Herod

Herod, inspired by Parfums de Marly Herod (2012)

Herod opens on cinnamon, dusty and sweet-spiced, with pepper keeping it from turning into a bakery note. Tobacco leaf arrives soon after, dry and slightly honeyed, flanked by incense and cistus, a resin with a leathery, ambery smell. Osmanthus adds a faint apricot-like floral tone. As it settles, vanilla takes the lead, with musks and cedarwood smoothing the edges into a rounded, gourmand finish.

About the original

Herod was released in 2012 as the seventh Parfums de Marly fragrance, originally in its men's Royal Essence line, and some retailers still sell it under that name. The brand's current page lists it as unisex and calls it 'gourmand and opulent'. It remains in the range as an eau de parfum in 75 ml and 125 ml.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Parfums de Marly stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

The cinnamon and vanilla give it a cosy, rounded feel, and it is usually described as a winter scent. It is distinctly sweet. Fans of dry, unsweetened tobacco scents may find the vanilla too dominant.

Related scents

• Initio Side Effect
• Mancera Red Tobacco
• Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Cinnamon, Pepper

Heart notes: Tobacco Leaf, Incense, Cistus, Osmanthus

Base notes: Vanilla, Musks, Cedarwood

Cinnamon and pepper make the opening spicy and slightly dusty.

Tobacco leaf, incense and cistus form the heart, with osmanthus adding a faint fruity floral tone.

Vanilla, musks and cedarwood take over in the drydown, sweet and smooth.

Is Herod for men or unisex?

It began in Parfums de Marly's men's Royal Essence line, and many retailers still label it for men. The brand now lists it as unisex.

How sweet is Herod?

Fairly sweet. Cinnamon and vanilla frame the tobacco, so it reads gourmand rather than dry.

How does Herod compare with Side Effect and Red Tobacco?

All three pair tobacco with cinnamon. Herod centres on tobacco leaf and vanilla, Initio Side Effect adds rum, and Mancera Red Tobacco brings in oud, incense and fruit.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Parfums de Marly and Herod are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Parfums de Marly in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.