The Queen and the Viper

This one threw me. Sprayed it. Smelled it. Then the hunt was on for what smells just like this and no, I was not hunting for a scent. This smells like Starbuzz Tobacco Blue Mist Shisha. All of the incense, the mint, the fruit, the tobacco... Do I want to smell like Shisha? YES! I definitely do! So unique and strange in a fragrance I can't seem to stop wanting to smell this! I really love it. There are comparisons out there that in the drydown this is like side effect. No. If the dry down smells like any initio in the drydown it smells like Narcotic's Delight's drydown (sans cherry). Any while the mint is reminiscent of the mint in Enclave the overall composition IMO is more delightful. Amouage is a touch too strong for me and while I had a bottle, I gifted it away and do not regret it. Thought it just was not my style of scent but low and behold. This takes such a similar path and I am rocking it! overall 4.55 - unique, lasts, projects and there are great deals out there for these. Happy 2026 Everyone!

The fragrance opens with a soft- slightly sweet mint ,not sharp or cooling, but rather cozy, like a mint leaf added to a cup of herbal tea. Gradually, gentle citrus notes appear, adding brightness and freshness. There’s also a natural sweetness that feels smooth and comforting , perhaps coming from dates, though I wouldn’t clearly identify it as dates without knowing the pyramid. A subtle touch of dry- slightly bitter tobacco emerges as the scent develops, giving it depth and an interesting edge. Saffron is present only as a delicate whisper, adding a refined and elegant nuance to the composition. Overall, the fragrance feels very pleasant, soothing, and enveloping. It’s balanced, softly dense, and carries a calm, meditative aura, a scent of inner comfort and quiet confidence.

Oh, this is delicious. I can pick up some LV Pacific Chill DNA from the initial spray, with its citrus, mint, and candy-like sweetness. Then it dries down into these underlying tones of Initio's Side Effect being slightly boozy and syrupy, but with some greenery and life added to it. Then there's some of that smokiness from the incense note, which lingers a little. Fresh, sweet, and smoky. It's super addictive, and I can't stop smelling my hand. It somehow does all these notes without being obnoxious and headache-inducing. I'm impressed. I am definitely getting a full bottle of this whenever I can.

This is a refined blend that moves confidently from crisp freshness to deep sensual warmth. The opening pairs bright citrus and mint with a touch of incense, creating an intriguing contrast. As it develops, herbal notes and soft florals add dimension before settling into a rich, smoky base of tobacco, saffron, and resins. The result is a sophisticated, mysterious scent with excellent longevity and a smooth, elegant evolution—ideal for evening wear or anyone who appreciates a polished, resinous oriental-woody composition. An absolute keeper for me personally.

First sniff is a combination of citrus, incense and a hint of mint. Have to say that the mint is special and not typical for fragrances. The incense dies down in about 15 minutes and you’re left with a nice blend with a touch of light white florals and saffron. Slowly transitions over 2 hours to being more influenced by the dates and tobacco. The birch is a nice supporting player with the saffron. Overall an interesting and masterful blend. I just wish the mint was made more prominent since it is delightful in this mix. I guess sometimes a tease is best.

Ou this is really good. Quite a bold composition of notes and all executed remarkably. First you get hit with the citrus, spearmint, incense, and black currant. Right away I was intrigued. As the fragrance dries down the heart and base notes start to come in, and they marry so well with the top notes; nothing is disjointed. The dates and saffron adds a touch of regality. It almost smells like a sweet mint tea, really beautiful. Definitely one of my best discoveries of 2025.

