful goddess, this is an austere scent. This fragrance exhausts me; which is why I don’t wear it often. But now and then, when I crave a herbal floral, I reach for it. Edit: In the comment right below mine (by sensationseeker), mentioned yellow pollen: such a beautiful and spot-on description!

I was ready to fully love this one. The notes, the concept, everything was perfect. However, despite how well made and artistic this one is, I feel I won't wear it very often... so at that price tag, I removed it from my "to-buy" list. There is something in there that annoys me sometimes (and might annoy other people too) so this is really not an "easy to wear" scent in my opinion. This one opens with a very vintage accord that dries down into realistic (and slightly animalic) yellow daffodils and orris root, mostly. You can smell the quality. It is original for sure. Longevity on me is not what I was expected (cannot barely smell it after 3 hours). I compare that with FM floral .. Similar pricing but last days on me so I don't feel bad about the price. Overall, I'd say I am a bit disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much, maybe this one will grow on me. We'll see. I might have more success with Dryad from that brand, as a lover of green fragrances.

A new Papillon release is always something to celebrate. Hera for me is all about orris root and jasmine. Opening with a big floral kaleidoscope, magnificently golden and rich but alas my skin swallows the supporting notes. I don't get as much of the stellar bouquet that I pick out on the blotter — the thick, Dryad -like narcissus, mouth-watering ylang ylang and orange flower and the rose. On my arm things simplify to a dominant, rounded orris root, a light, celestial jasmine and a tweak of green narcissus, like an updated, softer, sunnier version of Vol de Nuit . After 30 minutes it's neither as loud nor floral, the iris showcasing some powderiness but also its toasty, unsweetened side and becoming softer and more leathery as it settles. Hera is gorgeous but I'm disappointed she might not show her best features on my skin. I'll try again in cooler weather.

I'm loving this sample so far. It smells rather like someone was asked to interpret an obscure, vintage Guerlain and transpose/recreate it for modern sensibilities. Like many a Guerlain, it begins with tart bergamot, deepened with an abstract floral core that is filled out with ionones and orris, and situated on a plush, musky, balmy vanilla. It's not a full smell alike to anything I can think of, but it definitely dances around territory like vintage Apres L'Ondee parfum, L'Heure Bleue, and Bouquet de Faunes. So very lovely! I wish there were a small, 7.5-10ml dabber of this, which I'd probably snap up more quickly than the full bottle.

super feminine, graceful. i just feel like a lady wearing this. want to sit with my back straight and my emotions under control. to my nose this floral outburst seems a bit harsh but still has addictive effect. anyway this is not a Papillon I would rush to buy. Anubis, Spell 125 were more intriguing. update: no actually I have added this to my wishlist eventually. the feeling it creates is remarkable. it lifts my mood and fills me up with energy and curiosity.

This is a pleasant and natural-smelling but nondescript floral fragrance. Office friendly There can be a place for this in a fragrance collection. Most Papillon perfumes are evocative and full of personality, but this one does not, in my opinion. I'll enjoy my sample but won't be spending $310 for full bottle. 6/10, mostly for high quality ingredients.

All I get is Orris, which is nice since I love Orris, but it’s disappointing since there are supposed to be many other florals. I get none of them :(

I like it, but something happens to me with orris—I get fruit gummies if it’s not framed with other, darker elements. This is verging on that to me.

Oh, how I wanted to love this. Bengale Rouge and Salome are two of my favourite fragrances, and I was *so* excited about this release based on the notes and write ups. I ordered a sample direct from Papillon, and gleefully tested it as soon as it arrived. And, that, fellow fragheads, is where the smile left my face. Overpowering Jasmine smacked me in the face, but on my skin it just came out nauseating, like new car on a hot day - that smell of warm upholstery shampoo. I genuinely grimaced. Still, I waited it out. After several hours that died down to reveal a somewhat narcissus scent (I have Penhaligon's Ostara as my yardstick for a realistic daffodil fragrance and it is nothing close to that), with iris and musk in the very base. Sadly it still also had the nauseating white floral in the background, and as such I had to scrub it off as after 5h+ feeling nauseous I couldn't stick it out any longer. Usually this only happens to me with Gardenia heavy fragrances, so I am so disappointed my skin chemistry has messed with this one as well. I hate to be the first negative review of this, but I have to speak as I find whilst being aware it may be very personal to me, as all fragrance experiences are to everyone. I'm going to be gifting my sample.

