Nose Republic Moon Child Review  (Stephanie Bakouche) 2023+ NeverEnding story

Nose Republic Moon Child

Nose Republic Moon Child, photo via the brand

Nose Republic began as a personal journal – a Telegram blog where its founder, Ksenia Golovanova, a well-known Russian perfume writer and translator, shared her scent obsessions, discoveries, and reflections. From these fragrant musings, a brand was born. The 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: “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

Ksenia Golovanova of Nose Republic

Ksenia Golovanova, photo via official website

I first came across Nose Republic this past winter – and let’s just say, it was an instant click. I got that unmistakable giddy feeling, like finding a secret message written just for me with a brand that mixes irreverence, fantasy, and a touch of mythology, all sprinkled with the raw Eastern European mood that felt deliciously familiar. The big Bad Wolf, which I’ve covered in detail, became my go-to creature of comfort for the cold season – a dark, magnetic, and deliciously feral green leather scent. But as the days grew longer, it was Nose Republic Moon Child – with its eerie, translucent charm – that slowly made its way under my skin.

Grimes photo in Vegas, fairuse

The first time I sampled Nose Republic Moon Child, my mind shot straight to the Vegas Sphere – otherworldly, massive, alive  and alien with flickering lights. I pictured Grimes on stage, bathed in lasers, wearing this exact scent: a surreal mix of raspberry, lily, and gunpowder, like stardust caught in a star explosion. In winter, it intrigued me. In summer – I’m in love!

The  perfumer behind the scent is, who is responsible for many of my fragrant crushes throughout the years: Jul et Mad Fugit Amor, Gallivant Accra, MDCI Invasion Barbare – to mention but a few – is Stéphanie Bakouche.

Perfumer Stéphanie Bakouche

Perfumer Stéphanie Bakouche 

Fragrances inspired by space often include cold and metallic top notes. To me, invoking space indeed means some kind of infinite darkness, but also warmth * the one that comes from starlight and the moon cradle in the night sky. I found the warmth I needed to balance the cosmic frost of Moon Child in the Stargazer lily, one of the warmest, spiciest floral notes in a perfumer’s palette. Not to mention that its bright pink, almost fuchsia petals recall the color of raspberry, a fruit which scent has been identified among the smells that can be perceived in certain areas of the Milky Way. In other words, the Stargazer lily is the centerpiece of Moon Child, an accord towards which many space travelers will gravitate”  – Stéphanie Bakouche

Beyond Alister Crowley’s occult stories and Led Zeppelin’s psychedelic echoes, beyond even the Tarkovskian Pavlovian effect that kicks in every time my retro-futurism bells start ringing – Nose Republic Moon Child took me somewhere far more personal. Somewhere hidden deep in my own inner mythology.

How many of you remember The NeverEnding Story and the Childlike Empress of Fantasia? That snow-pale little girl in the Ivory Tower, whose very name could hold a crumbling universe together. That’s the fragment that came rushing back, together with a wave of emotions I haven’t felt in … quite some time.

Bastian: How many wishes do I get?

Empress Moonchild: As many as you want. And the more wishes you make, the more magnificent Fantasia will become.

Bastian: Really?

Empress Moonchild: Try it.

The NeverEnding Story (1984) IMDB, fairuse

If you’ve ever watched the 1984 film adaptation of Michael Ende’s The NeverEnding Story, chances are you remember that moment – the one where Bastian, the quiet kid hiding away in an attic with a mysterious book, suddenly realizes he’s part of the story. As he reads about Atreyu’s epic journey to save Fantasia, we watch both timelines unfold: Atreyu fighting to reach the Ivory Tower, and Bastian turning pages, completely unaware that the real task – the real magic – depends on him. When Atreyu finally stands before the Childlike Empress, expecting to be the hero who saves her, she reveals that the power to restore their world isn’t his, but Bastian’s. The one reading. The one who must name her, or Fantasia disappears. And her name is… you guess it: MoonChild. As it was my older brother’s favourite movie growing up, I remember watching very often –  and crying a lot – part because of the emotional charge the movie held – and part (and let it be a warning) such fragile minds should not be submitted to so many metafictional layers at such a young age.

The NeverEnding Story (1984) IMDB, fairuse

Nose Republic Moon Child is uplifting – all white light and soaring heights, floating far above the clouds, carried by a breath of aldehydes that keeps everything weightless, imponderable. There’s a flash of cool metal too, like pressing the auryn amulet’s writings against bare skin – “Do What You Wish”. There’s a moondust accord here, too -powdery,  otherworldly like it’s been scraped from the floor of the Ivory Tower itself. But behind that celestial stillness, the Nothing is always near: smoky, sulphurous, like an invisible dragon breath that keeps blowing the light out of the few left burning matches. There is crown of white flowers dancing between worlds  – cold, surreal, metallic, the  scent of a dying world,  beginning to fray at the edges. And still… something pulls you forward. A parallel storyline to a place where Artax (the horsie) is never swallowed into the Swamps of Sadness, but eats berries in a forest, bathed in warm light.

