Written by Kristina Kybartaite-Damule

Polish niche perfume brand Bohoboco recently released two new fragrances – ━━━━ Saffron and Polish Potatoes. While both remain true to the brand's bold and distinctive style, the latter is undeniably unexpected.

The name Polish Potatoes intrigues and, at the same time, raises eyebrows. Who would want to smell like potatoes, you might wonder?

In my mind, I draw a picture of my childhood in a Lithuanian (neighbour of Poland) village. My parents used to grow potatoes, and I vividly recall the annual ritual of harvesting them before winter with my family. It was usually a day on the weekend, almost always accompanied by rain, wind, and chilly weather. Seeing this picture in my mind, I can feel the smell of fresh potatoes, just picked from the damp soil, the green scent of grass, the dusty jute sacks, and beets that used to grow in the same garden.

The day would end with a warm dinner of Lithuanian potato dishes like potato pancakes or kugelis (Lithuanian potato pie). Despite the comforting meals I enjoyed, I, honestly, hated that one rainy day each year.

Reading the notes list of Polish Potatoes, this is exactly what I imagined - that rainy day, picking up the potatoes. So, when I received a PR bottle, I was both intrigued and a little bit scared. I had no intention of smelling like a potato, even though I looked like one that day when the parcel arrived – in sweatpants, with bags under my eyes due to lack of sleep, and desperate for coffee.

Lucky me, I can always borrow my husband's wrists for testing the perfumes when I don't have not perfumed skin left on me, or am not brave enough, like in this case.

What I smelled after spaying Polish Potatoes on him, however, was nothing like I had imagined. Instead, it was a perfectly wearable and pleasant scent, subtly whispering the story of Michal Gilbert Lach, Bohoboco's founder.

"As a child, I loved these ritual trips to the market with my grandparents. It was not everyday shopping, but an incredible journey where every colour, every energy, every scent, every hue and every selection of the best crops radiated magic. Potatoes, the golden treasures of the Polish countryside, rested in jute sacks and wicker baskets", he writes about the inspiration behind Polish Potatoes.

The fragrance opens with a leathery accord, mingling with the scents of grass, pine, and wheat. There’s also beetroot – a note rarely used in perfumery but which has seen some attention in recent years. Comme des Garçons introduced it with Rouge, a photorealistic interpretation of beetroot, followed by Diptyque's Kyoto and L'Artisan Parfumeur's Musc Amarante. While they found their fans, and I too admired their creativity, none of these convinced me to embrace the idea of wearing a vegetable-inspired scent.

Until now.

In Bohoboco’s Polish Potatoes, beetroot is subtle and beautifully balanced with floral notes, hints of rose, and a touch of heliotrope. Together, they create a blend that is both unique and approachable.

And yes, there are potatoes in the composition – how could there not be? But they are not as obvious as the name claims. If you search for it in the scent, it's easily detectible, but otherwise, your attention shifts to the ambery accord, benzoin, and vanilla in the base. These familiar, comforting notes make the fragrance so easy to wear.

The perfume also has an earthy quality, with hints of damp soil created by honey, labdanum, and patchouli. Yet, it strikes a perfect balance, never tipping into heaviness or becoming too dirty.

What fascinates me most probably is this balance.

Polish Potatoes has everything – creativity, uniqueness, and a captivating story rooted in the soil. Yet it remains so pleasant, so easy to enjoy, and – most importantly – it doesn’t make me feel like a potato when I wear it.