Alexander McQueen My Queen: a gender-neutral scent?

The design house of the late Alexander McQueen (not unlike Vivienne Westwood) was very interested in the use of images of European aristocrats and royalty. For much of history of the Western world, fashion and taste was dictated by aristocrats and also by popular stage performers, both male and female. Today, fashion is dictated by the aristocracy of the media: the celebrities.

Nevertheless, I sampled My Queen by Alexander McQueen and was struck by it's genderless qualities. In fact, this might even qualify as a "masculine," the purple-girly bottle and the name aside. I am one of the first to say, "Wear what you like regardless of the bottle or the label," but these are my observations.

My Queen was released in 2005 after the controversial Kingdom. It is, in fact, a toned-down version of Kingdom. It's my understanding that it goes beyond the three-tier pyramid to four levels of notes:

(From Marina Geigert's blog, "Perfume Smellin' Things): Marvelous (Parma violet and sweet almond), Dazzling (orange blossom absolute, white musk and heliotrope), Mysterious (patchouli, cedar and vetiver) and Intoxicating (Florentine iris and vanilla).

The drydown is surely unisex, with the patchouli, cedar, vetiver, iris and vanilla. As for another "queen," ELdO's Delicious Closet Queen attempts to start with a masculine exterior with feminine underneath, My Queen attempts to start with a floral set of feminine notes with a masculine set of base notes.

This does have a floral opening, but ends with a predominantly patchouli base note. Good staying power and sillage.

http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot...cqueen-my.html

Primrose, you got me curious about this one now. Kingdom is one fragrance that i truly appreciate. Does the floral note on My Queen resembles any other fragrance?

Rick, My Queen is a toned-down version of Kingdom, IMO. This was released after Kingdom as a gentler version.

I also enjoy Kingdom, but it's not a wear-at-work fragrance.

Both have the floral notes, but My Queen has none of the cumin, which gave Kingdom the famous "armpit" reputation.

Offhand, I can't think of how My Queen resembles anything I have tried before. Marina Geigart compares it to: "Lolita Lempicka, Serge Lutens Douce Amere, Joop Muse, Caron Aimez Moi and even, strangely, Royal Bain de Caron."

The violet top note fades very quickly in My Queen, BTW.

Like Kingdom, you enjoy My Queen or you don't.

l love My Queen from top to bottom, on me the violet note lasts a long time, & the masculine notes stop it from becoming too sweet or cloying in a "parma violet" sort of way. l have never smelled Kingdom so l can't compare, but l think My Queen would smell great on a man.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by teardrop

l love My Queen from top to bottom, on me the violet note lasts a long time, & the masculine notes stop it from becoming too sweet or cloying in a "parma violet" sort of way. l have never smelled Kingdom so l can't compare, but l think My Queen would smell great on a man.

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Teardrop, I took your tip on the Women's Forum when I was looking for violets! :)

I found that Violetta di Parma was very feminine in a modern way (soft, floral and slightly powdery) or for a man with 19th century sensibilities with florals. I sampled My Queen and was surprised at how unisex it was, like Kingdom, yet with less knock-down power.

I think many men would enjoy wearing My Queen, as we both note the more "masculine" notes.

Duplicate post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Primrose

Teardrop, I took your tip on the Women's Forum when I was looking for violets! :)

I found that Violetta di Parma was very feminine in a modern way (soft, floral and slightly powdery) or for a man with 19th century sensibilities with florals. I sampled My Queen and was surprised at how unisex it was, like Kingdom, yet with less knock-down power.

I think many men would enjoy wearing My Queen, as we both note the more "masculine" notes.

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l'm so glad you managed to try it, Primrose! Did you like it, though? (l won't be offended if not!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Primrose

Rick, My Queen is a toned-down version of Kingdom, IMO. This was released after Kingdom as a gentler version.

I also enjoy Kingdom, but it's not a wear-at-work fragrance.

Both have the floral notes, but My Queen has none of the cumin, which gave Kingdom the famous "armpit" reputation.

Offhand, I can't think of how My Queen resembles anything I have tried before. Marina Geigart compares it to: "Lolita Lempicka, Serge Lutens Douce Amere, Joop Muse, Caron Aimez Moi and even, strangely, Royal Bain de Caron."

The violet top note fades very quickly in My Queen, BTW.

Like Kingdom, you enjoy My Queen or you don't.

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On me kingdom starts very spicy, somehow salty, and goes in a rose floral heart surrounded by resinous notes. It`s quite interesting that the cumin doesn`t go on me in a armpit direction as the cumin in Declaration Essence goes.
From the list that you posted it, i`m only concerned about Royal Bain de Caron. There are comments that flower by kenzo is similar to Royal, and flower by kenzo it`s a fragrance that i dislike. Does My Queen goes in a flower direction similar to the one in flower by kenzo?