What a masterpiece. This fragrance opens up with a nice mint, citrus with some incense. It then evolves to a complex saffron and dates. The notes are so well-blende, it's like a symphony finale. The dry down is heavenly. So pleasant but so complex that makes you want to dive deeper into it. I really wish I could own a bottle of this when I visited Seoul. I regret not buying a bottle to this day. This is definitely the best SHL fragrance in my opinion.

an opening of smoky greens - imagine very clean smelling incense which is scented with mint, osmanthus, some citrus notes for freshness. once it goes away for a bit you smell a sweet resinous base. its smooth, tobacco is there but it doesnt smell bitter. the full blend is like if the finest sweet mint cigarette was made into a scent, but almost in a dessert way. yes it does smell like enclave

I need this in my life. I feel like this is the calmer, shier sibling of SHL God of Fire. Both are quite loud, but God of Fire is a party girl, while The Queen and the Viper is chill and goes to bed early. That’s the vibe I get. I don’t remember the notes, but I do remember thinking, “I will wear this in summer.”

This is stunningly beautiful, love at first sniff. Immediately checked my bank account to see when I could buy this 🤣 As a reference, I love green fresh outdoorsy florals, and I can’t believe I found an amber that nods in that direction, without becoming a masculine fougere. Very unique and lovely.

Oh, this smells very modern, bright, and smooth on my very cool skin. I think this is rather versatile and can be worn year around and both daytime or evening. It is well blended and not harsh at all. To me, it is definitely one of the best snakes in this collection.

This has the potential to be the best fragrance for the summer over the next few years, it’s got everything you’d want in a spring, summer fragrance. Suits day and night. Gorgeous stuff

A dark oriental niche fragrance that blends deep sweetness with soft smoky nuances in a well-balanced composition. It opens with a subtle citrus touch supported by blackcurrant and a gentle incense accord, creating a slightly deceptive contrast between freshness and depth. The heart reveals an elegant interplay between the coolness of mint and the warmth of osmanthus and jasmine, with a velvety leathery facet adding richness and texture. In the base, dates, tobacco, resins, and saffron come forward, forming a dense, non-sugary sweetness—best described as a resinous oriental gourmand, warm and enveloping without becoming overwhelming. Performance is strong in both longevity and projection, thriving in colder weather and evening settings. A distinctive and unconventional fragrance that may not appeal to everyone, but leaves a lasting impression on those drawn to this style. عطر نيش بطابع شرقي داكن يمزج بين الحلاوة العميقة واللمسات الدخانية بشكل متوازن. يفتتح بإيحاء حمضي خفيف مدعوم بكشمش وبخور ناعم، ما يعطي بداية مضلِّلة بين الانتعاش والغموض. القلب يكشف عن تباين جميل بين برودة النعناع ودفء الأوسمانثوس والياسمين، مع لمسة جلدية مخملية تضيف عمقًا وأناقة. في القاعدة، يبرز التمر والتبغ مع الراتنجات والزعفران ليشكّلوا حلاوة غنية غير سكرية، أقرب لما يمكن وصفه بـ resinous gourmand شرقي، دافئ ومكثّف دون أن يكون خانقًا. الأداء قوي من حيث الثبات والفوحان، ويبرز بشكل أفضل في الأجواء الباردة والمناسبات المسائية. عطر واضح الشخصية، غير تقليدي، وقد لا يناسب جميع الأذواق، لكنه يترك انطباعًا لا يُنسى لمن ينجذب لهذا الأسلوب.

This is a truly unique fragrance—very distinctive, yet highly appealing at the same time. It’s undeniably expensive, but in my opinion, the quality, originality, presentation, and scent all justify the price. I honestly can’t think of another fragrance whose bottle design and name match the scent inside so perfectly. I won’t be adding it to my collection, and the only reason is that I only keep fragrances I genuinely enjoy wearing on a regular basis. This is a scent best reserved for special occasions, intimate gatherings, or moments when you want to feel especially confident and sexy. For me, its range of use is simply too limited. It opens with fresh citrus and green notes, then gradually evolves into something warm, spicy, intriguing, and deeply captivating. If you’re looking for something enjoyable, distinctive, and genuinely niche, I highly recommend giving it a try.

