Ramon Monegal Barcelona

It has been my belief for a while now that not a few among the upstart companies in the perfume niche sector have recently launched out of the market received knowledge that only the luxury niche sector is really experiencing (and is set to further experience) a surge in sales; that’s not counting the celebrity scent circuit, of course, which follows its own peculiar course. Much as I am set in my views, I’m really passionate about perfume at heart and therefore I just love being discredited in this game by companies that start with an actual relevant past behind them and which create a line that presents not only quality but tangible love for perfume as well. Ramon Monegal, coming from the founder of historic brand Myrurgia from Spain, purveyors to the Spanish Royal family, and just launching in the USA, is a case in point. As their official presentation says:

“In 1979 Ramon Monegal, the perfumer, created his first fragrance, Alada or 'Winged,' which brought unexpected success to the Myrurgia House. It led the domestic market for decades. Not until 2007, did he decide to relinquish his emotional ties to the family project to which he had dedicated most of his life, making the decision to initiate a new project. He longed to reach the end user as a true perfumist, without filters, without system, without subterfuge.”

A fourth generation perfumer, the experience of a long history, the desire to pave the path for the fifth generation ahead...

And of course there is the classic Spanish signature: Entre Naranjos ("Between Orange Trees") which plays with the Mediterranean ideal of a bright, transporting and vivid composition, usually encapsulated through the orange tree; here the trajectory goes from orange blossoms and neroli steam distillate of the flowers to the bitterish orange fruit rind with its soapy freshness, taking on a more polished, anchored tone thanks to a touch of exotic essences.

Personal favorites inevitably emerged while sampling and it might be unfair to mention them right away lest anyone is discouraged to try the ones not hereby praised, but the fragrances created such excitement that I cannot but share them with you, even if prematurely, as I’m planing on returning to them.

Impossible Iris stood as the perfect metallic and woody iris to encapsulate and recapitulate all we have come to expect from a prime iris fragrance; there is the delicate, shy beginning with the cool touch, then comes the touch of woolly mimosa with its hint of warmth to smile into the proceedings, while the quiet, bookish woody tonality of the aftermath with its pencil shavings nuance is enough to consolidate it among the richer in nuance irises.

Dry Wood is surprising in that it becomes drier and drier as the fragrance dries down on skin; the beguiling opening of aromatic spices (bay, pepper and a wink of tangy citron) only  sets the scene for a full on forest tableau vivant to follow where every bark and every branch come alive.

The visual presentation of the Ramon Monegal perfume line, all presented in Eau de Parfum concentration, is the finishing touch. From the caps embossed with the monogram of the founder to the cool-looking inkwell flacons faceted like a precious antique object for dramatic letter-writing to accompany acts of desperate passion and calculated scheming, the look is luxurious and graceful.

Individual and more detailed reviews of the perfumes in the Ramon Monegal line to follow!

Images of perfumes by Ramon Monegal
 

Author: Elena Vosnaki is a historian & perfume writer from Greece and a Writer to Fragrantica. She is the founder and editor of Perfume Shrine, one of the most respected independent online publications on perfume containing fragrance reviews, industry interviews, essays on raw materials and perfume history, a winner in Fragrantica Blog Awards and a finalist in numerous blog awards contests. Her writing was recognised at the Fifi Awards for Editorial Excellence in 2009 and she has been contributing to publications around the world.