Moon child Nose Republic

AI mood pic by Nicoleta for Nose Republic Moon Child

The real villain in the movie (and in life) isn’t some fire-breathing monster. It’s the Nothing. A creeping, hollow force that spreads as we stop dreaming, stop imagining, stop caring about the stories that once held magic. The Nothing is what’s left when daydreams are dismissed, when make-believe becomes “immature”. Apathy, scroll-induced numbness, “it’s just a story”, “it’s just scented water”, imagination becomes content, stories became “engagement”, and our world is invaded by “beast modes” “clones” “dupes” and algorithm-based flankers.

We can’t let the Nothing win, and with scented stories such as the ones made by Ksenia, I do believe our fragrant Fantasia is safe.

Top notes: dreams, craving  Heart notes: utopia, escape, stargazer base: soar, cosmic

Notes: Aldehydes, raspberry, Stargazer lily, cool metal, smoky gunpowder, sandalwood, musk, moondust accord

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

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

Moon Child by Nose Republic

Nose Republic Moon Child, photo via the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Nose Republic we have a 50 ml bottle of Nose Republic Moon Child 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 and where you live. Draw closes 7/22/2025

Also check out my review on Nose Republic Bad Wolf.

Michelyn’s Note: Nose Republic received an Art And Olfaction award for Best Newcomer 2024 for Queer de Russie

7/20/25 is International Moon Day

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial@nicoleta.tomsa @nosrepublicperfumes @sensabaperfumeisart

This is our Privacy Policy

We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like ÇaFleureBon and use our blog feed… or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

Like our Facebook page: Çafleurebon and use our blog feed for new updates and articles.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


28 comments

  • wonderscent.mari says:

    Great writeup and a very interesting house with an inspiring philosophy to create unique olfactive stories that we can relate and connect with them.
    I haven’t had the opportunity to try their fragrances but I was always intrigued by the notes of Bad Wolf,green woody notes combined with delicate florals.. Very dark & alluring one!
    As for Moon Child, what sparks my interest is this “surreal” blend that would accompanied a concert of Grimes and also the association with the “The NeverEnding Story”.
    I liked the description of floating, dreaming with no ending and keep our fantasy awake. This uplifting fragrance sounds very unique with the notes of powdery moondust (aldehydes), a stargaze lily and a smokey gunpowder! The imaginary of being in a cosmic atmosphere where the balance of cold and warm elements being around me is truly captivating. Never experienced before this kind of blend with so many contrasting notes. I hope to try it.
    Thanks for another wonderful review and draw.
    I am from EU

  • My word! I had never heard of this house until now. I took more of an interest in Queer de Russie than Moon Child after heading over to their website.

    Queer de Russie plays with history, gender, and sensuality in a dramatic and unapologetically provocative way in both name and scent.

    I would be interested in sampling Moon Child.

  • I failed to add that I’m in the US.

    More importantly, I went back to the Russian website to blind buy Queer de Russie. I’m afraid the shipping cost is rather high. That coupled with my last international perfume purchase [Calgary to the States] took nearly 6 weeks back in April due to four weeks in US customs, has soured my interests. If anyone knows of a US distributor that carries this line, please leave suggestion in comments. I could not find any via a basic Google search.

  • Wonderful review! The Neverending Story was my favorite movie as a kid, especially growing up in the USSR. I’m very drawn to Nose Republic story and would love to smell the scents!

  • Wonderful review! That movie was my favorite as a kid, especially growing up in thr USSR, when it came to theaters it was a sensation. I watched an interview with Ksenia a while back and been interested in Nose Republic ever since.

  • goldenswan says:

    Nicoleta description of Moon Child as “a surreal mix of raspberry, lily, and gunpowder” really caught my attention. The contrast of sweetness and edge sounds like a scent full of surprises. USA

  • ElenaChiss says:

    What I liked about this review is the following statement: Nose Republic Moon Child is uplifting – all white light and soaring heights, floating far above the clouds, carried by a breath of aldehydes that keeps everything weightless, imponderable.

    I am in the EU. Thanks!

  • snowflake15 says:

    I love the quote on perfumes as stories. I can imagine the story told by the notes, now I just need to smell it to feel the story. NY state USA

  • Aligning a story to a fragrance is indeed great and makes it personal. Read your article on Sunday morning would definitely have a good day. I am from US.

  • Ramses Perez says:

    This is quite the composition when it comes to notes and how they interact with each other to create the final blend. I see the house decided to market the notes as spatial places and objects rather than the actual notes to add to the overall storytelling of the composition. The perfumer here understood the assignment to a tea and a never ending story was brought to life, or rather, to Earth. I can see this one will definitely take the wearer on a journey with notes such as moon dust accord and smoky gunpowder and may take more than one wear to get the full story. I’m located in the USA.

  • Never thought a scent would evoke Space. Almost sounds like a “cyberpunk” scent. As a huge fan of sci-fi, im very interested in how this would smell. Thank you for the review. USA

  • What stood out to me in this review is the idea of scent as personal mythology. The comparison between Moon Child and The NeverEnding Story feels deeply resonant — the way fragrance can bring back not just memories but entire emotional landscapes from childhood. I’m especially intrigued by the concept of moondust as an accord — it sounds both poetic and textural, like something that sits between reality and fantasy.
    I am from the EU, Germany

  • FragranceFrenzyS says:

    The Stargazer lily as a counterbalance to cold space notes is such a compelling idea. I appreciate how Stéphanie Bakouche approaches the theme of “space” with emotional warmth rather than just metallic sterility. It makes me curious to experience how that warmth and coolness interact in Moon Child — especially with aldehydes and gunpowder in the mix.

    EU based

  • Lastochka says:

    This review draws such a vivid connection between scent and storytelling. I’ve always believed that perfume has the power to carry narratives in a way words sometimes can’t and Moon Child sounds like a perfect example. The tension between ethereal brightness and the darker pull of “The Nothing” is a metaphor I hadn’t considered before, but it makes so much sense.
    EU

  • AromaAdventurer says:

    I’m really drawn to the way this fragrance seems to explore contrasts metallic and floral, cosmic cold and starlight warmth, imagination and apathy. The emotional undercurrent of the review adds another layer of meaning. I feel like this isn’t just about liking how something smells, but about engaging with a world someone has created with intention.
    EU

  • LindenNoir says:

    There’s something haunting about the way Moon Child is described not just as a perfume, but as a kind of resistance to the flattening effect of algorithm-driven culture. I hadn’t thought of perfume in that context before, but it makes sense: storytelling through scent becomes an act of preservation. This review definitely made me want to seek it out.
    EU Germany

  • lemoncake says:

    Excellent review. The perfumes from this house (previously unfamiliar to me) sound very evocative and something I’d like to experience. This scent sounds mysterious and ethereal in a way I’ve not found in any scent. I’m in the US.

  • What a great inspiration for a perfume! I’m very intrigued by the combination of notes, especially the gunpowder and moon dust notes. The stargazer lily and raspberry sound like such interesting companions to them. I bet this perfumes smells like nothing else in this world. I’m in the USA.

  • Sorohan Adriana says:

    White flowers, fresh raspberries, cool and transparent incense I feel like I’m being infused with fragrant coolness in the summer heat.
    I am from EU

  • Oh I read and write this on International Moon Day. I admit I had no idea a singular day existed for the Moon. I feel that every day exists for the Moon, we are so intertwined. In my world I turn to her for solace, protection, therapy, music, beauty, as a muse and a familiar mystery. Her silvery beauty seems to be really revered in this perfume and I can’t wait to try it! I love lily fragrances, cool accords and sandalwood and musk.
    I am located in the U.S. with my fingers crossed and my heart with the moon.

  • foreverscents says:

    I love reviews such as this one. First, it is always intriguing to discover how a perfumer interprets a subject–in this case outer space. I love that raspberry was chosen by Stéphanie Bakouche. I had no idea that this note could be perceived from some parts of the Milky Way. I also love that there is a stargazer lily note. Second, I love reading the journey taken by the reviewer. That Moon Child made Nicoleta think of Grimes and The NeverEnding Story is just wonderful. I always hope to have such recollections whenever I try a new fragrance.
    I live in the USA.

  • Rubinshtein says:

    I have been following Xenia Golovanova’s blog for years, she always bring unusual themes and new names, so I am very curious what her art direction has led to. After reading this article Moon Child attracts me with its “irreverence, fantasy, and a touch of mythology, all sprinkled with the raw Eastern European mood”. I am a bit afraid of that cosmic dust accord, but the name of Stéphanie Bakouche convinces me – it must be powdery good.
    Sign me in for the giveaway, I live in the EU, thank you for the opportunity!

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the lovely writeup! Really enjoyed the trip down memory lane reading about this fragrance and hte images from some forgotten films.

    I really like the interpretation of the vastness of space and the Nothing – both cold and warm, carefree and cruel.

    Would love to smell this.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • The notes and accords Stephanie has chosen for Moonchild really capture the otherworldliness of the moon. The cool metallic and the aldehydes give a feeling of space and the night sky. The stargazer lily and smoky gunpowder are an interesting and ethereal juxtaposition. The sandalwood and musk base are pure comfort. Love the NeverEnding Story reference. MD, USA

  • Kensolfactoryodyssey says:

    Nicoleta’s review of Moon Child hit me like a wave of cosmic nostalgia — raspberry stardust, aldehydes, stargazer lily, and that moondust accord? I’m already floating. The NeverEnding Story reference sealed it: I’m Bastian in an attic, still believing in magic, still naming worlds back into existence. This scent sounds like starlight and storybooks, and I need it. I’m in California, USA

  • Kensolfactoryodyssey says:

    Nicoleta’s review of Moon Child hit me like a wave of cosmic nostalgia — raspberry stardust, aldehydes, stargazer lily, and that moondust accord? I’m already floating. The NeverEnding Story reference sealed it: I’m Bastian in an attic, still believing in magic, still naming worlds back into existence. This scent sounds like starlight and storybooks, and I need it. I’m in California, USA

  • Alien and otherworldly had my attention from the start and now after reading this I guess I need to watch the neverending story? Aldehydes, Lily, gunpowder, and raspberry? Sounds very interesting to me. I’m in the USA