Customer Experience Score · CES Review
By Kilian · Eau de Parfum · Launched 2007

A Taste of Heaven

A Taste of Heaven is the cult lavender‑vanilla fougère collectors still whisper about.

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) is one of those niche releases that developed a near-mythic reputation among lavender lovers. Launched in 2007 and created by Calice Becker for By Kilian, it blends a sharply green, wormwood‑tinged opening with a dense lavender heart and a warm, vanillic base. In 2026 the fragrance lives most powerfully in memory and in a handful of remaining bottles and refills on the secondary market — a status that affects both accessibility and price. This review synthesizes community feedback, performance reports, and archival product information to answer the most important question for modern buyers: does it still smell special, and is it worth paying a premium for? We’ll walk through the scent’s construction, real‑world longevity and sillage, packaging and market context, plus trustworthy alternatives and an accessible, HumanSafe™ inspired alternative from CA Perfume. If you love aromatic fougères with a gourmand twist or you’ve been chasing discontinued Kilian releases, this review is for you.

Jump to Verdict How It Smells Performance Buy or Alternative
8.4
/ 10
HumanSafe Review Index™ · CES

Customer Experience Score ✓

High Confidence · Tier A Verified
Best Worst
8.4 · Top quartile of niche fragrances
Scent Accuracy
8.8
Performance
8.6
Value
7.5
Consensus
8.7
1012 verified reviews · Refreshed 90 days ago · Sources: Fragrantica · Amazon · Walmart · Reddit
Purpose of this page

What this review answers — and why it takes 10 minutes to read

Four questions every fragrance buyer asks before spending $100+. We answer each with evidence, not opinion.

01

Does it actually smell good?

Beyond the marketing pyramid — what people genuinely perceive in the first hour, and how the scent evolves over a full day.

02

Does it perform?

Real-world longevity, projection, and sillage — scored against thousands of wear reports, not bench tests.

03

Who is it right for?

The people it wins over, the people who grow tired of it, and the moments where it shines or falls flat.

04

Is it worth the price?

How it compares to established alternatives, where it sits on the value curve, and when a different choice makes more sense.

The HumanSafe 360° Framework

Five lenses. One honest picture of a fragrance.

Most review systems answer only one question: is it popular? HumanSafe looks at a product from five independent angles. This page covers the CES lens — Customer Experience. The other four are linked where relevant.

PSS

Product Safety

Is it safe for your body? Ingredient-level analysis.

MEI

Mood Efficacy

How does it affect how you feel? Multisensory experience index.

ESS

Environmental

Impact on the planet. Sourcing, packaging, footprint.

CTS

Company Transparency

Who makes it, and how openly? Supply chain accountability.

CES

Customer Experience

What wearers actually think. The page you are reading.

You are here
Launch & Market Context

How A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) became a category reference point

Before evaluating the product, it helps to know what it was built to be — and what it is measured against in the market today.

Question answered: Where does this fragrance come from, and what problem was it designed to solve?

The story behind the launch

A Taste of Heaven was launched at a time when By Kilian was defining its language of wellbeing, nostalgia and spirits-inspired names. Rather than the syrupy gourmand lane that Kilian later explored in many collections, this release is a study in balance: the opening’s absinthe‑like bitterness and green herbs are tempered by a comforting vanilla-tonka base and an assertive lavender thread. The marketing voice and bottle design aligned with the rest of Kilian’s early ‘luxury‑niche’ positioning — heavy, refillable bottles, artful presentation, and descriptive storytelling. The perfume’s commercial impact has been subtle but long-lasting: it never became a mass bestseller, but it built a dedicated following among aficionados of aromatic fougères. Over time, scarcity and the brand’s retail decisions (refill packaging, occasional discontinuation) intensified collector demand. That scarcity, paired with consistently positive peer reviews for scent and performance, has made the fragrance a recurrent topic in resale and collector circles — and a reference point whenever someone wants a modern, green lavender that still reads classic.

