Giorgio Armani Oud Royal. The Armani/Privé Collection was created shortly after Giorgio Armani launched his eponymous Haute Couture line. While in ancient times spices were the bargaining counter around the Mediterranean shores, a number of rare and even more precious essences subsequently took their place. In the eastern confines of India, the strange alchemy that binds the heart of a tree with an intruding fungus gives birth to a hard wood with a deeply penetrating fragrance. Placed on the embers of an incense burner, it perfumes interiors and garments. When distilled, it delivers a golden and potently sweet-smelling essence which, as it matures, grows darker and thicker like a liqueur. This dark, dense oil exerts real fascination, and in the eyes of connoisseurs these rarest of qualities are more precious than gold. Sometimes worn on the skin, it distills intense woody effects and is adorned with animal-like reflections, shades of dark earth and tones of humus. When Giorgio Armani turned his attention to oud, he decided to work it the way he would a heavy brocade lined with gold and silver, leaving its weight, its noble intensity and majestic sedateness. Respectful of its personality, Giorgio Armani set about highlighting each facet of character in its composition: depth is amplified by an amber harmony, the reddish glow is fanned with spices, the dark earth reflections are smoked with a veil of myrrh and incense. Giorgio Armani has staged the splendid crowning of oud.

• Spray applicator
• Eau de parfum