CLEOPATRA by Soki London

The horizon is something that often reignites memories, brings thoughts into focus, or even forces us to confront challenges that have lain buried. Looking out onto an expanse of ocean, rolling fields, or even deserts, unlocks feelings and emotions in a way that feels private and unobstructed. This idea of “vastness” has often found itself as part of the inspiration for perfumes, because with vastness comes expanse, and with expanse comes volume. The fashion for voluminous, head-turning fragrances shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, and Soki London has definitely delivered with their new release. All hail Cleopatra.

There surely can’t be anyone that hasn’t heard of the legendary Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. She embodied a mix of wit, ambition and allure, which ultimately led to her capturing the attentions of two of Rome’s most powerful men - Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. This was a woman who, while beautiful, secured her power with blazing intellect and irresistible charm. Through films and books, we’ve all learned that her passion was a legendary as her politics, and she managed to turn love into strategy and seduction into empire-building. I think you’ll agree, quite an inspiration for a perfume!

Sophie King, the creative mind behind Soki London, is something of a perfumed seductress herself. With a wicked smile and a glint in her eye, she has now successfully launched four fragrances, and has grown a loyal following of fans for both her perfumes and her YouTube channel. From selling exclusively on her platform to now being stocked on the high street, Sophie has shown that with persistence comes reward, and she definitely deserves it. From Empress in 2022 to Aphrodite in 2023, quickly followed by Artemis in 2024 and now Cleopatra in 2025, there’s a definite trend of strong female figures.

To create Cleopatra, Sophie once again enlisted the help of perfumers Nic Mastenbroek and Ruth Mastenbroek. Now working side by side, this mother and son duo have shown how a foundation in traditional perfumery, mixed with a modern take on the industry, can create results that are both familiar and surprising at the same time. With Cleopatra, the idea was to conjure a perfume that wasn’t so much worn as wielded, echoing the power that the seductress had. Remember, she didn’t just rule Egypt, she ruled the hearts of history’s greatest men. So, grab your kohl, and banish your asp, as we discover Cleopatra.

The fragrance opens with an incredible rush of orange blossom and bergamot, so you immediately have the sensual floral hitting against the expansive citrus, before being joined by an animalic dose of jasmine to really emphasise the power of the perfume. It then feels as if the citrus returns in the form of juicy mandarin, and a dagger-like neroli, but the intensity is about to rise a notch. The further development of Cleopatra continues with ylang ylang and tuberose coming through but backed by labdanum-rich amber, so you have the resinous sensuality so associated with the subject, along with a fig and sandalwood pairing that creates a fruited wood effect that is deliciously unexpected. With a final bite of clove-encrusted cedarwood, Cleopatra is a fragrance that is destined to be worshiped.

Cleopatra is available from the Soki London website at shop.sokilondon.com, and also from Boots, priced at £79 for 50ml and 32 for 15ml. [Sample provided by Sophie King]