By Kilian • Straight to Heaven • Fragrances

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gmstrack on 2/2/2013 2:40:00 PM more reviews by gmstrack

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

Headline: Woody Oriental Drinks Rum in Hamster Cage.

Straight to Heaven by Kilian is pleasant, but don’t expect to have your world rocked.

After reading several reviews, it seems like this fragrance is in a special purgatory: too conventional for some and too medicinal or dirty hippy for others. I definitely fall in with the too conventional camp, but at the same time, I find Strait to Heaven very comforting. Maybe childhood memories of playing in a cedar swamp have something to do with this. The patchouli could be dirtier, the cedar turned down just a tad and, oh yes, dump in something interesting (rum doesn’t count). Heh.

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miele2007 on 8/25/2012 3:54:00 PM more reviews by miele2007

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I waver on my opinion of this. On the saleswoman at Saks, it smelled soft and sweet. On me, too much of the sharp cedar hangs around. If you really want to know what this reminds me of, it's LUSH's "Silky Underwear" powder. Vanilla mixed with an almost damp woodchip smell. Odd, but, sexy and intruiging for sure.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cerulfox on 11/10/2011 8:25:00 PM more reviews by cerulfox

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Black    

My opinions on the By Kilian typically waver between indifference and derision, having tried all of the L'Oeuvre Noire collection and finding myself only liking three of the ten. Straight to Heaven is one of the dislikes. It starts off with a piercing cedar note that quickly disappears to be replaced with a strident booze note. I'm assuming that's the rum, but on my skin it's so overwhelmingly alcoholic I might as well have doused my skin in Everclear or straight grain alcohol. All of rum's typical spice notes are muted and virtually non-existent compared to the screechy alcohol. This remains until Straight to Heaven evaporates into a puff of generic skin musk. Honestly this is more akin to Straight to AA rather than Straight to Heaven, the booze note is so strong.

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macaddict92881 on 8/20/2011 11:47:00 PM more reviews by macaddict92881

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Ditto the comments by volguy85. This is by far my fave in the Kilian line (and I have several of their scents). I wear it daily; have repurchased twice at Saks on the FNF sale. Always get compliments on it from both men and women when I wear it. A real go to for me. Love it and will continue to buy it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* awesomeness2 on 8/16/2011 11:48:00 PM more reviews by awesomeness2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Boozy! More like cheap & sweet liquor, or a medicated cough syrup. I suspect the "rum" and sweet patch. At least at the opening doesn't last! The cedar doesn't sit well with me. After an hour or so, it settles into a nice - albeit slightly sweet - skin scent. Maybe an anti-perfume.

I'd pass this by at $20. For $200, I just think what-the ?

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*TOP REVIEWER* DebbieB43 on 7/13/2011 9:18:00 PM more reviews by DebbieB43

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I adore Kilians, but Straight to Heaven just doesn't agree with me. i was in hopes that the rum would be a major player, but not on my skin. I get cedar, patch, and although it's not listed, a faint picklish sandalwood vibe. Another reviewer noted a herbal vibe, I agree. Sadly, no vanilla, fruits or musk comes out. I really think this leans towards the masculine side. All of Kilians work is superb!! I need to spritz this on my hubby!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* flybaby on 6/16/2011 7:15:00 PM more reviews by flybaby

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Other    

Body chemistry plays such a big role in how a fragrance reacts. The rum disappeared almost immediately, leaving behind a bit of smoke, and predominantly cedar, somehow it seems powdery to me. It does not dry down to a sweeter scent, which the majority of fragrances do for me. Its somewhat masculine. It does have great lasting power and sillage. I was happy to have tried a decant, but would not consider purchasing a bottle.

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volguy85 on 5/30/2011 12:49:00 AM more reviews by volguy85

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I love quite a few By Kilian fragrances (Cruel Intentions, Back to Black, Rose Oud, and the incredible Incense Oud) but this is by far my favorite. It opens with a blast of wood chips that quickly subside and some dried fruits and rum come to the party. And a party it is. One of the most boozy scents I can recall (apart from the wine and roses atrocity West Side) but the rum is totally charming to me. The dry down highlights a very transparent cedar and rosewood to me. The scent lasts and lasts. This is top 5 fragrance territory for me; completely masculine but approachable and much less raucous than most woods this manly. Stately, rowdy, and yet still pretty. Casual enough for every day but plenty of structure for special occasions. I'm in love and will definitely be refilling my bottle.

