Royal English Leather

After a initial burst of freshness, owing to bergamot with an orangey undertone, I do not have to wait long until the centerpiece of this creation takes the stage: the leather.

And what a leather this is: intense, rich, creamy, with warmth balanced by a bit of austerity. It is sweetish - just the right amount - and lacks any significant element of the gasoline harshness that is such a core part of Knize Ten; and the sweetness is of discreet elegance and never heavy.

The other important component is the ambergris Creed is rightfully famous for. Is becomes a bit more prominent in the later stages, and in the base is combined with touches of a gentle sandalwood impression; the latter is never really prominent. The whole development is centred around the leather in a somewhat linear fashion, with the other notes modulating the core like variations to a musical theme in a fugue.

I get moderate sillage, excellent projection and a - for Creed - impressive eight hours of longevity on my skin.

This grand classic of the history of perfume is beautiful in autumn. The quality of the natural injgredients is glorious, and the blending is done with beautiful balance. 

"Commissioned by King George III in 1781, the fragrance was created to scent the gloves Creed then made for the English Royal Court.  James Creed - the first generation of the House of Creed - was the king's glove maker. Scented gloves were worn by the court in order to inhale the glove's fine aroma, a popular necessity of the time to combat the odor of the ubiquitously poor hygienic conditions.  The king loved the scented gloves so much, he asked James Creed to make a fragrance.  James Creed created Royal English Leather for His Majesty - and launched the most illustrious dynasty in the history of fragrance."

N.B.  This occurred before Creed moved to Paris in 1854 during the Second Empire.

4.25/5

References.:

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26121395.html  accessed 9 June 2020 (rbaker is my handle);

https://www.creedfragrances.co.uk/about-creed-2  accessed 9 June 2020