2025.11.11 2025.11.14

DHATARATTHA RAJA (Siam 1928)

Perfume Geek K

DHATARATTHA RAJA

SIAM 1928

SARUJ TANGTHRATORN

2025

THAILAND

Lemon Pomelo Orange Blossom Galbanum Black Pepper

Immortelle Cistus Rose Osmanthus Lavender Ginger Nutmeg Cardamom

Myrrh Sandalwood Australia Vetiver Amber

CONCEPT

Dhatarattha is one of the Four Great Kings in Buddhist cosmology and the guardian of the East. His name means “He Who Upholds the Earth,” reflecting his role as the preserver of harmony, order, and steadfast virtue. He resides in the Cāturmahārājika Heaven and watches over the Gandharvas, celestial musicians whose songs express joy and delight. Dhatarattha is also associated with new beginnings and the first light of dawn, embodying protection through clarity, music, and unwavering resolve.

In artistic depictions, he often appears in light-colored robes, holding a stringed instrument such as a vina or harp. This symbolizes the power of resonance, harmony, and spiritual discipline. In Thai and Southeast Asian beliefs, Dhatarattha is viewed as a calm and composed guardian with a firm inner strength. He quietly watches over the paths ahead of sentient beings with compassion and steady awareness. His presence brings peace, clarity, and a graceful force that guides each new beginning with dignity.

The fragrance opens with a bright, sparkling blend of lemon and pomelo, offering a sweet-sour zest that recalls the brilliance of dawn and a vibrant awakening. Orange blossom adds gentle warmth and purity, reflecting compassion and love within the spirit of a guardian. Galbanum brings a raw, green clarity, like a dewy forest after morning mist, while a touch of black pepper adds a subtle spice that gives rhythm and life to the scent, like the first strum of a celestial harp turning silence into harmony.

At the heart, a composition of balance begins to unfold. Immortelle introduces a dry, honeyed hay-like sweetness, blended with the rich resin of cistus, lending a sacred, deep dimension. Rose brings timeless elegance and romance. Osmanthus offers apricot-like sweetness fused with a soft, leathery nuance, adding contrast between light and shadow. Lavender delivers a sense of calm and emotional balance, complemented by ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom, which bring a warm complexity. These notes hint at spice and brightness within stillness, mirroring a mind that is firm yet kind.

As the scent settles into its base, myrrh imparts a solemn, sacred resinous depth with a hint of bitterness. Australian sandalwood wraps the composition in a creamy, woody softness, evoking peace and longevity. Vetiver adds an earthy dampness from the roots, grounding the fragrance with a sense of steadfastness and connection to the earth. Finally, amber brings a warm, sweet richness that lingers gracefully, like the final chords of sacred music dissolving into the stillness of morning light.

Siam 1928 Official Website: https://siam1928.com/product/siam1928-dhatarattha-raja-porcelain-bottle-limited-quantity/

THOUGHTS

Inspired by Dhatarattha, the celestial king who governs the East and presides over order and balance in the world, Dhatarattha Raja embodies the radiant clarity of dawn itself. Perhaps it is this connection to the guardian of the East that lends the fragrance its remarkable luminosity — a sense of light gently breaking through the horizon.

The opening bursts forth with a vivid brightness of lemon and pomelo, an invigorating blend that sparkles with energy and freshness. Yet beneath this lively zest lies a tender harmony of orange blossom and a subtle touch of black pepper, creating a sophisticated freshness that feels both uplifting and comforting.

As the fragrance unfolds into its heart, a delicate bouquet of osmanthus and rose emerges — luminous, fluid, and radiant with life. On my skin, the sweetness of osmanthus glows most vividly, evoking the image of golden nectar glistening in the morning sun. A whisper of immortelle lends a faintly spicy and herbal nuance, adding texture and grace to the floral symphony.

In the base, the fragrance retains the natural sweetness of its heart, while woody and spicy undertones gradually take prominence, grounding the composition in quiet warmth. The scent lingers beautifully, its serene glow remaining on the skin long after application.

While it may be described broadly as floral, Dhatarattha Raja stands apart — refined, luminous, and tenderly sweet without ever becoming cloying. It is a fragrance of elegant restraint and effortless beauty, one that speaks softly yet leaves a lasting impression.

Like many creations from Siam 1928, its longevity is remarkable, allowing the wearer to savor the heart’s radiant floral accord for hours. Dhatarattha Raja is a celebration of light, purity, and quiet strength — a fragrance that feels like sunlight woven into scent.