Royal Secret (Cologne) by Germaine Monteil

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Royal Secret Germaine Monteil 1958 Cologne

8.4 / 10 72 Ratings

A popular perfume by Germaine Monteil for women, released in 1958. The scent is spicy-woody. The longevity is above-average. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Floral

Oriental

Powdery

Fragrance Notes

Jasmine

Spices

Ratings

Scent

8.472 Ratings

Longevity

8.363 Ratings

Sillage

7.759 Ratings

Bottle

7.361 Ratings

Submitted by DeGe53, last update on 08/04/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Royal Secret Perfume

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Reviews

14 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/30/2012

7Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Coutureguru
237 Reviews

Coutureguru

Very helpful Review 6

Memory lane still smells quite sweet :)

In the late 80's I was still an Amateur Ballroom dancer (I turned Professional in '95) competing at Championship level ( the top level for Amateurs in those days) and my partner wore this delicious fragrance as her "everyday" signature. She also wore Opium, but that's another story! I remember vividly holding her in my arms and being awash with this amazing fragrance! We must have smelled quite the pair, because I was very fond of Lagerfeld back then :o). Her wonderful grandma used to keep us stocked up ... she loved us smelling good. This fragrance is a Tango before it becomes a Waltz and then gently subsides into a Matt Monroe Slow Foxtrot.

In a moment of weakness and for old time's sake I looked this up online. WHO THE HELL IS THE FIVE STAR FRAGRANCE COMPANY???? Some knock off outfit no doubt!!! I guess Germaine Monteil has been sold ... this reformulation crap makes me SOOOO mad!!! The juice isn't even the same color! It's like these people are stealing an identity.

Update:

Here I go, having to eat my words again LOL. I tracked some of this down today (by accident really browsing a drugstore fragrance aisle) but anyhow, there it was! I was quite surprised that the same RS logo still appears all over it so I turned the bottle over and lo and behold ... this stuff is made and bottled here in South Africa under licence from Five Star. Intrigued I took off the tester's cap and gave it a good old spray. It's actually as good as it ever was *munching loudly on humble pie*. This could definitely work on the right guy too! Awesome fragrance if you are into heavy orientals ... I have never, remotely seen this as a chypre floral. No need for a vintage ... this is still great!!!

10/10/2023

8Scent 9Longevity 10Sillage

Pollita
383 Reviews

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Pollita

Top Review 41

Show-off pigs like us

You and I, we weren't among the cool kids in school. We were too inconspicuous in our behavior for that. We didn't aim to be the center of attention. No, we always did our own thing. Took a little here and there, swam, but never really went with the flow.

We knew how to express ourselves in other ways. You through fashionable and eye-catching outfits and accessories, I through black clothing and my love for dark sounds from either synthesizers or guitars. Or both. With our favorite fragrances from our youth, we certainly made a statement. Positioned ourselves as true show-off pigs, which we were. Even if only those who looked a little closer and listened to us noticed.

In my younger years, I wore Cašmir. You wore Monteils Royal Secret. A cologne that is not a cologne at all. An absolute knockout and surely a man magnet back then.

This scent is dark, spicy, green, and has something absolutely mysterious about it. It also has an incredible aura and very long-lasting power. For dancing through the night until there’s no tomorrow. I sniff and remember the stories you told me. How you had no voice the morning after a wild ball at school. How you were in love and didn’t want to stop dancing. Surrounded by chypre sounds, soft flowers, patchouli on a green vetiver bed.

To the first sniffer, Royal Secret is clearly a chypre for me, but there’s more. That often somewhat rough, repelling quality that often characterizes chypres, that typical seriousness, is missing for me here. Instead, the fragrance has too opulent-floral a heart. I mean, besides jasmine, I also perceive other flowers. Possibly tuberoses, maybe even a hint of orange blossoms. And it has dark, smoky notes, but will never be vanilla-like, as for example, Obsession. Still, it does lean a bit in that direction and was probably a bit of a pioneer.