This scent opens with light citrus and cool mint that feels fresh and smooth from the start. It’s crisp and uplifting with a calm energy that draws you in. After comes a hint of incense that adds a subtle, Middle Eastern elegance. As it settles it gets warmer and a little sweeter with a soft touch of tobacco that adds depth and a hint of mystery. Everything melts together so naturally it feels effortless. It works well for daytime when you want something refined or for evenings when you want to stand out quietly. The performance is great and it lasts for 8+ hours before really becoming a skin scent. Beautifully balanced fresh yet deep and full of character. (Also what a cool name for a fragrance where the logo is a snake which just makes it even better 🐍)

Wanted to like this more. I am a fan of SHL and have 2 of the other offerings that I love. The note breakdown I found very intriguing and up my alley. The Scent I did like, but didnt have as much nuance as I was expecting. It came off to my as something like a black currant syrup and had that fuzzy like texture of a dryer sheet. So a black currant dryer sheet is the best comparison I can make and I mean that in the most positive way possible. I dont get too much of the amber or smoky notes that are listed which is my main disappointment, however that could just be how my nose is wired. I do like it and would pick it up on a discount because I think its interesting and overall pleasant. Just not something im jumping to get right away.

As a lover of mint fragrances I was expecting this to be an instant love, but on my skin this is just a mish mash of notes that don’t go. I get a beautiful spearmint note in the opening which I really enjoyed.... I don’t get any resemblance to Pacific chill though. I get side effect with mint and citrus. Enjoyable or more intriguing at first, but as it dries down it changes into a different scent completely. It’s definitly similar to side effect, and as it drys down further it becomes stronger. While not listed, I get a strong anamalic note in the base . Mint lovers, this is not for you or for me. The opening was enjoyable. While I don’t hate it, the dry down is nothing special or different

A rich and mysterious blend of incense, saffron, and tobacco balanced with fresh mint and citrus — The Queen and the Viper is a masterpiece of modern niche perfumery, now available as a sample on our website.

Green earthy, lightly sweet woody herbal medicinal smooth. Does not smell like side effect. Ever. Unisex leaning masculine. Good quality. Nice.

Lighter and less medicine version of Amouga Enclave...drydown smells better too..

Okay, im not gonna give you some long drawn out bs, like the lady below me. Who is well on her way to being an expert shill/frag reviewer 🤣 As I stated below, its definitely not worth the price and I was disappointed in my purchase. Its a nice smell. After wearing it a few more times, it gave me a slightly different perspective. So here it is... It lasts a long time. Not coming off clothing. Ever... You do get a very short lived citrus pop off the top, but its not a summer scent imo. Spring, fall and winter would be its time to wear, with fall being ideal. The mid last a good while, and I would say that to me, it gives off a mint chocolate chip ice cream vibe. Thats really all I have to say. Still, for 194 bucks, you could get something similar, and 2 others completely different frags for that price. Enjoy.

Another lesson learned. Well, I should know better by now... blind bought this after reading reviews and comments about the profile. I always wanted to try Enclave but never pulled the trigger. Heard this had a really good mint note. I was interested. Then I read a comment on here saying it dried down to side effect. Now, I dont own side effect, but I do own after effect. Got this in the mail yesterday. Pulled it out Gave it a spray. Got the mint and what I think is the date note... Then it dried down damn close to after effect. The disappointment hit. Damn... I just bought a 195 dollar fragrance that dries down to a 30 fragrance. WTF!?!

Definitely the most unique frag I've ever smelled. That being said, I really don't like it. It's not blended well. I can smell almost all the notes in here independent of each other. Some are nice. Some are ick. It's kindof a mess. It smells like sweet, mixed with savory, mixed with herbs + mint. It's just too weird to appreciate.

