L'Ame d'un Héros (2008)
by Guerlain

This is a nice, dusky-green scent. It seems so similar to Corolian (at a higher price point) that it doesn't seem compelling as a purchase if you have Corolian (as I do).

25th November, 2011.

At first testing this was marvelous. The Guerlain assistant filled a small glass vial for me to properly test at home. I could smell the similarity with Coriolan but I am not so fond of Coriolan. LÁme d’un Héros, however, I thought it was intoxicating. Alas, I found it very difficult to wear nowadays. It is typically Guerlain olfactory and gentlemanly (don’t get the feminine tag put on this from Basenotes). However, I insisted because there is something in it that I like very much ... even if it would seem to me to be out of character. After some thought I finally decided to do the unthinkable! I diluted most of the liquid in the glass vial in a 30ml atomizer with Melvita’s natural citrus eau de cologne tonique. I am sorry to admit that this “watered” down version is much more wearable for me. On the documentary Perfume-The Smell of the Future, I heard that there is a come back of these richer olfactory perfumes. I am fond of some rich niche perfumes ... but I still have a problem with the stuffiness of many of Guerlain’s offerings.

7th August, 2011.

Lovely opening, but I should think too dry and coniferous--or is it resinous?--to be a woman's scent. Reasonable longevity for a Guerlain.

I like this, but the dry down reminded me of Aramis. There. I said it.

19th March, 2011.

As a reworking of Guerlain’s discontinued Coriolan, L’Ame d’un Héros is a conservatively styled spicy masculine chypre. Though it occupies similar territory to Moustache and Chanel pour Monsieur, L’Ame d’un Héros distinguishes itself with a prominent juniper note that imparts a decidedly “outdoorsy,” coniferous character.

The central accord of oakmoss and bergamot with juniper, nutmeg, and immortelle is instantly recognizable from the old Coriolan, but L’Ame d’un Héros is rounder, gentler, and altogether more suave. Coriolan was loud and aggressively “butch,” and always struck me as an overstated 1980s - style fragrance that arrived after its time. The more polished L’Ame d’un Héros seems like less of an anachronism. I could argue that it’s also more tame, or even bland by comparison, but I can’t deny that L’Ame d’un Héros is the easier of the two to wear.

11th December, 2009.

I don't know why this is listed as a women's fragrance, because when I went to the Guerlain boutique at Epcot, they said this was a male fragrance. Other websites say its a male fragrance, and its predecessor Coriolan, is a male fragrance as well.

Honestly, when I tried this, I was blown away. The opening was amazingly crisp, then transitioned into the floral notes, with juniper, cypress and basil. Absinthe gave these notes a bit of an edge. The base notes of patchoulli and basalm came out and complemented the middle notes very well.

I found the fragrance somewhat hypnotic and couldn't stop smelling my wrist. I've never tried Coriolan, but if it was even half as good as "Soul of a Hero," then I would have to give a try as well.

30th June, 2009.

to me , apart some details, it's indiscernable from Coriolan
the opening is a little bit more transparent and "fizzing" than the original (or simply my bottle got old and the opening is not so bright)
the overall evolution is same
the drydown is a little bit lighter

when Coriolan will no longer be available discounted on the Internet, L'Ame d'un Heros may come as a natural replacement
i loved the original bottle and the bee one is alson magnificient

11th February, 2009.