Wode by Boudicca

Of a legendary warrior queen from 60 AD and cobalt blue ‘war paint’  smeared on pre-battle, and the poison hemlock that Queen Boudiccea finally killed herself with upon defeat by the Romans, Wode by Boudicca is a flacon of inky-blue scent inspired by legend, bravado and drama. The perfume, from the avant-garde label Boudicca (afflicted with the tendancy to use fashion for their artistic inclinations - how do they do it…financially?), is an art fragrance. So called while also holding the  beatnik-worthy title of Anti-fragrance (no, really.. how do they do it?). Not unlike perfumery breakthroughs such as Comme des Garçons’s Odeur 53 or Escentric Molecule - the latter was also concocted by the same nose that whiffed up Wode, Geza Schoen.

PS: I do miss  the cult beauty boutique Apothecrary & Co at Raffles City (it introduced me Escentric and its magic from a tiny product info card). I miss that I have one less option of a good store to visit now.

So Wode, what’s exciting about it is that when sprayed, the scent appears as a vicious cobalt blue ink blot on your skin and clothes. This then dissipates in seconds leaving only its scent. I’m less interested in its notes of spicy juniper berry, cardamon etc …Tonka bean, saffron, and treemoss encapsulated in a “musky leather heart”, than the idea that I can be sprayed blue with scent. Earlier reviews have described the scent as smelling like wet stone; also others who call it a sheer fragrance, one that’s more masculine than feminine; that it’s sexless (’unisex’ is a taboo word these days. I blame CK One). The scent notes say it’s meant to smell like raw opium and black hemlock (Queen Boudiccea used hemlock to finish her last hours). Pretentious marketing  or genius association; either way, I’m sold. Though launched awhile back in September 08, it’s still a perfume I want to line my medicine cupboard with. If only beause I love the research and legend that went into it.

Can’t wait to find out what Martin Margiela’s upcoming line of perfumes are about too.