THE STORY

Viroopaksa

Viroopaksa names the golden Naga lineage in Thai tradition. These highly revered serpent beings are associated with celestial authority and with Virupaksha, the Buddhist guardian of the West who watches over the nagas. The name brings together golden scales, a regal presence and a quiet sense of power. The golden nagas are said to live in the heavens and govern other nagas. The Oud chosen for this fragrance gives those images their starting point.

That Oud comes from Chanthaburi, a province in eastern Thailand. The material has a pronounced honey-like sweetness, followed by creamy softness, leathery details and a subtle animalic quality deeper within it. Its range of textures is central to the fragrance. Sweetness suggests the colour of gold, while the leather and wood give the scent a more substantial interior.

Saffron and Bergamot open with warm spice and bright citrus. Honey, Osmanthus and Leather gradually become clearer at the heart. Osmanthus brings forward the fruity, honeyed and leathery qualities already present in the Chanthaburi Oud. The sweetness now has several textures to follow: a little juiciness, a creamy softness and the dry, supple feel of Leather.

In the final stage, Chanthaburi Oud settles with Sandalwood and Vanilla. Sandalwood adds smooth wood and Vanilla gently softens the sweetness, keeping the Oud's own character distinct. The fragrance moves from the brighter Saffron and Bergamot into a fuller warmth of honey, leather and wood. The honeyed quality of the Chanthaburi Oud remains recognisable within the smoother woods, with a little leathery texture still apparent beneath its sweetness.