Perfume, like fashion, is often an industry which is slow to change. Established houses tend to cling to tradition long after the public has started to yearn for something new. Boadicea the Victorious is a luxury fragrance brand who are breaking the mold and offering modern fragrances whilst maintaining a connection to British history.
We first stumbled upon Boadicea The Victorious whilst spending a delightful afternoon in the perfume halls at Harrods of Knightsbridge. Coming up are 10 of the best Boadicea The Victorious perfumes we feel are well worth your consideration.
Boadicea the Victorious: A Fragrance House Like No Other
Hailed as a revolutionary British brand, the team at Boadicea the Victorious has put a lot of effort into defining their brand. Classing their approach as “a fusion of tradition, heritage, and timeless classic luxury” they want their unisex fragrances to be both strong and beautiful, like the warrior queen herself. More often than not they succeed and this is why they have garnered such an impressive reputation in just over 10 years.
They have remained an independent brand and have created 119 remarkable and unique fragrances with the help of perfumers John Stephen, Christian Provenazo, and Christian Vermorel. What really sets them apart, however, is the amount of effort they put into their bottles. Each one has, on the front and back, a specially designed pewter shield of Celtic design.
Each of the bottles has a unique shield which reflects the name and feel of the perfume it holds. Some are very simple, while others are embellished with precious stones, semi-precious gems, or coated with 24k gold. This not only makes the result stunning but perfectly balances the masculine and feminine sides of each product. In fact, walking this fine line of androgyny is something that this perfume house has made into precise art.
Best Boadicea The Victorious Perfumes
After reviewing all 24 different scents on offer at Harrods (and smelling coffee beans to reset our fragrance senses!) here are in our opinion the best Boadicea The Victorious perfumes for your consideration. Boadicea were kind enough to provide samples of our top 10 for this review.
1. Blue Sapphire
Review
Launched in 2013, Blue Sapphire is a rich and complex unisex fragrance which draws heavily from oriental ingredients to create a sophisticated and spicy scent.
An initial hit of citrus is most notable. Then warm base of oud and amber seems to come with the floral mids and perfectly complements. This perfume gets richer and warmer as the hours pass.
This is a perfect night time perfume for autumn/winter that is very long lasting, some 6+ hours on skin.
The vibrant blue glass, gold shield, and delicate jewel in the centre of the shield keep the bottle in step with the feel of the scent and add a touch of modern luxury to the overall product.
Top Notes:
Orange, Lemon
Mid Notes:
Rose, Cardamom, Jasmine
Base Notes:
Oud, Amber, patchouli
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
2. Ardent
Review
Unlike most rose-heavy perfumes, Ardent is both complex and balanced nicely with jasmine and saffron. It maintains its unisex status well through the precise blending of unusual ingredients like oud and beeswax.
Perfect for both day and night wear, Ardent is more suited to cold weather seasons, so sits in the autumn/winter camp. Very long lasting, some 6+ hours on skin.
The overwhelmingly cool palette of the bottle (clear glass, sliver pewter, very little adornment) is somewhat at odds with the warming smell of this perfume. This may be what Boadicea’s team had in mind, however, as the result is striking.
Top Notes:
Saffron, Coriander, Rose
Mid Notes:
Rose absolute, Jasmine, Beeswax
Base Notes:
Agarwood, Benzoin, Amber
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
3. Valiant
Review
A bold and vibrant scent in an elaborate bottle which nods to Boadicea’s prowess as a horsewoman. Valiant is striking both in scent and presentation. With crisp citrus top notes, it fades to a subtler and more complex mix of white flowers and woody scents including cherry and orange blossom.
Both sweet and smoky it is an androgynous perfume which goes against type and is really best worn in the day time during spring or summer. Very long lasting, some 6+ hours on skin. The gold theme of the bottle and the rearing stallions in the middle are simply the cherries on the cake, so to speak.
Top Notes:
Orange, Mandarin, Ylang-ylang, Grapefruit, Petitgrain
Mid Notes:
Orris, Cherry blossom, Orange blossom, Neroli, Indian jasmine
Base Notes:
Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Tonka bean, Vanilla
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
4. Azrak
Review
Azrak is undeniably complex with distinct notes working together to make an ever changing and beautiful perfume.
Citrus top notes are crisp yet sweet thanks to the pineapple, plus there is a welcoming spicy kick. Moving onto a bouquet of floral mids, we then reach the woody/musky base.
Despite the mix of heavy, woody and spicy base notes, the fragrant and floral mids & fruity citrus top notes lift it make it the perfect all-day perfume for spring/summer.
As a result of this complexity and excellent line up of base notes, it is incredibly long-lasting 6+ hours.
The bright blue bottle with its simple, gold shield, is the perfect antidote to the complexity of its contents.
Top Notes:
Lemon, Bergamot, Pineapple, Cinammon, Cassis, Cardamom
Mid Notes:
Rose, Violet, Lily-of-the-valley, Jasmine, Spice
Base Notes:
Amber, Musk, Sandalwood, Woody notes, Cedar, Oud
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
5. Adventuress
Review
Adventuress is really an ode to female power. The simple frosted glass and pewter bottle is both beautiful and sturdy, and the classic Celtic shield in the centre looks strong despite the delicate designs on its face.
