The Empress.

The Empress was conceived as part of The Dua Brand’s Designer Line, a collection that aims to reinterpret coveted luxury scents with a more attainable price. In 2023 the house set out to tackle a glaring omission in the market: a genuine watermelon note listed among the top accords. By foregrounding watermelon alongside strawberry, the perfumers created a bright, summery opening that instantly signals the fragrance’s playful ambition. The name “Empress” evokes a regal confidence, aligning the scent’s bold fruit‑forward start with the brand’s desire to crown everyday moments with a touch of luxury.

The decision to pair watermelon with a bouquet of pink peony, magnolia, cyclamen and damask rose was deliberate. The floral heart tempers the fruit’s zing, offering a soft, garden‑fresh texture that feels both feminine and universal. Meanwhile, the base of musk, sandalwood, smoke and woody notes grounds the composition, preventing it from becoming cloyingly sweet. This contrast between bright fruit, lush florals and a smoky‑woody dry‑down gives The Empress its distinctive, multi‑layered personality that evolves throughout the day.

The Empress announces itself with a splash of watermelon and strawberry that feels like a chilled fruit cocktail on a hot terrace, lasting the first ten minutes before the sweetness mellows. As the top notes fade, the heart unfurls: pink peony and magnolia lend a velvety softness, cyclamen adds a green crispness, and damask rose provides a classic depth, together forming a garden in full bloom that persists for the next two to three hours. Around the three‑hour mark, the composition pivots; smoky whispers emerge, intertwining with creamy sandalwood and warm musk, while subtle woody accents anchor the scent. This dry‑down settles into a refined, smoky‑woody veil that clings to skin for the remainder of the day, offering a lingering presence that is noticeable but never overpowering, even after six hours.

Since its 2023 launch, The Empress has become a talking point among fragrance fans for finally listing watermelon as a top note, a rarity that sparked online debates and Instagram shares. Its blend of sweet fruit and smoky wood appeals to those who enjoy a playful yet sophisticated profile, positioning it as a go‑to summer staple in the Dua Designer Line community.