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Boadicea the Victorious Invigorating ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 10 March 2010 59 Comments

Boadicea the Victorious Invigorating

Summer is: abundance, freedom, heat. Light citrus colognes are a “necessity” in hot, muggy weather, but it’s also good to have a big, brassy summer fragrance for cool nights, mild breezy days and body-numbing, overly-air-conditioned environments, a scent full of summer flowers, resins, as well as citrus. For me, that summer powerhouse scent is Boadicea the Victorious Invigorating.

When I read Invigorating’s list of notes, two notes in particular made me wince: dark chocolate and black licorice. I do NOT like chocolaty perfumes and licorice? Don’t put licorice in my food, drink or on my person, please. So, why is it that Invigorating has become one of my favorite fragrances?

Invigorating contains, apart from dark chocolate and black licorice, yuzu, bergamot, orange, rose geranium, jasmine, fir, rock rose and ambergris. The fragrance starts off with dense and sweet yuzu-orange “syrup.” After the rich and distinctive opening, Invigorating’s notes are well blended. I detect a touch of licorice, a hint of chocolate, but neither are big players in the scent…they are accent pieces to the stronger notes of jasmine and rose geranium. It’s really wonderful how fir (of all things!) works with the food-y and floral notes, and leads to a slightly “salty-sweet” ambergris/rock rose finale.

Last week I wrote about spring and a perfume that made me a tiny bit “sad” (in a good way). Invigorating is a sunny, warm and “happy” fragrance, brimming over with life and good cheer. Wear Invigorating when you’re feeling good; if you're at all depressed, being around such a “positive thinker” might make you want to kick Invigorating’s bottle.

Boadicea the Victorious Invigorating has excellent lasting power and sillage, and it smells like the highest-quality materials were used from top to bottom.  Invigorating is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum. For buying information see the listing for Boadicea the Victorious under Perfume Houses.

Note: top center image is Sunrise by Margret Hofheinz-Döring/Galerie Brigitte Mauch Göppingen via Wikimedia Commons.

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: boadicea the victorious

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59 Comments

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  1. Minnie says:
    10 March 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Kevin: reading your fragrance reviews always makes me happy even if the fragrance is one that I am highly unlikely to smell in my insular, suburban little world. I do like the idea of a fragrance for a cool summer night.

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:10 pm

      Minnie: Thank you, and when it comes to Boadicea…we’re ALL in an insular world…it’s hard to come by! (unless you buy a sample somewhere)

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  2. ggperfume says:
    10 March 2010 at 1:57 pm

    I’m having a hard time imagining a place where summer nights are cool and days are mild and breezy– okay, maybe Monterey and Carmel. Got it.

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    • Minnie says:
      10 March 2010 at 2:02 pm

      ooh, wine country.

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      • Kevin says:
        10 March 2010 at 6:11 pm

        Minnie: this would be PERFECT to wear on a wine country vacation too.

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    • Robin R. says:
      10 March 2010 at 2:08 pm

      Welcome to Vancouver!

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      • Kevin says:
        10 March 2010 at 6:11 pm

        RR: Shout out to Vancouver…and YAY…I can finally visit since the Olympics are over!

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        • Robin R. says:
          11 March 2010 at 10:34 am

          Thanks, K. C’mon up. Now we’ve got our Winter Olympics SNOW! A little late, but what the hey. . .

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    • Fernando says:
      10 March 2010 at 3:42 pm

      Maine, too, at least most of the summer.

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      • Kevin says:
        10 March 2010 at 6:13 pm

        Fernando: Maine…YES…hope it won’t attract mosquitos, though. HA!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:10 pm

      ggperfume: here in Seattle!

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    • ggperfume says:
      11 March 2010 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks, guys, for all your good suggestions for summer vacations! As you might have guessed, I’m more acquainted with places that are attractively warm on summer nights and insanely hot on summer days.

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      • ggperfume says:
        11 March 2010 at 12:11 pm

        But at least they’re all arid, not swampy-hot.

