Sultan Royal Crown 2018

This one leaves me speechless and breathless. Literally amazed by this creation. It’s fair to say that after I slipped and fell down the niche rabbit hole a couple years back, my mind has successively brought to wonder by various houses. But not like this one.

I’ve tried not to fall into that trap of continually trying to find “the one” - that one fragrance that will fill some inexplicable ethereal void. I’ve tried to just appreciate what I’ve found - the art, and uniqueness a perfumer can formulate. I’ve begun to think about whittling my collection down but my gosh, whenever I’m sure I can gift this or that to someone, I find myself sniffing things and not being ready to let them go. There are at least a few handfuls of scents I’ve amassed in my collection that, without valid word-expressed explanation to be found just strike me, move me, inspire me. But this… oh, it’s different than even those masterpieces. Saying so even gives me pause. I immediately think “but Royal Tobacco, Material, Epic Woman, Ani, Triumph of Bacchus, Layton, Dior Homme Parfum, Chergui, Naxos, Tango, African Leather, Soleil de Jeddah, DesirToxic, Psychedelique…” and the list goes on. This one, though, Sultan - this one hits on an otherworldly level. Not taking away from the aforementioned fragrances, an incomplete list of those that hit me as “masterpieces” - they hit the mark and I love them to no end.

I had heard of this fragrance on several online boards, YouTube videos etc. Normally, those I’d heard speak or seen write about it were those whom I’ve learned have similar taste in fragrances. However, I just wasn’t ready to pull that expensive of a trigger. Several months later, I saw a YouTuber discussing with another YouTuber and they made reference to this being available at Fragrancebuy for roughly 185 usd for a 50 ml and 280 usd for a 100 ml. I ordered a 50 ml. When I received it and first got my nose on it - instant regret. Instant regret for not buying the 100 ml! This checked all the boxes for what would have been my unicorn fragrance. If I were starting all over, this would be my first purchase. The way the vanilla, dates, and fruits intermingle with the florals - that vanilla becomes just so utterly delicious. My favorite perfumer is Cécile Zarokian, and I never imagined I’d find a vanilla that struck me more potently than Ani or Material, but here we are.

Last night was my true first full wearing. I had, on several occasions sprayed once on the back of a hand to enjoy while working from home or just hanging out around the house or running errands. Last evening I sprayed twice on each forearm, and 2 to the chest. I was disappointed. I wasn’t picking up on anything. So I sprayed twice more on the opposite side of each forearm. At first blast I got that warning and sweet vanilla and then… nothing… until I brought my dog outside. As autumn’s cooler weather approaches in Massachusetts, it was cool and breezy last night. A rush of wind came through, and apparently that alleviated things. A second gust of wind and suddenly all I could smell was the vanilla sweetened by fruits, dates, and florals, and the warm base of Sandalwood, Myrrh, and Oud.

This one, when first sprayed, smells glorious above all others (to my nose), and then goes dead - but it’s my nose that goes dead, not the fragrance. With the 2 rushes of wind last night, it was as though the fist one cleared the airspace killing my nose’s blindness, and then allowed me to catch Sultan in its glory. Mystifying, magical, stirring, warming yet invigorating. This one is special and I’m so delighted I’ve met the Sultan of all fragrances. I never fully bought into the notion of there being a unicorn fragrance, though I enjoyed trying new fragrances so much, I purchased as though I was on the hunt for the elusive unicorn. I have far more than I will use in my lifetime, and I think it’s time to finally start letting go. This one, along with some of those aforementioned fragrances, still masterpieces in my mind, heart, and soul, will be kept. This one, though, stands out among those, head and shoulders above them as that one true unicorn unlike any others. While I do love those others, and they will get the lion’s share of play on my skin, along with this, if I could be surrounded by this scent 24/7/365, I don’t think I could ever tire of it, though I do quickly become anosmic to it. Amazed. Imperator, imho, is also majestic from this house. I also have Tobacco Royal, Sea Island, Noor, and Celebration. Imperator is another I wish I’d bought a 100 ml of. Sea Island quickly become one of my absolute favorite beachy scents, and Celebration one of my absolute favorite freshies. Noor is one of my favorite ambery patchoulis, and Tobacco Royal one of my favorite tobaccos, though not necessarily above and beyond some already existing in my collections.

To me, this feels like a Gourmand or vanilla lover’s dreamscape. Amazing, and while there have been times I’ve been less than enthused by some blind buys I’ve made, this one only disappointed me for buying initially in the 50 ml offering rather than 100 ml. Bravo, Royal Crown, bravo!