The 19th century mystic Ramakrishna once said, “The fabled musk deer searches the world over for the source of the scent which comes from itself.” While not intrinsically a comment on the modern perfume industry, it does lend itself rather nicely to the idea that a man’s scent should come from within.
Royal Leather by Kilian Mayfair
A man’s personality should influence (if not dictate) his cologne, and for the Mayfair man, Kilian Hennesy’s Royal Leather could be just the thing. Created exclusively for the opening of the Kilian boutique in London, perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin composed the robustly masculine scent.
The new boutique opens in Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade, containing an Art Deco-inspired Kilian store, above which a private salon will be held, along with an art gallery displaying Kilian products.
As a warming, leather-based cologne, this is not for the faint-hearted – the Royal Leather man is one in charge, one who demands to be heard, and one who dominates. Black tea brings a tanic aftertaste, whilst patchouli spicens the tone and freshens the mix.
Like its namesake, the perfume just gets better with time – just one spray in the morning will suffice, and in the evening an alluring, dusky aftertone will linger on the skin. For the man in charge who has everything and wishes for nothing, Royal Leather is the power-imbued cologne to possess.
by Thomas Marrington
Royal Leather by Kilian is available at the Kilian boutiques and online at here, £295 for 1.07oz refillable spray
Kilian, 26 Burlington Arcade 51 Piccadilly London W1J 0QJ
Tel: +44 20 7491 9236