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*TOP REVIEWER* msm4slm on 4/12/2010 1:34:00 PM more reviews by msm4slm

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Expensive rum/patchouli/amber type thing. More for colder weather or evening, it still feels classic somehow. Nothing particularly special however for the high price tag. UPDATE: Although I myself see nothing special re: this fragrance, it draws compliments galore. So I am upgrading it from a "3" to a "4" for crowd appeal.

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tricksi on 3/3/2010 6:19:00 PM more reviews by tricksi

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I don't know about the nutmeg. Don't smell it. Get the cedar and patchouli. I think the cedar & rum gives the fragrance a bit of a musky note. I like it. Not love so won't be buying it, but definitely like and I'm a woman!

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*TOP REVIEWER* ellizam on 2/24/2010 4:03:00 PM more reviews by ellizam

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

The price point bothers me. I really dislike it when fragrances go over $100 for a 1.7, much less a 3.4. While overall the Kilians are exquisitely made with great ingredients, a really skilled nose, and gorgeous packaging, at this stage in my perfume thing, I don't want to expend the resources necessary to have any of them.


On the positive side, the juices are of great quality, original, beautifully made, and I haven't disliked or disrespected any I've tried. They're also all of astonishing concentration -- he at least gives you your money's worth! The packaging is exquisite and I have to say, it does add value even if one doesn't care about that type of value. As objets d'art, they look exquisite (haven't seen actual bottle) and if I were advising someone wi/lot of money on presents to give, factoring out the idiosyncracies of fragrance appreciation, this would be a STUNNING gift! You'll think me perverse, but for a goth, it would be a great entry into the reality behind alot of the faux. Yes, BPAL, I'm talking to YOU!


The names are overblown - perfumer taking self and project awfully seriously, but he's young. We do that at that age.


Straight to Heaven is a beautiful amber/incense combo with a rich sandalwood/cedar base. I think Kilian uses same amber as Andy Tauer, so it lasts forever and a little will do ya'! The incense is a rich, spicy/smoky variety, quite subtle, not at all the nag champa variety. The amber is restrained, dry, and there's a slight herbal feel to this. It's beautiful and a little spray lasted all day..

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*TOP REVIEWER* 9154mf on 2/20/2010 11:54:00 PM more reviews by 9154mf

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This was a heavy oily scent that smelled like herbal cedar, It didnt smell like rum to me. It is totally masculine to me and has a medicinal feel, I am not a fan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* doree_001 on 8/10/2009 5:57:00 AM more reviews by doree_001

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Very acrid start, 'medicinal', sharp, pungent notes. Doesn't develop into something much more pleasant, it stays rather bitter, thin, green-alcoholic fragrance on my skin. Completely unpleasant to me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Dagney on 6/21/2009 3:50:00 PM more reviews by Dagney

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Notes: Rum, Patchouli, Nutmeg, Cedar and Rosewood. This smells wonderful. Smells like cedar wood, pungent spices, and a touch of floral. Masculine fragrance that's strong with sillage.

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Rydenfan3 on 5/20/2009 12:32:00 AM more reviews by Rydenfan3

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

Sampled this today. Rave reviews on Luckyscent but sadly on my skin this turns into..bandaids and Vicks Vapo Rub. Others describe it as warm but I get a cold menthol note. Not a warm incensy fragrance at all for me, I'm afraid. It reminds me of Nephilim by BPAL...which is another odd, medicinal and cold scent that I happen to love for Winter.

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san1275 on 5/17/2009 2:14:00 AM more reviews by san1275

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I love, love, love this scent - it is my favorite patchouli! The patchouli combines with rum, ambergris and a hint of lime to create a very naughty and adventurous fragrance. I receive compliments each time I wear this scent. It is worth every penny of the cost.

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*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 9/9/2008 9:31:00 PM more reviews by SensualSusanna

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Booze and more booze. I prefer my booze with a vanilla drydown like Guerlain Double Spiriteusse Vanille. This is just rum ...

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*TOP REVIEWER* bellydancer on 8/7/2008 10:18:00 AM more reviews by bellydancer

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Straight to Heaven started out very wood chippy like Santal Blanc, but with the slightest incense note-- maybe frankincense-- and has dried down sort of sweet-- kind of Halston-ish? Very wearable. Wish the top notes lasted longer-- I actually like the pencil shavings/hamster cage/etc. dryness of the wood.

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