Glistening Boadicea the Victorious 2019

As the locals of Palma de Mallorca say, the summer of 2023 seems to have been one of the hottest in the last 10. After an overwhelming bike ride of about 7 kilometers, we finally reached the Castell Hotel Son Vida, an imposing building as seen in soap operas. On its premises is one of the two local stores of the perfumery "Niche Perfumes". (The other store is located in the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort).

We entered, curious and drenched in sweat after cycling a long way through the heatwave outside.
We were immediately hit by many very pleasant smells, mostly sweet, always complex and sophisticated.
"Spirit of Kings" stood on a pedestal in the middle of the room and received the attention it deserved. All around were the rest: Xerjoff, Stéphane Humbert Lucas, The House of Oud etc.

In a corner, as if hidden and more shy, were the fragrances of Boadicea the Victorious.
From here, a single bottle caught my attention, as if it were a piece of old wood where the Vikings let their imaginations run wild: none other than "Glistening".
"Is it good? It has to be, it doesn't cost €320 for nothing".
The first few sprays and a smile appeared on my face: "It's a pleasant smell that doesn't give the bottle away, but wait, there's something familiar about it. I've smelled it before, but from a different bottle and still different."
As already mentioned, it is very similar to Initio Oud for Greatness.
"Lighter, more wearable I would say though? But no, this is not a fragrance DNA that is meant to be shy. This fragrance was made so that I have to be noticed. So why does Glistening exist? Just because of its pretty bottle? Or has my skin changed its pH due to so much sweating and I no longer perceive it as I should?
I want it, I have to test it, I'm ordering a sample".

And so we arrived back in Germany with Glistening and a few more of its brethren, ready to test it in more humane temperatures.

After wearing it a few times, I was able to come to the conclusion: "Yes, it's damn good, lasts 10-12 hours and projects well. However, I have to compare it to the original, "Oud for Greatness" by Initio. OfG is more intense (the good old versions), not as round, slightly less sweet and darker. But everything here is minimal as I said, as I find the two 95% similar.

At first, nutmeg and saffron explode and sweeten the oud to come. Lavender to be felt, well, if there is listed, perhaps only perceived by the most refined noses. Musk at the end, yes; patchouli, again, for my nose, somewhere..

Now I come to the price. You can't find the "Glistening" at a reduced price. It costs €320 and that's it. In comparison, the "OfG" is sometimes found online at 205 €, here on Parfumo even less.

So is it worth going to so much trouble for a fragrance that we already know, have, (love)?

If you only think about the bottle, like all other Boadicea bottles - a handmade masterpiece - then yes. However, opinions differ here, because I hear people complaining about the poor quality, that the metal is coming off the bottles. To be an isolated case?

I would like to make an observation here: If we humans, priceless beings, get sick from time to time, let's be serious, should everything around us be perfect? Even if it costs €320. What comes loose can be glued back on.

Personally, I like the presentation, but that's not why I buy the perfume, it's because of the smell and its quality.

In this case, unfortunately, only sparkle is not enough. I like "Oud for Greatness" too much to make room for "Glistening" on the shelf.