Les: Boy Smells' Bold and Unforgettable Fragrance Breakthrough

Boy Smells, the renowned fragrance brand, has launched Les, an exclusive fragrance available at Sephora. With a unique combination of ripe and raw elements, Les aims to transport wearers to a maximalist Canal Street daydream. This fragrance stands apart from its companion candle, which highlights fruitiness through blackcurrant and jammy rose. Instead, Les Eau de Parfum incorporates pink pepper, pomelo, and moss, resulting in a distinctive olfactory experience.

The intriguing blend found in Les may leave some puzzled. While it bears a resemblance to a juice blend, it lacks the fullness of nectar-like sweetness found in popular fragrances like Atelier Cologne. Moreover, it doesn't possess the refreshing and effervescent qualities of scents such as Sparkling Sugar. The tart and sizzling character of pink pepper merges with the intensely sour pomelo, creating a frigid and metallic ambiance that evokes a gray color palette and slightly ashen texture, reminiscent of Steamed Rainbow's opening notes.

The heart accord of osmanthus, jasmine, and peony further adds to Les' unconventional character. In a departure from traditional floral fragrances, the sweetness of these flowers takes a backseat to the bitter and tingling distractions of the top and base notes. Attention shifts from the blossoms towards the tart and fizzy volatiles, accompanied by the scratchy bark of cedarwood. The peony note, although more discernible than its counterparts, emphasizes its humid, acidic, and aquatic facets, reminiscent of fragrances like Twilly Eau Ginger and Alibi Eau De Toilette. This deviates from the flower's usual chalky and fluffy richness, offering a whispered afterthought that may or may not be noticeable.

Once one becomes accustomed to Les' eccentric fragrance structure, a journey into vaguely chypre territory awaits. A smooth and shiny lab-made moss takes center stage, devoid of the inky, tweed-like fuzz, bristle, or darkness associated with natural oakmoss. Adorned with metallic pink buds, this moss captures the essence of a cold, concrete-laden urban landscape. It transports the wearer to gritty streets filled with rainwater puddles and sewer grates, evoking a distinctive sense of place and atmosphere.

Boy Smells successfully achieves their creative vision with Les, crafting an undeniably eccentric and challenging fragrance. However, its unconventional nature may render it more suitable for artistic exploration than mass-market appeal. Rather than striving for immediate pleasantness or conventional beauty, Les aims to evoke a sense of the unordinary and elicit emotional responses. It invites wearers to delve into a half-aquatic, half-metallic experience, where peony petals transform into sharp shards and moss emulates rain. The fragrance encapsulates the aromas of honking taxis, polluted air, and musty vintage stores, creating a truly unique olfactory narrative. It is important to note that individual perceptions of Les may vary.

In conclusion, Boy Smells' Les challenges the boundaries of traditional fragrance composition with its daring blend of notes. Whether it finds its place in the art gallery or becomes an avant-garde choice for daily wear remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Les invites fragrance enthusiasts to embark on an unconventional olfactory journey that defies expectations and fosters a deeper connection to the senses.

about brand

Boy Smells, founded in 2015 by Matthew Herman and David Kien, initially started as an experiment in candle-making in their Los Angeles kitchen. Their unique approach combines traditionally masculine scents with a prettier bouquet, resulting in captivating fragrances like Cinderose and Gardener. The brand has expanded beyond candles and introduced Unmentionables, a collection of intimate apparel, in 2017. In recent years, Boy Smells has ventured into fine fragrance and body care, broadening its offerings. With over 750 retail locations worldwide, the brand aims to transform personal care routines into meaningful rituals accessible to all.