Nose Republic BAD WOLF (Cristiano Canali) + Spring Awakenings Giveaway

 

Nose Republic won an Art and Olfaction Award Best New Comer 2024

Nose Republic BAD WOLF, official image via the brand

“All stories are about wolves. All worth repeating, that is. (…) Just think about it. There’s escaping from the wolves, fighting the wolves, taming the wolves. Running with the wolf pack. Turning into a wolf. Best of all, turning into the head wolf. No other decent stories exist.” Margaret Atwood

Nose Republic grew out of an eponymous blog – the brand’s owner’s Telegram channel about perfume. A well-known Russian perfume blogger Ksenia Golovanova, and her brand’s slogan, “Smells like a good story”, reflects its philosophy- creating perfumes that are inspiring stories told in the rawest, most genuine language of all, the language of olfaction. In her words: “To me, its name (from Latin res publica, ‘public affair’) resonated a lot with the idea of smells, the rawest, most unfiltered sensations of all, bringing people together, making them equal on a primal level. Very different people from very different countries, cultures, walks of life etc. Nose Republic, the brand is based on the same simple idea. The stories I want to tell with perfumes are simple, too – but genuine. Originally rooted in my culture, these stories are universal – again, on a primal level – and will vibrate through many souls. The longing for space, the thrill of running free through the woods, the rush you get when viewing the city at night, from the top of a high building, – some of these feelings, I’m sure, have passed through the rooms of your mind. Let them pass again with Nose Republic  – and leave fragrant traces on those imaginary door handles.”

Ksenia Golovanova of nose republic

Ksenia Golovanova, photo via official website

I loved that the discovery kit is called “short stories” – as in literature, short stories offer you a chance to get a glimpse into the world inside a writer’s head. The same goes for perfume, and the smellscape created by Nose Republic can through the six tales made to reassure and inspire you: Moon Child – an aldehydic potion in which the rays of the moon have been sublimated into something strangely cold, dreamy, and cosmic. I can imagine Grimes wearing it at her next Sphere concert – a raspberry, lily, and gunpowder mix for an out-of-this-world, 3D stargazer experience. Rose Gambit is a counter-clock rose to checkmate your expectations, a fruity metallic thorny queen attitude with a bitter liqueur twist, unexpected almond milky facets & hints of tobacco – because one will surely need the “after” smoke. Queer de Russie is a knot of contrasts with a tongue-in-cheek-attitude, a fruity suede with zingy ginger, drippin’ melons, and juicy bruised peaches that surely forgot the safeword. Tansu Silk dials a low frequency woody – zen experience with hinoki, sandalwoods, and musk that smells of locked old boxes, memories, and gold-dust-women (somebody send this to Courtney Love, asap), while Empire T is a tobacco floral straight out of Mulholland Drive, that paints the perfect imaginary setting where Naomi Watts wears it, on her nocturnal walk, heading to the cinema.

AI Mood image for Nose Republic Bad Wolf, by Nicoleta

My favorite? The big BAD WOLF! The beast that has paced through the myths and legends of ancient Europe for longer than we have records of it – in local medieval folklore, wolves were often linked to witches and shape-shifters, the ones who could blur the line between human and beast. The “vârcolaci”, the Romanian version of the werewolf, were said to be humans cursed to transform into bloodthirsty creatures under the full moon, a most perfect cautionary tale for societies obsessed with sin and redemption. Wolves were always seen as creatures of the liminal space – dangerous, elusive, and always watching and it didn’t take long to cast the wolf as the perfect metaphor for a sinful villain – a predator who comes to snatch the innocent lambs away from the flock. If we look beyond Western interpretations, wolves aren’t always the bad guys, as in many myths, they are teachers, guides, and symbols of loyalty and strength. In many Asian traditions, for example, wolves are seen as noble, strategic, and protective figures, embodying resilience, wisdom, and guardianship over the land and its people. And beyond all of that, if we peel back the psychological symbolisms, we find wolves as the symbol of the sophisticated, well-spoken predator – a silver-tongued seducer who lures us away from the beaten path not with brute force but with charm and persuasion.

Nose Republic Bad Wolf By Cristiano Canali

AI Mood image for Nose Republic BAD WOLF by Nicoleta

So here comes the bad wolf and a dark guttural whisper that invites us to step off the path and smell the flowers. The real question is – when you hear the wolf’s call will you run? Or will you listen and embrace the primal, untamed side of human nature we so often suppress? And as the Nose Republic nudges us –  just you imagine – a free world with no boss to please, no rent to pay, no lines to be stuck in — just а wolf singing into the night at the edge of a cliff.

