Velvet Rope is the second fragrance release from hip Los Angeles boutique Apothia. It follows cult favorite IF, which was launched in 2001. Velvet Rope was created by perfumer Rayda Vega.
Velvet Rope is a unisex fragrance, and was inspired by...
...A-list places where people are stimulated by watching and being watched..."We came up with a drink--an icy cold martini with a very dry vanilla bean stirred in," described Robinson. From there they created Velvet Rope. "There are essences of the vermouth and vodka in the fragrance. Then you take a twist of grapefruit for zest. And what else emulates these lounges and clubs is smoking. So we included a raw tobacco note very deep in the fragrance." (via Global Cosmetic Industry, 10/1/2005)
The notes for Velvet Rope are juniper berry, grapefruit zest, green rose, jasmine absolute, cypress leaves, vanilla absolute, white musk and patchouli. It starts out exactly as advertised: a martini with a big twist of grapefruit peel. It is very, very dry and rather high pitched; the pitch lowers as it settles and the grapefruit fades, but it stays dry and cold straight through to the end, with a bit of the gin lingering on. The florals are subtle, and there is something mildly fruity in the early dry down that mingles with the vanilla and a whirl of cigarette smoke.
Velvet Rope is that rare thing: a fragrance that smells just like its advance press says it will, and for that matter, that evokes exactly the atmosphere it claims to — the VIP lounge of a swanky Los Angeles nightclub. It smells young and hip and energetic, much more so than most fragrances targeted towards the young and hip and energetic. As I am none of those things, it is no surprise that it doesn't entirely suit me, but it is a fun, nicely composed fragrance and worth trying.
Velvet Rope is available in 50 ml bottles of Eau de Parfum or in body lotion, body wash, and matching candle. For purchasing information, see the listing for Apothia under Perfume Houses.
Ha! I just KNEW there was a tobacco note in there that was messing with me! It's so purty on my sister, the opening is terribly reminiscent (in its own way) of Shalimar on her. But on me, as it dries, I first get this awesome black peppery note that slowly morphs into a cigarette butt. Sigh.
(Btw, I'm still lying flat on the couch but doing so much better today. One more real good crack, and I think I'll be in tip-top shape again!)
Glad you liked it! I think it's definitely unique. I'm not sold that there is a tobacco note in there. I'm still waiting to hear from my Barneys rep what the list of notes are.
Katie, glad you are felling better. :O)
K, the tobacco is quite pronounced in the dry down, but I rather like it mixed with the vanilla. It would be a great bar hopping scent if I still had the energy to go bar hopping. Hope the back is better very soon! But ouch on the “one more real good crack”.
V, the list above is from Apothia, and as you can see it does not include tobacco, but like Katie, I smell lots of smoke in this one, although it is very mild after a couple hours. Great scent though!
I have become tragically unhip, well, except for my hips, but it does sound fun.
It is fun, do try it! It is one of many that I would wear if I had it, just don't feel moved to buy it.
R, Your review makes me so curious!
Velvet Rope seems to be really original, different from others scents that are on the market that are often realy similar & nothing new.
It´s so sad that it´s not available over here. I think one can order samples through the web site, but often shipping is too high to justify that…
Is it rather sharp or does it get softer when it dries down? I also like that there is vanilla with tobacco, for some reason I´m finding this combination more & more delicious… 😉
S, it gets softer when it dries down, but it really does smell like a martini for a long time — so soft, but not warm, exactly. The lasting power is probably on the lower end of average for an EdP, so by the time it is really soft, you need to reapply anyway.
It is too bad Aedes doesn't do international orders, because their sample prices are much more reasonable.
R, yes, it´s really a pity that Aedes doesn´t ship to Europe, especially since they are Germans, too…
R, another source location is in the Philadelphia area, at 1718 Walnut Street, at Knit Wit. I tried this there and really liked it, and was hoping the DH would put some under the Christmas tree for me. Alas, no luck! I found it to be unique vanilla–very different from the more common “foody” vanillas out there.
Hello dear R! Lovely review as always. I will try and test whenever I get hold of some. Not in a hurry as i wonder cynically about the young, hip bit you mention! ;D
Hope you are well. 🙂
Overseas shipping has become such a hassle lately that I sympathize with them for not bothering. Maybe first-in-fragrance will pick this up…
Knit Wit??? Will have to look into that, have never heard of it…if you happen back through, do let me know what other fragrances they have!
N, Young & hip beats young & sweet & fruity in my book any time — I think you would enjoy trying it, anyway!
Normally I am quite sensitive to tobacco and this perfume does not bother me one bit. On me, the grapefruit lingers, as does the gin note. I like it a lot!
You know, I like it now even more than I did back when I reviewed it!
OK, maybe it's just my skin (I'm a guy) but this immediately smelled like warmed brown sugar on me, as soon as I applied it (I dosed myself heavily with a mini sample). Can't smell 'tonic', 'juniper', 'grapefruit' AT ALL…
I actually like the sugary smell that I do smell – it is like a REALLY GOOD QUALITY vanilla smell & the drydown smell (the 'nicotine' & 'smoke') seem to enhance the brown sugar smell, making it smell a little like burnt toffee that just came out of the oven.
If you're a “foody” scent lover (like me), try this stuff. I would NEVER have spritzed anything calling itself “Velevt Rope” and expected to smell this particular smell (although maybe it just smells this way on only me?)
Nice surprise. I'm not sure if I will buy it – it's no Elixir des Merveilles that's for sure! 🙂
Sounds like your skin eats up the top notes in short order! But we are on opposite sides of the spectrum — I liked this one much better than Elixir des Merveilles, although I adore Eau des Merveilles. Maybe that is because I'm not a big foody-scent lover.
When I first smelled VR and read the concept behind the perfume- I was in love. I like unique, envelope pushing scents. I kept smelling my arm, thinking about a swanky lounge or club…then, I asked different friends what they though, not telling the the concept or the name- and the overwhelming response was “bath and body works”, or “plastic vanilla, some citrus fruit too?”….honeymoon, OVER! Immediately my eyes were open to the reality of Velvet Rope- though the concept is great, ultimately, if you’re not being told the “velvet rope” concept, it just comes across as a very basic fragrance- not unpleasant, but certainly not sophisticated or interesting the way it’s supposed to.
I know it isn’t how most people wear perfume, but I wear for me…how it comes across to others doesn’t worry me!
I fell in love with the concept of Velvet Rope before I smelled it- my favorite drink is grapefruit juice with vanilla vodka. Icy, dry vanilla is my favorite vanilla (Voluspa makes a Bourbon Vanilla spray that masters this concept) , and I like to see less sweet fruity notes (if any!) in a fragrance. I went to Apothia and got a sample, and found what Robin did: it’s quite true to the description Apothia gives it! What I realized, when allowing friends to smell it, that it ultimately wasn’t that original- though in my mind, I’d smell my wrist with a vision of the concept and notes in my mind, it ultimately just smelled like a well-done vanilla/grapefruit combo on me.