Reviews of Straight to Heaven (2007)
by By Kilian

Great stuff! The only thing that smells synthetic in this is the white musk, which is actually quite enjoyable and not annoying – overall, StH comes off as very high quality. It’s also very smooth, and has a slight gourmand aspect to it, even though I wouldn’t classify it as a gourmand.

On my skin the patchouli is actually very faint (in comparison to some others’ reviews). While the patchouli is just a background note, sugar, rum, woods and white musk take center stage in a perfect symphony of notes. Real sexy, sensual and natural smelling. Might not be worth the money, but if you can deal with the hole this creates in your wallet, go for it. Truly a favorite of mine.

8.5/10

Edit: The other day I pulled out my sample of Straight to Heaven, and for whatever reason the synthetic cedar note in Straight to Heaven was ruining the whole fragrance for me. My nose tells me this is the aromachemical Iso E Super, which I happen to have an allergic aversion to. Thus, since I can't stand that synthetic cedar note, I have to give this a neutral. While Iso E Super is a somewhat necessary note in Jubilation XXV by Amouage (it gives the incense a dusty texture), it feels misplaced in Straight to Heaven. Otherwise, it's a great fragrance that I know is enjoyed by many.

Heady, rich and boozy, but basically ends up as a deep patchouli and wood fragrance. It's very nice, but is not unique by a long way. If you already have Nasomatto's Duro or Black Afghan, CDG's Luxe or even Tom Ford's Oud Wood, there is no reason to purchase this as well.

I wasn't too impressed with the rummy opening. Felt like I was at a bar counter, not exactly my favorite place in the world. But I can see why others might be thrilled over such an association, particularly if they had been involved in some drunken stunts Jack Ass-styled or recalled sex(y) romps with some beautiful strangers they met at the bar. Then the realisation hit me and I couldn't help but chuckled. STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN is really a tongue-in-cheek attempt at capturing these fun alcohol-influenced madness. But it stays true to Kilian's cognac-maker heritage, the rum and woods combining magnificently to create a fragrance which is, according to this niche house, "redolent of the sugar in alcohol and the wood of cognac barrels."

Dude, this smells just heavenly. But what the hell am I doing in a cognac barrel??

I agree with the the reviews that gave this a thumbs up. I like to keep it simple. To me the rum note makes me feel this is like a party going out on the town scent, in a very fun way.

An excellent cedar, rosewood and patchouli, backed up by a rich dried fruit and spice accord opening beautifully with a dry, strongly aromatic resinousness of the accord. After fifteen minutes I pick up the rum note, and it’s all right… but I feel that it cheapens the first accord a bit. The wood and patchouli accord continues with excellent longevity. I don’t get a very distinctive difference between the opening / heart and the drydown, and I’m not sure that the drydown exhibits any vanilla or musk… things just seem to stay about the same enjoyable wood and patchouli accord. Straight to Heaven is a beautifully designed and performing scent, composed of unquestionably high quality materials. It has moderate sillage and outstanding longevity. Bottle worthy? Maybe, but the price seems too high…

It opens with a buttery rum battlecry, and then settles into an earthy flatline of muted patchouli. This patchouli midnotes are also haloed by a menthol-esque aura that stings the nose, even well into the drydown. It's actually cooling my nose with every sniff of my wrist.

Let me be clear - I dislike patchouli and find nothing attractive about smelling like a person's unbathed lower navel or armpit. This patchouli is different though. Its not as nefarious, but and not as offensive, but its still unpleasant to my nose. In the drydown its made more interesting with the aforementioned menthol/cedar kiss (which smells like something that would scare moths in your closet). But there is also an inky and ashy poweder to this.

Is it interesting? Yes. . . but so is Gitmo. . .doesn't mean i want to spend time there.

There are some who'll love this, and that's ok. . as long as they don't mind eating alone.

Straight to Heaven is loaded with lots and lots of patchouli, wood and sugary sweetness, all reeking of quality, plus an odd blast of spice that hit my nose about half an hour after application. It all adds up to a very sensual masculine fragrance (technically unisex, but I think this is more masculine than many male-marketed sweet scents) that gives the impression of a celestial being on the prowl, or at the least a very rich and sophisticated bad boy.

After awhile the spicy notes fade out, leaving you with some nice and very natural-smelling sweet patchouli touched with musk. Longevity is adequate, but by the end of the day all that's left of this fragrance is a skin scent of sweet white musk. More lasting power would be nice, but I suppose that's one of the drawbacks of working with natural ingredients.

