Queens & Monsters is an amber gourmand created by Pascal Gaurin. The freshness and zest of petitgrain balances the fluid sensuality of vanilla and sandalwood to create a woody aroma. It features top notes of violet leaf, neroli and petitgrain; middle notes of freesia and jasmine; and base notes of vanilla, coco musk and sandalwood. Queens and Monsters is an eau de parfum, edp.
HENRY ROSE QUEENS & MONSTERS REVIEWS
Fragrantica: Queens and Monsters is my and my niece favorite in this line. This perfume is so beautifully blended, so well balanced. It opens w/ a green ivy like quality then it goes right to the florals, jasmine, violet, freesia, that last and last. The florals never completely leave in the dry down but they are softened and the woodiness of sandalwood is mixed w/ a soft vanilla chocolaty musk that is just intoxicating. This perfume makes me feel sexy, bold, and a little dangerous to be honest. The website says for that moment right before...... This is a very sexy perfume and you will get compliments out and about. It cuts through masks, people notice and want to know what you are wearing.
Fragrantica: Stunning perfume. This and Fog are my faves. Smells niche and is beautifully blended...and clean! Seriously impressed. Edit: I know what this reminds me of: there is something in this that reminds me a little of a new age shop...like a very light nag champa note? Or even like a cigar shop....but in a nice way.
Fragrantica: The top notes are a bit strident, but they dry down to a lovely combination of fragrances. I detect the violet and neroli (and maybe the Petitgrain--not sure if I can distinguish it from the neroli). Definitely pick up on the jasmine sambac--I grew one in my backyard last summer, and the scent was intoxicating. (In fact, I think that's why I chose this for a fall/winter scent, because that's when I feel most nostalgic for the summer bloomers.) The vanilla notes toward the end aren't too strong, and the sandalwood is beautiful. The patchouli doesn't bother me, even though I'm not really a fan of patchouli as a dominant note. The scent has a slight retro quality, maybe an early-to-mid '80s fragrance profile. I see why some people compare it to Poison, although it has a much stronger vanilla vibe.
Fragrantica: The “monster” is the first thing: the woods at the edge of the castle. The threat of what could be beyond the ivy. At that first spray, very green fresh leaves. Quickly, the florals of the queen’s royal gardens emerge. Soft violet and jasmine are dancing above the emerging undertones of sandalwood and vanilla. As time passes, and wisdom gained, in the castle’s central quarters, is She herself: an amber vanilla goddess, a true and compassionate Queen. Comfortable ruling on her throne. But humble, a Queen for the people with sweetness, compassion, gentleness, and warmth.
Fragrantica: This is a very calming smell to me, and it's got white florals in it that I can actually tolerate. It just makes me think of the smell of wildflowers on the wind out in the country, or a calm overcast day in the tiny country community I grew up in. I'd always smell things like this on the wind because we were surrounded with wilderness and mountains. A very nice one from Henry Rose.
Influenster: Queens and Monsters feels so unique to me, it is so much more than your usual woody fragrance. It envelops you, and starts to unfold its many lovely layers within an hour. The opening note is this fabulous green Petitgrain note mixed with Neroli, it's confident, edgy but soon the flowery notes of Jasmine and Freesia take over revealing that regal femme energy. The dry down is spectacular, this is the moment when it turns into a spicy, lovely warm scent with way more than just a hint of Vanilla, this beautiful note gives it warmth, and sweetness, it's cozy and complements the soft sensual Sandalwood to perfection, and the Coco Musk note is clean, but sweet and powdery, love how the Sandalwood and Musk round out this gorgeous scent in all its complexity. The longevity is medium which is amazing for a clean perfume, most I've tried don't last more than 5 hrs while this perfume lasts 6-7 hrs and even longer on clothes. The projection is medium, during drydown feels more personal the last 2 hrs. Although this scent is marketed as a unisex fragrance it doesn't lean masculine at all, au contraire, it's a beautiful quasi-feminine well crafted scent that smells niche and expensive! Bottom line: It smells unique, leaves a lasting impression, and gets you lots of compliments plus it has a really cool name!
