Why is Boadicea the victorious so expensive/can you recommend me some?

[Iwearglasses]

Hi all.

I got quite some niche fragrances incl some small 7.5 ml discover atomisers from Roja. Which is also quite expensive as a brand

But Boadicea has got a lot of fragances starting at around 700 GBP which is still more expensive then where most Roja fragences start. I wonder why?

I have got no experience with Boadicea as I got no retailer near me.

But in a couple of months I am in Paris and wil go to Printemps

I am looking forward to try blue sapphire (Someone tried that one already and if so what do you think of it?)

Are there some (more) you can recommend me for the summer?

 

[Paddington]

The brand positions themselves as a luxury brand, targeting the rich and those attracted to "exclusive club" but the scent themselves that I've tried are forgettable imo paying for a name more the nsubstance

 

[Monsieur Montana]

Because as you said is Roja. Get your self 7-10 good perfumes for the same price. Roja doesn't worth this amount of money.

 

[Lyric82]

I only have one fragrance from Boadicea the Victorious, and it happens to be among their least expensive offerings. I think it was $250 USD when I bought it. It’s called Bodacious.

It’s a cherry and almond scent. I’m a big fan of Cherry, and was even before it was trending. The fragrance is beautiful, and I love it. It lasts 10-12 hours, which is among some of my longest lasting perfumes. I also love the bottle.

Im very glad I have this one, but after I saw the prices of their other offerings, I decided that I have no desire to try any more from them. Not sure why Bodacious is less expensive than their others, but I’m okay with only having one from them.

I personally have a price limit for fragrances. I don’t ever pay more than the Guerlain Exclusives ($360 usd), and for that price, I have to feel the fragrance is special. Like really special.

Everyone has their own personal limits and reasonings, so you have to decide where you stand yourself on that… no one else can tell you if it’s worth it… it may be worth it to you, and it may not.

I can say without a doubt that high price doesn’t equal exceptional. I have plenty of less pricey bottles that I find to be exceptional as well… so really it’s all what you make of it.

Give them a smell to see if any of them are worth it to you.

 

[hednic]

but the scent themselves that I've tried are forgettable

That has pretty much been my experience also.

 

[peavette]

I have Ardent and Bodacious and they are my top two of all the fragrances that I own. They are both entry-level priced, but, IMO, gorgeous.

 

[cacio]

I bought Complex a few years back. A brutalistic, strong leather. Basically unwearable, but fun. Not sure it's still the same. I have not tried other recent ones-the prices are just silly.

 

[slpfrsly]

But Boadicea has got a lot of fragances starting at around 700 GBP which is still more expensive then where most Roja fragences start. I wonder why?

Are there some (more) you can recommend me for the summer?

I can't recommend any of their fragrances to you, sorry. As others have said, they are not that good and certainly not worth the money being asked.

To answer the question about their cost, a lot of it is due to Michelle Obama.

Despite the Celtic-Brythonic branding - or perhaps because of it, considering the ahistoricity of the name: Boudica was not victorious - the company's founder is a transatlantic hairstylist with no Celtic connection, Michael Boadi. The brand name was obviously chosen due to the relative similarity of his last name to that of Boudica.

"The celebration of courage and nobility exemplified by Boadicea the Victorious began in 2008 when the brand was launched as a worldwide exclusive in Harrods, soon becoming one of the best-selling fragrances within the renowned Black Hall Perfumery. A year later saw similar acclaim in Henri Bendel of New York, and also in Selfridges, where it continues to be one of the best-performing niche brands. Since then, these ravishing perfume collections have become coveted in luxury shopping destinations across the world."

The brand received a huge shot of publicity soon after launch when Michelle Obama bought three of their fragrances during a state visit to London - the basenotes story can be found here: https://basenotes.com/articles/boad...y-michelle-obama-visits-london-perfumer.2690/

This brand's fragrances are a perfect example of Veblen goods, where the credentials bestowed upon it by the US Presidency (for at least partially political reasons) translates to some sort of social desirability, particularly within certain demographics. The brand charges the prices that they do because they can and because there is a clientele willing to pay those prices. The pricing of their fragrances appeals to customers who take cost to be identical to quality.

This house receives next to no traction or discussion on basenotes or the wider enthusiast sphere in large part because they are not really a fragrance 'house' in any meaningful sense. Whatever you say about Roger Dove - and no doubt there are many reasonable points that could be made - his fragrances, and his history, shows at least some appreciation for the history and aesthetics of perfumery. I don't think the same can be said about Boadicea the Victorious. This is a company that has a spiritual kinship with clone houses like Dua and Parfums Vintage. The greatest difference is the cost price of their products; although both are operating with excellent profit margins for inferior and derivative/uninspired fragrances, they're targeting slightly different customers. The sheer number of fragrances they release, allied to the high prices, should be enough to tell you that this is a fragrance company that has optimised all of the bullshit and smoke and mirrors that goes in to 'disrupting' a modern market. They have reached a point of efficiency and success that they can charge £700 for a fragrance that is obviously inferior to the more established niche perfume brands like Lutens or Villoresi. I suspect BTV are selling the cutting room floor formulas from renowned perfumers (seemingly Christian Provezano), as this is the business model for most boutique niche brands and one of the big reasons behind the proliferation of identikit boutique brands and perfumes in the last 10 years.