Cristiano Canali of MANE Italia

Cristiano Canali (now with MANE Italia), photo via the brand

Nose Republic BAD WOLF – a green leather fragrance to set you free, was released into the wild by Cristiano Canali. And in Cristiano’s words, the key to understanding Bad Wolf is the contrast of its woods and flowers. On the one hand, we have the precious woods: “The forest our wolf inhabits is done in many colors of the woody spectrum. I used Virginian cedarwood for its warmth and Texan for the dry bark astringency. Chinese cedar gives Bad Wolf its smokiness, while Moroccan is responsible for the sweet resinous aspect. And that mysterious, emerald green presence you’re feeling while wearing it is French pine absolute” and on the other, the dainty flowers: “There’s so much raw power in nature, but also fragile gentleness that is so, so breakable. The latter is represented by natural wild daffodils, a key element in BAD WOLF: their fragrance, both spring fresh and utterly intoxicating, sheds golden light on the composition’s most secret hidden places — its mossy nooks and passages in the dense undergrowth”

Bad Wolf by Nose Republic

Nose Republic BAD WOLF COLLAGE with AI image by Nicoleta

Nose Republic BAD WOLF is a fragrance painted in every shade of green, laced with the raw texture of wet bark – cool, primal, and utterly free. I can’t imagine a better scent to usher in the spring awakening, with roots swollen with sap beneath the misty forest floor, snow melting into the delicate pearls of lily of the valley. The air thick with the promise of rebirth – all cruel beauty, endings disguised as beginnings and life stirring in the undergrowth, raw and relentless. The most alive time of all.

BAD WOLF wakes up my inner Red Riding Hood – the version who’s seen the wolf, danced with it, and is now striding back through the woods, wearing its fur, all cool and unbothered. It’s for the those who run with the wolves – or make the wolves run for their lives, for the lone wolves, the leaders of the pack, and those who roam the spectrum – from alpha to sigma and back.

Top notes: wild, fierce, free Heart notes: hunt, roam Base notes: spirit, freedom

Notes: leather, cedarwood, weeping cypress, juniper, pine needles, angelica, lily of the valley, wild daffodils, misty forest floor

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

Disclosure: A bottle of BAD WOLF was kindly offered by the brand, opinions are always my own.

Nose Republic Bad Wolf

Nose Republic BAD WOLF via the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Nose Republic we have a 50 ml bottle of Bad Wolf for one registered reader from the USA or EU. 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 of Nose Republic Bad Wolf  and where you live. Draw closes 2/28/2025

Michelyn’s note: Nose Republic received an Art And Olfaction award for Best Newcomer 2024

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42 comments

  • I like the work of Cristiano Canali for Artimique and Rubini, so my expectations for Bad Wolf are high. A green leather scent with precious woods sounds great. I live in EU.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great writeup!

    Of all the things, I really liked the use of the green pine to bring out the a different facet of the woodiness. I also liked the use of daffodils in this kind of composition, haven’t really seen that before.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • I liked the description of wolves as “dangerous, elusive, and always watching.” The smoky aspects and the daffodils in Bad Wolf sound attractive to me. Thanks for another wonderful review and draw. MI USA

  • I like Nose Republic’s philosophy in relation to creating scents in tandem with stories. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a daffodil note; how intriguing! I really enjoy scents that manage to balance harsher or more “raw” notes with “pretty” ones; the smoky and woody cedar notes with all the flowers seem like it could fit the bill. That “leather and lace” type dichotomy suits me well. USA

  • Nicoleta’s review makes Bad Wolf sound absolutely magical! I love the idea of a fragrance that blends raw woods with delicate wildflowers—there’s something so intriguing about that contrast. The imagery of walking through a misty forest with hints of pine, cedar, and daffodils is just captivating. Plus, who wouldn’t want to channel their inner Red Riding Hood who’s not afraid of the wolf but is the wolf? This one’s definitely going on my must-try list!

    EU

  • I’m genuinely fascinated by how Bad Wolf seems to play with the line between the wild and the gentle. The mix of smoky cedar, green pine, and that unexpected touch of lily of the valley and wild daffodils sounds like such a unique olfactory experience. I love a fragrance that tells a story, and this one feels like stepping into a dark, enchanted forest. Can’t wait to get my hands on this

    I am from the EU

  • The way Nicoleta described Bad Wolf, I could almost smell it through the screen! I love green, woody scents, and the idea of combining them with delicate florals and the rawness of a misty forest floor is just genius. There’s something so alluring about a fragrance that feels both untamed and comforting. Plus, anything that makes me feel like I’m running free in the woods or channeling my inner lone wolf is an absolute win.