If more citrus and spice is for you rather then floral, then look no further. Adventuress is a surprisingly simple perfume, however, made from bold and fresh ingredients, underpinned by spices. The result is an autumn daytime perfume which is undeniably feminine, yet far from gentle. Very long-lasting 5+ hours.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Mandarin
Mid Notes:
Peach, Ginger
Base Notes:
Musk, Sandalwood
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
6. Violet Sapphire
Review
Violet Sapphire is the sister to Blue Sapphire and as a result, the bottle follows that design with the exception of the vibrant purple glass and centre stone.
A fruity and complex scent, Violet Sapphire also draws from oriental ingredients but is much less complex. Straightforward and delicious, it’s perfect for winter and fall nights when the fruity top notes will give way to richer scents like amber and musk. Very long lasting 6+ hours.
Top Notes:
Raspberry, Passionfruit, Peach, Violet leaves
Mid Notes:
Rose, Jasmine, Magnolia
Base Notes:
Musk, Amber, Oud, Cashmere
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
7. Nefarious
Review
Designed to be as indomitable and Boadicea herself, Nefarious is audacious and deceptively simple.
The fruity and spicy top notes give way to sweet and floral middle notes, which then leave strong, musky base notes to see you through the day into the evening. I felt this was more of a day to early evening fragrance for any season.
It is incredibly long lasting 7+ hours because of the carefully selected mid and base notes.
The simplicity of the bottle, too, is deceptive as the shield has an intricate and delicate design to offset the clear glass and solid pewter finishes.
Top Notes:
Peach, Saffron
Mid Notes:
Rose, Orange, Neroli
Base Notes:
Musk, Oud, Sandalwood, Amber
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
8. Legend
Review
Legend is perhaps the most iconic perfumes from this house, and this has as much to do with the bottle as it does with the fragrance itself. The bronzed shield and the figure of Boadicea which stands victorious on the lid makes it eye-catching to say the least.
Most notable was the Ylang-ylang and Lilly-of-the-valley, together with a twist of orange and musky and woody base.
The floral and fruity notes which give way to vanilla and classic musky and woody base make this a balanced perfume that I feel is autumn/winter. It is very long lasting 6+ hours.
Top Notes:
Mandarin, Ylang-ylang, Neroli, Coriander
Mid Notes:
Orris, Lily-of-the-valley, Magnolia, Rose, Violet, Jasmine
Base Notes:
Musk, Amber, Oud, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver, Cedar
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
9. Enchanting
Review
Living up to its name, Enchanting is a fresh and aromatic scent which mixes spicy and floral notes with panache. An ideal spring and summertime perfume which can be worn through the day and into the night, it makes use of unusual ingredients like sage and pepper to create a unique finish.
The simplicity of the bottle, with its traditional pewter shield design, makes it seem more masculine at first, but the scent itself is surprisingly balanced. It is very long lasting 6+ hours.
Top Notes:
Rosemary, Mint
Mid Notes:
Fir, Sage, Lavender, Pepper
Base Notes:
Musk, Oud, Amber
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
10. Pioneer
Review
Pioneer is the perfect name for a perfume from this revolutionary brand; while the bottle doesn’t really stand out from the rest of their perfumes, the blend of notes is stunning and unusual.
Leaning heavily on oud, as many of their perfumes do, Pioneer nonetheless has a green and citrussy palette that is sharp and fresh that perfect for spring/summer.
The simple yet effective notes really pull their weight and make this a moderately durable scent of 5+ hours
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Orange
Mid Notes:
Galbanum
Base Notes:
Oud, Labdanum, Cedar
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
Conclusion
Each of these scents has a unique note profile. They can be complex or stunningly simple but are almost always unusual. While on the expensive end, even for luxury perfumes, these fragrances have dedicated fans across the world who swear that the price is not only justified but reasonable. Given the unusual and rare ingredients they use, and the craft which goes into each bottle they may well be right!
This pioneering and brave approach to perfumery is just one of the many reasons that Boadicea the Victorious is making waves as a relatively new luxury perfume house.
Having been so prolific in their short life thus far, it is fair to assume that they will soon be adding to their collection, so watch this space. Boadicea the Victorious will no doubt be a name you hear more and more often in the future.
Before you go, I have put together a review of the most elegant perfumes ranging from timeless classics to modern day sophistication that I think you will enjoy.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, designer handbags, luxury accessories and more.
Thanks for the great article, I was surprised why the ” Glorious “was not in the list , it is from my point of view the best perfume I ever smell,
Hi Eisa, Glorious does look yummy with delicious fruits and woods! Here is a link in case other readers would like to check out Boadicea the Victorious Glorious
Hi, Please tell me what you think about Boadicea Victorious Powerful which says on the dark blue bottle with the two golden horses facing each other. The price was 1,350 Euros. When was it introduced in the market and is it considered one of the best of Boadicea ?
Thank you !
Hello Benj! Boadicea Victorious Powerful is powdery/woody scent, mainly violet and sandalwood lifted by vanilla. I did not come across it on my last visit in-store (Harrods and Harvey Nichols in the UK) and looks like its sold out online on the official Boadicea website. A few niche sites are selling decants, but I cannot vouch for their authenticity. Sorry not to be more helpful.