By Kilian historically marketed this alongside other refined, story‑led releases, positioning it as an elegant, literary lavender with a green twist.

A Taste of Heaven arrived in 2007 during the first wave of By Kilian releases, a period when the brand emphasized spirit‑inspired luxury and narrative packaging. Within By Kilian’s early catalog it occupied a quieter, more classical place — a green aromatic fougère that leaned into lavender and an absinthe/ wormwood idea rather than the louder gourmand signatures found in other Kilian releases. Over the years collectors elevated the scent’s status; limited availability and periodic discontinuation or refill‑only availability has made original bottles a sought commodity on resale platforms. As of 2026 the perfume is widely discussed as a discontinued or hard-to-find release, which has pushed pricing and made sourcing a challenge. The combination of strong niche appeal and low retail availability has cemented A Taste of Heaven’s reputation as both an olfactory favorite and a collector’s item.

Perfumer
Calice Becker
Calice Becker (credited on Fragrantica as the nose behind the 2007 release)
Fragrance House
By Kilian
By Kilian (founded by Kilian Hennessy); the house has been part of The Estée Lauder Companies since 2016
Launched
2007
19 years on market
Concentration
EDP
Eau de Parfum · Originally sold as a refillable Eau de Parfum with travel/coffret and refill options; refill formats have been commonly listed.
Original Campaign Era
2007 — present
Campaign identity has evolved across the product lifecycle
Scent Profile & Perception

How the scent unfolds — in theory and in practice

Brands publish note pyramids as marketing. Real wearers report what their nose and memory actually register. We show both, separately.

Question answered: What does it smell like, and is that what the brand says it smells like?

First 5–15 minutes

The Opening

BergamotAfrican Orange FlowerGeraniumRose

The opening leans citrusy and floral — bergamot and orange blossom give the first impression a touch of brightness, while geranium and rose add a rounded, slightly green floral foil.

After drydown begins · 1–3 hours

The Core Character

LavenderWormwoodGeraniumRoseCostus

The heart is lavender-forward and herbal: the signature wormwood/absinthe idea appears here as a bitter, green bite that gives the lavender a medicinal, mentholated edge before softening.

Hours later · 4–10 hours

The Dry Down

VanillaTonka BeanAmberOakmossPatchouli

Dry down moves toward warm gourmand territory — vanilla and tonka create a creamy, slightly sweet foundation wrapped in earthy oakmoss and patchouli that keeps the composition grounded.

Performance on Skin

How it actually behaves through the day

Longevity, projection, sillage, and seasonal wear — scored from reported wear experiences, not controlled lab tests.

Question answered: Will it still be there at dinner? Will strangers notice it? Does it work in August?

Core performance metrics

Longevity 8–12 hours
Projection Strong
Sillage (trail) Strong
Versatility Medium

Seasonal performance

Wearability shifts with temperature and setting. These are the conditions where A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) performs most consistently.

Spring
Good
Summer
Poor
Fall
Great
Winter
Great

A Taste of Heaven performs best in cool to cold weather when the vanilla and tonka give weight and the green lavender reads fresh rather than medicinal. Summer heat tends to flatten the composition and can accentuate the opening’s sharper herbal facets.

Audience Response

What wearers consistently love — and consistently question

The strongest signals in a review dataset are the opinions that repeat across thousands of people. Here are the patterns that recur on both sides.

Question answered: If I buy this, what will I likely love about it, and what will start to annoy me over time?

✓ What wins people over

The case for A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

  • 01 Dense, authentic lavender heart
  • 02 Balanced bitter‑green opening (wormwood/absinthe idea)
  • 03 Creamy, long‑lasting vanilla/tonka base
  • 04 Elegant, non‑trendy character
  • 05 Refillable, premium packaging
Fans consistently praise the perfume’s elegant lavender backbone and the way bitter green accents keep it from becoming an ordinary gourmand; packaging and longevity reinforce its value for committed wearers.
✗ Where criticism recurs

The case against A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

  • 01 Opening can be medicinal or camphorous
  • 02 Perceived sweetness in the dry down for some purists
  • 03 Scarcity and high resale prices
  • 04 Not ideal for hot weather
  • 05 Some find it too linear
Critics point to the opening’s polarizing character and to availability-driven pricing as the main downsides; for some, the perfume’s sweetness in the base shifts it away from the pure fougère they prefer.
Editor's Picks

The most memorable real reviews

Four standout reactions — selected from the dataset — that reveal how A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) is actually experienced, remembered, and described.

