Lannosea

Lannosea is a deliciously twisted citrus rush with fruity gourmand and radiant floral notes. A subtle veil of smoke, minty green Litsea Cubeba soft woods and swirling coffee enhance this deliriously different perfume.

An essential part of the DNA of Boadicea the Victorious is of course the rebellious heroine origin story of Iceni warrior queen Boadicea, the compelling inspiration for our luxurious bold perfumes. So much of what we do and create echoes the story of this extraordinary Queen’s defiance and individuality in the face of Roman and patriarchal oppression. Boadicea the Victorious continues that legacy with Lannosea, named after one of Boadicea’s two daughters.

Lannosea is a new kind of perfumed presence in the Boadicea canon, a exploration of contrasts, dark and light, sweet and savage. A scent that reveals its secrets slowly as you revel in a tapestry of unique and original materials.

Key to Lannosea is a sun-lit Lemon Confit accord, both thirst-quenching and illuminating in its combination of zesty zing and tart sea salt oceanics. In gustatory terms, the confit is made using only two ingredients: unwaxed, washed lemons and a good quality sea salt. The lemons are cut almost to the tip of one end, liberally rubbed with salt and packed into sterilised Kilner jars. Boiling distilled water is poured over and then left to cool before sealing and storing in a cool dark place.

The fruit undergoes a magical transformation, the peel becomes translucent and chewy, paling  to the colour of dried sunflower petals, bursting with saline-soaked bitter-sweet astringency. There is nothing else quite like the taste and aroma of confit lemons and they are used in salads, stews and tajines. This beautifully created accord explodes out of the top notes and while settling and softening, its impact lasts until the final moments of Lannosea.

This moreish lemon is the perfect compliment to Kholas dates, an elite fruit with a buttered caramel taste and golden syrup chewiness. Rum imparts a vanillic, aged booziness bridging into the heart notes, flavoured subtly with sparkling pink pepper and bergamot.

Another important ingredient is Litsea Cubeba, sometimes know as May Chang or the Oil of Tranquillity, that refers to the plant’s associative herbal medicine reputation in promoting physical relaxation and mental wellbeing. Historically, Litsea Cubeba was blended with almond oil and used to anoint the body prior to ritual worship and prayers. The smell is grassy and bright, with a rubbed citrus vibe and a hint of bruised lemongrass. It works delightfully with the lemon confit and boozy dried fruit textures.

Coffee adds shadow and earthy smoothness as the heart of Lannosea develops on skin. Solar orange blossom and the heady inflorescence of elderflower mix with the resinous turpentine presence of fir balsam and leathered woods in the base. A patented molecule called Smokewood dominates the base notes, rolling around guaiac wood, oak and ambered animalic hints of resinous labdanum.

The dreamy power and daring of Lannosea is a heavenly addition to the thought-provoking luxurious perfumes in the Boadicea the Victorious collection. The sense of illuminated calm, beauty and sensual wellbeing radiates out of this unique and continually surprising perfume. The lemon confit note is a joy to wear, the salted citrus meets meringue and golden toffee date mix smells simply fantastic on skin. Lannosea is a new tour de force from Boadicea the Victorious, a perfume that ravishes the senses, defiantly turning heads, boldly proclaiming I am my mother’s daughter!