Royal Secret

The version of Royal Secret seems to be directly from the time of handover from Germaine Monteil as it folded, over to Five Star. The formula seems exactly that from versions that preceded it (I've sampled versions back to the 80s). It is the Eau de Royal Secret that began to be produced some years later, around 2014, that others refer to when lamenting its demise, as that one is quite diminished and wafer-thin in comparison. This is an opaque O-word worthy of ovation, big-O opulence, stuffed to the gills with herbs, greens, rose and geranium, and yes—resins. The color of the juice speaks for itself. The top notes are thrilling, smelling like fusty-floral bergamot and unlit menthol cigarettes. I get flashbacks of More cigs, the brown ones, but in the green soft pack (remember, menthol), those silly cigarette holder purses that clasp at the top that my aunts would carry their smokes, those lovably garish standing ashtrays, with the brown glass. It's hard to decide if Royal Secret is rococo or raunchy, because the warm, spicy, pungent powder may at first seem conservative, but a costus and civet eventually rears their respective heads (!!) and the dry down would make Youth Dew clutch its pearls and Tabu faint on a Victorian chaise. Over time there is a "dirty incense" effect, myrrh-ish and olibanum-ish, and a dusty sandalwood, but at this point, Royal Secret begins to discreetly hug the skin. It's a fun one that would horrify the modern masses.

review for 5 star version EDT elongated bottle gold cap with tortoise shell print inlay on top. I have the bathoil which is identical but works better as an oil, melts into your skin type of sweetness, more forgiving than as a perfume/edt in my opinion. Its right off the bat sweet floral and suggestive to yesterdays fragrance, melancholic or dame like florals but becomes denser and sweeter as time goes by... gourmand ... a dense spun sugar? it doesnt smell cheap however, maybe just on the cusp...i cant say it smells tacky either, just very very loudly sweet, to me it between designer and a celebrity fragrance . i think a very young teen or young clubbing crowd would love this, think the sweetness of Wish by chopard, ysl paris or ysl babydoll (but without the grapefruit) angel mugler ( theres a pathouli that pops thru that resembles it) prada candy , black opium and cheaper britney spears, ariana grande,riri, those very sweet fragrances you cant call bad but also not challenging . to my nose and how it reacts to me this could easily be an opium black flanker, yea if you want to smell like expensive cotton candy try this. floral/gourmand . nothing oriental in sight. could be amazing mixed with some more challenging perfume notes, its dense enough to take on some beasts.

I have owned the Royal Secret Eau de Cologne version by Five Star for some time. Although I don't doubt that the Monteil release was something superior; there is just nothing weird, bitter, sour or otherwise foul about the Five Star product. To my nose it's squarely in the same vein as Toujours Moi or Shalimar. A resinous vanillic oriental.The worst I can say is it lasts like a dud. It putters out to skin scent within 1/2 hour on me. However, I am so loving the two one oz bottles of bath oil that I bought at Perfumania a month ago. Much better than the Cologne concentrate with more focus and clear cut definition of the individual notes. It can follow the opening beginning with crisp lavendar, citrus and LOTV , moving straight to the resinous and woody accords. Then it's on to the sweet and vanillic powdery drydown. Just beautiful!!! A much richer vanilla, spice and amber body. And by far longer lasting!! Very elegant and woody!! I highly recommend Royal Secret bath oil, but only if you are into vintage, full bodied Orientals. This is the opposite of the watered down simple concoctions passing for perfume nowadays. Perfumania sells Royal Secret in its present incarnation.

I bought this at a bargain price in a gift set on a whim. I adore the elegant bottle, simple & classy with clean lines. It is a very strong & heavy at first but within 15 minutes it has settled into something that smells like musk, yet it appears to have no musk notes. I cant smell vanilla but certainly can detect the patchouli & vetiver. It is spicy & creamy & im enjoying smelling it on me. Makes a pleasant change from my favourite vanilla orientals but its one i wont use on special occasions but will use just as an every day fragrance when the weather is cold. I have a feeling i will end up loving this though, it appears to be one of those perfumes that really grows on you as the day progresses. Day 2 of wearing. Yes i was correct about this, it is gorgeous once settled for a few hours. It leaves a warm sensual aroma to your skin & on your clothes. My fella loved it last night on me!! If you can take your time allowing this one to flow through its well worth it in my opinion. Its one that im going to buy again as the gift set was only £19 at direct cosmetics (UK).

I had the good fortune of obtaining a 1 fl.oz bottle of the perfume on eBay many moons ago, it came sealed in a plain snow white box with 'Royal Secret' by Germaine Monteil PARIS signed in gold, it is full with the contents being a dark, thick & resinous juice. Would love to open this rare gem but just can't bring myself to break the gold ribbon although I can imagine in my minds eye how glorious this early oriental would smell on skin, perhaps similar to a combination of Youth Dew, Shalimar and the more modern Opium, maybe one day soon I'll summon up the courage to unleash the beauty within, it's kept this long so a few more years will only add to the vintage vibe, I've searched high & low for a small sample bottle but these too are quite rare and very costly now, I adore the original Youth Dew, just one of my many favorite orientals... edit: I have since found a 1/2 fl.oz bath oil of this rare oriental, it is just as I imagined it to be & more!!! Gorgeous stuff indeed...