Heaven (for men)

guest_

Nice,excellent fragrance,i love it and i wear it everyday.orestes athens greece

glitteralex

This fragrance has achieved cult status in Latin America. I had a large perfume house contact me once to purchase a bottle for their scientists to dissect in order to recreate a copycat scent. In America, however, it is generally regarded as a well-constructed but unremarkable marine scent. Americans tend to like some spice in their men's scents, even in the aquatic scents (think of Cool Water by Davidoff*, which has spicy notes in all three layers). Heaven has a rather flat, sweet appeal to it. The rosewood in the tops offers some lift, but not anything that approaches earth or spice. This type of fragrance (exemplified also by Gucci Pour Homme II, Prada for Men, and Chrome Legend by Azzaro) is well received by Eastern European and Latin men. American men comment that these fragrances are too “sweet” or “feminine”.

Other than the obvious lack of spice, I think what makes this scent singular is its liberal use of Cyclamen in the heart. The Givaudan** website describes Bourgeonal, the chemical derivative from the Cyclamen plant, as “a fresh watery floral sweet Olfactive Note…. Floral, Green, Muguet, Fresh, Powerful, Diffusive… with a watery green character…a unique muguet-aldehyde character extensively used in toiletries and alcoholic fragrances”.

Personally, I find this a pleasant fragrance, but nothing that I would wear myself. It is not overtly masculine or feminine; the “marine” accord makes it rather neutral. Its presence reminds me of Horizon, by Guy Laroche, an earlier trendsetting (and far less expensive) floral-herbaceous marine. The base of Heaven has none of the animalistic fixative notes (ingredients state musk, but it must be in very low concentrations) that I enjoy in all scents, even my Greens and Florals. I welcome others' thoughts on it, as it has such an enormous fan base that there must be something I am missing-?

*Cool Water by Davidoff: Top notes include mint and green nuances, lavender, coriander and rosemary. The heart notes include geranium, neroli, jasmine and sandalwood. The base is composed of cedarwood, musk, amber and tobacco

**World’s largest flavor and fragrance company, located in Vernier, Switzerland