• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume & Ko Denmark Jasmine + Neroli ~ perfume reviews

Posted by Robin on 5 June 2012 54 Comments

More jasmine! A quick run through the jasmine tag here at Now Smell This reveals that I'm the main jasmine freak in residence. If you're not a jasmine freak, sorry, come back tomorrow.

Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume

Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume

I was curious about Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume for two reasons. One, it's jasmine, and as I already made clear above, I'm nearly always interested in jasmine. Two, it was developed by perfumers DS & Durga, and I'm very fond of their bold, rustic-chic indie style.

The Olio Lusso Perfume is apparently meant to capture the aroma of the Rodin brand's Luxury Face Oil, which I've never used. Now that I've tried the perfume, I'm pretty sure I could find a way to fit the oil (or the hand & body cream!) into my skincare routine if only I could afford it. The perfume opens rich and strong, and it's mostly jasmine straight through from the beginning to the end. It's brightened with a bit of citrus and tempered with a bit of lily of the valley (you'll hardly notice unless you're looking for it). It's slightly indolic in the early stages, less so later on — not as indolic as some of the huge jasmine bombs (Serge Lutens A La Nuit, Bruno Acampora Jasmin), but nowhere near as clean (or sheer) as more mainstream-oriented jasmines (Guerlain Jasminora, Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile). It's much stronger on the jasmine than my more recent favorite, Lush Silky Underwear.

I have no idea how many notes there are, but it smells relatively unadorned — just a deep, sexy jasmine with a slightly musky dry down. I don't think there's any point in trying it if you don't love jasmine. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it weren't so spendy. The lasting power is reasonable if not quite fabulous, and it layers beautifully (and while it is alcohol based, it does leave an oily sheen on the skin).

Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume is $220 for 30 ml, and can be found at b-glowing or Beautyhabit. If you've tried other Rodin products, do comment!

Ko Denmark Jasmine + Neroli Perfume

Ko Denmark Jasmine + Neroli PerfumeKo Denmark Jasmine + Neroli PerfumeKo Denmark Jasmine + Neroli Perfume

Ko Denmark, like Rodin, is primarily a skincare / bodycare company, but they do offer their signature fragrance in an organic roll-on perfume.

I called DS & Durga's style rustic-chic,1 but in the case of these two particular perfumes, the label might be more appropriately applied to the Ko Denmark. It is jasmine, but it's a soft, quiet jasmine. It's also equally focused on the rose (other notes include neroli and ylang ylang), and has a natural, almost herbal cast, that while not overdone, contrasts with the Rodin's bright yet heavily floral character — worn next to each other, the Ko Denmark scent feels a little flat and lifeless, and the Rodin rises up to the luxury status bestowed by its price. By the same token, the Ko Denmark might be more likely to appeal to someone who doesn't like their jasmine to overwhelm. Personally, I enjoyed wearing the Ko Denmark, but have a feeling I'd get more use out of the Body Lotion (which would presumably make a nice layering agent) or the Body Wash.

Ko Denmark Jasmine + Neroli Perfume is $45 for 3.6 ml Perfume Oil, and can likewise be found at b-glowing or Beautyhabit.

Tried any other great jasmines lately? Do comment!

1. Actually, I stole the term from Jessica, who used it when she reviewed DS & Durga's Poppy Rouge, The Orchid Drinkers and Five Step Waltz. I do think it's an apt description of their perfumery style, but the Rodin arguably has a more "polished" and "pretty" feel than some of their prior fragrances.

Possibly of interest

Blackbird Y06-S ~ fragrance review
Jason Wu & Ralph Lauren Woman ~ perfume reviews
Gucci Bloom ~ fragrance review

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: ds and durga, jasmine, ko denmark, natural perfume, rodin

Advertisement


54 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. maggiecat says:
    5 June 2012 at 3:30 pm

    I love jasmine as well and have longed to try to Rodin line – and the Ko for that matter, but unfortunately price is a consideration in these economic times. I wonder if samples will be available so I’ll know whether it’s worth doing without lunch for a while for….

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 3:46 pm

      You can buy samples from Beautyhabit, but yes, the price of the Rodin is prohibitive for many of us!

