The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Marylin Monroe, released in 2018, is a unisex fragrance created by Yanina Yakusheva. The name points to an instantly recognizable icon of Hollywood glamour, but the composition itself is less polished portrait than mood study. Mandarin Orange, Tangerine, and Bergamot bring a bright, public-facing glow. Patchouli, Tobacco, Oakmoss, Cassia, and Benzoin pull that light into warmer, earthier territory. Narcissus, Broom, Acacia, and Ylang-Ylang add floral body, giving the scent the shifting polish of perfume described in character rather than perfume described in ingredients.
The interesting part is the tension inside the name and the accord. Citrus gives the composition immediate radiance, while patchouli, tobacco, oakmoss, and benzoin create depth beneath the florals. That pairing gives it an unusual balance: polished enough for the first impression, grounded enough to stay memorable after the brightness softens. The combination of yellow floral notes with warm spice, sweet balsamic tones, and dry earthiness makes the fragrance feel layered without needing to announce its complexity.
The evolution
The opening arrives with citrus confidence. Mandarin Orange and Tangerine cut through Bergamot, bright and clean, while Broom and Acacia place a green floral edge around them. As the first hour passes, Narcissus and Ylang-Ylang bring a fuller floral warmth, joined by Tobacco's dry pull and Patchouli's textured earth. The composition gradually trades brightness for depth. Oakmoss and Cassia sharpen the woody, spiced base, while Benzoin settles the whole thing into amber sweetness. By the 4-6 hour mark, the fragrance sits closer to skin: less citrus sparkle, more tobacco, moss, and soft resin. The lingering impression is warm and balsamic, with a faint floral hush, like the brightness of an evening dress fading into an amber-lit room.
Cultural impact
Marylin Monroe sits within Yanina Yakusheva's broader practice of naming fragrances after figures and ideas with distinct cultural identities. Its Hollywood reference brings immediate glamour, while the unisex, character-driven composition complicates a purely nostalgic reading. That pairing fits the house's post-Soviet intellectual craft: familiar cultural symbols rendered with scientific attention and Slavic warmth.
The House
Yanina YakushevaYanina Yakusheva is a Russian artisan perfumery brand founded by perfumer Yanina Yakusheva, who trained and practiced as a doctor before pursuing fragrance creation. The brand emerged from Krasnodar, Russia, and maintains its operations in Sofia, Bulgaria. Specializing in handcrafted perfumes, the collection spans multiple olfactory territories, from the green-fresh character of William to the lactonic floral warmth of Ravenna, and the distinctive named compositions like Gideon, Aron, and the provocative Ilyich Lenin. The brand made its international debut at Pitti Fragranze in Florence during 2021, with Omnia Luxury Trade handling exclusive distribution in Italy. Each fragrance in the catalog carries a named character portrait, suggesting narratives that extend beyond simple scent descriptions into imagined personalities.
The Creator
Yanina YakushevaYakusheva operates between classical tradition and experimental boldness. Her compositions favor depth and layering, often building around creamy florals, soft musks, and warm vanillas.
