Juliette Has A Gun
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Aldehydes fizz against bergamot before leather emerges—soft, almost nubuck in texture rather than aggressive or biker-adjacent. The powder accord announces itself within moments, and you're already waist-deep in orris before the first minute expires.
The double dose of orris (absolute and concrete) creates an almost sculptural density, like pressed face powder viewed under magnification. Tuberose and orange blossom weave through this powdery cloud without dominating, whilst civet adds a subtle animal warmth that keeps the composition from feeling too prim or purely cosmetic.
Muscenone's soft musk merges with tonka and vanilla to create a sweet, skin-like base, whilst ambroxan adds mineral shimmer and labdanum provides ambery depth. The powder never truly vanishes—it simply becomes part of your skin's vocabulary, sweetened and warmed but still distinctly present.
Citizen Queen throws powdered orris and lipstick-stained leather gloves onto a bed of white flowers, creating the olfactory equivalent of Helmut Newton's more provocative work. Romano Ricci's 2008 composition opens with aldehydes that crackle like static electricity, immediately grounded by tanned leather—not the smoke-cured or petrol-tinged varieties, but something softer, almost suede-like, with bergamot cutting through the haze. The heart reveals where this fragrance earns its title: orris in two forms (absolute and concrete) creates a face-powder density that would be suffocating were it not for the animalic undercurrent running beneath. The civet here isn't shrieking; it's murmuring suggestions, adding a warm-skin quality that prevents the iris from becoming too austere or makeup-counter cold.
Tuberose and orange blossom provide white floral ballast without screaming their presence—they're supporting players in this powdery drama, adding creaminess rather than indolic heft. The base is where Citizen Queen reveals its comfort-seeking tendencies: muscenone amplifies the musky aspects, whilst benzoin, tonka, and vanilla create a sweet, almost gourmand cushion that the labdanum and ambroxan keep from toppling into dessert territory. This is a scent for those who want their florals slightly soiled, their powder compacts left open on unmade beds. It suits late afternoons in hotel rooms and the kind of person who wears cashmere with scuffed boots. There's a louche elegance here, a studied carelessness that suggests both refinement and its deliberate undoing.
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4.0/5 (147)