The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Rising Mysore 2 arrived with a broader mandate: deepen the weave without cutting the thread. The original sandalwood-and-spice foundation stayed; the idea was expansion, not reinvention. What emerged was a composition that held the same regal sandalwood core but opened outward into a wider aromatic world. The brief was straightforward: more, without losing the thread that made the original worth following. The composition builds on its predecessor with additional complexity, layering creamy sandalwood with complementary elements that create depth without overwhelming the signature warmth. Each addition serves the whole rather than competing for attention, resulting in a fragrance that feels both familiar and refreshed.
The note pyramid is unusually wide, twelve top notes, twelve heart notes, but the composition does not read as crowded. The trick is in the hand-off. Neroli and citrus arrive first, bright and immediate, creating an opening that feels almost contradictory to what follows. Beneath that freshness, jasmine sambac brings a tropical sweetness that bridges toward the heart. The spices, Ceylon cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, do not arrive all at once. They surface gradually as the citrus fades, giving the middle stage a warmth that feels earned rather than announced.
The evolution
The opening is all citrus and white floral, neroli, orange blossom, a flash of pink grapefruit that reads more bitter than sweet. Jasmine sambac threads through, lending a tropical warmth that stops it from feeling like a cologne. As the florals begin to recede, the spice comes forward. Ceylon cinnamon and cardamom assert themselves, softened by bay leaf and rosemary. The transition is not dramatic; it is more like a conversation shifting registers. Then comes the sandalwood. Not at the end, not as punctuation, woven through the heart and into the base, so that by the time you have reached the drydown, it feels less like a transition and more like an arrival. Vanilla absolute and tonka bean bring cream. Frankincense and myrrh add a faint resinous depth. The sandalwood threads through the heart and into the base, creating continuity between the opening and the final stages.
Cultural impact
Rising Mysore 2 presents an interesting case study in how traditional materials can be incorporated into contemporary fragrance work. The Indian sandalwood anchor provides a distinctive character, while the citrus and spice structure offers familiar appeal. The fragrance reveals new facets with repeated wear, the initial brightness giving way to something more layered and complex as the wearer becomes attuned to its nuances. There is enough here to reward attention, enough shifting detail that each encounter can feel slightly different from the last.
