Herod Parfums de Marly 2012

Herod is one of those scents that you smell once and immediately realize that there is something special in it. It is warm and embracing, like a beautiful, quiet moment in winter. Never intrusive, never exaggerated, but so incredibly seductive. For me, it carries a sense of security that I don't often find.

I smell cinnamon, vanilla, and tobacco. These three are what define the fragrance for me. The blend is sweet and spicy, elegant, and yet pleasantly soft. There is something gourmand about it, but just enough so that you don't feel like you're walking around like an overly sugary Christmas market. Frankincense and musk are there, but rather in the background.

The opening is a bit harsh for me, even a little edgy, but after ten minutes it becomes beautifully rounded, and the scent reveals its true warm side.

For me, Herod is a true winter fragrance. It fits so well into the cold season and even better for dates. It has a warm, inviting quality that you can feel but that doesn't overwhelm. A scent that creates a sense of closeness without begging for attention.

What unfortunately bothers me is the performance. It lasts about 6 hours on me and then becomes quite quiet. And for such a fragrance that conveys so much feeling and atmosphere, that's a shame! You would like to call out to it in between that it can really still come back, that it deserves to be there longer. But I keep reaching for it.