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  3. Daisy says:
    10 March 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Chocolate AND Licorice??? Scary combo there Kevin.
    But based on your mysterious love of this–I’m going to have to sample some….even though “salty” is another no-no as far as my nose is concerned—so far every salty fragrance has triggered or nearly triggered my gag reflex—but bergamot, rock rose, ambergris, jasmine, orange? those sorts of notes reel me in relentlessly…

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    • Robin R. says:
      10 March 2010 at 2:12 pm

      Sounds like another Kevin-inspired split, Daisy? He got us with the Balsamo della Mecca . . . (Kevin, darling, you are a fearsome enabler) 😉

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      • Daisy says:
        10 March 2010 at 3:46 pm

        sheesh, Razz…..don’t use the “s” word around me this week! I’m already splitting some Chanel no22, Dyptique Oyedo, Iris Ganache, Bois d’Iris……yikes! my poor finger! I have to go lie down now….

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        • Carlos BFL 319 says:
          10 March 2010 at 4:05 pm

          Iris Ganache?

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          • Daisy says:
            10 March 2010 at 4:18 pm

            yes dahlink, Iris Ganache. 😉

        • Kevin says:
          10 March 2010 at 6:15 pm

          Daisy: Oyedo…love that one!

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          • Daisy says:
            10 March 2010 at 11:52 pm

            mmm yes—it makes me think of hot summer days and cool, delicioso creamsicles…..yummy. They were a summer favorite when I was a kid hanging out all summer long with my best friend Gina at her family’s cabin on Erieville Lake…..those were the days! When you’re 9 all you need is a reasonably clean swimsuit, air in your bike tires, a couple buddies and a box of creamsicles…. 🙂

        • Robin R. says:
          11 March 2010 at 10:37 am

          We need to give you some kind of award, Daisy Lou, for all you do for us with splits. The Golden Splits Spritz Finger Award?! 😉

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      • Kevin says:
        10 March 2010 at 6:14 pm

        RR: I accept no blame!!!!!!!

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        • Daisy says:
          10 March 2010 at 11:54 pm

          Ha! and yet we continue to lay the blame squarely at your feet…no,no that’s not right…..at your keyboard! uh-huh

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        • Robin R. says:
          11 March 2010 at 10:41 am

          Kevin, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to.
          P.S. We’re indebted to you. Or should I say, we’re in debt thanks to you. 😉

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          • Kevin says:
            11 March 2010 at 7:49 pm

            RR: HA! I think we should start the Now Smell This credit card with your favorite bottle on the card. How about it?

    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:14 pm

      Daisy: I predict you will like this! (or maybe even love it….)

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      • Daisy says:
        10 March 2010 at 11:47 pm

        The rumors are true—-you’re trying to KILL me!! I’m resisting….
        I’d say something like “look at me being strong” but you all know me too well and it’d only make you laugh….

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        • Kevin says:
          11 March 2010 at 12:15 am

          Daisy: HA! True, true.

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  4. Jill says:
    10 March 2010 at 2:35 pm

    For me, licorice as a note is often a good thing — but chocolate and licorice together would have me a little wary. This sounds wonderful though! (I’ll make sure I don’t wear it when I’m depressed — thanks for the tip.) Great review, thanks!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:16 pm

      Jill: thanks!

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  5. Minnie says:
    10 March 2010 at 2:43 pm

    I’m wondering if this smells at all like Eau des Merveilles.

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:17 pm

      Minnie: EdM is very wan compared to Invigorating…doesn’t remind me of it at all.

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  6. lemonprint says:
    10 March 2010 at 2:52 pm

    I keep thinking I want to try Boadicea because it is so raved over here. Usually I like things NST folks like (though I am sampling Ormonde Jayne’s Tiare today and it’s not doing anything special for me. Surely I have a number of other summer florals that could take its place?).

    However, now I DON’T want to sample it because EW. LICORICE.

    But I’m taking your point that it’s a side note.

    If I sample it, it certainly will be a sample and not a full bottle unsniffed!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:18 pm

      lemonprint: here’s hoping you never buy unsniffed!!!!!!

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  7. Carlos BFL 319 says:
    10 March 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Oh Kev…can you say slightly drooling? Sounds great.

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    • boojum says:
      10 March 2010 at 3:09 pm

      So…you’ll be adding your review by the weekend? 😛

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      • Carlos BFL 319 says:
        10 March 2010 at 3:24 pm

        lol…doubt it boojum.

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        • Daisy says:
          10 March 2010 at 3:49 pm

          that $265/ 100ml price made my head hurt…..

