If you’re looking for a fragrance gift for the hero in your life, this is something a little bit special. These are the ‘noses’ who’ve helped create Help for Heroes Xtreme: five ex-service men who were all affected by life-changing injuries or illness sustained while fighting for the country, who’ve all received support from the Help for Heroes charity.
They were enlisted by Marianne Martin, a senior perfumer who also lectures at the London College of Fashion, who explained the nuances of fragrance creation, the ingredients and physiology of smell – and then encouraged the gang of five to follow their noses and assist with the creation of this unique fragrance.
For its opening, fresh citrus herbal notes of lemon and basil were chosen, to evoke the wild outdoors. Then they settled on appropriately rugged smokey woods, peppered with hot spices and softened by amber and a touch of black leather, together with vanilla and benzoin resin. Help for Heroes Xtreme is then decanted into a hip flask for generous splashing.
Heart-warmingly (and we like a bit of that, at this time of year), £3 from the sale of each fragrance will go to the Help for Heroes charity, which will help offer financial and emotional support to wounded servicemen and women.
As Marianne Martin comments, ‘It was a memorable honour for me to be part of what I feel is a unique creative experience. I know that the excitement, joy and laughter of our heroes has communciated itself through their chosen scent.’
And the result is outdoorsy, wearable – and with a whole lot of heart.
Help for Heroes £30 for 100ml
Buy it at Debenhams
