Citizen Queen

The video's atmospheric introduction, featuring an urban dark lady emerging from the underground, effectively captures the essence of CQ's mysterious allure on my skin. However, the conclusion falls flat due to jarring contrasts - sensual gestures clash with the strong, bold image, while the initial rich leather accord is disrupted by a cheap detergent-like background note. Unfortunately, this undermines an otherwise promising start. Notably, I found that the fragrance's longevity fell short of expectations, lasting only around 5 minutes on my skin.

I completely fell for the concept, name, packaging, etc., only to be devastated by the scent! My skin chemistry had a cruel joke in store for me, as on my skin this perfume morphs into SOAP, SOAP, SOAP for an astonishing 5 hours before drying out with a lingering soap-like aroma. Buyer beware: this is not worth a blind purchase.

Well, well, well! What a pleasant discovery that I prefer this JHAG fragrance over Not A Perfume. Upon trying a few others from the same brand, I found this one to be predominantly characterized by a rosy powder, Ambroxan, and resins, with little to no leather detectable on my skin. On me, it presents as soft and charming in a sophisticated yet feminine manner, conveying both sensuality and sweetness. It bears some subtle resemblance to Donna Karan's Cashmere, possibly due to the presence of musk.

Honestly? Citizen Queen left me perplexed! I thoroughly enjoyed the dry down, an absolute treat, so elegant and so reminiscent of Francis Kurkdjian, but the opening?? It seems as though the perfume was crafted by two distinct noses, and trust me, no one purchases a fragrance solely for its dry down.

I never anticipated falling for a perfume with prominent aldehydes, but this is an exception. It perfectly balances classic elegance with modern sophistication, showcasing its complexity while maintaining a silky smooth texture. This fragrance is particularly well-suited for the winter season, and its longevity is impressive.