Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
02/19/2016
Karenin
39 Reviews
Karenin
Helpful Review
2
Figuier
From what I've read, James Heeley is a British designer who also happened to become interested in composing perfumes without any formal education in this area. As his designs tastefully marry up functionalism and minimalism, I expected his scents to be in a similar vein. So far, I've sampled four of Heeley's spring/summer perfumes and am pleased to say they have lived up to (if not exceeded) my expectations. The first one of the lot I'm going to review is “Figuier”.
Before testing Heeley's “Figuier”, I'd never paid close attention to the fig note in fragrances. By that I mean I'd never buy a fragrance just because it smelled of fig. The first perfume I got containing the note was “Un Jardin en Méditerranée” by Hermes. I found its fig fruity, slightly milky and pleasing to the nose. Heeley's fig, nevertheless, is a different story. Instead of reinterpreting only the fruit, he gives the note a more thorough treatment: the fruit, the leaves as well as the bark. As a result, “Figuier” is unmistakeably green and outdoorsy. While the fruity-milky fig tends to bring to mind a lazy summer afternoon spent dozing in a hammock, “Figuier” pulsates with energy. Another thing I enjoy about Heeley's perfume is that the fig does not play second fiddle but is the star of the composition. The supporting roles are allocated to notes like grass, melon, hay and musk.
Luca Turin claims “Figuier” is an epitome of “hyperrealist perfumery”. I can only agree and add that, from my point of view, in this fragrance James Heeley “deromanticises” the fig note. His fig is green, invigorating, natural-smelling and, above all, fun. To put it simply, an absolute joy to wear!
Before testing Heeley's “Figuier”, I'd never paid close attention to the fig note in fragrances. By that I mean I'd never buy a fragrance just because it smelled of fig. The first perfume I got containing the note was “Un Jardin en Méditerranée” by Hermes. I found its fig fruity, slightly milky and pleasing to the nose. Heeley's fig, nevertheless, is a different story. Instead of reinterpreting only the fruit, he gives the note a more thorough treatment: the fruit, the leaves as well as the bark. As a result, “Figuier” is unmistakeably green and outdoorsy. While the fruity-milky fig tends to bring to mind a lazy summer afternoon spent dozing in a hammock, “Figuier” pulsates with energy. Another thing I enjoy about Heeley's perfume is that the fig does not play second fiddle but is the star of the composition. The supporting roles are allocated to notes like grass, melon, hay and musk.
Luca Turin claims “Figuier” is an epitome of “hyperrealist perfumery”. I can only agree and add that, from my point of view, in this fragrance James Heeley “deromanticises” the fig note. His fig is green, invigorating, natural-smelling and, above all, fun. To put it simply, an absolute joy to wear!
