Pleasant fragrance but cedar note a bit too prominent
The initial smell is dominated by a cedar note, which does mellow out in the dry down, however, for my nose was just a bit too much of a pencil-type smell.
By Kilian Straight to Heaven is a part of the original Collection L'oeuvre Noire (Black Masterpiece) and takes its inspiration from rum, but this really all about cedar. Rich, boozy on the open with a lovely wood accord running through until it it finds the door to salty notes and sun-warmed skin. Notes of Rum, musk, jasmine, patchouli, virginia cedar, amber, nutmeg, vanilla and dried fruits.
Kilian Hennessy launched By Kilian in 2007. Yup, the Cognac Hennessy, grandson to the founder of Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Group, he followed his interest in scent, writing his thesis on the semantics of odors. After spending time with leading perfumers, he launched By Kilian with the Collection L'oeuvre Noire (Black Masterpiece) series. There are now 10 fragrances in that series. The over-the-top marketing copy drew a lot of criticism in the early part of his launch, but the gorgeous packaging - black lacquer boxes and black bottles - started to win us over, as did the artistry of the fragrances.
Basenotes - "The opening is the perfect blast of quality dark rum that warms the nose followed by a bit of dried fruit and an almost sour earthy patchouli, then the fun really begins....
From the base the most beautiful photorealistic dry cedar comes out followed by a quality musk ambergris accord that holds the fragrance together."
Basenotes - "Imagine drinking brandy (to me i get brandy) or rum (if you believe the notes) in a saw mill. Wood chippings everywhere and booze. That is straight to heaven."
Basenotes - "Rich and fascinating fragrance...evolves a lot from a pungent rose and dried twigs opening that suddenly cycles into a gourmand spiciness then an hour later those dried twigs actually deepen and clarify as the cedar note mentioned here. Periodically over several hours, the rose pops and could be feminine, but a spiciness lingers that isn't sweet at all, thus this is a true unisex fragrance and really delightful! Lasts well over 7 hours on skin and clothes."
Fragrantica - "I love this perfume, It is boozy, woody, earthy perfume that would play with your mind. It is like you are smelling wet rum barrel. Beside of boozy note of dark rum you can smell wet cedar wood. there is a earthy patchouli note in there. also some sweetness from vanilla and dried fruits would soften this and make it more wearable.
Very simple but so elegant and classy."
More information and By Kilian reviews can be found at:
Basenotes Fragrantica Perfume Posse The Non-Blonde
| Perfume Name | By Kilian Straight to Heaven |
| Year Introduced | 2007 |
| Perfumer | Sidonie Lancesseur |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Strength | Eau de parfum, edp |
| Notes | Rum, musk, jasmine, patchouli, virginia cedar, amber, nutmeg, vanilla and dried fruits |
| Country of Origin | France |
The initial smell is dominated by a cedar note, which does mellow out in the dry down, however, for my nose was just a bit too much of a pencil-type smell.
This is a great fragrance that projects very well for the first say 4 hours then appears to dry down to a close to the skin scent and then disappear on my skin thereafter. I certainly received good comments from the ladies at work. Most reviewers talk to great longevity. I have scored this fragrance four stars only because it is expensive, in my opinion, for a 50ml FB (only size available) versus the longevity I received. Nevertheless this a fragrance that I will most likely purchase in due course. lucky scent being the online seller of choice as this fragrance is not available in New Zealand (or the By Kilian House itself).
The initial smell is dominated by a cedar note, which does mellow out in the dry down, however, for my nose was just a bit too much of a pencil-type smell.
This is a great fragrance that projects very well for the first say 4 hours then appears to dry down to a close to the skin scent and then disappear on my skin thereafter. I certainly received good comments from the ladies at work. Most reviewers talk to great longevity. I have scored this fragrance four stars only because it is expensive, in my opinion, for a 50ml FB (only size available) versus the longevity I received. Nevertheless this a fragrance that I will most likely purchase in due course. lucky scent being the online seller of choice as this fragrance is not available in New Zealand (or the By Kilian House itself).