Passionate Boadicea the Victorious 2009

One (especially a man!) often finds himself facing the Gretchen question: Does she or doesn’t she?! Has she or hasn’t she?! You can never be completely sure, you can’t see it, it’s more of a feeling, more intuition than knowledge, exactly that kind of feeling that sends a pleasant, tingling shiver through the lower abdomen.

So? Does she do it or not? Let’s assume she dares to embrace this tiny little indecency, this small, very intimate naughtiness. Getting dressed in the morning, preparing for the office job, everything as usual, only this time there’s just the delicate, soft, smooth skin of her Venus mound instead of panties... Skin that feels feverishly hot, that the silk of the designer dress has never felt before, and that tingles at the thought of her own nakedness. A lascivious, knowing smile plays around her shiny lips all day long, her walk through the long corridors is more fluid, more cat-like than usual, her head held a little higher, her chin pushed forward with slight defiance, her hips moving a bit more, and when she crosses her long legs while sitting in a meeting, the highly exciting thought briefly arises that maybe someone could see something... At least she is sure that those in her immediate vicinity can perceive her very special scent, and she is very sure that it confuses, raises questions, fuels fantasies, and in the end, no one really knows: Does she or doesn’t she...

“Passionate” is exactly that kind of feeling. It’s like a day and a long evening without panties. “Passionate” is direct and provocative, heavy and enchanting. Full of secrets and questions. “Passionate” is pure lust.

BUT - “Passionate” is all of that, yet it is not perceivable in that way by our environment! This enchanting scent does something to the one who wears it, not to the people around us! It is not as indecent as (in my opinion) “Onda” by Vero Profumo! “Onda” hits you over the head. “Onda” unfortunately fails to take the curve and despite this clear desire in the scent, becomes something decent. “Onda” simply has too much “Gschmäckle,” it smells too distinctly of what is subtly desired, but no one wants to be hit on the nose with that so obviously. “Passionate” achieves the feat of alternating pure lust and desire with honey-sweet satisfaction and purring comfort.

“Passionate” embodies Yin & Yang. It radiates a strong, very clear femininity, only to question all of that seconds later. Then, the sensual, alluring woman quickly turns into a male conqueror. Taking and being taken, a theme here that I have not discovered so clearly in any other scent so far. That’s why “Passionate” also smells irresistibly beautiful on warm male skin!

The oud used in “Passionate” is different from other ouds I have smelled before. It lacks the strict medical touch of Montale’s oud, but it is also not as buttery soft and cuddly as Micallef’s oud. This is a truly dirty oud. Not strict or sharp, but powerfully dirty. Indecent. Sinful. Very direct.

However, the honey manages to bring a perfect counterbalance. Unlike Kilian’s “Back to Black.” Less sweet than that. More adult and exciting, deeper and darker, powerfully dark.

The top note begins with fruity woodiness that appears beautiful and intriguing. Patchouli comes in quite quickly, but what a stroke of luck, in the finest noble manner and completely without the notorious musty cellar note. The hint of the fat jasmine blossoms and the herb-sweet vanilla is already recognizable, intensifying soon and then exploding in the heart into a fireworks display of the opulence of jasmine and the creaminess of sandalwood. At some point, a light, very subtle smoky note comes around the corner. Not like tobacco smoke, no, much gentler, quieter. Could it be the resin of the dragon’s blood tree? In any case, this hint of smoke fits wonderfully into this scent experience.

And all of this, somehow quite sinful and very special delicacy lasts and remains for hours. With every sniff, one thinks they discover a new note, and yet it is always the same scent that plays with our senses and our imagination...

Does she or doesn’t she?! Some secrets will never be revealed. :-)