Hey there Perfume Posse! You may remember last year I was in London. The beautiful Tara from now defunct A Bottled Rose perfume blog and I were wandering the streets of her area and stumbled upon an enormous TKMaxxx. They had a WALL of fragrances for nearly nothing. Hundreds of them. Before reason took over I had maybe 15 bottles in my basket and it was all going to cost less than 200 pounds. There were Miller Harris, Anna Sui, Guerlain, Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Tommy Bahama and Boucheron (that I can remember). TOO MUCH! So I cut that down to two bottles. Miller Harris Citron Citron and Boucheron Serpent Boheme.
Well, I bought the Miller Harris because I know Jin loves citrus and thought it would be a fabulous gift. Tara grabbed the Serpent Boheme and said that she and her parents would like to buy it for me.So generous! I’d made my way through most of a mini in the New Idea 2023. (Can you believe that was only last year? Seems like a lifetime ago.) It was high on the list of FB dreams and so welcome to the collection. Every spritz and wear they pop into my mind. It’s like a big fragrant hug across the oceans. I bought my mini blind from FragranceNet (not affiliated). Sometimes I’ll add a couple of minis from loved brands to the cart.
This shape bottle seems to be the new ideal. Chloé Nomade was the first. Creed did a budget feeling one with Wind Flowers. Serpent Boheme has added pimpled back for good grip and the string tie is a nice finish with the gold aglets.
Serpent Bohème by Boucheron 2020
Top: Mandarin, Black Currant
Heart: Turkish Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Desert Rose
Base: White Musk, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cistus Labdanum
The base is a soft wash of something something something that doesn’t definitely say any of the notes given. It’s a light amber with clean musk. You won’t be swooning at it but it stays pumping out its dry sweet nothings for a few hours before disappearing.
Yes, I know. It sounds like a bottle full of little interest. For many perfumistas it will be a yawn fest. There is something about the whole that is much nicer than its parts (and this review) and I love the way it smells.
What about you? Is serpent Boheme calling you for a spritz?
Portia xx
This actually sounds delightful! My life is dramatic enough right now – I don’t need to Smell like Drama. I wore Vic Secret ‘Love’ today (h/t li’l Missy for finding and giving me a bottle) – it’s pretty as anything, totally unchallenging – and I adore it!
If I found this at our TJM (the Boucheron) I’d buy it up in a flash! Maybe there’ll be a Boucheron necklace there as well… a gal can dream, can’t she?
HA! Musette, if I ever see a Boucheron necklace, or any jewellery at a TKMaxxx, I’ll buy it for you.
You make a man LOL.
Portia xx
Serpent Boheme sounds lovely, right up my alley. This is the style of perfume that I enjoy most; beautifully blended and smell good. Boucheron Boucheron (parfum, EDP, and EDT) has been in my top perfume loves for years. I always love your reviews xoxo
Hey Kathleen,
OMG! The original Boucheron had a PARFUM! Shut up. That must be awe inspiring.
Yes, it’s one of my loves too. Such a diva showstopper. When I’m wearing it you know I mean business.
Thank you, it’s really good to read that.
HUG
Portia xx
My local TJMaxx has whittled down its already pathetic fragrance selection into virtually nothing. There’s so little that I wander up and down the aisles thinking, “Where did they put it?!” Then I’ll find a few shopworn bottles on an end cap. It’s so so sad. Have never seen anything so nice as a Boucheron or Guerlain there. I think I’d faint!
Hey DinaC,
We have a couple of enormous TKMaxxx in Sydney but there’s never been anything in the fragrance section that made me purchase. They do have a good selection of soaps and body washes usually though. Does yours at least have that?
Portia xx
Yes, a rainbow of scented body washes and bath gels. That they do have.
Are we at the same TJ Maxx? Fragrances are down to none. A distant memory.
Bummer Pam,
I wonder it’s just a lucky strike I had. It was very cool though.
Portia xx
Ha! I’m in Northern Virginia near DC. Where are you Pam? I sympathize!