A fragrance for the true show-off pigs of that time. Whether they wanted it or not. And those who came a little closer, who looked a bit more closely, might have recognized how noble and indeed also delicate this initially overwhelming scent can be. Precious, just as the wearer.

A heartfelt thank you to Amadea70 for the testing opportunity.

11/16/2013

9Scent 7.5Longevity

Turandot
839 Reviews

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Turandot

Top Review 22

Royal? Yes! Oriental? No!

When do we refer to a fragrance as oriental? I believe there are differing opinions on this at Parfumo as well, because I would not classify Royal Secret as an oriental perfume like some other commentators do. It lacks the typical spices such as cardamom, cloves, or cinnamon.

For me, the fragrance actually starts off rather green, almost with a chypre note. The theme, in my perception, is unsweetened, almost austere floral notes that could certainly be worn by a gentleman. Royal Secret radiates calm and elegance. Nothing here reminds me of bazaars, harems, or desert sons, and I cannot relate to the comparison with Shalimar either, as the vanilla is used far too subtly, and I do not sense any animalic notes like in the Guerlain classic. Among the fragrances in the category to the right - those who like Royal Secret often also like - I would only consider Mitsouko and Tabu. However, Royal Secret is quieter than the two mentioned.

The drydown emphasizes the expressive but by no means ostentatious effect of the fragrance, making the classification as a floral chypre more fitting than a reference to the Orient, especially since even patchouli is used in a homeopathic dose. I do not perceive it at all. The powdery, rough yet delicate wood note in the drydown I attribute more to vetiver combined with sandalwood and a hint of vanilla. Thus, the base becomes softer, but at no point warmer or heavier. Again, nothing here reminds me of 1001 Nights.

Royal Secret rightfully bears its name, as it is truly a royal fragrance. A perfume that is at peace within itself, that neither flaunts nor lures, yet radiates elegance, and one that I would very much like to have in my collection.

Although Royal Secret is wearable daily despite its intensity and will not unpleasantly affect anyone around, I would not want to wear this fragrance to work, as it radiates something precious to me. Even though my collection contains countless fragrances that I love, there is such a thing as a hierarchy, and Royal Secret would certainly not stand alongside the perfumes I reach for in everyday life.

11/13/2015

9Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Ergreifend
527 Reviews

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Ergreifend

Top Review 21

The Fabric of Darkness

Royal Secret is the epitome of a nocturnal sensory journey through abandoned and mysterious places.
A perfume that makes a statement and cannot be manipulated by anything or anyone. Because it manipulates itself. It wraps the wearer and their close companions in a black fabric that feels very soft and familiar, yet the noose tightens ever more...

To my surprise, Royal Secret is not a typical oriental. No! It simply does not fit into that category. Rather, it is a spicy, misty, smoky chypre.
It starts off citrusy fresh, with bergamot at the forefront, while clove also crosses its path. It quickly turns green, but this phase passes swiftly, and that is a good thing.

The heart is soon reached. One does not stumble too much in the dark. Flowers spread out, foremost a very ripe rose and violets. These are clearly recognizable. There are spices from all sides that coat the blossoms. Smoke slithers like a snake through the depths of the soul of this perfume. Sometimes it moves slowly, then again faster. Secretly, it is a rather misty, gentle smoke that does not suffocate or obscure everything. I really like this here, as it simply fits with the rest of the spectacle. I can briefly perceive a light orange blossom, though it is clearly subdued. Woody notes come in after about an hour. They are clear and distinct, but not overwhelming. The spices are always present, while the flowers recede a bit into the background. Except for patchouli. It sneaks up. It has come to stay. Smoke remains consistently present, covered by a millimeter-thick wall of resin. A divine process. Because from then on, the perfume becomes more sensual, deeper, and it takes on a wicked, mysterious quality. That kicks!

The scent is not the most modern, especially for young women. I thought to myself. Especially at the beginning, one should not be deterred by the connection between green and citrus. But one should give the scent time, as it is truly worth the wait. I am not fond of waiting. Especially for things I fixate on. But here, even I can overcome myself. And that leads to a good ending!

