The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Empress arrived in 2022 as Soki London's debut, the first statement from a brand built by a content creator who understood exactly what her audience wanted before they knew they wanted it. Sophie King is a YouTuber-turned-creator whose fragrance review content helped her build a following that translated into product design. Empress is that instinct distilled. Named for the ruling woman, the one who doesn't negotiate her place in the room, not because she's loud, but because she never needed to earn it. Ruth Mastenbrœk translated this into a composition that opens bright and fruity, then settles into something with weight and warmth. The perfumer's task was clear: build a fragrance that felt aspirational without feeling unreachable.
What makes Empress unusual is the popcorn-toffee combination anchoring the base. Neither note typically appears alone, popcorn suggests sweetness and texture, toffee adds caramel depth and warmth. Together with patchouli, they create a gourmand quality that stops short of being edible. The patchouli keeps everything grounded, earthy, almost mineral. The rose and peony in the heart don't compete with the sweetness, they frame it, giving the composition a regal middle act before the warm, close drydown. Wild strawberry opens bright and green, not overly sweet, which sets up the contrast: a fruity beginning that resolves into something unexpectedly cozy.
The evolution
Wild strawberry hits first, sharp, green, almost effervescent. Thirty seconds in, the pear note adds a juiciness that rounds the opening into something approachable. The rose and peony arrive within minutes, shifting the composition from fruity to floral. The peony reads soft, almost powdery; the rose adds depth without the sharpness some expect. This middle phase lasts the longest, three to four hours of warm florals held against a base that hasn't fully announced itself yet. Then the drydown. The toffee and popcorn emerge first, sweet and slightly buttery, before the patchouli settles underneath. The patchouli doesn't dominate, it grounds the sweetness, keeps it from flying away. On most skin types, this phase holds for four to six hours. The fragrance stays close, intimate, but it doesn't disappear. Spray on a scarf and you'll catch traces the next morning.
Cultural impact
Empress arrived in 2022 as a debut from a creator-turned-brand. The Soki London approach drew attention from fragrance enthusiasts who appreciated a perspective that felt personal and grounded. The unique popcorn-toffee base has been a point of discussion among those who encounter it, either connecting immediately or requiring a moment of explanation. Either way, it keeps Empress in conversation.
The House
Soki LondonSOKI LONDON is an independent British fragrance brand founded and operated by creator Sophie King. The company operates without external investment, with King maintaining full ownership and creative control. Headquartered in the UK, the brand has built a following of approximately 25,000 on Instagram, where Sophie shares fragrance content under the SOKI LONDON persona. The collection draws its nomenclature from historically significant women, including Empress (2022), Aphrodite (2023), Artemis (2024), and Cleopatra (2025), with Ophelia scheduled for 2026. SOKI LONDON positions itself within the vegan and cruelty-free fragrance space, holding PETA certification. The brand retails through Boots Fragrance Boutique at London Broadgate, independent perfumery Parfum LedanCe in Richmond, and various online fragrance retailers. Unlike many fragrance companies operating with investor backing, SOKI LONDON remains a self-funded venture, reflecting its founder's direct approach to building a fragrance business.
The Creator
Ruth MastenbrœkRuth’s signature technique rests on precise layering. She builds a base of clean, mineral notes, often a blend of white pepper, ozonic aldehydes, and soft cedar, then adds a heart of rare florals such as Bulgarian rose or Madagascan ylang‑ylang.