Right on cue, this was published 7 hours ago:

I think their average customer is going to be someone with minimal interest in perfumery. Which, again, explains why they receive so little discussion/interest online.

 

[NoseFragrances]

I only smelled a couple, didn't love most of those, but I will say that Blue Sapphire is worth the hype imo. It's so expensive, so still haven't pulled the trigger, but I'll probably buy it one day; haven't found anything like it yet.

 

[thescentguru]

The sheer number of fragrances they release, allied to the high prices, should be enough to tell you that this is a fragrance company that has optimised all of the bullshit and smoke and mirrors that goes in to 'disrupting' a modern market. They have reached a point of efficiency and success that they can charge £700 for a fragrance that is obviously inferior to the more established niche perfume brands like Lutens or Villoresi.

Right on cue, this was released 7 hours ago:

Frame that. I can think of a few situations it applies.

 

[slpfrsly]

Frame that. I can think of a few situations it applies.

While true, I cannot think of a better example than this company. They have literally "min-maxed" their way to medium-to-long term profitability thanks to Michelle Obama.

 

[Sandy]

I had Monarch, Chariot and Vetiver Imperiale samples. Nothing to write home about.

 

[Melbourne21]

Not a fan of Boadicea, but absolutely love Roja and worth every cent in my book.

 

[donna255]

I own one

Salubrious by Boadicea the Victorious​

Which was a blind buy from Harrods sale some years back, the house does go on sale in Harrods Xmas, I remember mine was half price at the time and well under a £100. Okay, I have not worn for a few years.

 

[StylinLA]

Ouch- srlpsrfly hit them pretty hard.

But it's not really all that inaccurate.

I often see comments in other fragrance groups in Facebook, etc that assert that Basenoters are snobs. I can see that at times, but I think it's more we are discriminating. Whether a fragrance is pricey or inexpensive, collectively this place will usually sniff out (pun intended) good perfumes.

I've never tried their scents. I first saw them neatly displayed in Nieman Marcus a few years back. If something is in an opulent department store with a cool package and priced accordingly it must be really good, right?

Maybe.

To be fair, I'm sure they probably make some stuff that is quite nice. Probably lasts pretty well. But looking at some of their prices, it's a an easy "no thanks" for me. The "average" Basenoter - if such a thing exists- seems to find it pretty easy to eschew this brand.

 

[Scent Detective]

I've only ever tried Green Sapphire and didn't care for it very much. It was also incredibly expensive as you say, so in my limited experience I don't think the one I tried was worth the price.

 

[Hothamwater]

I've only tried one, Vetiver Imperiale, back when it was in the 'FOUR' bottle, in collaboration with that magazine. It smelled like a higher quality Terre D'hermes. Very good, but not worth the price. I'm willing to bet that since it was released 8 years ago and they changed the presentation, it no longer smells the same.

 

[Diddy]

Have smelled the line at Neiman’s every time I swing by, and have never been moved to make a purchase. I can’t remember smelling anything that I thought was bad. But I also can’t remember how any of them smell. And perhaps that’s the most telling thing, for me… they are, overall, forgettable. Regardless of price.

 

[StylinLA]

Have smelled the line at Neiman’s every time I swing by, and have never been moved to make a purchase. I can’t remember smelling anything that I thought was bad. But I also can’t remember how any of them smell. And perhaps that’s the most telling thing, for me… they are, overall, forgettable. Regardless of price.

Exactly. That's the sort of thin line of Basenotes. I'm sure much of their stuff is quite good, but you never walked away thinking "I gotta have that.""
That's been my experience with some of the pricey stuff I've tried at Nieman and Barneys (when they were still extant)

 

[Varanis Ridari]

I can't recommend any of their fragrances to you, sorry. As others have said, they are not that good and certainly not worth the money being asked.

To answer the question about their cost, a lot of it is due to Michelle Obama.

Despite the Celtic-Brythonic branding - or perhaps because of it, considering the ahistoricity of the name: Boudica was not victorious - the company's founder is a transatlantic hairstylist with no Celtic connection, Michael Boadi. The brand name was obviously chosen due to the relative similarity of his last name to that of Boudica.

"The celebration of courage and nobility exemplified by Boadicea the Victorious began in 2008 when the brand was launched as a worldwide exclusive in Harrods, soon becoming one of the best-selling fragrances within the renowned Black Hall Perfumery. A year later saw similar acclaim in Henri Bendel of New York, and also in Selfridges, where it continues to be one of the best-performing niche brands. Since then, these ravishing perfume collections have become coveted in luxury shopping destinations across the world."

The brand received a huge shot of publicity soon after launch when Michelle Obama bought three of their fragrances during a state visit to London - the basenotes story can be found here: https://basenotes.com/articles/boad...y-michelle-obama-visits-london-perfumer.2690/

This brand's fragrances are a perfect example of Veblen goods, where the credentials bestowed upon it by the US Presidency (for at least partially political reasons) translates to some sort of social desirability, particularly within certain demographics. The brand charges the prices that they do because they can and because there is a clientele willing to pay those prices. The pricing of their fragrances appeals to customers who take cost to be identical to quality.

