Hero Elixir de Parfum by Burberry

It’s an absolute beast of a clone of Hero Parfum Intense almost indistinguishable. They share that base of leather and dry woods with that characteristic sweet-acidic touch. The key difference is that here the leather is more refined less animalic than the original very similar to SpiceBomb Dark Leather. Additionally there’s an extra sweet afternote from the vanilla and tonka that emerges later when the initial impact of leather and wood fades. In terms of performance it sits between the Parfum and the Intense: around 7-8 hours on the skin then it almost disappears.

Recently the Burberry line has become my mandatory stop when browsing perfumeries especially on my way to the gym. It’s now my habit to spray a couple of shots of Hero EDT on my arm before training. However my connection with Hero has more to do with the lack of interesting fragrances than with the merits of a perfume that while not my favourite at least smells of something and has a recognisable pleasant profile. A few years ago the British brand began a total image overhaul leaving behind outdated clichés. Advertising imagery featuring blondes in cardigans in nautical settings no longer appeals to young consumers who want to stand out. The Hero campaign featuring actor Adam Driver showcasing his athletic prowess running along the beach with a horse until transforming into a centaur has captivated many placing it among the best-selling men’s fragrances and consolidating this new creative phase that the brand has driven. Elixir is the latest launch in a line that has taken steps in its olfactory journey through the two previous editions Hero Parfum and Hero Parfum Intense towards a deeper version with that resinous accord of sweet woods leather and smoke that shares reasonable similarities with Pasha Noire Edition and a rock-solid performance that never lets you down. Hero Elixir incorporates vanilla in the opening to push the trend to the extreme where previously there was only cedar and pine freshness.