Athena

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Athena is a respectable attempt at a vanilla fragrance, clearly inspired by Goddess. It’s not a perfect replica, and the synthetic edge in the opening is noticeable. However, it's a solid everyday vanilla scent. If you want a high-quality vanilla and are willing to pay for it, stick with the Burberry. But if you're on a budget and want a good "close enough" alternative, Athena is worth considering. For some, yes. For the budget-conscious vanilla lover? Probably not.

First Impressions & Dry Down

Athena comes in hot, a blast of vanilla and lavender trying to approximate Goddess. The cacao is there, but it’s a bit synthetic, a powdery edge that the original cleverly avoids. The heart retains that cloying vanilla, but lacks the smooth, almost airy quality of Burberry’s "vanilla caviar". The drydown is pure vanilla absolute, and it's here Athena finds some redemption. It warms up and becomes quite pleasant, though still a more linear, less nuanced vanilla than the original. I'd say it's about 88% close to Goddess. The difference? It’s in the quality of ingredients and the blending.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is surprisingly decent. I get about 5-6 hours on my skin, with moderate projection for the first hour. After that, it settles close to the skin, creating a soft vanilla aura. Not a beast mode performer, but acceptable point.