      Log in to Reply
      • bluegardenia says:
        6 June 2012 at 2:36 am

        yes all the rodin products are really spendy. my dermatologist worked with them on the oils and he gave me some products to try free, which was really nice. i just use them all as hair oils though!

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          6 June 2012 at 8:10 am

          Lucky you! I think they make a separate hair oil now.

          Log in to Reply
  2. Rappleyea says:
    5 June 2012 at 3:41 pm

    Oh, I do love a good jasmine. I’ve been stuck in my vintage Samsara rut forever for jasmine, though. These both sound really good although spendy. I love the classic blend of jasmine/neroli/rose/ylangylang that the Ko sports.

    Speaking of an oily sheen – I recently wore the Samsara parfum and the sandalwood left an oily sheen and feel on my wrists! They don’t make them like that anymore!!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 3:46 pm

      It’s true, they really don’t!

      Log in to Reply
  3. Occhineri says:
    5 June 2012 at 4:06 pm

    I used up a sample of the Rodin face oil and really liked it, but I can’t justify buying a bottle because of the price. The same is true for the perfume, though I might break down and order a sample.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 4:27 pm

      So, did it help your skin in any way, or did it mostly just smell great?

      Log in to Reply
      • Occhineri says:
        5 June 2012 at 6:38 pm

        It’s great for the skin, but so are other facial oils for a fraction of the price.

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          5 June 2012 at 8:28 pm

          True enough.

          Log in to Reply
      • bluegardenia says:
        6 June 2012 at 2:16 am

        i’ve read so many dermatologic journals and articles and every one says that while plant oils are excellent for the skin because they moisturize (obviously) and have antioxidant activity, most fragrant essential oils are not great for the skin. there’s a high incidence of irritation, especially when exposed to sunlight. citrus and lavender are the biggest offenders but florals can be equally damaging. being scent-obsessed as we all are, this has always disturbed me a little. i decided to compromise by using scented products on my hair and body but keeping my face creams fragrance free. who wants to find out that their delicious smelling face oil actually caused irritation (or, worse, pigmented sun spots) months or years later!

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          6 June 2012 at 8:12 am

          Interesting. My face serum smells great from ylang ylang — maybe I should look into potential issues.

          Log in to Reply
          • Rappleyea says:
            6 June 2012 at 9:46 am

            Robin, if it’s true ylang ylang e.o., you should be fine. Most of the florals aren’t harmful per se, but *could* cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. If you’ve been using it for a while, you’re fine.

          • Robin says:
            6 June 2012 at 8:44 pm

            Fine. You talked me into not worrying about it :-)

  4. ladymurasaki says:
    5 June 2012 at 5:10 pm

    Thanks for the review, Robin. I love jasmine in perfume and the real flower and Olio Lusso sounds gorgeous. I really want to try this since you mention Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile, which I also found too clean and light.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 5:44 pm

      The AdP was pretty but not at all my style — and that “clean, light and dewy” style seems to be the one they’ve settled into, as a brand.

      Log in to Reply
  5. May says:
    5 June 2012 at 5:57 pm

    On a jasmine-related note:

    I and my mother recently sampled Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile, as my mother’s favorite flower is the jasmine, and I want to buy her a jasmine perfume when she uses up her current bottle of Dior J’Adore. My mother liked AdP GN, but while I found the fragrance pleasant, I was surprised to find myself rather disappointed with it – I guess I was expecting more of a punch, even though, ironically, my favorite perfumes have long tended toward the “light and airy” end of the spectrum.

    I’m curious about Serge Lutens A La Nuit, which everyone seems to trumpets as “the jasmine to end all jasmines”, but I’m worried that it’ll be too much for my mother (and too much for the office). I suppose the solution is to simply order a sample, but I have yet to come around to the idea of purchasing fragrance samples (I have been spoiled by the free fragrance samples that I can get at Nordstrom and Sephora). Thoughts?

    Thank you!

    Log in to Reply
    • May says:
      5 June 2012 at 6:01 pm

      If it helps, my mother did not like Guerlain Jasminora, which I think is because Jasminora smells more “crisp” whereas Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile smells more “sweet”.

      Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 6:25 pm

      Hmmm. I do understand not wanting to pay for samples. But it’s hard otherwise unless you live in a city like New York where you can test nearly everything without paying. It is one of those things I don’t even notice anymore — I figure it saves me money by keeping me from buying unsuitable things unsniffed. Plus, it’s fun to try lots of different things!

      A La Nuit might well be too much. A few closer-to-middle-of-the-road jasmines: By Kilian Love & Tears, Estee Lauder Jasmine & White Moss (although maybe that will teeter into the “too much” territory too), Septimanie Perfumes Pavillon des Fleurs, Chantecaille Le Jasmin.

      Log in to Reply
      • May says:
        5 June 2012 at 6:58 pm

        Thanks so much for the suggestions, Robin! I’m sure I’ll come around to the idea of purchasing samples soon enough (it does make total monetary sense), but gosh darn it, I’ve just been so spoiled by Nordstrom and the like.

        I have also sampled Estee Lauder Jasmine White Moss and Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint. The ratio of jasmine to moss in the former was disappointing. (My mother strays very little outside of florals.) I liked the latter to a surprising extent, once I got over the initial spray of mint, but after a while, something clicked and I realized that I seemed to be smelling more tea than jasmine. Has anyone else noticed this, with Jo Malone’s White Jasmine & Mint?

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          5 June 2012 at 8:30 pm

          Nordstrom is lovely about samples.

          And yes. I think of the Jo Malone as the mainstream copy of L’Artisan’s The Pour Un Ete, which is the pretty much the same notes. Tea, jasmine, mint. But I like the L’Artisan better.

          Log in to Reply
        • hajusuuri says:
          5 June 2012 at 10:27 pm

          I, too, had an aversion to purchasing samples due to the proximity and generosity of the aforementioned stores as well as others, like Saks, where I could have a sniffapalooza at my convenience (and I sense one coming up again in 2 weeks). I am also partial to spray samples instead of splash. For niche/indie fragrance houses, like SSS, Andy Tauer, Ormonde Jayne (to name a few) I did not mind paying for the samples because they came in spray top vials and were packaged very well. Just about the only fragrance samples that I paid for which were not satisfactory came from a well-regarded niche perfume store in Greenwich Village (NYC)…while the samples arrived safely, the packaging was not professional-looking at all (how difficult is it to print labels?).

          Log in to Reply
          • bluegardenia says:
            6 June 2012 at 2:23 am

            i know which store you’re talking about and i agree printed labels would be an improvement, but i will say that it’s nice how their samples come in little plastic pouches with a pretty black logo card to keep them straight. it makes storage easier and neater, and you can smell the base notes of the scent just by opening the pouch!

          • Robin says:
            6 June 2012 at 8:14 am

            Just want to say that you guys *can* mention the store name if you wish — we don’t prevent people from talking about their personal shopping experiences!

          • hajusuuri says:
            6 June 2012 at 7:21 pm

            Duly noted, for the next faux pas :-;

      • bluegardenia says:
        9 June 2012 at 7:02 am

        in new york, if you factor in the cost of a cab or even the subway to get to the store where the sample you want to smell is, and the time it takes to do this, i find it MUCH cheaper and easier to order samples online, even if you have to pay like 25 dollars for a discovery set. not to mention that once you’re in a physical shop the temptation to buy something full size is much bigger than online, especially after a nice salesperson has helped you out.

        Log in to Reply
  6. JadedNose says:
    5 June 2012 at 7:02 pm

    I’m also a jasmine lover, so I’d like to add a couple of suggestions for jasmine perfumes that would be worth a sniff: Montale Jasmine Full, which is just so lovely and lush; and Isabey Fleur Nocturne, which is stunning. I think they are two of the most beautiful jasmines out there. And, for reference, I also own A La Nuit and love it dearly. Child perfume might also be of interest because the dominant note in it is a lovely jasmine to my nose.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 8:31 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Log in to Reply
    • bluegardenia says:
      6 June 2012 at 2:27 am

      montale jasmin full is my number one favorite jasmine soliflore. it’s absolutely delicious, like a bundle of jasmine sambac with one or fresh two gardenias mixed in. very intoxicating and shimmering yet simple.

      another jasmine that’s often overlooked and very beautiful and elegant (though not a soliflore) is l’artisan la hair fleurie. has anyone tried this? it’s a somewhat grown up scent and less quirky than many l’artisans. i adore it.

