Herod

I have been sampling 20+ of the all time popular/highest rated men’s fragrances the last month or two. Creed, Tom Ford, Guerlain, Givenchy, Dior, Chanel, Malle, Dolce, Prada, etc etc Then last night I applied my sample of Herod. My eyes widened, jaw dropped. It smells so so so wonderful on me that it is viscerally stunning, almost dizzying. It is so much better than any of the other best of the best fragrances I’ve tried. Herod balances the best of the best dark Rich creamy elements but stays much less sweet than current trends (looking at you Tom Ford). It is dark but not heavy, smoky but not stale or acrid, sweet/fruity/floral but just a touch, edible but not cloying candy dessert, spicy and peppery but not sharp or offensive. Many say this is Tobacco plus Vanilla, but it is not and is much more. I would say it is centrally incense, which is tying together four or five different notes supported by two or three ingredients each. Much more indeed. Tom Ford bashes people over the head with Very Sweet and Very Very Vanilla. Herod is a masterclass of virtuoso perfumery in comparison. All at once it is smoky and spicy and earthy and slightly sweet and oh so creamy in a swirling dance that is unique modern masculine and a best-thing-I-ever-smelled, so delicious that I can’t stop sniffing at it and discerning the different notes. Some say it’s too safe or bland or mainstream but I think it is actually a wonderland of niche-quality smells that are used with restraint and perfectly balanced into a complex gentle harmonious masterpiece. One thing I haven’t seen many discuss: I believe the key element is the incense, the central nag Champa note that is smoky and woody and slightly sweet/floral and earthy and dark and mysterious that ties all the other notes together. A brilliant bridge between The Smoky tobacco, The spicy sweet cinnamon and pepper, the creamy rich vanilla, the earthy vetiver and musks, aromatic woods etc. I smelled a lot of nag champa incense in my university days and Herod’s incense smells spot on. Nag champa is Indian incense that has unique notes similar to sandalwood and jasmine and plum. Mix those in with cinnamon, cedar, vetiver, musky florals, etc, and that’s why I feel this is so much more complex than “tobacco plus vanilla” and actually a masterpiece of layered perfume blending. Unbelievable. I have immediately ordered a 75ml bottle for 120 bucks. Update: My 75ml bottle from eBay is a March 2021 batch and smells exactly the same as my sample, maybe a twinge fruitier up front. That’s from the first spray with no maceration. I’m at 5 hour mark from three sprays and still smell it strongly. Sooo delicious and plenty of performance

Holy wow! I like this one a lot! This is so much more wearable to me than Althaïr, and also just more interesting and less synthetic (I know there ARE synthetics in this, but they come across more well blended and natural feeling). I get a little sweetness, just enough, and a really pleasant tobacco that just smells so good. Nothing cloying or cigarette-ish about it, just pure lovely clean sweet tobacco. The cypriol, cedar, and vetiver are all there in exactly the right dosage, just pleasantly earthy and spicy and tempering the sweetness. It's addictive. I can't stop huffing my wrist. It's absolutely perfect. It definitely has a slight holiday feel to it which would make it perfect for fall and winter, but it's not specifically Christmas-y or anything, so it could work on any night out or cooler day. It would work on a warm day too, but where I live gets hot enough that I tend to prefer a real freshie on hot days. Sillage and longevity seem good, but I have a dabber sample, so it's always hard to tell without that atomization. I really love this. I had avoided trying any PDMs because I figured even if I love it, I probably wouldn't pay so much for it, but I recently tried a couple samples, and I will probably end up grabbing a decant of this one at some point. It's fantastic. Update! I did buy a decant of this from Scent Split, and while it's rapidly become my favorite fragrance in my collection, the performance is sort of abysmal, especially given the cost and the types of notes it contains. ESPECIALLY when compared to the performance of Layton. This has fairly weak sillage, less than an arms length for about the first hour, then it becomes more or less a skin scent. It's one of the worst performers I have. It's at DandG's The One levels of vanishing. I also grabbed Layton and Greenley decants, and both outperform this one by miles. It's a shame, because I adore this so much I was considering full bottling, but at the rate I blew through the decant, it seems like a poor financial choice. Also, to double check I wasn't simply going anosmic, I asked my husband and neighbors and coworkers at various points in the day if they could smell me, from how far, and how strongly, and the reports were consistent with everyone. Lastima.