Most useful review
Let the scent rest — it magically transforms into a slightly sweet, creamy barbershop aroma.

Practical advice from owners: patience matters with this composition. The immediate opening can be misleading, and the perfume rewards wearers who allow it to settle.

Funniest review
Please bring it back Kilian PLEASE!!!!

Short, emotional and a little theatrical — this captures the cult‑level obsession some owners have for a discontinued bottle.

Weirdest review
Opening like bug spray or a bathroom cleaner!

A minority describe the opening in extreme terms; while colorful, these reactions help signal that the top accord can be jarring to sensitive noses.

Best signature description
It's the densest lavender I've ever found, highlighting both the crisp green herb and smooth vanillic facets.

This succinctly captures the two pillars of the scent: a pure lavender core and a warm, creamy base. It’s the kind of sentence that explains why collectors keep returning.

Comparisons

How A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) measures against its closest alternatives

Buyers rarely evaluate a fragrance alone. These are the comparisons that appear most frequently in the shopping journey — with dimensional winners, not vague "depends."

Question answered: If I'm comparing this to another mainstream choice, which one is right for which situation?

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) vs Pour Un Homme

By Kilian & Caron — direct perspective
This fragrance

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

By Kilian · Eau de Parfum
CharacterGreen‑lavender, barbershop classic with an aqueous softness
Typical price$160–$235
Longevity8–12 hours
Best forA stronger, more modern lavender with gourmand dry down
Competitor

Pour Un Homme

Caron · Eau de Toilette
CharacterClean powdery lavender, simpler and lighter
Typical price$30–$70
Longevity4–8 hrs
Best forEveryday, warm weather, budget buyers

Caron’s Pour Un Homme is the historical reference; A Taste of Heaven builds on that DNA with more depth and a warmer base. If you want a cheaper, lighter lavender, choose Caron; if you want density and a gourmand dry down, A Taste of Heaven wins.

Value
Pour Un Homme
Scent Complexity
A Taste of Heaven
Performance
A Taste of Heaven

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) vs Jicky

By Kilian & Guerlain — direct perspective
This fragrance

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

By Kilian · Eau de Parfum
CharacterTimeless fougère with an animalic, spicy backbone
Typical price$160–$235
Longevity8–12 hours
Best forModern green lavender with sweeter finish
Competitor

Jicky

Guerlain · Eau de Parfum / Les Légendaires variants
CharacterLeatherier, more classical aldehydic fougère
Typical price$110–$200
Longevity6–10 hrs
Best forVintage lovers, formal occasions

Guerlain Jicky is historically important and more animalic; A Taste of Heaven is cleaner in the lavender and finishes sweeter. For historical gravitas pick Jicky; for plush lavender and modern balance pick Kilian.

Heritage
Jicky
Approachability
A Taste of Heaven
Vanilla/Gourmand Quality
A Taste of Heaven

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) vs MEM

By Kilian & Bogue Profumo — direct perspective
This fragrance

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

By Kilian · Eau de Parfum
CharacterModern, unorthodox lavender with woody/amber accents
Typical price$160–$235
Longevity8–12 hours
Best forSofter, more gourmand lavender preference
Competitor

MEM

Bogue Profumo · Eau de Parfum
CharacterDarker, edgier, more experimental
Typical pricePrice not available
Longevity8–10 hrs (community reports)
Best forCollectors wanting an avant‑garde lavender

MEM is a modern, more challenging lavender that leans darker; A Taste of Heaven is rounder and more classically pleasant. Choose MEM if you want risk and depth; choose Kilian if you want lush lavender with a sweeter finish.

