The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Habibi NY built their fragrance house on a simple premise: scent as connection, not status. The name itself means beloved in Arabic, and the brand's New York directness cuts through the formality of luxury perfumery. When they approached Quentin Bisch to create a violet fragrance, they weren't looking for another powdery florist's bouquet. They wanted something that felt expensive in an unguarded way, a violet that could hold its own against oud and benzoin, not disappear into them. The result is Velvet Royale, launched in 2021, a composition that balances the cool elegance of violet with the warm weight of cashmere and the dark resinous depth of agarwood. It's habibi in name but assured in character, made for someone who doesn't need to announce themselves to be remembered.
What makes Velvet Royale unusual is the way its heart notes work against the expected. Violet alone can skew theatrical, lily of the valley skews innocent. Cashmeran pulls them somewhere else entirely, a synthetic softness that mimics the warmth of fabric against skin, not the flower itself. The elemi resin in the opening provides a citrusy-resinous lift that prevents the composition from feeling heavy from the start, while the plum keeps things grounded in subtle fruit rather than floral sweetness. The real craft is in the balance: powdery enough to feel classic, warm enough to feel modern, with enough oud in the base to keep it interesting for those who thought they didn't like violet fragrances.
The evolution
The opening announces itself quickly, elemi resin bright and almost incensory, bergamot cutting through with a sharp citrus note, plum providing the first hint of sweetness before the violet takes over. Within twenty minutes, the cashmere and violet begin their conversation, and the composition shifts from fruit-forward to powder-forward. The lily of the valley is subtle, threading through without adding to the floral weight. By the second hour, the violet has begun its slow retreat, and what's left is the benzoin-vanilla-oud triad that reviewers describe as the fragrance's real gift. Patchouli keeps everything grounded, earthy and slightly bitter against the sweetness above. On fabric, this fragrance evolves for six hours or more, the oud becomes more pronounced as the vanilla deepens, and there's a skin-like warmth that reviewers consistently mention, as if the fragrance has become part of the wearer's own chemistry rather than something applied from outside.
Cultural impact
Velvet Royale has found its audience among wearers who appreciate powdery florals but find traditional violet fragrances too delicate or linear. The addition of oud and benzoin in the base gives it an anchor that pure florals lack, while the cashmeran keeps it soft enough to wear close. The the community community rates it favorably for its uniqueness in the violet-oud space, not a combination often attempted. It's become a quiet favorite for those who want something that reads as luxurious without projecting loudly, suited to someone who values the memory of a scent over the announcement of one.
