Lady Vengeance

In the opening it is quite sharp. You get this jaggedy, slightly aldehydic rose-bomb, which i guess is the reason people have named this fragrance "old-fashioned" and "grandma scent" in the comments! It is certainly not a fresh twist on the good old rose though, oh no no, it is very much classical; and there is this almost sweat-like scent in the background (maybe from the musk?) that adds depth to the fragrance. As the fragrance sits on the skin, the sharp opening dries down into the comforting scent of powder, like the bosom of a grandmother we love, and the ISO E Super really kicks in. If you're not good at detecting this material you might think the perfume is not long lasting perhaps but it really is there, and it screams! Good thing is, ambroxan and iso e super tend to change character on different skin, so i guess this perfume would smell different on everybody, and that's the true nature and beauty of it. After all, vengeance might look different for everybody :).

Bought this in my early 20s when I wanted to feel cool, and mission accomplished. It truly does smell like a dangerous, cool lady in a bottle to me. Rose and patchouli are the stars of the show. They are intense and unapologetic. I echo that there is something slightly generic about this fragrance (rose and patchouli *are* a popular combination, and there is the ambroxan/vanilla in the dry-down that makes it recognizable enough...). This is not a perfume you wear to inspire intrigue. It is meant for occasions when you want to announce yourself. It is a comet falling to the earth, not a twinkling star in the sky. Problem is... there are very few such occasions in my life, and I rarely reach for it now. Wearing it in a common space, on an average day, is tantamount to showing up to a coffeeshop wearing black-tie attire.

This is a classic rose-patchouli composition elevated by a generous dose of clean woods, likely driven by Iso E Super and Ambroxan. The rose is sharp, fresh, and slightly cool in character, while the base radiates warmth, creating a fascinating contrast. The interplay between the airy woods and the rose transforms what could have been a traditional feminine floral into a beautifully balanced, unisex fragrance. Despite its richness, the woody transparency gives it a versatility that works surprisingly well in warmer weather—or at least in climate-controlled settings. Like Mjcastelston, I couldn't care less that it's marketed toward women; it's a fantastic rose fragrance, and I wear it proudly and often.

You walk into a decrepit Victorian manor, inside a room with black damask wallpaper lies a casket lined with a rich purple silk. Next to this, amongst a rug of dust, sits a crystal vase with burgundy red roses dried and wilted. It smells like Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has A Gun. Powdery, fragrant red roses, musky and woody base. Simple notes which result in a sultry, gothic, classy concoction. Certainly not for everyone, like all gothically inclined things, but is unapologetic in doing so. Feels extremely wrong to wear this masterpiece in anything other than an ebony shaded, Victorian bustle gown while performatively mourning your Peer husband as you make eyes at his sister during the funeral.

I’ve had this in my collection for 5 years now, and I’ve loved it dearly the entire time. I test a lot of fragrances on a regular basis, so it takes a lot to keep my coming back to one scent time and time again. The Moroccan rose feels dry, and the Bulgarian rose feels honeyed and fruity. This combination with the earthy patch and musky iso E super is really beautiful. Feels classy, a bit dark, and during the late summer / early fall Lady Vengeance SHINES. As soon as the air gets cool I reach for her, and she never disappoints. Gets me in a romantic, slightly spooky mood. Best JHAG.