Complex

An old leather chair and the trace of smoke held in wood give Complex its setting. Created by John Stephen and introduced in 2008, the year Boadicea the Victorious began, it brings green sage into contact with supple leather and quieter woody depth. The name refers to different interconnected parts. The brand's image of a bygone smoking room extends beyond smoke itself, suggesting furniture shaped by years of use and leather that has gradually become softer and more familiar.

Sage contributes a greener, cleaner impression beside the powdery softness of violet. Leather, oud and woods give that contrast a deeper setting, while labdanum and cistus add resinous warmth. Musk, ambergris and civet bring animalic textures around the leather character. Oakmoss introduces a more grounded green dimension. Together, those elements connect fresher herbs to softer smoky leather and woods, creating a composition whose interest lies in the relationships between its different textures rather than in brightness or heavy sweetness alone.

Consider it with a substantial jacket or an outfit that suits a well-used leather bag. It also offers an option when herbs, resins and leather feel more appealing than brighter citrus or flowers. The 100mL bottle uses rounded clear glass around a pale golden interior. Its silver cap and circular Celtic-patterned front shield give the softer outline a more substantial character. A clear glass foot completes the presentation, carrying the same balance of a smooth contour and a weightier finish as the fragrance's quieter setting.