    EU

  • After reading Nicoleta’s review, I’m totally hooked on the idea of Bad Wolf. The way she describes it a mix of rugged leather, smoky cedar, and those delicate touches of wild daffodils and lily of the valley really paints a picture of an untamed, enchanted forest. It’s like the fragrance is inviting you on a mysterious journey where you can embrace your wild side and feel utterly free. This blend of contrasts is exactly what I’ve been looking for in a scent

    I am from the EU, Germany

  • Bring on the spring with the sap, the melting snow and the misty forest floor. I planted some Lily of the Valley last year and they never came up. I do like wolves, love to hear them when I visit my parents with the windows open at night. The makes me want to go take a hike in the forest which I don’t do often enough and I have no excuse as I live in the PNW. I’m imagining “no boss to please” as I retire in 15 months. Thanks for the great read. USA.

  • Sherin Thomas says:

    Sounds very mysterious fragrance. The imagery of walking through a misty forest with hints of pine, cedar, and daffodils is just captivating. Plus, who wouldn’t want to channel their inner Red Riding Hood . From PA, USA

  • So many unique offerings from Nose Republic.The mix of green, woody, floral, and leather notes is what intrigues me the most. I’ll have to get a short stories sample set. I don’t see daffodil often enough in perfumes. Seattle

  • The first set of notes threw me off but that’s probably how the perfumer and creator want you to experience the scent. Wild, free, hunt? A wolves’ nature indeed. I never thought of a wolf, what it could smell like and its environment but it would certainly be green, wet and bloody (feast time). You get the full range of scents here that a wolf can be associate with and it’s something to admire. The bad wolf out roaming the streets wants us to notice him and appreciate its features. I’ ñm located in the USA.

  • I’m not familiar with this brand at all but I really want to be able to tell people that I’m wearing bad wolf. A green woody leather sounds nice for spring time. I’m in USA.

  • All things green, woody and forest intrigue me anyway, so your hounting description makes me highly curious. And the wolf is a fascinating creature indeed, one can’t escape its apex power. I’d love to win this to Germany, thank you for the draw.

  • Sorohan Adriana says:

    I wish to discover lilies of the valley and daffodils in the raw spring grass and enjoy this new beginning and our rebirth together with nature. I am from EU

  • Wonderful review from Nicoleta, as always.
    I love when perfumers try to represent a story through their compositions, and even more when the interpretation is left to who smells it.
    I’m talking about the dichotomy of the wolf nature, as Nicoleta said, often seen as a fierce hunter but sometimes considered as a protective figure.
    Like in “Nostos”, from etat libre d’orange, which represent the duality of Achilles, who smells this composition is called to choose
    which side of the wolf to embrace, and I think that this is pretty exciting for a perfume enthusiast.
    I hope to try this experience,
    cheers from Italy.

  • I love a green fragrance and I love the choice of daffodils as the balance to the woodsy, earthy elements. This is my kind of perfume!! I have not tried this house yet but everything sounds phenomenal. I can’t believe spring will soon be here?! Thank you for the generous giveaway. I am located in the U.S.

  • Bad Wolf sounds really good! I think that all the green notes in this perfume make up for a great aromatic fragrance, perfect for spring!

  • Arian Jamali says:

    Thanks for the excellent review! I especially appreciated how the green pine highlighted a different aspect of the woodiness. The inclusion of daffodils in this type of composition was also a nice touch—I haven’t come across that before.
    USA

  • redwheelbarrow says:

    Wow this house sounds like a lot of fun and as a Whovian who loves Margaret Atwood, I think this one needs to be in my collection. I’m curious about the daffodil note. This sounds really interesting! Thanks for the draw. From the US.

  • I’ve been a fan of Cristiano Canali’s work, and Bad Wolf sounds like an absolute must-try! The idea of a fragrance that balances raw, animalic energy with refined composition is really intriguing. I can only imagine how it develops on the skin—wild yet sophisticated.
    I’m in the EU, Romania, and would love to win this giveaway! Thanks to ÇaFleureBon and Nose Republic for the opportunity. Best of luck to everyone!

  • Kensolfactoryodyssey says:

    Bad wolf you have me intrigued. Green damp forest with an air of mystery. I say let me smell the illusion… of a mythical big bad wolf

  • Kensolfactoryodyssey says:

    Bad wolf you have me intrigued. Green damp forest with an air of mystery. I say let me smell the illusion… of a mythical big bad wolf.
    Thanks ÇaFleureBon for all these opportunities to win such lovely fragrances. I’m in Ca, USA

  • A woody, green fragrance with a touch of floral? Yes, please. This sounds gorgeous, fragrant and deep.
    Melissa Kentucky USA

  • My favorite fragrance with predominantly green and leather notes is probably Piguet’s Bandit. Bad Wolf seems more arboreal and less smoky with its forest centric wood notes and spring wild flowers. Love the ad copy on this! MD, USA.

