Nevertheless She Persisted opens on my skin with a smooth, luminous sweetness, where iris and frankincense blend seamlessly. The iris is notably more prominent -- fitting, given the fleur-de-lis was the symbol of the France that Joan of Arc championed. The frankincense remains subdued, more silvery than gold. The result is an uplifting, powdery floral scent, with none of frankincense's usual smokiness.
A steely foundation grounds this scent, a bright and sweet metallic note that mirrors the base. I can't quite identify the fantasy accord's individual components, but the cumulative effect is quietly striking. After an hour's mark, the scent begins to fade but the profile remains intact and does not morph.
The perfume conjures the image of Joan herself: the peasant girl who heard voices in church and became a warrior. A lady-knight in armor carrying a bouquet of irises as she steps into mass, frankincense still burning at the altar. A powdery floral gilded by sweet, resinous woods and silvered incense. "I am not afraid... I was born to do this."
This is a sweet, feminine-leaning fragrance that holds its steel quietly beneath. What you smell in the bottle is what you get on skin, unwavering luminous conviction. A consecrated blade wrapped in a holy bouquet.
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Additional Notes: I adore this perfume, and purchased mine from a destash. The lady knight is one of my favorite archetypes, and this bottle precisely captures her essence. There is a medieval feel to it. In more modern terms, it conveys the scent story that "soft is strong is sacred."