This house receives next to no traction or discussion on basenotes or the wider enthusiast sphere in large part because they are not really a fragrance 'house' in any meaningful sense. Whatever you say about Roger Dove - and no doubt there are many reasonable points that could be made - his fragrances, and his history, shows at least some appreciation for the history and aesthetics of perfumery. I don't think the same can be said about Boadicea the Victorious. This is a company that has a spiritual kinship with clone houses like Dua and Parfums Vintage. The greatest difference is the cost price of their products; although both are operating with excellent profit margins for inferior and derivative/uninspired fragrances, they're targeting slightly different customers. The sheer number of fragrances they release, allied to the high prices, should be enough to tell you that this is a fragrance company that has optimised all of the bullshit and smoke and mirrors that goes in to 'disrupting' a modern market. They have reached a point of efficiency and success that they can charge £700 for a fragrance that is obviously inferior to the more established niche perfume brands like Lutens or Villoresi. I suspect BTV are selling the cutting room floor formulas from renowned perfumers (seemingly Christian Provezano), as this is the business model for most boutique niche brands and one of the big reasons behind the proliferation of identikit boutique brands and perfumes in the last 10 years.

Right on cue, this was published 7 hours ago:

I think their average customer is going to be someone with minimal interest in perfumery. Which, again, explains why they receive so little discussion/interest online.

All of this, plus a bit of extra information from my local niche perfume shop in Seattle (Parfumerie Nasreen), from former owner Shilpa Shah in particular.

So the Christian Provenzano connection is spot on, but more deep than it might appear. He is basically house perfumer for any brand that contracts out to the CPL Aromas firm, based in the UK and founded by the Pickthalls (onetime owners of Penhaligon's after Sheila Pickles sold it). Agent Provocateur, a UK-based lingerie brand uses CPL and Provenzano makes all their stuff too.

Because Michael Boadi contracts out to CPL, and Provenzano is that lab's master perfumer, every BTV fragrance is a CPL/Provenzano fragrance; and on top of that, all the formulas not selected during the mod/brief process get sold to other brands that contract CPL or are owned by CPL (a standard oil house practice anyway).

I know this since I was there in the store when Shilpa was talking to a CPL rep about picking up the Christian Provenzano brand, and one of the selling points was "oh these are the same formulas as Boadicea the Victorious, unused ones, so it's the same quality for less". That point being made specifically beause the boutique already carried Clive Christian and Creed, so they didn't want another $500+ per bottle brand they couldn't sell.

This is when the rep stepped in with Christian Provenzano as "the same but cheaper" to get it into the store. I sampled and reviewed like 8 of them once they landed, and they all smelled very cheapo-derivative, with a lot of MFK-ish takes. I can't imagine the BTVs being any better.

 

[thrilledchilled]

Bel Ami Vetiver is a bit more modern and quite good. I love the classic shaker bottle and the newer take both.

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Bel Ami Vetiver is a bit more modern and quite good. I love the classic shaker bottle and the newer take both.

I think you put this reply the wrong thread.

This thread is about Boadicea the Victorious.

 

[ionone]

this house is really good
here are my favourites
(from amazing to sublime)
Green Sapphire
Invigorating
Pure Narcotic
Love Poison
Complex 2020 (very weird be careful)
Complex(very weird be careful)
Imperial
Enchanting
Torc
Vetiver Imperiale
Ambitious
Pioneer
Leopard of Arabia
Warrioress
Valiant
Angelic
Intense

 

[woodnotes55]

All of this, plus a bit of extra information from my local niche perfume shop in Seattle (Parfumerie Nasreen), from former owner Shilpa Shah in particular.

So the Christian Provenzano connection is spot on, but more deep than it might appear. He is basically house perfumer for any brand that contracts out to the CPL Aromas firm, based in the UK and founded by the Pickthalls (onetime owners of Penhaligon's after Sheila Pickles sold it). Agent Provocateur, a UK-based lingerie brand uses CPL and Provenzano makes all their stuff too.

........

Not directly related to the original question but this is informative. A seller was pushing something by Agent Provocateur claiming it was the same nose behind Penhaligons just cheaper. One of them was claimed to be 99% same as Halfeti or something. Was never able to try them and wouldn't buy. Seems the story is not true, as expected, but this explains how they made some connections to either draw that conclusion or figure it was fiction that might fly.....

 

[Varanis Ridari]

Not directly related to the original question but this is informative. A seller was pushing something by Agent Provocateur claiming it was the same nose behind Penhaligons just cheaper. One of them was claimed to be 99% same as Halfeti or something. Was never able to try them and wouldn't buy. Seems the story is not true, as expected, but this explains how they made some connections to either draw that conclusion or figure it was fiction that might fly.....

Probably not the same nose, because the Pickthalls (who own CPL) sold Penhaligon's before Halfeti was ever made.