Burberry · 2022
Hero
Premium$$$, 3 of 5
| 100 ml | $170 |
The houseFor menWearers sayLeans masculine
VersionEau de Parfum
Dry cedarwood and pine needles wrapped in smoky incense and sweet, vanilla-like benzoin resin.
Burberry says
You’ll smell fragrant incense, benzoin, cedarwood oils and pine.
More from Burberry’s description
It also mentions Incense, Pine needles and Trio of warm cedarwood oils.
Wearers say
From Reddit, YouTube and other forums · Read what they say
How far it carries
An arm’s length
How long it lasts
6 to 9 hours
only 2 sources
When to wear it
Fall, winter
only 2 sources
Where to wear it
Office, special occasion
only 2 sources
Who it suits
Leans masculine · Older wearers
only 2 sources
Mass appeal
Broadly liked
Compliments
Compliment getter
What’s inside it
What Burberry names
What the label names
10 scent ingredients on the label, familiar names first.
A label must name certain ingredients, most of them ones that can cause allergies; some houses print more. It is never the whole recipe.
2 citrus1 herbs & lavender2 florals1 sweet2 spices1 powder1 earth & moss
Citrus2
Herbs & lavender1
Sweet1
Spices2
Earth & moss1
Top notes3
when you spray it
Heart4
as it settles
Dry-down3
what stays
3 more lines on the label, not there for the smell
Not for the smell3
Wearers say
Wearing it
Wearers call it a mature, masculine scent for cooler months that earns regular compliments. Staying power splits them: six to nine hours for some, a fast fade for others.
How far it carriesArm's length, strongest early
Perfumers call it sillage.
Wearers report good sillage, with one noting projection that settles close to the skin after two hours, while others find it weak.
“It's presence and sillage are great too.”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2023 · 13 votes
More from wearers · 3 themes, 4 quotes
Some say
Some wearers say its sillage and presence are good and its reach balanced.
“EDP is perfectly balanced. By that I mean it has great sillage and moderate projection and longevity.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2026
A few say
A few wearers say it projects for the first two hours, then sits close to the skin.
“Projects for the first 2 hours, then chills close to the skin.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2025 · 8 votes
Some say
Some wearers find its projection underwhelming or low, and one adds extra sprays to make up for it.
“Longevity and projection are also underwhelming as it fades quickly.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2025 · 9 votes
“The performance is a little on the low side, so I spray, put an undershirt on, hit a couple more sprays, then put my top shirt on.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
How long it lasts6–9 hours, wearers split
Reports run from 6–8 hours up to 12, while others say it fades fast.
“You're nose blind. This is an EDP and lasts 6-8 hours easily.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
More from wearers · 3 themes, 6 quotes
Some say
Some wearers report six to eight hours on skin.
“I get a good 8 hours out of it with pretty good projection.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“It lasts 6-7 hours on my skin. Maybe just different batches, I've had mine for like 10 months though. Not sure.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
Some say
Some wearers report it lasting ten hours or more.
“The edp is my favorite. The parfum is too sweet, but the edp has a beautiful woody amber. Lasts 12 hours on me as well.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2025
“I smell mine for HOURS--well over 10 hours. But its peak dry-down smell is after about 4 or 6 hours. It's lovely.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
Some say
Some wearers say it fades fast on skin, though one finds it lingers on clothes.
“Its a pretty strong 2 hours on skin then disappears fast but it stays on clothes with some sillage for half a day.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2026
“Neither one projects nor last very long. Hero edp is slightly better performing, and very similar to pi.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
When and where to wear itCooler months, special occasions
Wearers name fall, winter and colder weather; one uses it at the office, another says it is not really appropriate for work.
“Burberry Hero EDP is nice, mature, and wearable – probably something I'd reach for more often in cooler weather.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2025 · 8 votes
More from wearers · 4 themes, 5 quotes
Many say
Many wearers say it suits fall, winter and colder weather.
“Burberry hero EDP is perfect for fall and winter. Such fantastic scent.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2023
“It's a good fall/winter fragrance. Woodsy, warm, touch of sweet and hint of vanilla.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
A few say
A few wearers say it works as an office fragrance.
“I use it as an office fragrance and it works great.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
A few say
A few wearers say it shines on special occasions, unlike the EDT.
“This fragrance, unlike the EDT, can shine on those special occasions.”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2025
A few say
A few wearers say it is not really appropriate for work or a hospital.
“Not really appropriate for work, DO NOT wear this in a hospital.”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2025
Who it suitsMature, leans masculine
Wearers call it masculine and mature, though one thread hears no gender in it.
“Very masculine and mature. SWY is on the sweeter side.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2025
More from wearers · 2 themes, 5 quotes
Some say
Some wearers call it a masculine scent.
“It is one of the best true masculine scents out there in a sea of effeminate colognes.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
“With notes of pine needles, incense and cedar, making it masculine, bold, amber and woody feel quickly becoming a fan favorite.”