I want to love this, truly. I got a sample and I have been trying it out for the past couple of weeks. I am sad to say this is a no for me and here are the reasons why: • The Jasmine here is unbelievably indolic and overwhelming. I love Jasmine and I love white flowers in general because they truly evoke happy memories to me. However, here, they smell too much, too aggressive and a tinge dirty/wild animal-esque/ funky b-o as well (which is not what I envision for a bride, though that’s a matter of personal preference). • Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end with just the overwhelmingly pungent Jasmine, it continues with a very VERY powdery/orris/narcissus/oily/earthy aroma that lends the idea of a very matronly woman who rules her household with an iron fisted will. • As the perfume unfolds further, I smell an unfortunate tinge of cigarettes (why that is, I cannot say. Probably my skin chemistry?). And though I think that smoke-y fragrances are lovely, here, it just doesn’t work in its favor. I also detect an element of musty old dwelling with hints of animal urine in the background. Now, as for the name of the fragrance, to each their own but Hera was not happy in marriage (her husband Zeus was a serial and incorrigible cheater) so why name it after a woman constantly scorned is a mystery to me. All in all, Hera is a resounding disappointment personally but again, perfumes and olfactive experiences are purely a matter of personal taste, past memories and experiences.

Super strong heady floral, have mercy. Not a fan at all. I’ve been wanting to smell this so bad because I want good yellow florals in my collection. I’m surprised it has so many positive reviews. If you hate oppressive florals, stay away.

I consider Hera to be a vintage-style floral chypre. The opening of Hera has a dominant orris note along with a bright, citrusy note of bergamot, a short-lived powdery almondy heliotrope note and traces of aldehydes. The orris here is sweet, powdery and slightly rooty. It becomes more powdery and fluffy as the scent progresses. Compared to the opening of Angelique, another orris-heavy release by Papillon, Hera is brighter and more colorful. A few minutes later, Hera shifts to a white floral phase as the jasmine and narcissus appear. The jasmine here has the richness and indolic facet of the natural jasmine absolute, but it is only present in this phase of the fragrance on my skin. On the other hand, the narcissus is one of the main notes of Hera, along with orris and ambrette, and it lasts for the entire duration of the fragrance. The narcissus here is heady, green and floral with some earthy balsamic undertones, but it does not have that hay-like dryness. Some green floral nuances remind me of lily of the valley as well. Following this phase, the jasmine starts fading while I start detecting some lemony rose along with a mysterious camphoraceous note that feels almost like frankincense or some aromatic herbs. The rose note doesn’t last for more than a few minutes. A prominent custardy sweet floral ylang-ylang note appears as well. I feel that the orange blossom here provides a texture rather than a smell. It adds an interesting thick floral texture to the scent. The base of Hera is green, musky, powdery and slightly leathery. It has noticeable oakmoss and vetiver notes, a combination of natural and synthetic musk materials (Prominent ambrette note), hints of green leather materials, sandalwood and a touch of vanilla. I want to mention the comparisons to Dryad. To my nose, the top and heart notes are very different, Dryad has a prominent galbanum top note with some green aromatics, a peachy fruity note and a green floral heart, but the base of Dryad does remind me of Hera. It has a similar green mossy base with noticeable narcissus. There are some substantial differences between the bases of the two fragrances. Firstly, the base of Dryad has a dry woodiness that is absent in the base of Hera. Also, the base of Dryad has a noticeable bitterness and dryness, while the base of Hera has a slight vanillic sweetness. Furthermore, the base of Hera has a slightly powdery texture that makes it smoother and adds a warm and velvety feel to the scent. On another note, I found Hera to be a shapeshifter, it constantly changes throughout the wearing, and each wearing provides a slightly different experience.

