Ardent

Oh my goodness, darlings! Let me tell you about my latest obsession - Ardent by Boadicea the Victorious. This fragrance is an absolute dream with it's a touch of luxury and mystery. From the moment I spritzed this on my wrist, I was transported to a world of opulence and intrigue. The opening is like a burst of exotic spices - imagine saffron and coriander dancing with the most delicate Turkish rose. It's as if I'm wandering through a bustling Middle Eastern bazaar, my silk scarf trailing behind me. But wait, there's more! As the scent develops, it's like being enveloped in the most sumptuous floral embrace. The rose absolute and jasmine are so rich and velvety. I feel like I'm lounging on a chaise in a secret garden, sipping champagne and nibbling on honey-drizzled pastries. And don't even get me started on the dry down, sweethearts. It's pure seduction in a bottle! The vanilla and amber meld with the oud and patchouli to create this warm, sensual aura that clings to my skin like a lover's caress. I swear, every time I catch a whiff of it throughout the day, I can't help but smile and feel utterly fabulous. What I adore most about Ardent is how it makes me feel like the star of my own romantic drama. Whether I'm heading to a candlelit dinner or a glittering gala, this scent gives me the confidence to command any room I enter. It's my secret weapon, my liquid courage in a bottle. Yes, it's a bit of a splurge, but we deserve to treat ourselves, don't we? Trust me, once you experience the magic of Ardent, you'll understand why it's worth every penny. It's not just a perfume; it's a transformative experience that turns every day into an adventure. So, if you're ready to feel like the goddess you truly are, give Ardent a try. Just be prepared for all the compliments and lingering glances that are sure to come your way!

(2nd review of this as I got hooked) I have to be honest I'm not a fan of this house generally speaking as the pricing of some of their releases is totally unjustifiable. Having said that, this one is more fairly priced and I heard a couple of great reviews so I got a tester. I really liked it at first and it really got me hooked after a second smell. This is a beautiful lavish fragrance, you can smell the rose but I would not really describe this as floral, it's hard to describe. A little sweet but not gourmand either. It smells luxurious and upmarket. Very unisex. I can't smell much wood despite it being describes as woody and I can't really smell any Oud at all, I'd imagine it is probably just trace amounts, especially at this price. The tester I got wasn't that strong but I have since gotten a 50ml bottle and it is projecting beautifully, not room filling or choking but you will definitely be smelled, ideal projection. Long lasting. This would make a great signature scent for a man or women. Very few reviews on Youtube, this one seems to slip under the radar. I'm glad!

Lots of countries know Polish pączki so I hope this will be easier for you to understand. This smells like the traditional wild rose jam we use for pączki. It's rich, floral, thick, sweet, very, very aromatic warm. I'd never wear that as a man - not that I have a problem with roses or florals, it's just so much rose and florals you really do smell like the pączki jam. Completely disagree with Noir de Noir comparison - not even close to the darkness of TF's composition - however, this smells way more quality and natural. If you do have a nose for that you can smell the indolic nature of jasmine and the skank of the oud in here - but it's really not much. I think it makes it more interesting and deeper, plus it's going to be even harder to catch in the air. Very high quality, natural smelling, a great composition, lasting and powerful, worth the price. Not dark enough to compare to NdN, hard for me to wear as a Polish man - smelling delicious and lovely like pączki jam will suit my wife very well though. Not office safe - strong.

Tested today and fallen in love! It is such a lovely, soft, elegant rose! This smells almost as a soliflore, but I see there is a lot going on in it. Aoud? No aoud. If aoud was noticeable, then aoud-hater bf would have killed it. Instead this was one of the very few times I put my wrist under his nose and straight he went: "Nice!" The rest of the notes are just so faint or rather well blended that the final result is all about rose of the most fresh dewy kind and yet there is substance here. Only after a couple of hours at least the woody musk comes out and it is just delicious and soft and lasted after a shower! Good, really good stuff, but crazily priced. Unfortunately. EDIT: ok, I'm less enthusiastic than first time, but I keep spraying this from testers because I like it, but it's not so convincing for shelling so many euro. The rose becomes too fruity. Anyway the scent is longlasting and lasts even longer on fabrics in the form of an ambered rose. Nice.

This is a fantastic rose-oriented fragrance; it's unisex, leans heavily feminine, but I have no reservations wearing this as a straight forty-something guy who drinks dark beer and lifts heavy weights. In fact, I've received compliments from several women while wearing this fragrance (at work, while running errands, etc). To me, Ardent compares favorably to heavy hitters such as Portrait of a Lady, Noir de Noir, and L'Homme a la Rose (all of which I also love). And Ardent is among my favorite fragrances from BTV (with Monarch and Defender rounding out my top 3). Performance is surprisingly good. Highly recommended at discounter prices; I personally would not pay full retail, though. 8/10.