Parfums de Marly
Herod
Spicy · EDP · 2016
Tobacco, spice, and vanilla on a warm base. Loud and long, like the rest of Parfums de Marly. A Tobacco Vanille alternative that costs less and opens spicier. Heavy in heat. In the cold it is excellent warm niche.
Context
Herod is tobacco and spice from Parfums de Marly. Pink pepper and cinnamon spark the opening. Tobacco and osmanthus sit in the heart. Vanilla, tonka, and cedar close it. In the niche lane it is the closest relative of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, with a clearer spice character and a lower price.
On skin
The opening is pepper, cinnamon, and tobacco, warm and spicy. After an hour the tobacco settles into a vanilla-tonka base. Longevity is excellent, 8 to 10 hours and often longer. Projection is strong for the first 3 hours. In heat the spice gets heavy. In the cold it is comfortable. On clothes it lasts for days.
Against Tobacco Vanille
Herod is drier and spicier, and the tobacco is clearer. Tobacco Vanille is sweeter, with vanilla in front and a drier tobacco. Herod costs less per millilitre, about €190 to €270 against €270 to €360. For tobacco and spice, take Herod. For tobacco and vanilla, take Tobacco Vanille. On value, Herod wins.
Verdict
One of the better price-to-performance bottles in warm niche for cold weather. If tobacco and spice are the brief, a bottle is reasonable after a decant. Volume and longevity sit at the Parfums de Marly level. The price is saner than many neighbours.
Scores
Notes
Top
- Pink Pepper
- Cinnamon
Heart
- Tobacco
- Osmanthus
Base
- Vanilla
- Tonka
- Cedar
- Woody Notes
Before a bottle
Ask for 2 to 10 ml. Wear it three times on your own skin. A blotter will not tell you what hour four smells like.
Request a decant
