King's Salute

King's Salute is the third member of the house's Royal Collection, launched on Coronation Day and built around the King's passion for plants and gardening and the house's long history with lavender. The brand calls it a celebratory aromatic fougere. It opens with bright bergamot, blackcurrant, black pepper and elemi, which wearers read as tart and peppery. The heart is bold lavender with thyme, iris and cardamom, and the lavender is sustained all the way through. The base is oakmoss, cashmeran, amber and musk. Wearers describe a classic barbershop with a tart currant start, a herbal middle and a late drydown that the cashmeran and amber lift. Performance is strong for the style. Most votes call it long lasting with moderate projection, and one wearer reports it surviving a full day of outdoor work. It leads in summer, with autumn and spring close behind, and suits daytime, leisure and the office better than a formal evening. Opinion is mixed. Many love it, while others call it familiar, basic for the house or dull. Most price votes call it overpriced, with the brand asking 230 pounds for 50 ml. It suits wearers who want a polished lavender fougere with real staying power and who do not need it to be novel.