introduction

To this day, the stories of the great civilisations of the past still hold power. Their wonders survive – in myth, legend and folklore, in artefacts and images. We are in thrall to them, captivated by the glories of their cultures. The Imperial Collection celebrates the mastery of incense and fragrance cultures of the past. Each of them fashioned its own unique art of relishing fragrance. At the royal courts, Masters of Scents were held in high esteem. We work with their present-day equivalents, the most expert perfumers of our times. They have travelled back with us, immersing themselves in their forerunners’ creativity and reinventing legendary aromas. In this, our supreme collection, we offer sensations of a kind that have not been enjoyed since the last of the truly great eras…