can't stop thinking about this since i tried it. i tend to like sweeter fragrances more so i don't usually pay much attention to fragrances that aren't marketed as feminine or unisex... plus bottles and names are the main thing that draws me to a perfume, and this is so not eye catching on the outside, i think would've never tried it if i just saw it in a store. the one who suggested i try it was my dad lol because we were talking about fragrance and he got into collecting during quarantine. i was kind of hesitant because he's mostly into woody aromatic headache scents. but when i smelled it from the bottle i was convinced to give it a chance. the opening is really boozy, almost too much for me like i just opened a new bottle of liquor and spilled some trying to pour it. two or three minutes in it starts to really sweeten as the vanilla shows up, with a really nice edge of tobacco and incense. it's like sitting in a room by myself at night with some incense lit in the background, holding a glass of a really sweet bourbon or maybe some kind of liqueur in one hand and a fresh expensive cigar in the other. the liquor and tobacco in this are like gourmands to me. my skin really latches onto vanilla so after the opening it smelled mostly very sweet and warm with a hint of tobacco, felt surprisingly feminine despite the marketing and what i was expecting from the notes. skin chemistry is crazy because on my dad it's a lot more tobacco based, which is what i imagine it smells like on most people. both smell great to me, i would love to try layering this with something sweet too to see what happens too. the scent does get weak pretty fast though but it's good enough for me to not mind that.

Upon the first spray, I'm enveloped in an enchanting blend of sweet incense, beautifully layered with rich tobacco, luscious vanilla, and a hint of warm cinnamon. The opening is nothing short of mesmerizing, making it one of my all-time favorites in my collection. The way the smokiness of the incense alongside the deep, comforting notes of tobacco and vanilla creates a captivating aroma. It evokes memories of a black and mild cigar—those distinct, cheap cigars from the corner gas station—though I assure you, this is anything but off-putting. For anyone familiar with that scent, you know it has a surprisingly alluring quality. As the fragrance develops, around 3-5 minutes in, I start to detect some earthy, woody notes emerging from the iso-e-super, adding depth and enhancing the overall projection of the scent. This delightful blend maintains its character beautifully for the first three hours, radiating elegantly from my skin. After that initial period, it transforms into a cozy skin scent that lingers for over eight hours, showcasing its impressive longevity. If you choose to spritz it on your clothing, be prepared for the scent to stay with you until you wash your clothing. What I particularly appreciate is how consistent the fragrance remains throughout the experience. Herod feels best suited for colder weather and evening occasions. If a scent that embodies the warmth and richness of gourmet pipe tobacco resonates with you, I guarantee that Herod is a full-bottle purchase you won't regret. Its warm, sweet aroma captures a delightful essence that is undeniably reminiscent of those black and mild cigars.

The opening blast smells like a cherry sucret cough drop dipped in cinnamon. Pure cherry medicinal. This last thankfully about 20 seconds. The opening made me think another dud from PDM (I am not a fan from everything ive tried.) Within a minute, a massive hit of tobacco with a sweet leathery accord begins. It was like an on off switch. The moment the perfume dried on the skin, the tobacco hit immediate. That first 30 seconds was the most interesting and jarring experience. Absolute change up! The dry down initially keeps a more subtle medicinal smell. The vanilla, cedar and musk are coming through. The Iso E and amber bring a nice warmth. Ive tried 5 or 6 PDM perfumes and my feelings were either ok to absolute hate. This is the first PDM scent I enjoy AND the first one whose vanilla didnt smell like sweet mothballs(Althair) or disgustingly synthetic(Carlisle). Sillage is good Longevity is moderate. Becomes a noce smokt vanilla musk after a couple hours and disappears on me after anout 8 hours. Im actually, finally, enjoying a PDM fragrance. Herod is amazing. Elegant. Its masculine and gentlemanly. After all the PDM ive tried, finally a clear winner. After several wears, I have to say this is one of my alltime favorite fragrances. It truly is such a magnificent masterpiece. The notes blend so smoothly after the initial spray. The drydown is wonderful, masculine. Its gentlemanly. I absolutely love Herod.