25 Rose Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try

Posted by Jessica on 21 December 2012 171 Comments

aged roses

A few weeks ago, Robin posted an update to her much-loved post 100 Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try, adding twenty-five more fragrances worth seeking out. Angela has pitched in with a tempting selection of 25 Vintage Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try, while Kevin has expanded our view with a list of 50 Masculine Fragrances. And what’s my “beat” here on Now Smell This? I’ve always gravitated towards florals, particularly rose-based perfumes, so I’ll do my part with a run-down of some must-try rose scents.

True roses¹

1. Annick Goutal Rose Absolue

Annick Goutal was one of my “gateway” houses into perfume obsession, partially because it offers several rose-inspired fragrances. Rose Absolue is the most “true” rose of the group. It brings together essences of six different roses (May, Turkish, Bulgarian, Damascus, Egyptian, and Moroccan) into a radiant bouquet…

Read the rest of this article »

Aftelier Wild Roses & Honey Blossom ~ fragrance reviews

Posted by Jessica on 9 November 2012 30 Comments

Aftelier Wild Roses

It’s been a stormy, gray week or so in my part of the country, with a hurricane followed by a nor’easter, and I’m suddenly in the mood for some natural floral perfumes — the closest I can get to wearing actual flowers. I’ve just tried two scents from indie natural line Aftelier, both in Eau de Parfum formulation. The newer one (just released) is Wild Roses, which “evokes the garden in our imagination and memory — the book of a hundred petals unfolding: balsamic, spicy, apricot, and honeyed roses, mixed with the smell of warm earth and herbs.”

Wild Roses’ composition includes top notes of rose CO₂, heliotropin, bergamot, geraniol, m-methyl anthranilate and damascenone; a heart of apricot, Turkish rose absolute, pimento berry, p-ethyl alcohol and rose petals attar; and a base of tarragon absolute, vanilla absolute, indole and aged patchouli. It really does deserve its name: Wild Roses is most definitely not a dainty tea-rose fragrance. It starts off boldly, with emphatic spicy and woody notes that put me in mind of a very sophisticated pomander or potpourri…

Read the rest of this article »

Take it for a ride

Posted by Robin on 7 June 2012 Leave a Comment

Take it for a ride. "Pick it and put it on the car seat as you drive home," Marriott says. "As you drive, you can pick up that fragrance on the ride. It could be the enclosed atmosphere. Maybe the humidity goes higher. I don't know."

— Works for fragrance blotters too, but Michael Marriott is talking about roses, and how to get the most out of their fragrance; he works for David Austin Roses. Read more at A nose for the rose at the Chicago Tribune.

Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur ~ fragrance review

Posted by Jessica on 9 March 2012 33 Comments

roses

Last month I tried all three fragrances from Neela Vermeire Créations in one sitting, one after the other. Trayee made me think, and Bombay Bling made me smile, but Mohur made me swoon a bit. Kevin has already written an excellent review of Trayee and Bombay Bling, in which he mentioned that Mohur wasn’t quite his type; however, it is exactly my type, so I’m happy to follow up with a review of this fragrance, which is described as “a combination of opulent moghul rose perfumes and a distinguished spicy leather bouquet.”

Mohur’s notes are listed as cardamom, coriander, ambrette, carrot, black pepper, elemi, rose, jasmine, orris, aubepin flower, almond milk, violet, orris, leather, sandalwood, amber, white woods, patchouli, oudh, benzoin, vanilla and tonka bean. Its background “story” includes references to the British Raj era, to the mohur coin that was used under British rule in India, and to the Mughal empress (and perfumer) Noor Jahan. (You can read more about the fragrance’s historical allusions on the richly annotated and illustrated Neela Vermeire Créations website.)

My knowledge of Indian history is woefully limited…

Read the rest of this article »

Caron Delire de Roses & A Dozen Roses Electron ~ fragrance reviews

Posted by Jessica on 3 February 2012 25 Comments

>Caron's Délire de Roses urn & bottles >Caron's Délire de Roses flacon

Every February, we consumers are reminded in many not-so-subtle ways that the rose is the flower of romance, and that we should be buying roses, giving roses, and wearing roses in all their forms. I happen to believe that rose fragrance is a perfect choice for any day of the year, not just Valentine’s Day, but I’ve decided to wear and review some recent and new rose releases all the same. One is a 2011 launch from the classic house of Caron, and the other is the latest offering from A Dozen Roses, a new niche collection that was itself founded in 2011.

Caron’s Délire de Roses Eau de Parfum is described as “an exquisite concoction…redolent of a spring garden in full bloom,” with top notes of blended rose petals and lotus flowers, a heart of lily of the valley and rosebush leaves, and a base of jasmine and lychee. It opens with a sheer cluster of rosebuds and lily of the valley, and it eventually dries down to a soft, fruity rose that stays close to the skin. Between these two floral phases, the fragrance’s mid-development is warmed by an unexpected salty-amber aquatic note. Since Délire de Roses has a transparent feeling and light staying power, it would work well as a rose fragrance for warmer weather. Other than that salt-breeze heart, it reminds me a bit of Crabtree & Evelyn’s Evelyn (now Evelyn Rose), one of my favorites during the early 1990s.

Overall, Délire de Roses is pretty and girlish and bright…

Read the rest of this article »

« Newer articles

Older articles »

True roses1

1. Annick Goutal Rose Absolue

True roses¹