Royal Secret lingers long in the phase of the mysterious. Thoughts are sent into the night. One experiences the calm, drawing the starry sky up to the forehead. As if one could grasp everything. Pull everything towards oneself. The snake at the bottom of the soul continues to slither undeterred. Its tongue games can be heard from afar. The smoke only rises vaguely. It releases from the ground. The scent envelops the wearer in its peak with a black fabric. It binds them in. For itself. It feels good, even if it is almost breath-taking. The noose tightens - and yet loosens again. Because it releases. As quickly as this enveloping came, it is gone just as fast. Swept away by the cold, nocturnal wind.

When it then retreats a bit, only faint smoky notes can be perceived. The resin has completely disappeared. The flowers sit in the background, and it seems as if they can hardly wait for the sun to rise. Vanilla gives a slight hint. But only minimal. Only briefly. Almost not worth mentioning. Wood is what remains when one inhales the last notes. Fading.

The longevity is enormous, as is the sillage. It’s a shame that it is no longer available. Although it is not particularly a perfume that I could wear often. But for those very own, intimate moments - for those it would certainly be a good and fantastic affair. For the escapade into the night.

For Royal Secret is the fabric of darkness.
Not overwhelming. Not loud. Not massive! No. Calm and demanding with a very sensual low point, where the mystery unfolds for my senses.

03/03/2014

Tweed
1 Review

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Tweed

Top Review 17

Royal Love!!

I took a heart to write my first comment. Well, it will surely go wrong!!
I have been with parfumo for almost two years and have only read, marveled, chuckled, sometimes even shaken my head, and above all collected. But I have also learned a lot, including about myself and my preferences for the wonderful scents.

And now I start with one of my absolute favorite fragrances, of which I didn't even know existed until about a year ago.

The current version of Royal Secret was the first to enter my collection, and I was already thrilled by this dark, warm, spicy, and powdery scent in the base.

Then the Extrait came along, and it smells even more intense, first slightly of bergamot, then a bit of leather and smoke join in, simply delicious.

But the absolute "hammer" is a bottle from the 60s that I found in the USA. It was still wrapped in cellophane, and upon the first spray, the finest leather is immediately present, a hint of cinnamon, and I think a little bit of frankincense makes it one of my favorite scents. It has a powdery/woody dry down and lasts a very long time on me.

In any case, I will keep my eyes open to snag this special fragrance, as this royal perfume will surely accompany me for the rest of my life.

More reviews

Statements

13 short views on the fragrance

Marieposa

11 months ago

9Scent 8Longevity 9Sillage

45

44

Do you see my green eyes
Sparkling in smoky darkness?
Powder traces on Salome's seventh veil
Chypre dreams in patchouli leaves

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Gandix

9 months ago

9Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

37

41

From the center springs a river of balsam,
that flows like lifeblood through my body
A spicy-herb sigh.

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Pluto

8 months ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

25

24

Balsamic, herbal green, slightly scratchy and smoky, deeply spicy. Back then, I didn't appreciate you enough. I regret that today.

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Ergoproxy

4 months ago

10Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

23

42

I never thought I would get this under my nose again. A true intoxication of sensual spice, a fine floral bouquet.

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Yatagan

6 years ago

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

18

6

Chypre notes are not recognizable to me, but the lavender-cumin structure creates a feminine fougère, which is of course very original.

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Anarlan

7 years ago

10Scent 9Longevity 8Sillage

15

6

Radiant like the sun, steadfast and composed, royal, smoky-powdery, surrounded by sharp green floral aromas and lavender.

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Susan

5 years ago

9.5Scent

13

7

Warm, sensual, dark green, infinitely deep and mysterious...... how I loved it back then..!! Today, despite all its...

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Pollita

6 years ago

8Scent 9Longevity 10Sillage

11

3

That was it. My mother's eternal favorite scent. If only it could be found somewhere. Today she wears Micallef Mon Parfum.

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Gschpusi

7 years ago

11

True fragrance art! Full-bodied, lush, fresh floral bouquets wrapped around mossy tree trunks. Smoky chypre with dark patchouli. Mysterious! Brilliant!

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