Heliotrope (1989)
by Etro

This opens up with a high dose of aromatic almond extract. Like one of those alomnd oil extracts you use for baking. Then it smoothes down to a powdery, almondy, slight floral vibe. It smells like the aroma of when you are baking almond cookies. This smells delicious. My only concern is that it doesn't project very much. It would have been nice to wear this during winter. However, it will just die down from the cold weather. Perhaps in the less colder days of autumn and spring. Highly recommend.

7th February, 2011.

Reminds me a lot of Givenchy Pi, but less synthetic and a bit more floral. Just lovely gourmand scent!

1st February, 2011.

Delicate and nostalgic this ethereal fragrance is a dive in to memories of far Christmas holidays left over in your childhood. It's a gourmand scent very evocative, sweet, tasty and nutty in which i detect mainly heliotrope, almond, sort of taste of rice cream, white flowers, vanilla and musk. This scent reminds to me the taste of some italian Pandoro, marzipan or other sweet cakes. Going on it bacomes very soft and powdery like a kind of outwordly heavenly juice. As said, perfect scent for a romantic summer night under the moonlight.

13rd July, 2010. (Last Edited: 13rd March, 2011.)

Powdery gourmand floral with facets of spices niched in between notes of woods. Nice EdC strength makes it perfect for work even in the winter. Good stuff.

29th January, 2010.

No wonder that the majority of the reviewers associate Heliotrope with sweets, creams, frosted cakes, marzipans etc. Absolutely gourmand as Foetidus already said, manages to incorporate notes of edible components without being tedious. I find it cheerful, luminous and live, with a bittersweet but not dark character that works great both on males and females. Once you come across the admittedly sharp opening, you will be rewarded with a delicious creamy vanilla and bitter almond heart (light florals are almost unnoticed) and a soft vanilla and musk base. Bellissimo! Notes from Etro : Top notes : Petit Grain, Amande, Middle notes : Ylang Ylang, Rose, Jasmin, Iris Basenotes : Héliotrope, Vanille, Baumes, Musc

30th October, 2009.

Unfortunately doesn't make it on my active rotation list, even if I own a full bottle...made a mistake of testing only once and taking advantage of a small discount for Etro items at the high-end dept store here (I passed on the Messe de Minuit and New Tradition). Untrained nose I am, but can pick out the almonds, vanilla, white musk...To me somewhat syrupy and thick at the start...not appropriate for most days here in Manila (humid most of the time...think sticky white icing on skin in the heat? Not good)...Hope my mind changes bout it by Christmas time, when the weather is cooler, this seems more appropriate by then. Good fall fragrance (for those with 4 seasons)...Good move up for those stuck on generic vanilla brands (aka VS and Bath&Body, which are crazy popular here). Still kinda glad I have it though, as nothing in my current 'drobe is similar to this.

29th October, 2009.