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...

As a young woman, I used to hate these kinds of perfumes. They seemed too old fashioned for me. I loved fruity florals until my late 20's on up. Now I'm 41. I still like some fruity florals but I never really wear them. I like these kinds of scents now. Orientals, spicy, vanilla, woody ( anything but fruity florals). Living in Alaska all my life has made me like cold weather fragrances the most now. There are a few exceptions. I've never tried this version but I have 2 bottles of the Five Star brand version I've managed to hunt down. It's a beautiful, spicy and old fashioned scent. I can smell some clove even though it's not listed. This is similar to Youth Dew with clove and other spices added. If you like Youth Dew, Must De Cartier, even Obsession or Opium you must give this a try! They aren't exactly the same but are in the same family. This is strong and lasts a while without getting powdery. 9/10 A must have for fall and winter!

I have the bottle of Five Star Royal Secret and am so glad that I do! I have had the Germaine Monteil version in the past and it was my favorite but this version is lovely. It reminds me of perfumes like Emeraude, Interlude, Shalimar and the like but it has a unique fragrance. This is a wonderful warmer on a chilly day and always gets an "mmm you smell good" from DH. I'm kind of wearing mine discretionally because although it's almost 2/3 full I really never want to run out! These days you gravitate to what makes you feel warm and comforted and Royal Secret is that sort of perfume to me! It does smell rich and dries down to an expensive & luxurious body powder type scent. Wear what you love Fraganticans! Be well!

Royal Secret fan for over 45 years. The GM version ONLY. The "5 Star" version is, well, "crap" compared to the original. That said, the 5-star version might be o.k. for the hottest summer days. I wish some perfumer would redo the original formula. I feel this is a wonderful fragrance for any age. A great perfume, as this is, is timeless. I am so desperate to own/use the GM version, or something close to this, without taking out a mortgage to obtain the GM version, I am trying to create my own version with quality absolutes, oils and concretes. Please, someone help. If you find me laying on the floor with fragrance overload/exhaustion, apply original "Royal Secret by Germaine Monteil. "

I love this perfume and have worn it since my early 20's ... no, it's not for everyone, but it is a classic and I always get compliments when I wear it. I can't compare it to anything, not even Youth Dew; it's in a class all its own. Every time I put it on, I think "I must wear this more often" but I have so many other fragrances. For cold winter nights in front of the fire :) The dry-down is so delicious. Right now I have a few precious drops of some concentrated cologne, original formula, in a Baccarat crystal Guerlain bottle. I use it very sparingly. Latest prices for the vintage stuff are wild!

My darling, precious Nana wore this, so it's hard for me to analyze it for what it is. I can't remember a time she didn't smell like it, and everything she owned absorbed this fragrance. The truth is, it's a very sexy perfume. My Nana was a sexy, classy lady, but there's no way I'd be able to feel seductive wearing Nana's scent. After all, this is the woman who made pastries, and crocheted pillows, while listening to operas, as African Violets bloomed on the window sill. Memories aside, this is a daring, slightly animalic amber vanilla that's really beautiful.

This brings back memories - the boyfriend gave me this for Christmas in 1966 and I loved it - for winter only tho. Too heady for spring and summer, but evoked for me fireplace scenes and deep green velvet. I am glad to know it is still available. Another year he gave Youth Dew - agh. Not nearly as nice. Even that name "Youth Dew" implies to me a body lotion like the old Avon Skin Dew or whatever it was.

Old womanly? Maybe. Bit of a church smell? Kindda. But something else also. Something different. I think I'm in love.. Like, REAL love <3 ..Soft, luxurious, long lasting and richy sweet! Very comforting. I feel as though I am regarded as having the confidence of a giant when I wear this. I have to say it makes mama proud! :)

Lovers of Shalimar, Tabu, Chantilly, Toujours Moi, Youth Dew, Ultima, and Nipon ought to try this, if you can find it! I'm not familiar with the Five Star version, but my old bottle of bath perfume has the heavenly appeal of the orientals from yesteryear. Resinous and sweet, with a green opening and powdery drydown. Mmmm.

Yes I smell the amber, just picked up a bottle of this, and I'm in Amber luxury. I love Royal Secret, but only get one and a half hours of bliss. I would love this even more, if, this lasted at least a few more hours. That change of cap to clear talks to me that its changed. Is it still worth it? Of course

Royal Secret was my first love. A gift from my Grandmother at 16 years old (ha! Imagine!) I am sure I wore it with a heavy hand but I love the warm, spicy comfort this perfume brings to me. I would love to find it again, not sure if it's even available in my neck of the woods!

I put it on today and after 5 minutes I knew it had à twin perfume! But i didn't guess it right away, but after half an hour it came to me! Biagiotti Roma! Who would have thought, those 2 being so different in their branding!

this perfume is so good that i said "that's pretty" aloud and that's something i don't do, talking to myself. it is extremely beautiful and cheap enough to just give it a try. it does NOT last long enough.

I had this perfume in the late 1970s, I was pregnant and most scents turned very sour on me within a few minutes. Royal Secret was a gift, a I loved it because I could always depend on it to be pleasing.

This reminds me so much of Tabu, I didn’t like Tabu, Yet I love RS. I’m gonna have to retry Tabu now!! Beautiful creation. I have the original version Germaine Monteil.

I was ready for avgreat sensory exper9ence.One sniff and hubby said I smelled like his grandmother but,I loved it.Rich,dark and sexy.All the notes I love.