L'Ame d'un Héros (2008)
by Guerlain

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 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.

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.

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

Billed as a re-release, this is very close to the notes in its declared original, Coriolan. For that it deserves high marks. To my nose, however, the overall effect is somewhat diluted from the earlier classic. Some people thought, of course, that Coriolan was rather too brash. It certainly wasn't shy.

This is a very good fragrance on its own. Even as a successor to Coriolan, it's quite good, considering what other houses do to reformulate their classics without even having the grace to rename them. I would say get the original if you can still find a decent bottle. This one is close enough that you don't really need both. Still, you may want to have it around if and when Coriolan approaches its final disappearance and becomes impossible to get. It will definitely remind you of what you'll be missing.