Sultan Pasha Perfumes Joyeux is a revelation and an ode to the classic fougeres. Inspired by the industry most known Fougere Royale by Houbigant it is a clear hommage to the barbershop scents of the past with soft moden nuances to it.

First of all, at the opening, Sultan Pasha Perfumes Joyeux showed me its sparkling citrusy side. Just imagine the break of the 19th century. City is covered in smog and the only street traffic are pedastrians and horse driven carriages. The lone gentelman is entering the barbershop for his appointment as the soft golden light is gently filtering through barbershop windows. Joyeux isn’t your typical citrus bomb that screams for attention; instead, it whispers time capsulated sophistication with every molecule.

What immediately sets Joyeux apart for me is its confident backbone. Beneath that effervescent brightness lies a foundation built on lavender, ambergris, leather and thick creamy woods. It is resinous and voluminous in its nature. True ode to perfumery’s golden age, yet feeling utterly contemporary.

It’s clear to me that Sultan Pasha drew the inspiration from classics here, but this is no mere homage to fougere. This is evolution of the genre. Superb blending and overal aura of Joyeux is simply stunning. The amount of facets here is mindblowing to say the least. To my geeky vintage loving nose, it is everything I was expecting and then some.

If this is the quality we get in perfume, I only wonder what is there for me to discover within the attars as they are often deemed more deep and complex.

Anyhow, call me insane, but this range has left a beautifully fragrant footprint on my soul.