Anyone working in the service industry and closely interacting with people knows all too well that it is not always pleasant. One is too exposed to the whims and moods of customers, and there are specimens that exist solely to drain all energies from others, and one would gladly wish them to the moon or even further away.
On the other hand, there are people you simply enjoy having around because they radiate a pleasant aura, and you wish they would visit as often as possible.
The Christmas season should ideally be a time for reflection. There are times when I think back to events from a while ago, especially when they are very pleasant.
My client Mrs. H. was one of those delightful individuals, always cheerful, always grateful, never moody; she always had a kind word for everyone and always brought something for us. Sometimes it was homemade treats, sometimes a package of coffee, or something else...
And at Christmas, there was always a special gift.
On the last working day of December 1994, Mrs. H. handed me a bottle of Héritage EdP by Guerlain. I have always been very fond of the house of Guerlain, but as a small employee in a not-so-well-paid profession, these higher-priced fragrances were not easily accessible.
Therefore, I hesitated quite a bit, as I could not accept such a precious gift. But Mrs. H. would not accept my reluctance and explicitly said it came from the heart and that I should please accept it.
My joy was immense, and I was surprised at how accurately Mrs. H. had hit my taste.
Now, the times when one was so generously gifted as a service provider are long gone. However, I do not complain about it. Everything just changes.
Héritage shines with the attributes woody and spicy, which fits excellently. But there is something more in the fragrance; otherwise, it wouldn't be a Guerlain, especially from a time when things were different at Guerlain than they are today.
The scent starts citrusy and tickles pleasantly in the nose; alongside the citrus notes, I notice a bit of pepper. Recently, pepper has been a note that tends to annoy me, as it is used very lavishly in many fragrances. Here, however, the pepper is beautifully integrated.
The certain herbaceousness of lavender mixes in, but the scent does not become green; rather, it remains spicy.
As it develops further, patchouli makes its presence known. Patchouli is a note that I generally get along with very well. Patchouli can develop in many different ways: dull, hippie-shop-like, or even like the deepest cellar dungeon.
In Héritage, patchouli has this beautiful tone that reminds me of fine dark chocolate. This chocolate has a very high cocoa content of over 80%, which you consume only with care and enjoyment.
There are also some woody notes that I cannot define more closely. However, they complement the scent excellently.
The fragrance feels flattering, warming, slightly balsamic, and has a subtle hint of oriental flair. However, this oriental flair is not evoked by oud. When Héritage was created, oud was not yet on anyone's mind. But since it is a note I do not get along with very well, I am not sad about that.
The longevity is very good at 8-9 hours, and the scent projects quite well in the first 2 hours.
I would recommend the cooler seasons as the most suitable.
I wore Héritage EdP for a bottle length until it was forgotten again and replaced by other scent impressions. But a few months ago, I thought it would be nice to revisit this beautiful fragrance. So I found a nearly full 100 ml bottle at a very reasonable price here in the souk. It is a current version in a standard bottle, but I was relieved to find that the fragrance has not been deformed beyond recognition and is still itself.
The enthusiasm for the fragrance is still the same after 25 years.
Héritage is one of those fragrances that present themselves with a certain seriousness and do not conform to the arbitrary contemporary fresh waters that (unfortunately, I must say) all somehow smell the same and try to entice the inclined buyer with exaggerated cheerfulness. Héritage does not need that. If someone does not have to chase every trend at all costs, then Héritage is perfectly suitable. The scent is timelessly beautiful and elegant.
What worries me, however, is the unpleasant development with the new regulations. I sincerely hope that patchouli will not also become frowned upon someday. Too many fragrances have either been mutilated or irretrievably disappeared by now.
I have long lost sight of Mrs. H., due to a change of job, moving, etc.
But now, as I once again possess Héritage, I wonder how she might be doing. I hope she is well.
And I think back with great gratitude to the wonderful Christmas gift.
And with these words, I would like to wish everyone who is kind to me and has faithfully accompanied me a heartfelt Merry Christmas and all the best for 2020!
Updated on 07/03/2020
Top Notes 
Lavender
Bergamot
Lemon
Heart Notes 
Coriander
Pink pepper
Base Notes 
Patchouli
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