Formula XI: Hardcore

I’ve always believed that scent is one of the most powerful forms of expression. It doesn’t just linger in a room, it speaks. It tells a story. It reminds you. And for me, it unlocks parts of myself I didn’t even know existed. I didn’t set out to create fragrances for fame or money, I started because I needed a way to communicate who I was, or rather who I wanted to be, on my own terms. Loud, raw, unfiltered. Just like the women who raised me and the artists who shaped my self-image growing up. scents of all kinds became my language. My liberation. My armor.

So I decided to just start.

Every scent I develop starts with play. I sit with essential oils, blend, mix, and remix until something stirs in me. I focus especially on how they layer with cannabis aromas, since that’s a core part of my brand and my lifestyle. Once I land on something magnetic, I wear it everywhere:

• Work

• Dates

• Girls day out

• Adults day in

  
  

I’m not just testing longevity or projection. I’m listening to what the scent says about me, to me. I live in it. I meditate with it. I let it take me on a journey. And during that process, I start building a version of myself in my head to match the energy of the scent. While each fragrance reflects how it resonates with me, every nose and spirit will interpret it differently—there’s no gender, just connection.

This particular fragrance hit different. It was potent, magnetic, and dominant—it made me feel untouchable and sexy. And while all my scents are unisex, something about this blend pulled out a divine feminine energy that made me feel like I was the only woman in the room. In the world. I’d catch myself walking into rooms like I owned them. In my head, I was on yachts, in the club, at elite dinner parties, with all eyes on me. And the vibe kept giving the same energy:

“This must be what it felt like to be Nia Long in the 90s. Or Janet during the Velvet Rope era. But mostly? It felt like Lil Kim. Hardcore-era Lil Kim.”

That’s when it clicked. Lil Kim was my muse. The Prada Mama. The scent instantly transported me to the studio days of Lil’ Kim’s 1996 debut album, "Hardcore"—recorded at the legendary Hit Factory on 54th Street, where boldness, luxury, and raw energy merged into iconic art. Her album dropped on November 12—my birthday. (Tell me that’s not cosmic alignment.)

Her photoshoot for that album became iconic, one of the most recreated poses in female rap history. Hard Core (1996) was a cultural earthquake decribed as raw, fearless, and unapologetically sexual. It redefined feminine power in hip-hop by turning vulnerability into dominance and desire into control. Kim didn’t just rap; she owned her narrative, blending luxury, seduction, and danger into a persona that commanded attention. Kim showed us that power could be draped in lace and diamonds, that seduction could be strategy, and that confidence didn’t need to whisper to be heard.

That’s how I wanted my fragrance to feel: Raw. Honest. Loud. Sensual. Unapologetic. Even though she’s my muse, what this scent brings out in me isn’t just feminine energy—it’s both. It’s that divine balance where softness meets strength. It taps into the part of me that demands what I want, takes what I deserve, and never apologizes for it. It’s potent, magnetic, and dominant.

It's feel like conquering the world. Your ego inflates to the point of no return with this one. This formula feels like you have a vendetta for success to shit on every person who had you fucked up. For every moment you doubted yourself.

The best revenge is reinvention.

I wanted to capture the essence of Hardcore in visuals, so I staged a photoshoot in my apartment in 2022. I hit up my good friend Alika, who graciously agreed to sit for the shoot. I tried to recreate Kim’s legendary fur jacket and even hired a Black seamstress to bring it to life.

Let me tell you—the jacket was a mess until the week of the shoot. But Alika, with her creativity and ability to make anything look iconic, pulled it together. Without her, the shoot would’ve flopped. I’ll forever be grateful.

At one point during the shoot, I had a vision so specific I couldn’t shake it—I needed to place Alika in the bathtub.

For me, water is the ultimate symbol of luxury and sensuality. There’s nothing more indulgent than a hot bubble bath lit by candlelight, a playlist humming softly in the background, a glass of wine in hand, and a perfectly rolled joint nearby. That kind of energy is exactly what I wanted to bottle with this scent: soft and rich, but also bold and indulgent.

We pinned her hair up in this effortlessly messy ponytail—organized chaos, just like the energy we were channeling. A pair of statement sunglasses sealed the look, giving her the “you can’t sit with me” energy that the fragrance demanded. I stood over her to capture aerial shots from above, and those photos were pure magic. Granted im not a professional photographer and none of these photos are edited, but we loved the energy they brought to the scent, and I decided to post them anyway.

Alika Golden-Frenchwood, 2022

Alika absolutely delivered. Her beauty, her poise—every single frame radiated the energy I was envisioning from the start. She didn’t just model the look, she embodied the entire mood. She was unapologetically that girl—and that's all I wanted to capture;

That confidence translated through the lens like a direct transmission from the scent itself.

This was my first scent, and it birthed something bigger than me. A new lane. A new persona. A new purpose.

This wasn’t just about creating a fragrance. It was about reclaiming identity, finding power, and channeling my muses through scent. A trial and error for me and as I'm learning, I'm growing, which means many different versions of me. All across the multiverse, I am a creator and my goal is to bottle every version of myself I can find. As far as making this a business, this is new but I am excited to introduce all the creations #TSN inspires me to bring to light.

What I’ve learned: Just start. Whatever “it” is—do it. Don’t wait for perfect. Don’t overthink it. Create. Release. Repeat.

That’s the only way to breathe life into what’s been sitting on your spirit.

• Explore the world of Formula XI — click below to view the full look book and listen to the curated Apple Music playlist inspired by this scent.

Formula XI : Lookbook

Formula XI: Curated Playlist

To request a bottle of our signature Formula XI, please click here.