Male grooming expert Jake Daniels takes a look at Regent Leather, a new luxury fragrance from Thameen in association with The Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club.
This season, as part of the now legendary ‘Treasure’ collection, Thameen will launch a new fragrance that captures the elegance, sophistication and sheer indulgent luxury of Rolls Royce, considered by many as the most iconic car brand in the world.
Traditionally, Thameen selects a rare gemstone as the inspiration for each of its fragrances and it is only fitting that, for this project, they have chosen what is considered to be the finest diamond in the world – The Regent Diamond.
Over 300 years old, the Regent Diamond is 141 carats, cushion-cut and its colour is ‘of the first water’ that is, perfectly white and virtually flawless.
It has had a remarkably masculine history; purchased by the French Regent, Phillip II, Duke of Orleans in 1717 for £135,0000 (over £18 million today) it became known as ‘Le Regent’ and was eventually set into the French Crown jewels for Louis XV.
It was stolen during the French Revolution and later redeemedby Napoleon Bonaparte who wore it to embellish his sword hilt! After his exile, the diamond was mounted successively on the crowns of Kings Louis XVIII, Charles X and Napoleon III.
The fragrance exudes luxury and privilege and opens with the daring juxtaposition of smooth, mellow vanilla and sharp, faceted lemon – a quixotic interpretation of the steely light that dances across the gemstone.
At the heart, the perfumer has cleverly conjured a remarkable leather scent, reminiscent of the interior of the Rolls Royce – a cocoon of craftsmanship that envelops the wearer. Slightly animalic in tone, this speaks of power and strong will and is supported by spices and resins including a fine saffron and deep resinous labdanum. The base is glossy, a perfumed patina of gurjum, cedar and patchouli, both elegant and timeless.
Regent Leather is hypnotic and has, in the manner of Rolls Royce, been ‘engineered’ , enabling the finest ingredients to revolve throughout the dry-down, thus the journey is both surprising and familiar by degree. ‘Regent Leather’ embodies the meaning of true luxury – ‘a pleasure out of the ordinary conducive to sumptuous living’ .