      Log in to Reply
      • bluegardenia says:
        6 June 2012 at 3:07 am

        oh dear – of course i meant la HAIE fleurie!

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          6 June 2012 at 8:25 am

          Ha…but I like the idea of a “La Hair Fleurie”! Can’t remember if that’s one of the ones they discontinued? I know I tried it years ago.

          Log in to Reply
          • bluegardenia says:
            6 June 2012 at 8:34 pm

            oh lord! i just checked and you are right! it’s no longer on the website. i need to order a bottle for posterity ASAP. i’m livid!

          • Robin says:
            6 June 2012 at 8:46 pm

            Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I think it was a while back though.

          • bluegardenia says:
            8 June 2012 at 4:05 pm

            not at all, i’m so glad you mentioned it! just ordered a full bottle and it will last me forever. i almost never wear this stuff (reminds me of the late 90s when i wore it all the time) but want to have it in the collection for sure.

  7. annemarie says:
    5 June 2012 at 7:43 pm

    I’m in SSS’s Nostalgie today, which is a jasmine blended beautifully with other florals, sandalwood, and other gorgeous things. Very gentle, and gentle on the credit card too. I swear I picked up the beeswax in it this morning (in the perfume I mean, not in my credit card), noticing the beeswax as a note by itself for the first time.

    I bought a small bottle of Lush’s Flying Fox shower gel after Robin reviewed it a while back. A jasmine bomb indeed!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      5 June 2012 at 8:32 pm

      Isn’t it though? It will take me years to finish off my little bottle. I do love it though, when I’m in the right mood.

      Log in to Reply
  8. Nlb says:
    5 June 2012 at 11:56 pm

    I swear KO Denmark recently changed their blend. I’ve had older and newer samples. Yes, it’s a natural blend so it might change over time, but the older samples smell sweeter, fresh-indolic…more, sunshine-citrusy.

    The newer one has a harsh, herbally addition of rose that changes the whole feeling of it. It’s raspier and more herbal. The simplicity of the jasmine and neroli was nice enough and unusual; I don’t care for the recent addition of rose and ylang-ylang.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      6 June 2012 at 8:23 am

      I read that on MakeupAlley too, so I think you’re right that they reformulated.

      Log in to Reply
      • Liz says:
        22 June 2012 at 12:37 pm

        I wrote the review on Makeup Alley and yes, they did change the formulation. I had the same response –where did my sunny, happy jasmine fragrance go!

        I emailed Henriette Holst and she confirmed that the formulation had changed — in fact, it continues to evolve. I just received from the company some samples of the newest version which is somewhere in the middle. It’s a bit more complex and floral as opposed to full on jasmine. I still think I like the first version best but the one I’m sampling is also nice.

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          22 June 2012 at 4:54 pm

          Thanks so much Liz. Kind of disturbing to hear they’ve reformulated it yet again — I think I’d be afraid to order not knowing what I’d get each time!

          Log in to Reply
  9. Zazie says:
    6 June 2012 at 6:02 am

    You make me want to try the Rodin perfume!!!
    (and their face oil and the hand cream too!)
    I love jasmine in fragrances, but I wish I found a jasmine-centered perfume with a real base and a top – a jasmine flower adorned just enough to make it a perfume and not a “captured” smell.
    I own A la Nuit (like for Fracas, I cannot figure why people call it overwhelming!!!), while I love the smell I’m always left wanting for more (more lasting power, more evolution, more detailed work).
    I also like BK’s Love and tears very much- it strikes the right balance for me between the star note and the supporting roles, but I would have chosen different actors: the jasmine is too clean, the base too white musk, …Anyway, I might want a bottle!
    From your review it seems Rodin is mainly about jasmine…and yet I want to try it badly…

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      6 June 2012 at 8:27 am

      Agree about Love & Tears — too clean. Wanted more oomph!

