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Bespoke: Perfume, Boadicea the Victorious

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Scents of victory


Boadicea the Victorious is one of the fastest growing niche luxury perfume brands within the UK. The company has been rapidly developing since its launch in 2008


B but this was no typical launch – Boadicea was fortunate enough to be trialled as an exclusive in Harrods, London. It is now frequently within the top five ranking brands within their world famed Black Hall Perfumery. Suffice to say the brand is a palpable hit with all it encounters.

How did this little known brand become something of a giant within such hallowed walls? We sat down with Boadicea the Victorious’ CEO, David Crisp, to find out more.

On meeting David, the one thing that instantly struck us was his relaxed and very normal air. The sense of flamboyance that the brand exudes was not apparent … until we got talking!

David hails from rural Surrey, England, is married and is a father to two beautiful daughters, on whom he clearly dotes. He is also a keen cyclist and has a professional background in finance. So how did such a chap become something of a perfume guru?

One word encapsulates the answer: passion. David is intensely passionate about Boadicea the Victorious; he says he knew from the moment he saw the now iconic bottle that the business would be a hit.

Instantly recognising the company’s potential, he instinctively bought it and has never looked back.

Failure is not a word that enters David’s vocabulary so, despite his lack of experience in the beauty industry, he took the leap, buying the company on what would have been his late father’s birthday.

This special anniversary anchors part of the emotional connection that David has with the brand and his determination to succeed. ‘It just can’t fail,’ he says candidly.


David’s creation of the so called ‘global collections’ comes from his desire to travel; for him there is no segregation of work and leisure


Boadicea the Victorious has wide appeal, with various fragrance collections resonating within different parts of the world. David’s creation of these so called ‘global collections’ comes from his desire to travel. For David there is no segregation of work and leisure; they are one and the same. Travelling to various corners of the globe David swiftly learnt each culture’s likes and dislikes for perfume; upon his return he created exclusive collections suitable for each territory. This successfully aided the global expansion of the brand.

David’s wife is Russian, so his ambition to secure a Russian following was instantly obvious. In 2010 Boadicea launched in Tsum, the luxurious department store in Moscow, and has launched two collections exclusive to the Russian market – The Black Collection and, most recently, The Emerald Collection. This global presence has since been extended with a European distribution agreement and the opening of three stores in the United Arab Emirates.

Boadicea has, however, remained a niche brand, despite this global expansion. This is largely due to David’s desire to maintain exclusivity. Not every fragrance is available everywhere, making obtaining a full collection something of a challenge and therefore highly desirable! Many of the scents are limited editions, usually due to their raw ingredients being in limited supply. This makes Boadicea perfumes almost like jewels – something to be cherished.

The relationship with Harrods has also aided in the brand propulsion. Harrods have championed Boadicea the Victorious since its launch, ensuring the brand gets exposure to their top client base. In turn, Boadicea have run various events within the store, inviting their clients to ‘Meet the Perfumer’ and discover more about this remarkable brand.


Many of the scents are limited editions, usually due to their raw ingredients being in limited supply. This makes Boadicea perfumes almost like jewels – something to be cherished.


This level of brand exploration is key to David’s ethos. He feels that once people experience the world of Boadicea they will become ‘intoxicated’ by the brand. He insists that Boadicea is unique in its sense of British-ness: ‘We champion British craftsmanship using some of the most highly skilled artisans remaining in Britain,’ he states.

Indeed, he is most proud in telling us that a large part of the product is produced by hand. ‘Once people comprehend our passion and determination for producing quality and experience it for themselves, they’re hooked!’

There is no doubt that David has learnt fast in the six years he has been at the helm of Boadicea the Victorious. ‘You’ve got to move fast, find the right people and take the right risks, but most importantly learn from your mistakes,’ he says. This is certainly what his thirty years in business has taught him and he has applied this experience to Boadicea the Victorious with outstanding results. ‘So,’ we ask, ‘what’s left to achieve?’

‘To combat China,’ he replies with a smile. ‘My father traded successfully with China for many years and I’m determined to make Boadicea a success there.’ While Queen Boadicea is the brand’s namesake and icon, it is clear that the vital part of the business is the bottle of juice itself. ‘It has to be experienced to be believed,’ says David. The aim is simple: to bring outstanding and original fragrances to the discerning.

As for the ingredients themselves, they are impeccably sourced and of the highest quality, be it sambac from Bhutan or oud from South East Asia. It is this combination of the exotic and the irrefutably British that bestows upon the brand its exclusivity and distinction.

This year Nebulous was launched exclusively in Harrods and online. It marks Boadicea’s most expensive scent to date and, made in limited quantities, it is certainly one to be cherished. It is a dark and brooding creation, which uses only rare and extravagant ingredients intending to stir the soul with the rousing inclusion of rose, oud and amber. The arrival of Nebulous secures Boadicea’s place in ultra luxury fragrances, setting a new benchmark in the niche perfumery field.

The brand’s bold development continues and, in 2018, the aim is to launch a fully bespoke service. This will enable clients to create a scent as individual as they themselves are. Boadicea the Victorious’ access to the best of the best will allow its customers to ‘dare to dream’. The bottle, the shield and the perfume will be one-of-a-kind experiences.

The desire and commitment to bringing unique and exquisite perfumes to the market place is clear. Working with the finest British craftsmen and creating a range of perfumes that are utterly sublime, Boadicea the Victorious have indeed produced the ultimate celebration of beauty, strength and nobility.

For more information see the Boadicea the Victorious website.

Words: Staff

This article was originally published in Halcyon magazine in 2017


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