What a beauty! This is your golden goddess, beaming, shimmering wonder. It opens with a symphony of florals that envelops you, all fizzy and sparkling. I am reminded of fizzy drinks. Middle is a wonderful mix of the opening yellow fizz with the most wonderfully powdery iris soap. It's absolutely wonderful! The ambrette makes everything diffusive and fluffy, airy which I love. To me, this is all the lovely bits of Salome (with the animalic thigh aspect toned down quite a bit) with the plush iris puff of Angelique. I loved both of these but couldn't see myself wearing Salome enough for a full bottle and found Angelique at times a little too demure and pensive. Hera is the perfect medium and so much more. I live in an area that has very long winters and it can get pretty dreary as February and March hits. Hera will come in very handy when those moments hit. It makes me so happy and it's so shimmery and sunny. I have Dryad and they are not similar at all. Dryad does not "remind me of" Hera. They both have that vintage complexity and depth that most Liz Moores creations have, but I'd never be reminded of each other. Dryad is somewhat witch-y and dark green forest-like, whereas Hera is all gleaming, golden shimmer.

Nothing ever smells the way you are expecting, but this was a surprise. From other online reviews I expected a bright floral bouquet, (hence a naturally floral-sweet perfume) but I fall more on the bitter floral camp. To me it’s a chypre-style perfume, florals tinged green and slightly bitter plus a prominent waxy orris. I thought the greenness was coming from oakmoss, but looking at the scent pyramid and what people voted for the most, I think this may actually be the natural narcissus! I have never smelt narcissus on its own but it can (apparently) have complex oakmoss-y, vegetal green, animalic and even tobacco facets on top of the lush floral. So now I may have a good olfactive reference for narcissus. If you like this style of fragrance, this is very beautiful and the quality of the materials is evident. It may be a tad too mossy/bitter (green) for me to get a full bottle, but I do enjoy it. When I smelt this I immediately thought of Nahema ( another amazing complex floral chypre with an oakmoss base) and Dryad, which has been mentioned by others.

Hera is interesting because she has the Papillon foundation but undulates between notes as she explores ones skin chemistry - someone else wrote this fume is very skin chemistry dependent and I completely agree. Hera smells different out of the bottle, on paper, on clothing and on skin - almost as though moving through the shadows but, there is nothing dark about this fragrance. Hera opens up with dusty white florals, ashy and powdery, all things chalk - the florals have been hidden away in the attic for some time but haven't lost their potent scent. Once the fragrance settles on my skin, I start to smell the rose, musk and orris which becomes quite prominent. This is where my skin chemistry destroys the scent and Hera turns into a synthetic bar of soap with a hint of cigarette ash. Out of the bottle, it's a beautiful scent but unfortunately doesn't do well with my skin. A shame because I love everything Liz Moores puts out. Must be tested!

Quite awkwardly to say... but this is a variation of "Etruscan Water" by Francesca Bianchi! Liz, & Francesca are 2 from my top 10 perfumers but i just can't deny the fact that Hera is like Etruscan Water. They are like a twins but from different parents :) dunno how but IT IS. it's just that Hera is the naughty dirty one, while Etruscan is naughty only. The overdosed musk and narcissus ylang ylang mix is creating that musky filthy touch added to Hera, while rose de mai, and orange blossoms are trying to lighten things up. Dunno if i can detect orris that much, but it is there already. Now the thing i see is that i completely sense Liz's stamp in here, and Francesca's stamp is nowhere to be found! but both are quite similar to each other. So if you love Etruscan Water, then this is going to be yours :) but as i always say.. DO NOT BLIND BUY FULL BOTTLE... invest in a sample to save your earnings for something you adore.