YouTube review, FragranceNet.com, 2025
A few say
A few wearers say it does not read as only masculine: one hears no gender in it, another was told it smells like a lesbian perfume.
“In those aspects it's 'masculine' but it never veers unfeminine, in fact I could imagine some feeling that “it isn't masculine enough”.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“If a woman walked by wearing this, I would, foremost, not think anything of the "gender" of the scent.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“Im a male, and I've been told it smells like a lesbian perfume. Make of that what you will.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
Appeal and attractionRegular compliments, broadly liked
Wearers report compliments from men and women alike, though one dislikes the smell after the first couple of wears.
“It is magnetic when it comes to compliments, and by far has exceeded the whole line in relation to compliments (from both sexes as well).”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2025
More from wearers · 3 themes, 4 quotes
Many say
Many wearers report compliments, from both sexes and from partners.
“I get compliments every time I wear these three: 1 million lucky by pacco rabanne Burberry hero edp (need a new bottle) Dior Homme edt”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2025
“I really love it and have had several girls compliment me on my smell since I bought it a month ago.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
A few say
A few people say it draws them in when a partner wears it.
“It's one of my favorite scents on my husband. He got a sample and everytime he wears it I'm immediately drawn to it.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
A few say
A few wearers say that despite compliments they stopped liking the smell after the first couple of wears.
“I've gotten compliments on it and women I know seem to like it alot. That being said after the first couple times I really don't like the smell”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
As a blind buySample first, wearers advise
Wearers advise sampling before buying: one blind buyer regretted it, and another blind try ended in a pleasant surprise.
“I would caution anyone being influenced by these positive reviews to sample it first.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
More from wearers · 3 themes, 4 quotes
Some say
Some wearers advise sampling first and warn against blind buying.
“Overall, this is a good fragrance, but do not blind buy.”
Blog, manor.ch, 2026
Some say
Some wearers call it a safe, crowd-pleasing blind buy, and one was pleasantly surprised by a blind try.
“This was a blind try for me. I've heard mixed reviews, but the EDP version really surprised me.”
Reddit post, r/DesiFragranceAddicts, 2025 · 8 votes
“They're both pretty blind buy safe/inoffensive/crowd pleasing scents (imo), but as other have probably said, id just grab decants of all three and find your favorite.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2025
A few say
A few wearers report a blind buy that ended in nausea and a catch and release.
“Blind bought the EDP and it was an instant catch and release. Made me nauseous.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
LayeringLayers well with several scents
Wearers layer it with Hero EDT, Spicebomb Extreme, By the Fireplace, vanilla and bourbon, and as a resinous second spray.
“Spicebomb extreme and Burberry hero layering. I just layer both of this frangrace and it has a faint smell of oud.”
Reddit post, r/fragrance, 2023 · 1 vote
More from wearers · 2 themes, 4 quotes
Some say
Some wearers layer it with Hero EDT, Spicebomb Extreme or By the Fireplace for a changed blend.
“It also blends very well with the hero edt and gives it a bit of a citrus edge and amplifies the edt for a shortwhile.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2025
“Wore this today and layered it with By the Fireplace. I smelled like Christmas spirit.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
Some say
Some wearers name it as the resinous, ambery partner for a layer, or pair it with Nest Vanilla and bourbon.
“Use it as the secondary spray with a resinous/ambery smell like Givenchy's Pi or Burberry's Hero EDP.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
“Sometimes I layer it with Nest Vanilla and bourbon for a boozy leather dream scent that's way better than Jazz Club imo.”
Reddit comment, r/ScentHeads, 2025
From Reddit, YouTube and other forums.
Wearers say
Smells like it
For about the same
BottledOn your shelfHugo Boss · Some wearers say the two smell alike“I think it smells like the dry down of Boss Bottled EdT. Basically Bottled without the Apple sweetness.”
Reddit comment, r/Colognes, 2024
PiOn your shelfGivenchy · A few wearers say the two smell alike“From my experience with Hero EDP, it smells like an updated variation of Givenchy's Pi.”
Reddit comment, r/fragrance, 2023
MYSLFOn your shelfYSL · Some wearers say the two smell alikeWearers also name as cheaper copies: Dr Squatch Fireside Bourbon. They also liken it to Cremo Black Spice & Vanilla. We hold no page for these yet.
Shoppers call a cheaper stand-in a dupe.
What wearers say, set beside the price each house asks. Noses differ.
Our match of the notes
Shares its notes
Benjoin 19Le Labo · shares frankincense, benzoin and cedar (Atlas cedar)
ZephirineLiberty London (LBTY.) · shares frankincense, benzoin and cedar (Atlas cedar)
His ConfessionLattafa · shares frankincense, benzoin and cedar (Atlas cedar)Matched by the notes each house names. A shared note is not a promise they smell alike.