ROYAL FRAGRANCE
By Jassmine Shadiqe, New Straits Times
Being the first is not new to Johoreans and its monarchy but the latest achievement is even sweeter CREATING history by being the first is not something new to Johor, Johoreans and its monarchy.
Among its firsts include being the first state to adopt the constitutional monarchy system in the country after the late Sultan Abu Bakar enforced the Johor State Constitution on April 14, 1895.
Johor was chosen as Asia’s first Legoland theme park and is scheduled to be opened by end of this year.The Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar got his name into the Malaysia Book of Records as the first ruler to obtain a locomotive driving licence after he turned around a locomotive weighing 86 tonnes on a railway turntable to earn a Class 26 licence.
His son, Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ismail, was the first Malaysian royalty to join the Indian armed forces. The latest first was something more “fragrant”.
Recently, the Johor monarchy made history again — this time for being Malaysia’s first Sultan to have perfumes specially formulated and named after him.
The perfumes, Sultan Ibrahim Satu (SI 1) and Sultan Ibrahim Dua (SI 2), came about after a visit by Sultan Ibrahim to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) Institute of Bio-product Development (IBD) early this year.
As Sultan Ibrahim was briefed on the facilities and equipment, including the capabilities and skills of the researchers, he posed a challenge to IBD’s director Professor Ramlan Abdul Aziz and his team of researchers to formulate a perfume that would suit him best.
Choosing a perfume for oneself is already quite a task, formulating one for a man who known for his no-nonsense ways, who speaks his mind and is known for his creativeness and innovative ideas, was definitely a challenge.
However, the task was made easier when Sultan Ibrahim suggested using aloeswood as the base. He wanted something masculine yet modern.
Aloeswood is known by several names, including agarwood or oud. It is a dark resinous wood from the Aquilaria tree, an evergreen tree native to northern India, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
It’s scientific name is Aquilara malaccensis lam or Aquilaria agallocha. The Aquilaria tree grows up to 40m high and 60cm in diameter. It bears sweet scented, white flowers.
The trees, when infected with a parasite fungus or mold known as Phialophora parasitica, will produce an aromatic resin, in response to the attack.
The resin is highly sought after around the world. The resin is commonly called jinko, aloeswood, agarwood, oud or gaharu. The fungus and decomposition process generates a rich and dark resin in the heartwood. The resin is the product of a natural immune response and is difficult to obtain. This makes it rare and expensive.
The odour of agarwood is complex and pleasing. Its essential oil gained cultural and religious significance in ancient civilizations around the world.
It was also mentioned in the world’s oldest written texts — the Sanskrit Vedas from India. The team took about five months to formulate the ideal scent for Sultan Ibrahim’s personality.
IBD’s research officer Nor Hayati Mohamed Noor, 30, who formulated the scents, came up with 10 scents using the highest quality ingredients such as gaharu, sandal wood, saffron, amber and fragrant oils such as minyak kijang and kasturi.
Sultan Ibrahim picked two which he liked best. Nor Hayati said SI 1, for day wear, was sweet and fruity, while SI 2, which had a stronger scent, was suitable for night use. Nor Hayati, who graduated from UTM’s Chemical Engineering Faculty, said SI 2 had a natural calming effect. The perfumes were presented in exquisite 15ml bottles.
The bottles were decorated with intricate designs crafted in silver and copper. The perfumes are priced at RM790 per bottle and are available at UTM’s front office at Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai. There are plans to sell the perfumes at more outlets. Sultan Ibrahim graced the launch of the perfumes on Sept 13, at ceremony held at UTM’s Iskandar Hall.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang, Johor Council of Royal Court secretary Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli, UTM pro Chancellors Datuk Dr Muhammad Ridzuan Salleh and Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor.