KILIAN
HER MAJESTY

2026

PERFUMER
Caroline Dumur

white peach
rum

rose
ambrette

papyrus
cedarwood

‘A perfume that reinvents the chypre accord with brilliance. Her Majesty marries Rose Damascena with velvety peach and a luscious rum note, all underpinned by the refined power of woody notes. The perfume: Chypre, the emblematic accord born of citrus, florals and woods. With Her Majesty, KILIAN PARIS reimagines this exceptional signature, infusing it with a luminous and sensual modernity. At the heart, Rose Damascena absolute reigns, softened by tender peach and electrified by a breath of rum. Ambrette seeds unfurl its musky magnetism, warm and enchanting. In the dry down, papyrus and cedar etch a distinctly woody trail. A sovereign creation, in perfect harmony.’ – Kilian

I’d say that with the exception of Angels’ Share Paradis, Kilian has been on a pretty terrible run, but Her Majesty is a solid departure from the rest of the collection. One that I’m not sure will translate well into success or positive reception by the average consumer, but I’m not mad at it.

It doesn’t really smell like any of the notes besides some of the papyrus/cedarwood to me. I don’t get peach or rose and definitely not rum. It doesn’t even feel like a chypre at all to my nose either. Instead, this feels like Kilian’s answer for a modern, cleaner, less trendy and less sweet ‘signature’, the way Paradoxe & Valaya were positioned. Then again, judging by the few ‘outspoken chypres’ we’ve seen as major releases in recent years (prominently with Hermes), the current state of chypres is a far cry from what it used to be.

But back to Her Majesty. Initially I found it bordering on unpleasant; with a cleanliness, but also sharp, yet oily texture. Some people get boozy peach from this… it fully comes across as actual (liquid) laundry detergent to my nose. It’s.. a bit strange. It goes in two different directions at once after; a fruitier side and a spicy, papery one.

I get watery, aquatic apple and pear. Pleasant, inoffensive. There’s a soapiness in it. Then there’s something akin to a very lightly spiced (cumin or cardamom?) woodiness. It’s not in any way sweaty or skanky, but I can’t help to picture a cumin-esque tinge. Either way, it feels like a cardboard, paper, clean white wood.

Overall, I think it’s more understated, more neutral than most of Kilian’s offerings. I still think it smells rather cheap, especially given its price point, but at least it’s not headache-inducing and abrasive (*coughs in Smoking Hot) and on my skin, it wears better than the recent re-releases (Born To Be Unforgettable, Sunkissed Goddess).

Not bad, but nothing to get excited over either.