Les Royales Exclusives - Spice and Wood

The first spray delivers a sharp, almost cider-like burst where bergamot's bitterness cuts through apple's fruity flesh, with lemon zest adding a sherbet fizz. There's an immediate greenness, slightly unripe, that hints at the complexity brewing underneath. Within minutes, a wisp of birch smoke begins to curl through the citrus, like catching the scent of a bonfire whilst biting into a tart Bramley.

The spices unfold like a Victorian apothecary drawer sliding open—clove's eugenol warmth, pimento's almost cola-like sweetness, and pink pepper's fizzing heat create a trinity that's simultaneously comforting and challenging. Vetiver and patchouli ground the composition with their earthy, root-like density, whilst angelica root contributes a peculiar green-bitter quality that keeps everything from becoming too cosy. The apple has long since vanished, leaving only its ghost to haunt the woodier elements.

What remains is a skin-close whisper of iris powder and musk, with oakmoss providing a bitter-verdant foundation that feels almost vintage in its construction. The cedar emerges fully now, dry and slightly austere, whilst traces of spice linger like the memory of mulled wine on wool. It's quiet, intimate, and remarkably tenacious—the sort of base that makes you lift your wrist hours later, surprised it's still there.