  • Oh, yes, this much green woody scent is perfect for the coming Spring! Also love the international flavor of the ingredients and the interesting takes various cultures have on Wolves. Sounds like a winner! I live in the USA.

  • Eris.can.swatch.kaos says:

    Nose Republic, a very new to me brand, has concocted this “Bad Wolf” with much originality. I am intrigued by the note structure and really want to experience it myself. I am in love with Nicoleta’s take on this fragrance and appreciate the thoughtful review. I live in Oregon.

  • It cannot go wrong with Cristiano Canali, especially when Ksenia was guiding him.

    Thank you for your review and generosity.

    Greetings from Europe. 🙂

  • Nice review Nicoleta! The transition that Ms. Golovanova has made is not easy: from perfume blogger to creating her fragrance brand. She wants to tell universal stories rooted in her culture with perfumes. Here in Bad Wolf, with Mr. Canali in the making: a green leather that is a contrast of its woods (mainly cedar of which I have used up to 4 different ones, but also a great pine absolute) and flowers (wild daffodils and lilly of the valleys). Wolfs stories are a fine line between human and beast and in our imagery they are always singing into the night at the edge of a cliff, but here the wolf is good natured and friendly: ready for that spring that appears in our forests. I live in Spain, EU.

  • Danu Erce Seith-Fyr says:

    One cannot resist such perfumery magic transposed into a myriad of conjuring words by Nicoleta. I am transfixed, dangerous perhaps under the gaze of a wolf, but herein lies the tenderly laid trap. Thank you, a marvellous read. I live in EU, France

  • wonderscent.mari says:

    Thanks for the lovely review!The presentation looks amazing too! What sparked my interest was when Nicoleta described the fragrance as a green leather fragrance that it can set you free. Sounds a very introverted fragrance for days when you want to feel your strength, freedom, think logically, react quickly, move silently through the city on soft paws, keeping the mystery of the forest inside.
    I don’t really know the brand, but I Hope to try it soon!
    Thank you for this opportunity!
    EU, Germany

  • Regis Monkton says:

    I would like to try Nose Republic BAD WOLF. I like the woodsy notes, I like the floral notes, and I’m intrigued to see how they contrast with each other. I live in MD, USA.

  • foreverscents says:

    All of the fragrances in the discovery set sound wonderful, but I am happy that Nicoleta chose Bad Wolf. I love that there are strong wood notes in the fragrance, but the wild daffodil note is what intrigues me the most. I can certainly feel the raw and relentless forest in this fragrance.
    I live in the USA.

  • What strikes my interest is how to symbolize darkness in a scent and art. I live in Virginia, USA.

  • Terrific review. Ksenia’s comments about the inspiration for Nose Republic are very thoughtful; the smells that cross cultures, filled with similar meaning, are a fitting focus for perfumery. The “short stories” nomenclature reminds me of Imaginary Authors as well. BAD WOLF has a compelling mix of ideas, including the leather, the depth and damp of woods and forest floor, the green cast from the pine absolute, and that surprisingly delicate twist of wild daffodil and lily of the valley. I’m intrigued by this brand’s whole lineup (and vibe) but BAD WOLF sounds spectacular.

    I’m in the USA.

  • I picture the person wearing this fragrance to be confident but not arrogant, a sentimentalist not a pessimist. The grounding woods and leather meshed together with the lush green florals sounds so invigorating and awakening. Nicoleta’s review has put the BAD WOLF on my radar.
    Metro Detroit, Michigan – USA

  • What interests me about this scent is that it’s said to represent a story very clearly as does many other scents from this brand. So I got curious and looked them up too and they are all so unique and distinct it’s inspiring! This showed me that you can count on this bottle to be special. I live in the USA

  • Bad Wolf by Nose Republic sounds like an intriguing and bold fragrance, especially with Cristiano Canali’s touch. I love how a scent can evoke both raw power and mystery—definitely something I’d love to experience.
    I’m from the EU, Romania.

  • Tbe whole line is very intriguing. I watched an interview with Ksenia recently that only got me more interested. Bad Wolf sounds like me, especially the daffodils and earthy notes.

  • I love the Margaret Atwood quote. I’m always intrigued by the different cedars and am enthralled by green fragrances lately. I also adore scents with unusual juxtapositions like raw power and fragile gentleness. USA