Ours here in Connecticut is just like yours. Did away with the fragrances in favor of soaps, body washes and lotions.
BUMMER! JenniferS.
I wonder why?
Portia x
I did have a Boucheron Homme back in the day. I considered it more of an “evening” or “dressy” type of fragrance. I think I ended up giving it away to someone who liked it better and gave it a better home. This one sounds interesting, but I think it deserves a better home with you.
How much do I wish I was at the TK Maxx with a U-Haul and a clean credit card?
HA! Tom, I wish I had a clean credit card that day. Sadly it was a bit weighty. Travel for events was top priority in 2023, every spare cent went to being at important milestones of people we love.
I like that Boucheron pour Homme too but Jaipur pour Homme is my favourite. It’s one of the best all round wears of any menswear directed I own.
Serpent Boheme is probably not for you but if you see it, spritz, just in case.
Portia xx
I haven’t tried this — WHAT an amazing selection at your TKMaxx though! I’ve found a few scattered gems over the years but nothing like THAT. The Boucheron sounds lovely, I’ve been much more interested in things that just … smell nice. And what a great fragrant memory!
OMG March, if I’d been more cash solvent last year they ALL would have come home with me. That TKMaxxx was unbelievable. I’m wondering if I just arrived at a time when they were all changing their formulas? or they’d finished a season? It was a very lucky strike.
Having something given makes it seem so much more special. Maybe I should do a post on perfumes that hold special places in my heart for that? It would throw up some very unexpected beauties.
Portia xxx
Absolutely, I’m sure everyone has their stories <3
OK, it’s on the list
Portia, this sounds good to me. I love Boucheron pour femme and wonder how Serpent Boheme compares? The name of s.b. doesn’t seem to fit the contents.
Hey Jill,
They are very different beasts. That original Boucheron is still a room stopping diva. Serpent Boheme is an easy breezy mainly white floral. Imagine a very pretty watercolour as opposed to a Marc Chagall.
Yes, the name does inspire something Gothic and dark, none of that here.
Portia xx
Ok, I really like that bottle. Not sure why.
I think pretty is very underrated. Easy to wear, pleasant, attractive. Not bad things at all.
But… I’m not overwhelmed by black currant. I don’t like it to eat and it doesn’t generally cheer me in perfume. My mother did move a red currant bush from house to house (literally move in, plant, dig up when moving out) and I did like that fruit in her pies.
Hey Cinnamon,
The bottle is very comfortable in my hand and I agree, nicely proportioned.
LOVE your Mum bringing the bush with her. Did it have sentimental value or was she making sure she had currants for cooking?
Portia xx
Both on currant bush. I think it felt attached to her too, as it always performed well, no matter where she planted it.
So cool. I loved being with Mum in the garden. She also always had some edible stuff growing. We never moved though so it was always right there. Her orange tree used to be groaning under the weight of all the fruit.
Portia, nothing you write is ever boring!
It seems to me that not only you, Musette & Cinnamon are voicing the, personally very welcome return of perfumery that simply smells good. I do hope this becomes a major trend as opposed to a micro perfumistae only movement.
There again maybe if the genuine perfume lovers out there create the demand, something beautiful might happen!
How does this compare to YSL In Love Again?
Heya Alityke,
It’s been a long time since sniffing YSL In Love again and at that time I was on the hunt for weird, freaky, boundary pushing unicorns. So my very vague memory is also accompanied by a bit of cloud.
Yes, it’s funny how we all seem to have come to the same point in our perfumista journey. Though I still love to have my buttons pushed and a little bit of weird, lately it seems smells good hits the spot.
Portia xx
I’ve found 50ml of Serpent Bohemia for £25, practically nothing. It’s in my cart.
In Love Again was a huge hit of grapefruit & blackcurrant, a great big whump of happiness, but had little dry down. It’s been d/ced for the second time & resale market is stupid expensive. I’ll give the SB a go seen as it’s so cheap
Hope you enjoy it Alityke.
Yeah, I think Tara paid about that for my bottle.