Virtuous

Oh I do love to be the first! :D New bottle of Virtuous, unwapped today: Honey and oranges? I know they're not listed notes but that is my overriding impression of this perfume. With the Arabian oudy thing underlying of course. I find this perfume quite harsh to begin with but after, say, half an hour, it does become quite beautiful, though faint to my nose. I have a feeling, though, that this is one of those perfumes that other people can smell and admire, even if you can't madly detect it yourself. Overall, this perfume doesn't 'wow' me, I have nicer in my wardrobe already - Explosive being the one that springs to mind. Also, what's with the packaging?! This range is meant to be so top of the range, so exclusive, but the silvertone plaques (not the Celtic-y ones, the other ones), just look dirty and cheap to me. I don't know if that's meant to convey an 'antique' effect? Hmmm.... I do wonder from this perfume and from a sample of another one I once tried, if the Boadicea range is a bit of a case of The Emperor's New Clothes. I'll give this a few tries, see what my hubby thinks of it (he hates Explosive, made a face and said 'does that have JASMINE in it?' - hmmph!!), but for someone who knows they like this or who generally likes the Arabian-type oils and perfumes, I may be persuaded to part with this.. Update: I parted with it, I don't like it and not impressed with this range overall..

I CAN'T TELL! This is undoubtedly intriguing, but it's also triggers immediate disgust in me. It's the heavy Oud. I usually read this note as rotting fruit and unwashed rear while I've found it on others to be delicious and seductive. To me, this fragrance is like taking the funk I just described and sprinkling on saffron and rose scented talc, and storing the putrid, chalky concoction in a small cedar box. I can't. Meanwhile, as it settles into my skin it's very fresh, pretty and wearable. i just don't know if I enjoy it enough to wear my decant. I'll give it time and try again.

Virtuous Boadicea the Victorious is a typical arabian saffron, rose, oud combination with ISO E Super, which is not listed here. First I thougt, that ́s a bad smell. But now I am wearing it and it ́s ok. A bitter saffron smell. Nothing sweet here. Only bitter notes. Great for everyone who don ́t like sweet or too dark scents. Excellent for saffron lovers. It lasts very long.