      Guessing the Rodin will not be complex enough for you.

      Log in to Reply
  10. Karin says:
    6 June 2012 at 8:11 am

    My current favorite jasmine – Kilian Love and Tears!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      6 June 2012 at 8:49 am

      It’s a lovely scent that’s just too clean for me — and I’m happy about that since it’s also spendy!

      Log in to Reply
      • Occhineri says:
        6 June 2012 at 10:20 am

        Love and Tears is too clean for me, too, but I found a trick to wearing it. I add a couple of spritzes to some jojoba oil, and it gets rid of the piercing aspect of it.

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          6 June 2012 at 11:19 am

          Great idea!

          Log in to Reply
  11. mitsouko says:
    6 June 2012 at 11:05 am

    Robin- thank you for reviewing these two which have been on my radar.
    I would LOVE to have the Rodin but it’s expensive – so it’s good to read your review .
    Re. face oils. The best face oil / serum I used was the Clarins Generation 6 serum . Just a drop in the morning and a drop at night under your face cream . It does last a long time and not so expensive at about 99 bucks a bottle. A bottle lasts about 6 months for me.
    Also the Ko Denmark . I popped some neroli and jasmine essential oil on my skin sometime back to get an idea of the smell . It’s a shame if they have already reformulated it though.

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      6 June 2012 at 11:22 am

      I use a Vit C serum which I adore (Skinceuticals, expensive) and a face cream by Alaffia (not expensive) which I also love. Don’t really need anything new, just tempted by the idea of smelling jasmine every morning!

      The Ko Denmark smells almost more like rose geranium than true rose to me…kind of herbal/spicy. Not as bright & floral as what I expected from something called Jasmine + Neroli, I guess.

      Log in to Reply
      • bluegardenia says:
        6 June 2012 at 8:37 pm

        my guess is that if you’re using that good vitamin c serum, it’s such a good antioxidant that any potential irritation from a little ylang ylang in a serum should be neglible. let’s tell ourselves that at least!

        Log in to Reply
        • Robin says:
          6 June 2012 at 10:13 pm

          Works for me!

          Log in to Reply
  12. Southern Belle says:
    6 June 2012 at 12:00 pm

    I love Olio Lusso face oil. Not only is jasmine wonderful to smell, it will certainly soften your skin. I think it is worth the price because a bottle lasts so long.

    What about MPG Jasmin. It is one of my favorites!

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      6 June 2012 at 10:14 pm

      Glad to hear it softens in addition to smelling good!

      Log in to Reply
  13. amarie121 says:
    7 June 2012 at 2:13 am

    I have to mention Sonya Dakar Omega oil. I use it occasionally when retinoids have me too “flakey”, but my teen uses it to control acne, and it is better than anything else we have tried (and we tried microderm, pharmaceuticals, beta-hydroxy acids, etc etc). Who would think that an oil would work?! But within 3 days people at her school were commenting. It is pricey, so I “dole” it out to her from the “master bottle”:-). The scent is pure spa, being neroli and lavender. Also, just tried Dyptique hair/body oil at Nordstrom: love the scent, texture, and satiny hair/skin. I figure it is 3 products in 1 (hair, skin and perfume) so that is how I plan to justify the cost to myself! ($60). The Dakar Omega oil is more, about $124, but one “squirt” a day makes it last quite awhile, and I believe you can call the spa directly for samples, paying only for shipping… Last “rave”; Shu Uemura Camilla oil, pure heaven but too pricey in my book for mere hair oil…

    Log in to Reply
    • Robin says:
      8 June 2012 at 1:22 pm

      Good to know, thanks!

      Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement


Luckyscent

Search

Browse by…

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

From NST at Twitter

  • "How French perfumer Frédéric Malle conquered the sophisticated world of fragrance" (options) https://t.co/EfHtUkBWob,
  • Headline of the day: "Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina-scented candle almost burns down home of woman who won it in a quiz" https://t.co/F6bvZtoSXl,

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

TBA April ~ freebiemeet

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2021 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.