ÇaFleureBon X Darren Alan Perfumes Lipstick Queen AI image by Nicoleta©

Zoom in – the late-night phone call you shouldn’t answer but do anyway. The nervous clip of an earring, the half-whispered “I’ll be there.” Red-lacquered nails, flicking open the clutch. That small, chaotically magical gesture of feeling through the purse – fingertips brushing keys, secrets, the silk scarf – until… there. They land on it. The lipstick. The click of the cap slices the silence. The mirror doesn’t lie: the mouth curves into a crimson-colored smile. One last glance. One deep breath. The final sip from the (now) lipstick-stained champagne glass, left on the edge of the bar. That feeling of something deliciously naughty that’s about to happen.

Michelyn and Nicoleta 

And now, that feeling… has a scent. Lipstick Queen – the first collaboration between perfumer Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes and co-creative directors Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen and  Senior Editor Nicoleta Tomșa – was created to celebrate ÇaFleureBon’s 15th Anniversary. And trust us – This Queen brings a very different energy to the room.

Liz Taylor images, collage wiki

This is the whisper of Old Hollywood caught in a very 2025 kiss. We wanted the scent of lipstick on warm skin after a night out  – bold, modern, confident  – but also infused with the glamour of divas (and divos). The main inspiration personified? Dame Elizabeth Taylor – not just one of the most iconic actresses of her time but a symbol of fierce femininity and resiliency.

The idea for this perfume first started swirling around us during that surreal first year of the pandemic – somewhere between existential dread and Zoom calls we started talking about our ridiculously large lipstick collections and what this deceptively innocent object means to us. Michelyn put it best: “I even wear lipstick to get the mail.” The classic bullet, of course.

Michelyn’s lip imprint

The lipstick effect goes beyond its sociological meaning – though we’re still witnessing it in real time, as the beauty industry continues to thrive even among the turmoil. A lipstick is a personal statement. A weapon of seduction. Or can be self-therapy in a tube. A silent rebellion, even worn underneath a mask. A new way to say – I’ve got this! The quick swipe before a first date. The mirrored elevator gesture before a big meeting. Even that casual morning gloss on a stay-at-home day. It’s all about the ritual composed of those little gestures. A signal that things are under control. A mark of resilience, self-love, seduction – and the unapologetic reclaiming of power. No matter what. Because sometimes, all it takes is a little pigment on your lips to remind the world (and yourself) exactly who you are.

Of course, we didn’t want CaFleureBon X Darren Alan Perfumes Lipstick Queen to smell literal – or overly cosmetic. It’s not about mimicking the scent of lipstick. It’s about bottling the feeling lipstick gives you. We imagined the muskiness of skin still warm from dancing, the aura of a forgotten lipstick tube in a clutch, the soft rustle of  the night-out dress, and the click-clack of stiletto heels echoing on midnight asphalt. That buzz. That moment. That diva-fatale energy – distilled into scent. Expression. Self-confidence. Seduction. And that extra sprinkle of pizzazz.

And it was not until this year that the stars properly aligned to bring the vision to life. In comes Mr. Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes:

Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes

“ÇaFleureBon Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen and Sr. Editor Nicoleta Tomsa asked me to create something different than the typical waxy lipstick scent of the ubiquitous inside of a cosmetic bag”. To achieve this, I nestled the lipstick accord within a bed of sensual animalic musks to elicit the fantasy of a sexy diva, clad only in lipstick and perfume.”

“Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.”-Elizabeth Taylor.

And this is a scent that acts exactly like that: an instant pick me up, a dose of glamour-to-go, there for you, anytime you need to reset your mood to DIVA/DIVO status.

Putting Lipstick Queen on the skin feels like unfolding a naughty little note (the kind inconspicuously slipped into a coat pocket) reading between the lines and discovering the sultry imprint of a kiss. The opening? Parma violets flicker like neon against a rain-slick street. A black limousine stops on the slippery pavement and there she goes, all click of the heels and lipstick.

Opulent flower bouquets bloom around her, with roses and jasmine turned white by the flashes of the paparazzi, the mood turns all bright with heliotrope and lily of the valley. Soon after, vanilla adds a sweet pout before things get sultry. Patchouli brings in that late-night heat, and orris and the civet accord leave little to the imagination. The scent of hot skin, naked under sheets, a lipstick-stained cigarette smoldering in the ashtray, with the curtains marked now by the lingering traces of musks. A neo-vintage scent that speaks of beautiful abandon, in the perfect dosage of retro, sexy, and carnal.

AI Image by Nicoleta

Just as lipstick has the power to transform the mood and ignite a sense of sensuality, ÇaFleureBon X Darren Alan Perfumes Lipstick Queen captures the same magic, blending Old Hollywood glamour with a modern, sexy edge. Lipstick Queen is a tribute to the queens of yesterday and today – those who dare to live life on their own terms, embrace their power, and leave an unforgettable mark on the world. It’s a fragrance that speaks of seduction, and unapologetic self-expression, made for those who live boldly, love fiercely, and leave an unforgettable (kiss-shaped) mark on the world.

Top: Bergamot, Aldehydes, Bourbon Geranium, Parma Violet; Heart: Lipstick, Rose, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Heliotrope, Vanilla, Patchouli; Base: Orris, Costus, Indian Sandalwood, Oakmoss,  Ambrette Seed, Civet Accord, Vintage Musk Accord

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

Disclosure: I received a sample, Michelyn evaluated 4 mods and received a bottle; we do not earn a commission

ÇaFleureBon X Darren Alan Perfumes Lipstick Queen bottle & box, AI image by Nicoleta©

Thanks to the generosity of Darren Alan Perfumes we have a 50 ml bottle of Lipstick Queen for one registered reader from the USA only. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review and Darren’s, Michelyn’s and Nicoleta’s collaboration. Draw closes 4/27/2025

Available for Sale on DarrenAlanPerfumes.com here and Fragrance Vault here

50 ml  (1.7 oz.): $175.00 USD

10 ml (.033) $45.00 USD

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