Nos Republic Queer de Russie Review

J’s image of Nos Republic Queer de Russie

Nos Republic’s Founder and Creative Director Ksenia Golovanova and perfumer Valery Mikhalitcyn celebrate the diverse beauty of queerness with the award winning Queer de Russie. Sadly, it cannot be sold in the country that bears its name due to horrible anti LGBTQIA+ laws that make being queer illegal. Happily, they won the best newcomer award in the 2024 Art & Olfaction Awards and rightly so as it’s a perfume that queers the concept of the classic Cuir de Russie style yet doesn’t fall into the cliches of camp.

all about love and Bell Hooks via wiki.

Queerness isn’t a style or aesthetic, it’s a multitude and way of being, Bell Hooks powerfully encapsulates ‘… “queer” as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and has to invent and create and find a place to speak and thrive and to live’. That feeling Bell Hooks writes about is captured in Queer de Russie yet it’s doing its own thing, a different take.  It holds the beauty of humanity when you get up close and smell its desires held within its aroma. I’ve been wearing Queer de Russie a lot recently especially as Pride has been happening and I love how it makes me feel and how it smells.

Nos Republic Creative Director Ksenia Golovanova and perfumer Valery Mikhalitcyn.

Ginger sparkles, shimmering with a plastic sheen like a beautiful smile beaming at you. There’s 10% of ginger  in Queer de Russie and you feel its complexity throughout the wear. Fresh bright citruses add a zingy electric feel to the warm woody undertones and a pepperiness that’s addictive and cosy. Musky floral tones add contrast to ripe melon which sugars the ginger with sweet kisses. I get some more osmanthus floralcy adding peachiness as a playful latex note takes us out of traditional perfumery into a contemporary futuristic one. Its rubberiness gleams with a bite-able texture, different yet very wearable, with an” if you know you know nod and wink”. This layers over the faux suede accord that adds a touch of darkness as a bright and airy aldehydic clean freshness hangs over it all.

Nos Republic Queer de Russie via the brand.

Queer de Russie feels like ginger tinged champagne has been sprayed over a car interior letting the bubbles sparkle and pop over the shiny new leather. Queer de Russie’s outer freshness hides its inner desire, as you get more intimate with Queer de Russie and especially in the final dry down, it’s faux suede accord bubbles through. The peach gives it the feel of fuzzy fur, a slight animalic sensation, wrapped in musky slinky florals that merge with the ripe melon and ylang ylang. Patchouli and labdanum add depth and richness, turning the lights down lower.  At this stage, Queer de turns boozy as the notes come together capturing that feeling of having drinks as you slow dance into the wee hours of the night. Queer de Russie wears like an invisible embrace of a lover, the electric exciting memories of their scent still lingering long after they leave the room. This is a perfume that can be worn by all, (for undercover lovers where queerness is sadly illegal) and is a gem for anyone and everyone.

Notes: Fresh Ginger, Ripe Melon, Bruised Peach, Ylang, Labdanum, Patchouli, Latex, Faux Suede.

Discloser: Nos Republic Queer de Russie was sent to J for this review, his nose, thoughts are his own.

 J Wearescentient, Senior Editor, artist and olfactive writer.

Nos Republic Queer de Russie via the brand.

Thanks to the generosity of Nos Republic we have a 50 ml bottle of Queer de Russie for one registered reader from EU, US or UK. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on J’s review and where you live. Draw closes 8/4/2026

Check out Nicoleta’s reviews on Nos Republic Tansu Silk, Bad Wolf, Moon Child and Cor Serpentis (which is also a top ten best of scent for Nicoleta best scents of 2025  and my cinematic take on Empire T

Queer de Russie was an Art and Olfaction winner 2024 for Best Newcomer

Available at Luckyscent to purchase or sample here

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