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          • boojum says:
            10 March 2010 at 4:01 pm

            It’s no worse than an Amouage…just sayin’.

          • Carlos BFL 319 says:
            10 March 2010 at 4:02 pm

            True…but with a BUNCH of splits…it would be a mere bag of shells…just sayin. 😉

          • Daisy says:
            10 March 2010 at 4:18 pm

            throwing my Amouage Ho-ness in my face, eh?

    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:18 pm

      C: wipe your mouth!

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  8. Zazie says:
    10 March 2010 at 3:36 pm

    I loved it when you warned us from wearing this “positive thinker” when depressed!!!
    Thank you for your great review, as usual.
    And as usual, the more I like something to eat -in this case liquorice- the less I like it in perfume! But if you say here it’s ok, I will give it a try!!!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:19 pm

      Zazie: don’t let the licorice scare you AT ALL.

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  9. Rictor07 says:
    10 March 2010 at 4:40 pm

    I havent sampled this line at all yet, because of the pricetag. I assume its the same fragrance for both men and women, just the bottle shape is different?

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:20 pm

      rictor: yes, same fragrance.

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  10. magoldbe says:
    10 March 2010 at 4:50 pm

    The chocolate-licorice combination is unusual, and might sound bad on paper, but in fact it is the basis of one of my favorite chocolate bars of all time — the Draumur bar, found only in Iceland, alas. These babies are delicious. I’ve made my own approximation at home by covering pieces of panda licorice with dark chocolate ganache. mmmm.

    So now I’m very intrigued by this scent!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:21 pm

      Magoldbe: dark chocolate can make me like just about anything (even licorice I bet)

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      • Robin R. says:
        11 March 2010 at 10:43 am

        Mmmm. Chocolate-covered liver.

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        • Kevin says:
          11 March 2010 at 7:48 pm

          RR: with bacon already in chocolate bars, who knows?, maybe dark chocolate with smoked liver bits is next.

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  11. Joe says:
    10 March 2010 at 5:09 pm

    Hi Kevin. This is another review that of course makes me very curious, but to be honest, I’ve mostly written off this line — haven’t even made an attempt to touch it — just because the sheer number of scents in the line is too many. And yes, the price, too. But I’m sure I have a Boadicea sample or two lying around somewhere, and I’ll have to scramble in the pile (Ziploc BAGS full!) to see if this is among them.

    Would you say this is particularly “masculine” and/or balsamic? I’m imagining some kind of floral layered over Yatagan. Really, you’ve made it sound wonderful. Something about the description is reminding me of my beloved Noir Epices (citrus, pepper, geranium, over a darkish base). And I don’t mind licorice in my perfume!

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:23 pm

      Joe: this cheery thing is squarely in unisex territory…don’t think of it as masculine or feminine…just delightful.

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  12. k-scott says:
    10 March 2010 at 5:59 pm

    Kevin, I just love your reviews. I think I have a little writers crush on you. I don’t know much about you (and you know nada bout me!) but your writing makes me feel like you’re one of my besties. Thank you for brightening my days. 🙂

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:24 pm

      K-Scott: what a sweet thing to say, thank you!

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      • Robin R. says:
        11 March 2010 at 10:44 am

        Damn. Wish I’D said it.

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  13. RusticDove says:
    10 March 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Oh there you go Kevin – you’ve done it again. I have to sample this now. This really does sound lovely.

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    • Kevin says:
      10 March 2010 at 6:24 pm

      Rustic Dove: hope you like it.

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  14. nozknoz says:
    10 March 2010 at 11:11 pm

    Kevin, once again and right in the first paragraph you have identified a perfume truth that seems obvious in retrospect but that I had never seen clearly before. Thank you! I definitely want to sample Invigorating.

    Coincidentally, I was testing Killian’s Pure Oud last weekend and started wondering if it might not work in summer on non-muggy days (in contrast to most oudh and incense scents). What do you think?

    These things are SOOO expensive, but we WANT perfumers to dare to use quality ingredients and to aim for OUR hearts instead of playing it safe for the mass market, so at least a split or modest decant is in order.

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    • Kevin says:
      11 March 2010 at 12:13 am

      Nozknoz: the oud might work…like you said: not on muggy days though!

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