The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Virulhaka Raja takes its name from one of the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhist cosmology, the guardian of the south, keeper of karmic order across Southeast Asian traditions. The fragrance translates that role into scent: protective, weighty, present. Anunsith Wongkornvanich built this composition around contrast, copper's metallic shimmer against the green-spicy lift of lovage root, resinous elemi cutting through the heaviness, then the slow arrival of oud and choya ral's smoky ritual character. It is a fragrance about presence. Not performance. Not announcement. The kind of scent that arrives in a room and earns its space.
The copper note is the surprise here, an unusual material in perfumery that reads almost like a chord, metallic and slightly electric at the opening. Lovage root adds a green-spicy dimension that most Western noses won't immediately place, which gives the top a quietly alien quality. The combination of oud with cotton flower is softer than expected, almost textile in its evocation. Choya ral, the smoky, ritual material, bridges the heart and base, giving the fragrance its incense DNA. Castoreum anchors the drydown with something animalic and warm, while labdanum and peru balsam round it into a powdery balsamic close that lingers close to the skin long after the initial brightness fades.
The evolution
The opening hits sharp, copper's metallic brightness immediately at the forefront, lovage root's green-spicy character cutting through like a cut herb, elemi lending a citrus-resin lift that feels both modern and ancient. The combination is arresting. Within fifteen minutes, the oud begins to assert itself, darker and woodier, while cotton flower softens the transition. Choya ral's smoky, slightly tar-like character follows, adding a ritualistic layer that feels deliberate. The heart settles into place over the next hour, warm, smoky, floral in a muted way. Then the base takes over. Labdanum's resinous sweetness, clove's warm spice, castoreum's animalic depth, and peru balsam's balsamic richness. The drydown holds close to the skin but lasts, four to six hours on most skin types, intimate but persistent, powdery and warm when you press your wrist to your nose the next morning.
Cultural impact
Virulhaka Raja joins SIAM 1928's Nilakarnch collection, a line of fragrances inspired by figures from Buddhist cosmology and Southeast Asian spiritual tradition. With only 150 bottles produced, it occupies the collector's corner of the niche market, appealing to wearers who seek fragrance as narrative rather than commodity. The copper-choya ral pairing sets this apart from more conventional oud compositions. The fragrance exists for someone who wants scent to mean something beyond aesthetics.
The House
SIAM 1928SIAM 1928 is a Thai niche perfumery house founded in Bangkok in 2019 by Nutt Wesshasartar, who serves as both founder and perfumer. The house draws its name from the year Thailand began using the Gregorian calendar, marking a significant cultural transition point. SIAM 1928 creates fragrances that draw deep inspiration from Thai history, mythology, literature, and the natural landscape. Each scent functions as a narrative vessel, translating cultural stories and spiritual themes into olfactory form. The house operates as an independent artisan brand, producing limited collections that reflect a distinctly Thai perspective on perfumery. Nutt Wesshasartar develops all fragrances personally, combining traditional Thai aromatic materials with contemporary perfumery techniques. The brand has released multiple notable fragrances including Wasan, Rasvika, Chanalaj, Rosen Bridge, Aerapata, Sadayu, and the 2025 releases Kubera Raja, Akkhara, and Dhatarattha Raja.
The Creator
Anunsith WongkornvanichAnunsith favors a modular approach. He builds a base of sturdy woods or amber, then adds bright top notes that catch attention.
