Heroic II

Heroic II opens bright and fruity, juicy mandarin and crisp red apple giving the same fresh-sweet start as Baldessarini Ambre. The heart adds a touch of powdery violet and a soft leather facet for a hint of grown-up character, before the base settles into the scent's real identity: warm amber and vanilla, rounded out by a dry oakwood and labdanum. The original is an oriental woody with a slightly boozy, rich-leather depth and only moderate performance; this Perfume Parlour version follows the same fruity-to-amber arc but reads flatter and sweeter, with the leather softened and projection sitting close to the skin. It stays a likeable, easygoing budget pick, best in autumn and winter for evenings, dates and relaxed wear where its warm, fruity-amber comfort suits cooler weather.