LANA & HADI PARFUMS
SULTANS PALACE

2025

violet
jasmine
saffron
hindi oud
sandalwood
ambergris

‘Having been very fortunate to have access to Sultan Qaboos oils, I accumulated a small collection of them. Here, in Sultan’s Palace, I have created a perfume, that in my mind, is what said palace would smell like, minus the Bakhoor. The opening of SQ Violet and SQ Jasmine is rich and intense, the Jasmine is sweet and indolic, a perfume by itself, but mellowed due to the Violets character. The addition of SQ Saffron, adds layers of spice and bitter sweetness, almost creating a symphony of floral accords and a touch of leathery goodness. Hindi Oud was added into the heart but I combined it with Egyptian Jasmine Absolute, an ingredient I have used in many of my perfumes. It’s one of the best Jasmines I’ve come across and its power speaks for itself. With it being displayed here in the heart of the composition along side the Oud, the marriage between them is unbreakable. The indolic character of the Jasmine compliments the Hindi Oud, whilst the ever so slight animalic barny tone of the Oud emphasises the bitter sweetness of the Jasmine. A match made in heaven. Behind every Oud is a great Jasmine! (Or Rose)! The base is a blend of Sandalwood and Ambergris, perfectly holding the magnificent aroma of the notes that came before them and giving them a subtle foundation.’ – LHParfums

I’d smelled some Lana & Hadi before via a friend and the brand kindly sent over samples to try the entire collection. After testing on paper, I picked 5 favorites to wear on skin and this was one of them; although after wearing it, it didn’t end up being a favorite for me.

And that’s down to the drydown. The first hour or two of Sultans Palace is lovely. One of the more floral compositions; and fresher. As a fan of a good jasmine (which unfortunately isn’t the majority of jasmines on the market), this one was a must try. Jasmine is forward. Ever so slightly indolic, but the overall vibe is on the bright side. There’s a slight fruitiness (I often get that from the violet), but overall, jasmine dominates this fragrance. It has a sweetness, but it definitely also has a crisp, green, dewy edge.

There’s a big difference between the start and the finish of the wear, so don’t quit reading half way.

Initially, when I smell my skin up close, the scent feels as if you could bite in it; like a crunchy, thick flower petal. The acidity here is unfamiliar; grassy, but with a hint of vinegar. Not as rich and opulent as the rose from Whispers Of The Desert, but more of a daily wear (and I think one in the line that starts off as leaning more traditionally feminine than the others). At risk of offending the sandalwood used in this composition; versus most of the woodiness by the brand, this one has more of a fresher, iris-cucumbery direction reminiscent of a Guerlain Santal Pao Rosa. I enjoyed it a lot. While I appreciate the hefty, rich, quality-exuding style of the others, I always prefer it when artisinal/indie brands leave room for versatility and for letting a fresher floral top shine; balancing it with ouds, musks, sandalwoods, instead of completely overtaking it.

That said, this does grow more and more heavy and earthy on my skin after a while. I feel like I’ve underestimated the indols or the base notes. This dense, almost creamy white floral – which still smells like full-on jasmine to me – now has the texture and challenging nature of a thick tuberose. Bordering on mushroomy. It grows more earthy, with tones of ambrette, iris, carrot seed. It not longer has the levity and uplifting floral quality that I get from it in the first hour or two. It becomes a fragrance that I want to like, but there’s a tinge to it that I can’t quite get comfortable with; the way I often feel about tuberose or lily-of-the-valley scents.