Glitz; smells like teen spirit – Juliette has a gun
By Jo Phillips
There is attitude, there is punk, there is rock and roll and then there is just COOL! Effortless cool, instinctive cool, unanswerable cool, and it’s something you either have or you don’t!
Romano Ricci has it; Romano Ricci the great-grandson of Nina Ricci who’s son Robert (Romano’s grandfather) just happened to be the person that created the famous perfume L’Air du temps. Not that this is part of Romano’s scent journey. For him it is part of his past and not part of what drew him into fragrance, as he said it was just “always around”.
So why does this cooler than cool Parisienne have a perfume line that is 10 years old called Juliette has a Gun you may well ask? Well, Juliette Capulet of the doomed literary couple Romeo and Juliette has been brought up to the 21st century by him; the archetypal romantic woman now owns a pistol and has a whole load of attitude to boot, so now she is cool. The gun in the name does represent a new type of woman who is determined and strong, is her own person and is of course stylish. This brand all all about where the archetypical romantic who is a bad arse, with bad attitude; What a way to start!
So thats the name of the brand and as for the juices, there are two major collections the Classic and the Luxury. Within the classic range look out for perfumes such as Lady vengeance, Mad Madam, Anyway, Sunny Side up MMM… and Citizen Queen. All in all, there are 15 in the classic collection. Within the luxury collection there are currently five with a new one named such as Oil Fiction, Into the void and White spirit, names that sum up so much about the brand with the new edition to the luxury collection being called Liquid Illusion.. which launches in September so you will need to wait a little while for this exquisite juice. In the meantime let’s explore just a few of this coolest of cool fragrances, explore the shop and the whole of the brand that is Juliette has a gun.
The Paris boutique, is set in the Marais area (the coolest part) at 2 rue des Francs-Bourgeois and is called Cafe Juliette. The store is a mad ode to the brand and defiantly sums up its spirit. For example there is an emergency red phone hanging on the wall…its connected and you can pick it up and ring directly to Romano any time..for real..just dial (911 ..what else!!) you can just call him up and have a chat about the perfumes in the shop. There are giant character faces painted on large canvases with gap/slots open at the mouth where you can pull out a scent card and sniff a fragrance from the scented blotter. The toilet…(or is it a speakeasy?) is all black except for graffiti on the walls which shows up in ultra violet light, or the ability to do a little selfie boomerang whilst visiting the (not so restful rest room ) and email it to yourself. There is of course a perfume bar and the best rare coffee blends you are likely to find in the whole area, so it’s almost like a perfume barista space. The petite store brings to life the very core values of the brand, the cool, rock and roll humour yet deeply sophisticated nature of the brand and its collection of fragrances. Romano takes fragrance very seriously, it is his art form, his craft and is deeply passionate about it yet the store is able to juxtapose his playfulness.
He wanted to find his own way in world even though he has amazing personal heritage. He apprenticed in the perfume world for over four years very much a classical training, before pursuing the world-renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdijan to collaborate with him. The juices are defiantly set within the classics but have the biggest of twists. The most unexpected element across the range is the romance which is deeply embedded within every fragrance. Romano is cool, so are his fragrances but deep in the centre is a man (also his perfumes) with a heart bursting to full with love and romance….his fragrances are sexy, disruptive, seductive, and totally freeing! He is the archetypal Frenchman; one that will slowly seduce you, undress you, slowly peel the layer of your clothes off..yup that kind of sums up his perfume collection as a whole. He is the Serge Gainsbourg of scent. He even has these words on his website…
I’m a woman.
And you,
What’s your super power ?
The majority of the collection have been created for women, (but of course can be worn by whoever wants to0). There is a back story for each perfume which is the way Romano goes about creating a scent; find the back story, the rock and roll mischievous story and then create the scent. If the story fits, it’s likely the scent will, but beneath the bottom line of the ingredients you will find his personality bleeding from each and every bottle; the seducer in him…yet balanced with truly wearable perfumes, they are not exotic concepts but sexy , modern, wearable very special fragrances.
He even talks of the bottles exposing the type of woman he is attracted to saying also that the luxury collection he goes even further and givers even more of himself away in the creation process.
And the fragrances themselves what sort of olfactive families are they? Lets start with the newest to the classic collection:-
Moscow Mule and they say “Get ready To party” olfactive family: Floral Citrus
Moscow Mule’s olfactory trail hypnotises its audience, as if it were inviting everyone to share, over a glass of something, A timeless moment, where tongues are loosened and bodies scolding hot. A twist of ginger for the sexy side, a zest of lemon for the punch! A limitless pleasure to be consumed without moderation.
Lime, Bergamot, Ginger
Heart notes
Jasmine, Apple Essence
Bottom notes
Ambroxan, Norlimbanol, Ambretolide
Inspired of course by the cocktail but not in a literal way, it fizzes and is fresh with ginger and lime, it’s a party fragrance for hot summer nights or (even cold crisp winters) with touches of white flowers and Hedione (a synthetic which scientists have found to release of sex hormones in women) It’s lovely and easy to wear in its’ ‘whiteness’ . It’s a party girl, the rebellious girl.. within the range.
