ORMONDE JAYNE
ROYAL ELIXIR
2023
PERFUMER
Geza Schoen
green notes
orange absolute
bergamot
amber
orris
orchid
jasmine absolute
osmanthus
rose
cedarwood
ambroxan
tonka
patchouli
musk
‘Envisaged a perfume so dreamy and tenacious, not heavy but complex, Ambre Royal did not disappoint, becoming a much loved world-wide best seller, the Elixir release is left untouched but at extract strength, creating a ravishing perfume, purring and rich and even more hypnotic.’ – Ormonde Jayne
After trying and loving Royal Elixir several times in stores, it was time for a proper skin test. Based on what I was smelling, I was surprised how much I liked this, so I was afraid that I would fall out of love with it during a proper wearing, but I’m happy to say that my initial positive reaction still stands.
For a fragrance based on an amber scent (it’s the same composition as Ambre Royal), this is quite green and fresh. Don’t go into Royal Elixir expecting a sweet, warm amber fragrance from the get-go. Instead, this opens almost minty or with eucalyptus to me.
It’s green, dewy, calming; it’s like making VaporRub soft to the nose. Royal Elixir reminds me a lot of Cartier Declaration D’Un Soir, with its green and soft floral qualities.
The imagery that I get from the first hour is a bathroom filled with steam after a hot shower with a minty shower gel.
That’s not to say that there’s no sweetness at all, as it definitely warms up and sweetens up during the wear, but not as much as I would expect based on other reviews I’ve read of it. Instead, the jasmine and osmanthius add a sharper, more prominent floral touch that starts to pierce through.
Royal Elixir is outside of the norm of what I usually gravitate towards, but it’s easily a wishlist contender.