Scentonym Analysis
Our objective metric for performance per dollar.
Olfactory Experience
Royal Paragon aims for Parfums de Marly's Layton, and it gets reasonably close. The opening hits you with that familiar apple and bergamot blast. Lavender is there, but feels a touch more synthetic than Layton's refined version. The heart shifts towards geranium and violet. The jasmine is barely perceptible, which is fine; it keeps it from getting too floral. The dry down is where the biggest difference lies. You get the vanilla and patchouli, but the guaiac wood smells a bit… rough. It's not bad, just not as smooth or complex as Layton. I'd say it's 89% there.
The Verdict
Royal Paragon is a solid value proposition. It captures the essence of the original without completely breaking the bank. Is Layton better? Absolutely. But is it ten times better? Not even close. If you're on a budget, Royal Paragon is a smart buy. Skip the fancy bottle, appreciate the scent.
Projection Power
the performance is impressive. It lasts around 6-7 hours on my skin, projecting moderately for the first 2 hours. After that, it settles into a pleasant skin scent. Definitely good enough for a work day or casual wear. Don't expect beast mode, but it's respectable.
Performance Audit
Based on average wear time
Sillage & radius
Relative to market avg
Why we track this:
Price Arbitrage: Significant savings compared to the original Parfums de Marly pricing.
Community Verified: Cross-referenced against 60 enthusiast votes for accuracy.