The brand describes it:-
Moscow Mule’s olfactory trail hypnotises its audience, as if it were inviting everyone to share, over a glass of something, A timeless moment, where tongues are loosened and bodies scolding hot. A twist of ginger for the sexy side, a zest of lemon for the punch! A limitless pleasure to be consumed without moderation.
Next is Citizen Queen– the brand says of it “Catch me if you can”… from the olfactive family :Floral Aldehyde
She is not only this edgy lady, nor the most glamourous, or the most intimidating, she is all that, at the same time, a Beauty on her own. Impossible to describe…and that’s exactly why she’s so fascinating. Her perfume is a mysterious and addictive Aldehic Chypre, at the crossroads of modern and classic perfumery. Romeo…be warned ! Juliette is back, more uncatchable than ever.
Top notes
Leather accords Bergamot Aldehydes
Heart notes
Bottom notes
Vanilla Ambroxan Labdanum
Then there is Lady Vengeance of which they say “The fragrance of a Lady” olfactive family: Floral Chypre
A perfume with a rich and sophisticated trail. The expression of undeniable femminity, confident and divinely sensual. The fragrance of a Lady for whom the art of seduction bares no secret. He can smell…he can dream…but the decision lies in her hands. The very elegant but thorny Bulgarian Rose marries patchouli and vanilla to draw a fine elegance, both contemporary and inevitable.
Bottom notes
Ambroxan
Or what about
Anyway and as they say “A signature fragrance’ from the olfactive family: Floral Citrus
Lime
Absolu Jasmine
There are 13 perfumes within the classic collection which you can find here
For the luxury collection let’s highlight a few from this collection of six which includes the newest (not available until September)
Liquid Illusion, a searingly vibrant blue bottle that cannot help but demand your attention. It’s a scent inspired by a perfect but artificial paradise.. drop a little tab of ecstasy (not really) and aid yourself on a journey to paradise!
It all started for Romano when he discovered Heliotropin ( a synthetic ingredient which recreates the heliotrope flower – a member of the ‘aldehyde’ family of chemicals), reminding him initially of almond with hits of violet too, but he then discovered it was actually used in the manufacture of ecstasy specifically MDMA.. so much so that if you want to use it you must provide credentials to the supplier!
It’s a heady composition of Florals and Ambers starting with the all important Heliotopin, with its almond hit, following into a heart of iris absolute Irone, Iracine ( derived from iris oil which comes from the orris root). and Tuberose absolute, with a base of Tonka bean absolute, Benzoin, dry amber accords and a creamy musk accords.
Rich and creamy with something totally addictive about it. The amber gives an almost hint of nuttiness whilst the floral is root-like and powdery. The scent engulfs you and surrounds you in a soft fragrant cloud. The kind of scent that people stop and ask you about..
And what of the others in the luxury collection?
Metal Chypré and the brands says “The scent of copper” olfactive family: Woody
A daring remix of a classical chord, this composition is a modern interpretation of the chypre fragrance without weakening its character. It is the union of haute perfumery and designer perfumery, an alloy of today and yesterday, the futuristic exterior of a forever perfume, Metal Chypré, or the art of reconciling the cold with a desire for sophistication.
White spirit and the brands says ” When fire meets ice” olfactive family Floral Boisé
White Spirit is the result of two colliding worlds, ending up married on a white bed. At the heart of this electric accord, a floral bouquet composed of Jasmine Sambac and Tuberose absolute. Behind their airs of up-and-coming stars, lie their true colours – sensual, poisonous, addictive. The Sandalwood ,the Ambrocenide, and the Ambroxan enter the dance in turn, a dry woody trio, suddenly setting the white floral accord to the challenge of modernity.
Moon Dance and the brands says “A night flower” Olfactive family: Floral Chypre
Moon Dance plays with contradictions, opposites, bringing them together to create a highly unique fragrance. With its lunar appearance, it exudes solar warmth. A duality that becomes special, seductive and magnetic. Just as the Sun answers the Moon, the Moon Dance bottle is a replica to Oil Fiction. As elegant and as luminous, it sparkles with another burst. Moon Dance affirms its distinctiveness by recounting an olfactive story with a silvery shimmer.
A name, a story a moment, these make up the journeys in our lives, so let Romano and Juliette has a Gun join you along the paths you tread so you smell nothing but delicious along the way.
If you have a bit of that rock and roll spirit why not spend some time at nowe kasyna z bonusem bez depozytu but a bit of added fun.
Moscow Mule is available at Harvey Nichols now priced at £110 for 100ml and £85 for 50ml EDP and Liquid Illusion will be available at Harrods from 1st August priced at £200 for 75ml EDP.