Excellent quality. No doubt about that. You really get what you pay for with this but it’s too indolic and vintage feeling for me. Almost musty in the dry down. Someone mentioned a cigarette type of smell and I definitely pick up on that. I feel like this would suit an older woman who is very well put together. She has class and you know it. She’s confident in her taste because this isn’t a mass appealing perfume, it’s polarizing to me. Some will love and some will hate it. I’m in the latter but I still I feel the woman who’s wearing this has got a great sense of style, jewelry adorning her, ect. I’m going to pass the rest of my sample onto my mother to see what she thinks. All in all, it was worth sampling, just not my style, it’s way too mature for me. My rating is 5/10 because it is of great quality even though I don’t care for the scent profile at all personally. Definitely not blind buy safe.

There are some scents that are more likely to be shapeshifters on different people depending on their skin chemistry and what notes they have a tendency to pick up on. I think Hera is one of those. I actually quite like it and wasn't really expecting to when I first tried it, but I am someone who really appreciates powder and, on me, Hera has powder in spades. Chalky powder. The first time I wore it I immediately thought of Nasomatto's China White - both have a rather amorphous feel and both give a very visceral impression of pastel chalkiness. And a slight touch of cigarette ashes. I do, however, find Hera to be much more wearable and less synthetic than China White. I have been wearing this in winter, but I really look forward to seeing how different facets may come forward in warmer months - I suspect I'll be pleasantly surprised.

This one grew on me. I'm a white floral lover, so I was excited to try, though a bit hesitant due to the orris which tends to be hit or miss for me. My first impression: powdery as alllll hell and very mature. This fragrance is complex yet somewhat linear on me. From beginning to end I mainly get orris and ambrette/musk. However, as I used up my sample little by little whenever the mood struck to get out of my comfort zone, my perception of this scent began to change. I started notice how Hera is warm, lovely, and feminine. It's sexy in a modest and sophisticated way. I think this scent would be complimented really beautifully by a sensual yet reserved outfit; maybe a long silk gown with tasteful cutouts, or a sheer knit top and long wool skirt. Give it a chance if you want to dip your toe into powdery scents!

Whew. I read some reviews first, and I'm glad I'm not the only one that isn't in love with this. Makes me feel like less of a heretic! I get a huge glorious narcissus here and I love it! The overall composition is a little dusty, dry and bitter. I don't mind that either. The thing that bothered me each time I used it (and I'm now completely done with my decant) is that it never felt completely finished to me, like something is missing and/or it was mixed in wrong increments, for lack of better wording. Now I'm not a perfumer and not telling her how to do her job; this is only my skin chemistry's experience.

A warning to people trying this for the first time: it’s a shape shifter... what you get your first time will not be what you get the second or third. Third time won’t be the same as fourth etc. Jasmine and Iris. That’s my first review. Though there’s a lot more than that going on. I get a vintage Gres Cabochard hidden in the heart, with a wisp of cigarette smoke like the old greats used to have. People smell dryad in the base but I get something warmer with more resins. This is lovely.

Initially focuses on the orris to my nose, with creamy yet dry jasmine & ylang accompanying it and giving a wider spectrum to its powderiness. A hint of indoles to funk it up just ever so slightly. After about an hour it's almost already a skin scent on my hand but you get this hugely elegant, effervescent lime peel, dusty orris and violet drydown. It is a pleasure to wear and gives you a regal aura but it just doesn't go further than that to make it full-bottle justifiable, for me.

Not so much a review but I’m selling a bottle of this I blind bought recently. Lesson learned, I don’t even like powdery, soapy, aldehydic fragrances but still decided to pick it up since the scent profile intrigued me. DM me if you’re interested, I can send photos for reference. US locations only please! Edit: Sold!

Definitely reminds me of Dryad and the first version of Au deal Narcisse. With added Orris and Heliotrope. If Shem El Nessim and Dryad had a child, it would be named Hera. It's beautiful, but to me, redundant, as I was hoping for more.

being a 37 year old man, i dont like chypres but i do kinda like papillon.. this one is all about the orris for me, very buttery, not a fan of the fragrance until the drydown, its less rich but can tell its high quality