MONARCH (The Woodland Collection, General Catalog)

MONARCH
Rich Red Musk, Fir, Juniper, Cedar, Frankincense, Labdanum, Moss

NOT TO BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR NURSING.

A statuesque lone stag stands at the edge of the wood, surveying the valley below.  His antler crown and perfect grace convey nobility and strength.  The monarch of the forest remains poised, cautious and wise through all seasons.

Monarch starts with a base or refined red musk, a generous amount of fir balsam and a green botanical blend touched by smoky labdanum and oud.  Frankincense resin, cedarwood and moss cover the base.   A generous crown of fresh juniper berries and leaves completes the blend.  Monarch smells like a coniferous wood blend with loads of incensey, exotic, spicy red musk and resins.  It boldly opens with a bright green juniper on initial application.  The fir, red musk and frankincense follow quickly behind.  Cedar and moss weave in and out in the early stages after application and become more apparent as the wear continues.  The smoky labdanum and oud float quietly in the background.   This scent opens strongly on initial application but settles down after a few minutes of wear into a pleasant musky, resinous, evergreen, wood and slightly smoky fragrance.  Monarch is a masculine scent, though women who like our wood blends should also enjoy it.  

Love this one- works beautifully on women too- warm, beautiful scent!

An archetype wood and forest. Deep, dark and sensational. The name Monarch is most appropriate as it is quite majestic with a range of conifers, oakmoss and muskiness hinting of a mighty stag. I am thrilled that Angela has come up with such a serious forest wood.

The fragrance has the richness of Tom Ford's Bois Maroccaine, but is much more interesting with the Red Musk adding an animalic wildness and the Juniper a camphorous sharpness. The fir provides the green note and the oakmoss a rich darkness. It continues to sweeten in the dry-down becoming somewhat tamer (as opposed to wilder) and is wonderfully enjoyable throughout each wearing.

While I prefer to let each fragrance stand on it's own, there are times I feel compelled to use other company's examples to indicate the quality of Solstice Scents and give a reference point of comparison so you can get an idea of the artistry and quality that Angela reaches.  In my opinion Monarch deserves that comparison.

This is my 2nd favorite of the Woodland Collection, after Nightwatcher. It seems like this collection (and these 2 in particular) was made for people like me who enjoy an earthy woodsy scent.
I do not consider it masculine but then I adore the fir, pine, juniper types in general.
This one differs from Nightwatcher by the inclusion of the red musk and the incense-y smokiness about it.
I highly recommend this scent if you enjoy red musk and pine-y or woodsy scents. if you like both - this is the one for you!

I don't get any woods or greenery from Monarch, and I'm okay with that. The red musk and labdanum here are strong, heavy, warm and so sexy. If you like red musk, this is a must-try. It's a rich musk that almost smells fruity-wine-like on me and, in the drydown, has a grape-y nag champa feel to it. The amber-y, warm, incensey labdanum rounds out the red musk perfectly. I'm plotting to add a bottle into my next order.