Hi Posse! Last month in London I went out to Leighton Buzzard to see the Olfaction crew, Nick Gilbert and Pia Long. They very thoughtfully gave me some decants to go away and explore. When they released the Boujee Bougies candle range I bought a bunch and gave most of them to our friends as gifts. They were so well received for their beautiful fragrances and everyone loves to have the next big thing. My personal favourite from the range is Succulent, followed closely by Queen Jam. The perfumes are fine fragrances fully reworked from the candle range. Their names have also been altered to reflect that change. Today I thought we could spend some time sniffing the logical fragrant next step of Queen Jam, QUEEN!
Queen by Boujee Bougies 2023
Boujee Bougies give these featured accords:
Top: Rhubarb, Bergamot, Nutmeg, Carrot seed
Heart: Rose, Violet, Raspberry leaf, Geranium, Iris, Black tea
Base: Benzoin, Opoponax, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Earthy notes, Musk
Strangely alluring raspberry roses within a circle of other notes that shape and shade them with extras. Right out of the Queen gate there is a nutish resinous note, a little bit sweaty and woodsy. It’s unexpected and my nose stops short and pulls forward. With a blend so perfectly poised each note doesn’t stand tall and shout to be noticed.
One thing that had me questioning myself was during a couple of wears Queen tasted, yes tasted, like drinking diet creaming soda. The smell is so real and reminiscent that I broached it with some perfume friends while we smelled the Boujee line. Phew! I was greeted with OMG’s and yes, that’s exactly it. It’s a part of the puzzle that is Queen, not the whole scent. On and off through the ride I’m constantly brought back to it though. Very cool.
There’s so much more going on. Jammy rose, dry rasp of tea, spices and a quietly doughy iris all make appearances.
Dry down is a smooth woodsy patchouli and resins that don’t smell heavily incense-y.
Sound good to you?
Portia xx
Late to the party — this and the diet-soda (but in a good way) made me giggle! I think it sounds like great fun and I love the name, and I think the candles sound marvelous! Xo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY March. looks like you had a perfect one with the crew.
Portia xx
we’re in the midst of Big Ag Allergies (anhydrous really shuts down my olfactory system, alas)… so this sounds lovely…for later.
How bad is my olfaction? you ask? Welp! Imagine me sniffing a 2002 No5 parfum (PARFUM) – and having it smell like a drugstore fruitchouli. Yeah. Like that.
OH NOOOO Musette.
Sending you healing sniffer vibes.
Portia xx
I love cream soda but don’t drink diet versions. What is the difference in smell with regular cream soda? The perfume sounds appealing.
Hey TaraC,
Since becoming diabetic I’ve moved to diet sodas. There is a very particular something in them. It’s not bad but it is different.
Funnily, if I drink most regular soft drinks now that real sugar hit buzzes me out in a minute, like I can feel my blood sugar spiking. That’s kind of ruined them for me a bit. Not that I ever drank them very much anyway.
Portia x
I find that the artificial ones have a sort of spiky chemical buzz to them that the real High Fructose Corn Syrup ones don’t.
Oddly enough, I did find that Diet Coke tastes more like Coke made with sugar (the Mexican ones we pay through the nose for) than they do the regular Amurrican ones with HFCS.
You know there’s a whole conspiracy about the intro of “New Coke” in the 80’s that it was a big hoax- they never intended the new one to be out there, but they wanted to switch from sugar to cheaper HFCS but couldn’t get the taste to come out right. Solution? Pull the old stuff, intro “New Coke,” have everybody go bonkers, then 5 months later bring back the new old stuff (now with Corn Syrup instead of sugar) as “Coke Classic.” Then dump the new stuff and move on with nobody noticing the taste difference.. We can get the sugar sweetened ones that are sold in Mexico, or sugar sweetened ones at Passover as Kosher Coke. And they really do taste different (and better)
Or I made that up in my head.
HA! Tom, I love you
This sounds well worth smelling. I bought their small incense candle when it was on sale (before they moved to the new packaging) which hasn’t yet had a go-round because it’s way too hot here. But smelling from the candle itself is very promising. Notes list for Queen looks very interesting and I love cream soda. Going over the site to see if they do samples.
Hey Cinnamon!
When I was in town they were awaiting lids for their range or I would have bought the lot!
I’m about to put a small Boujee Succulent candle in the bathroom.
Portia xx
oh, man, you are such an enabler. do you get Boy Smells candles down under? I am hankering after their new one based around peppers.
I’ve not seen them here but will have a squiz.
I love me some rhubarb & raspberry leaf. I wonder what gives the vanilla effervescence of cream soda? Clever, clever Olfiction team!
The Queen Jam candle was wonderful!
I have no idea Alityke,
Queen is a shape shifter too. Each wear shows me new and different parts of the whole,
Portia xx
I love the idea of rhubarb and carrot seed, but I’m not sure about diet cream soda. I’ll have to seek this out..
Tom,
I think there are a couple of others in the range that might call to you more.
Stay tuned,
Portia xx
Yes, the diet cream sofa gave me pause too…
I just chatted to Pia and she told me there was a hidden scones with jam and cream accord that must have triggered my creaming soda correlation.
How freaking cool is that?