Chopova Lowena has always been one for breaking boundaries, and the beloved London brand’s first foray into fragrance is no different. Made in Bulgaria and built to personify the whimsical, neo-punk, non-conforming spirit of the Chopova Lowena girl, the three unconventional perfumes on offer are about to be your new, olfactory besties. And that’s not just because they smell great; each scent – Queen Rosa, Hay Zhasmina! and Great Root, Green Ruth – comes to life with its own, anthropomorphic, colourful character and unique superpower, inadvertently calling to mind the Power Puff Girls.
Crafted using flowers and herbs native to Bulgaria, each scent starts with a vibrant base of Rose Oil derived from the damascene roses of the Bulgarian Rose Valley – which similarly inspired the brand’s SS23 collection. Chopova Lowena describes Queen Rosa, represented in hot pink, as the “sexy, mischievous fairy” of the bunch. Floral and woodsy with an underlying musk, bright notes of bergamot and pink pepper blossom atop the Bulgarian Rose base, mirroring her extraverted, kittenish personality. Hay Zhasmina! on the other hand, is a true blue “sweetheart”. Rooted in amber and wood, with notes of jasmine, fennel and ylang-ylang, her aroma mimics her tender aura, delivering a certain warmth and sense of kindliness with every spritz. Then there’s Great Root, Green Ruth: the “woodsy nymph”. Concocted with those that are unafraid to explore the wild outdoor world in mind, the fresh, green, alfresco scent features intoxicating top notes of vetiver, saffron, nutmeg and Bulgarian geranium.
“With the perfumes, we wanted to make beautiful, wearable scents our way,” say creative directors Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons. “Each scent is textured and delicate, but not precious, meant to be worn daily, spritzed on blouses and scarves, and tied to new memories with friends and loved ones.”
This launch comes after the brand’s successful debut of its Sofia leather bags and range of leather shoes for SS24, as well as its receipt of the British Fashion Council’s Foundation Award for 2024, and the 2024 BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund. Arriving as 100ml perfumes, a tester trio and hand-poured candles housed in traditional Bulgarian ceramics, there’s something for every riot grrrl and boy. Step one, sniff the chaos.
Shop Chopova Lowena’s debut fragrance collection exclusively at Dover Street Market Perfumes, Dover Street Market London, Dover Street Market New York and Dover Street Market Los Angeles.
Photography courtesy of Chopova Lowena.
