Rebellious

This is another perfume that reinforces the brand legend of iconic Iceni Queen Boadicea who took up arms against the Roman Legions after her husband’s legacy was trashed, and she and her daughters were brutalised by the occupying Romans.

Boadicea was a true rebel, a woman who pushed against the strictures of her gender and role to rally tribes to her cause and defeat armies. She may have ultimately been defeated but not before she had seared her resistance and spilled Legion blood on English soil.

Rebellious is difficult to categorise, a powerful raw mix of sweet spices, citrus, leathered roses and powdered green violet but sublimely tempered to a luxurious smooth finish with soft suede, leather and earthy patchouli. It has stealth, the notes develop slowly, as if revelling in every stage of their moment in the composition.

It initially seems a simple assembly of elegant but not over-crowded ingredients. There are echoes of other Boadicea perfumes, inevitable with the use of saffron, rose, bergamot, musky woods and patchouli and yet it is a sensual labyrinth of effects, the dosage of materials carefully considered to create a perfume that glows with a soft rebel yell. A rebel whisper. Power in the details and individuality.

Sometimes you want to rebel and be non-conformist with taking up arms and storming the gates. You want gentle but steely words, longevity and purpose. Rebellious is that scented armour.