Originality
MEM
Wearability
A Taste of Heaven
Collector Appeal
MEM
Final Decision

Is A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) still worth it in 2026?

A Taste of Heaven is worth it for enthusiasts who prioritize a dense lavender fougère with a unique green twist and strong longevity. For price‑sensitive buyers or those who dislike medicinal openings, there are more economical and less polarizing options.

✓ Buy it if

  • Authentic, dense lavender heart that many consider class‑leading
  • Distinctive wormwood/absinthe green edge not commonly found elsewhere
  • Creamy vanilla/tonka base with reliable longevity
  • High‑quality refillable packaging and collectible presentation
  • Strong projection in the opening, then refined skin presence
Your next step

Choose the path that fits you

Based on everything above, here are the two most sensible options — the original, or a similarly-characterized alternative at a different price point.

The original

A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)

By Kilian · Eau de Parfum

If you decide to buy, sample first when possible — especially if you are sensitive to sharp, herbal openings. Because original bottles and refills can vary in availability and price, prioritize trusted retailers or sealed, authenticated secondary listings. CA Perfume offers an inspired alternative at a lower price point for those who want the character without the collector market friction.

$160–$235
Buy A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte)
Inspired by A Taste of Heaven, HumanSafe™ verified, better value

CA Perfume — Similar Character

CA Perfume · House Composition

For buyers who like the green lavender + vanilla signature but prefer easier availability and a friendlier price, CA Perfume’s inspired composition channels the same broad character while offering full ingredient transparency and HumanSafe™ verification. It captures the lavender core, a rounded vanilla‑tonka base, and a tempered bitter herb accent to evoke the same emotional space without the collector‑market price. That makes it a sensible entry point for people who want the vibe of A Taste of Heaven for everyday wear, or who plan to layer and experiment without reselling anxiety. CA Perfume’s alternative is also cruelty‑free and formulated with modern safety standards, making it a practical, lower‑risk choice for first‑time buyers.

From $34 (50ml) – $54 (100ml)
Shop CA Alternative
Affiliate disclosure: CA Perfume may earn a commission on sales made through links on this page, including links to third-party retailers for A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte). Commissions do not influence our scoring — the HumanSafe Review Index™ is calculated before any commercial relationships are considered, and brands cannot pay for placement, score adjustments, or removal of criticism. Review our editorial independence policy.
Methodology

How this review was built

We analyze a minimum of 500 verified reviews per fragrance across Fragrantica, Amazon, Walmart, and Reddit. Our filtering process removes unverified purchases, duplicate submissions, reviews under 10 words, and obvious spam or promotional content. Bias control: equal weight is given to positive and negative reviews, no paid partnerships influence editorial scoring, and data is refreshed every 90 days. Our scoring system — the HumanSafe Review Index™ — is a proprietary editorial framework that evaluates each fragrance across scent accuracy, longevity, projection, value, and community consensus.

Scores are calculated before any commercial context — comparisons, alternatives, or affiliate placements — is applied.

1012
Verified reviews analyzed · Tier A Confidence
Sources:FragranticaAmazonWalmartReddit
01

Signal Filtering

Duplicate submissions, reviews under 10 words, obvious spam, promotional content, and unverified purchases are removed before any scoring begins.

02

Pattern Recognition

Only opinions that recur across thousands of data points — not isolated reactions, however loud — are weighted into the score.

03

Bias Control

Positive and negative sentiment are weighted evenly. Extreme outliers on both sides are capped to avoid skewed conclusions.

04

Editorial Review

A human editor confirms that highlighted quotes, comparisons, and verdicts are representative of the filtered dataset, not cherry-picked.

05

Confidence Tiering

Fragrances are graded Tier A (≥500 reviews across ≥3 sources), Tier B (100–499 reviews, Emerging), or Tier C (<100, qualitative only). A Taste of Heaven (Absinthe Verte) is Tier A Confidence.