Queens & Monsters

Queens & Monsters caught me completely off guard. It opens with a blast of green floral freshness that almost feels aggressive at first, like, whoa, what is this? I think the petitgrain and violet are responsible for that sharp green sparkle. Then it transforms. The violet becomes softer and more powdery, almost like baby powder, while the freesia adds a delicate floral touch. For a perfume called Queens & Monsters, it’s surprisingly intimate and cozy. What starts as a bright green floral eventually melts into a soft amber-sandalwood cloud that feels airy, comforting, and feminine. It’s the kind of fragrance that makes a strong first impression and then settles in close. She tells you she’s here to stay. The longevity is excellent, and the drydown is absolutely lovely soft blend of powder, warmth, and sandalwood that lingers beautifully on the skin. I especially like the contrast between the name Queens & Monsters and the reality of the scent. It sounds fierce in the opening, but ends up feeling almost tender and comforting. That contrast makes the fragrance much more interesting than if it stayed loud the whole way through. I think this is what I always expected out of DIOR’s Hypnotic Poison, but then got too much Play-Doh at the end. For me, this is full bottle worthy. For right now, I will enjoy my travel spray.

Wowwwww. So beautiful I wanted her after first sniff which RARELY occurs for me. I’m surprised by some of the lackluster reviews. I find this scent quite unique and very addicting. It’s definitely signature worthy. It’s powdery and sweet (but not gourmand sweet) with a sharp sandalwood that gives it a slight edge. I don’t get the green accord as much as others seem to notice, especially after the early opening. Something about the violet and white florals in here reads nostalgic or vintage to me, but it’s a very modern fragrance. I'm also getting an aromas of the east vibe- like jasmine rice and incense. It’s both a comforting and sensual aromatic experience. I find the performance fantastic, it really sticks to the skin and gets better throughout the wear. This is not a summer-type scent, but I just tried it in 100 degrees and it wasn’t too much. I imagine it will wear beautifully year round- such a gem! As the weather cools I get a whole new vibe from this beauty! It’s way more forestry and enchanting: the green element lingers and the vanilla sandalwood is extra creamy. Sometimes it even smells like a pastry with vanilla drizzle or powdered sugar.

Don't you just love advertising? Queens and Monsters..SUCH a great name. BUT nothing dark or goth in the very refreshing, soft and pretty scent! If you want dark, try Char or Dark is Night. You won't find that here . I do love pettigrain and the opening is full stop. Rather orange blossom esque. So refreshing. Inviting..a bit sharp in the opening. Then it softens up a bit and the vanilla/patchouli vibe kicks in and ohh, it nice. The body cream is delightful. The sandalwood is very tame..it's actually, very well blended. It's best to boost it with the cream because - my only critique - it doesn't have the best performance, as many clean perfumes don't. If you don't have the money for the body cream, believe it or not, a simple and cheap jar of Pond's Dry Skin Cream- just a few dollars at the drugstore, is PHENOMENAL with this perfume..and quite affordable! This was an accidental discovery, but it really holds the scent. Soft, lovely and easy for most, to enjoy.

Normally I don't do green fragrances let alone green vanillas. They just aren't for me. There is something about this one though, that I adore. Maybe its the name, maybe its because this is the year I read the ACOTAR series and this fragrance makes me imagine it has a place in the SJM verse. The green is only in the opening and its fleeting, the dry down is a powdery, softly wooded vanilla made slightly creamy. I get sandalwood, I get vanilla, I get brightness from freesia and the jasmine. I truly think it is the violet leaf and petit grain that are so sharp and green at first but not in a terribly unpleasant way to my nose or with my chemistry. Its like a sexy vanilla rolled around in the gardens of spring, lost track of time and somehow made their way to the night court. It's a cousin to Splendida Tubereuse Mystique from Bvlgari. They are not the same, tuberose is tuberose and jasmine and freesia are there own entity but it gives that type of vibe.

During the pandemic, I ordered a discovery set from Henry Rose, which really brightened those long, tedious days (y'all know what I'm talking about). I didn't love this fragrance at first sniff and ultimately ordered a full bottle of Jake's House, which my teenage son eventually stole from me. One day, I gave Q&M another sniff, and another, and then one more. I ordered a new discovery set to be sure, but undoubtedly, somewhere along the way I fell in love with the dark & monstrous Queen. Q&M is first and foremost SEXY af. She's intriguing, intoxicating, and sophisticated. Reminiscent of heady 90s perfumes, she opens with a green, woody note, followed by the sweet, creamy soliflor scent of jasmine. The drydown is bright patchouli, warm vanilla, and something musky and almost marine like. Imo, this is a femme scent through and through, but hey, you do you. Q&M will be forever in my heart (and my collection).