Our take
What does Cologne Royale smell like?
Cologne Royale belongs to La Collection Couturier Parfumeur, launched by Dior in 2010 and later renamed La Collection Privée. François Demachy, then the house perfumer, composed it. The approach is classic. Bergamot, lemon and mandarin open brightly, and petitgrain adds a leafy bitterness that gives the start some backbone. The heart comes down to neroli, clean and a little soapy, with no other flower competing. The base is a discreet white musk that extends the feel of freshly washed skin. It's a long way from Eau Sauvage, which in 1966 put oakmoss and vetiver under its citrus. Cologne Royale is simpler and more linear. Several critics say it sits too close to standard colognes to justify its price. They have a point. Still, the quality of the materials shows, especially in a neroli that never turns into detergent.
When to wear it
After a summer shower, sprayed without counting. The large bottle makes reapplying easy.
It belongs to the Citrus family. Cologne Royale is one of 56 creations by Dior in our encyclopedia.