Oh wow. I think this would be great on a woman

The Queen And The Viper by French House of Niche Haute Luxury Perfumery Stéphane Humbert Lucas 777 is a Oriental Citrus Green Incensed Spicy Tabacado Amber Unisex perfume. This is a brand new fragrance that has launched in December 2025. And the noses behind this creation were Stéphane Humbert Lucas and Karine Chevallier. The Queen And The Viper is a rich and opulent creation that fuses citrus, spices, tobacco, resins and sensual flowers in a composition that is dark and bright at the same time and full of contrasts, it takes up the daring signature of Stéphane Humbert Lucas olfactory narratives. The fragrance opens with a crisp sparkling freshness with the luminous explosion of citrus more sweet than cutting and with the fruity effervescence of blackcurrant, wrapped in the spicy minty green freshness of a delicious mint that in me did not refer to toothpaste. A steaming incense of excellent quality already begins to weave a fine and light smoky mist. An immediate contrast of "cold-hot" that captivates and surprises. As these notes settle, we move towards the heart of this composition. This menthol citrus duet already brings versatility to the perfume and can be used even on slightly warmer days. In the heart, which will blossom into a more complex herbal-floral core, the fragrance transforms: This fresh green camphor mint intensifies even more, merging with the slightly bitter herbaceous touch of sage, the fruity green carmutterousness of osmanthus, the creaminess and narcotic purity of arabian jasmine, and with a slightly smoky and sandy vetiver. This herbal-floral weave creates an intense and sensual aura, very rich and even adds depth. The fragrance becomes more textured, refined, with a balanced softness and a subtle earthy smoky background nuance. And towards the base, the fragrance is anchored in spicy amber, dark resinous and warm abada facets: where a smoky sweet tobacco and the obscure resinous labdanum, with the dense smoke of birch wood and spicy saffron, form a leathery-smoky-incensated accord reinforcing that initial paradox between "warmth and freshness". It finishes with the fruity sweetness of a nuance of dried fruit by a delicious sweet and sour date oil. All of this combined creates a scent: Fresh Citrus, Minty Green, Balsamic Resinous, Spicy Smoky and Sweet Ambery. Delicious Perfume Very Approved! And with good performance!

The Queen and the Viper by Stéphane Humbert Lucas: Where Ice Meets Fire "The Queen and the Viper is the latest fragrance in “The Snake Collection”, where the vibrant and striking bottles immediately introduce the story behind each scent. The primary creative force driving this collection is myth and mystery, capturing the duality of the serpent as both a symbol of danger and divine beauty. In general, these fragrances are bold, and their note combinations are often more unconventional and rule-breaking than traditional compositions, although I think there are some extremely approachable scents among them. This newest “snake” is characterized by its striking paradoxical contrast between cold and warm elements, with mint as its central focus." READ MY FULL ARTICLE FOR PlezuroIMag here: https://plezuromag.com/reviews/the-queen-and-the-viper-by-stphane-humbert-lucas-where-ice-meets-fire I don't publish my articles for PlezuroMag here so I would be happy if you visit the page and read it there and I hope you will enjoy it. ❤️ IG/YT @ninamariahperfumes

This smells extremely close to Sospiro's IL Padrino and Initio's Side Effect with a hint of Amouage's Enclave from the spearmint. I do feel as though it's close enough to IL Padrino and/or Side Effect that owning any of the three together would be redundant. It was a blind buy based on the notes and although I'm not disappointed, I would suggest waiting until it hits discounters. It's very nice but nothing worth paying retail for which I also thankfully, did not. That being said, it certainly wasn't cheap.

Beautiful unisex fragrance. Smells like mint, resins and raisins. Not too sweet, not too cool, not too warm. You could say it’s a bit ‘boring’ or ‘safe’ though (but pleasant!)

The fantastic name of this fragrance is the perfect description of my ex-wife.

To me, it smells like a blend of Side Effect & Torino 21. Really nice.

Smells super similar to enclave by amouage,

Well that’s a combo you usually don’t see.

This looks incredible!! Great name as well

Cerdei Lannister and Oberyn Martell beef: