Boadicea the Victorious launched Hanuman in 2016 as part of its zodiac series, naming it after the Hindu monkey god and celebrating the Year of the Monkey. The brand calls it a pure perfume, and at $1,190 for 100ml it sits firmly in ultra-luxury territory. The question worth asking is whether the juice inside justifies that number, because this DNA has well-known cheaper relatives.
What Does Boadicea the Victorious Hanuman Smell Like?
The opening is genuinely cheerful. Lemon arrives more as sparkling lemonade than sharp acid, backed by bergamot, a tart black currant snap, and orange blossom. Community reviews consistently describe the first half hour as effervescent and sunny without any harsh alcohol bite.
Within the hour the heart takes over. Magnolia is the standout, rendered creamy and faintly green, supported by neroli that carries the citrus forward and osmanthus that adds a soft fruity leather nuance. Cyclamen keeps the floral side airy rather than heavy. This is where Hanuman earns comparisons to Initio’s Musk Therapy and Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique: it reads like the sunny open of Bal d’Afrique fused with the clean musky heart of Musk Therapy.
The drydown is quiet and comfortable. Vetiver and cedar provide a light woody spine, while sandalwood, musk, and amber round everything into a powdery, slightly sweet skin scent. Several reviewers note it stays fairly linear after the transition, which is either reassuring or boring depending on your taste. One recurring quirk: a small number of wearers pick up a faint nail polish facet in the florals, likely from the magnolia and currant interaction.
Performance
Official copy claims 7 to 9 hours, and most user reports land in that range, though opinions split. Fans describe all-day longevity on clothing and six hours of arm’s length projection. Skeptics report the scent hugging skin within thirty minutes and dying by hour four. The truth depends heavily on skin chemistry. On most skin, expect moderate projection for the first two hours, then a close wearable glow for another four to seven. For a parfum concentration at this price, the projection is modest rather than monstrous.
Best Clone or Alternative
The Dua Brand sells Strength of Wind as an explicit one-to-one replica of Hanuman. Its listed pyramid mirrors the original almost exactly, adding tagetes for a slight marigold-green lift. You get a 34ml extrait for $65 instead of 100ml for $1,190, roughly one eighteenth of the price. Similarity sits around 85 percent: the structure, sweetness level, and floral character match closely, while Dua’s version smells a touch less polished in the base and wears a bit brighter up top. If you love this scent family, Strength of Wind answers the value question decisively. Bal d’Afrique and Sospiro Contralto are also frequently cited as near-redundant alternatives, with Contralto often called stronger and cheaper than both.
When To Wear It
Hanuman is a spring and summer daytime fragrance. It suits office wear in warm months, casual weekends, brunches, and smart daytime events where something fresh but refined works. The woody base gives it enough composure for dressed-up settings, and it also performs nicely indoors during shoulder seasons. It is too airy and polite for cold winter nights.
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if you already know and love this DNA, have sampled it on your own skin, and want the most refined version of the profile with a collectible gold-plated bottle. Fans of Bal d’Afrique who found its performance lacking will appreciate that Hanuman holds its core accord longer instead of collapsing into plain musk within an hour.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if price matters. Multiple reviewers call the $1,190 tag indefensible when Contralto, Bal d’Afrique, or Dua’s version deliver 85 to 95 percent of the experience for far less. Skip it if you want loud projection or a fragrance that evolves dramatically, and skip it if powdery white florals tend to turn soapy on you.
Final Verdict
As a composition, Hanuman is excellent: beautifully blended, natural smelling, and easy to wear, with a sunny citrus floral character few fragrances match. As a purchase, it asks you to pay a steep premium for refinement and packaging. Most buyers should sample first, then decide between the original’s polish and Dua’s Strength of Wind at a fraction of the cost.