I like Straight to Heaven and I'm glad I got a chance to sample it. Anyone who has a taste for sweet, high-quality masculine frags should definitely give it a go.

Rich, lush spicy-woody scent with a cedar base including a slight pencil shavings touch. Same type of fragrance can be had for a much lower price.

A very rich and opulent fragrance as you'd expect for the price.
The pachouli smells quite creamy with the rum and musk in the background and I find the balance very good. I like the Montale ouds but they're a bit strong for me and I like the Serge Luterns range but find them a bit soft so this is the perfect mix for me.
It's definitely unisex as the flowery top-notes are balanced with the deep base.
When my sample runs out I'll be hoping they've dropped the price somewhat.
Definitely one of the niche fragrances that smells as expensive as it is.

This is a great use of patchouli in a fragrance. The listed notes: Rum, Nutmeg, Brazilian Rosewood, Cedar, Patchouli are easy to pick out (accept for the cedar) and the fragrance smells like these notes in a simple mix. The bottom line of this fragrance is a nice fun patchouli but unlike the many straight patch fragrances, Straight To Heaven is mixed with a sweet nutmeg / rum party drink kind of scent. This initial rum blast gives the scent its party mood and the scent stays a little through the life of the fragrance. The rum loses its dominance quickly and settles into a blend of rosewood and patchouli. The drydown becomes more and more patchouli but is a warm version of patchouli. A very nice elevating fragrance that puts you in a happy frame of mind.

Straight to Heaven is a more woody-patchouli scent than anything else (I'm sorry but I can't detect any rum on my skin). There's definitely nothing wrong with that but the composition itself is pretty underwhelming. The cedar projects nicely while the patchouli is more detectable closer to the skin. Its longevity is quite good.

So, is it worth £140? Most definitely not!

I expected more from this sampling and I didn't get it. It's a fine fragrance, but not worth the $$$ in my opinion.

I wanted to like this alot because I love spicy,boozy,woody scents with a touch of patchouli. I found this to be on the ordinary side.

A fine, rich, woody, slightly sweet patchouli. The woodiness really permeates throughout the drydown. Good.

This one on my skin goes Straight to Hell -- Patchouli Hell that is. I don't mind patchouli, but this one on me is straight up, Haight Ashbury, hippies who haven't showered for weeks and doused themselves in patchouli oil, head-shop yuck. Not good on me. No rum, no nutmeg, no rosewood, just pure undiluted patchouli that lasts for ever, and cannot be scrubbed off with a brillo pad and a fire hose. Have I mentioned the patchouli? Bleah!

This is my favorite club/bar fragrance. Rum, Rum, RUM!!! It always garners compliments whenever I wear it. It is a bit more pricey than other niche brands, but I would gladly pay that extra $$ for this exquisite juice! If you want to attract attention to yourself, get this stuff. Unique, good sillage, excellent longevity, good projection. It's worth it guys, GET IT!!!

When I first tried it from a sample from Luckyscent, I loved it but didn't think I'd find myself splurging for the bottle with its price tag. However, after thoroughly enjoying a couple samples and garnering more compliments in just a couple days than most other scents in the time I've had them, I decided to get it. I'm sure glad I did!

It's intoxicating and like nothing else in my wardrobe. It has some sweet rummy notes, but it's balanced very nicely with some woody and spicy notes. It dries to an almost creamy gourmand on me and provides perfect sillage without making me feel like I'm leaving a toxic wake. I've tried three of the line and this is by far my favorite.

The packaging is incredible.. some of the best I've ever seen. The interior of the velveteen wrapped box is cushioned and satin lined. The box is very sturdy and lockable and the bottle is substantial and well crafted.

One thing to note; if you buy a bottle after the March '08 lot (Mine is April), the outside of the box no longer has the metal engraved plaque that they advertise, but merely an etched K (not that this should deter you.. just for buyer information). The bottle itself still has the engraved metal plaque though.

Straight to Heaven kept me interested throughout with its loud woody camphory opening laced with subdued spices and musk ... it stayed that way for a long time on my skin, almost uni-dimensional until the drydown where It takes a spicy approach to an Incensy base.

Pretty interesting fragrance if one doesn't mind the linear nature, pleasant to smell and somewhat intriguing.

The opening: Rum and wood - I'm up to no good! There's a strange sort of dissonance among the notes (in a good way) that evokes mystery and mischief. For the most part warm spices and woods are the focus here with the rum wafting in and out. Definitely unisex but IMO it falls a little more on the masculine side and that's okay. If you want to throw sombody off balance, wear this.