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Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa Excelsa ~ fragrance review

Posted by Jessica on 21 April 2016 21 Comments

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa Excelsa

Dolce & Gabbana has just launched Dolce Rosa Excelsa, a new floral fragrance for women. Dolce Rosa Excelsa is the second flanker to 2014's Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana, following 2015's Dolce Floral Drops. This time around, the bottle is blush pink with a deep red cap. The rose-inspired fragrance includes top notes of neroli leaves, papaya flower, white water lily and white daffodil; heart notes of Turkish rose and African Dog rose; and base notes of musk, cashmeran and sandalwood.

This happens again and again, and I never learn. Some upscale fashion brand releases a new rose fragrance, and I get my hopes up, despite the accumulated experience of the past decade, and then I try it and I'm disappointed. I like Dolce Rosa Excelsa's concept and name and packaging, and I love the promotional "movie" starring the divine Sophia Loren. The fragrance, unfortunately, doesn't live up to its visuals: it's an overpriced pink fruity-floral.

Dolce Rosa Excelsa begins with citrusy-sweet fruit, including something that reminds me of papaya (not "papaya flowers") before moving on to its floral theme. I'm smelling lily of the valley, even though it's not listed as one of the notes, plus a very sheer rose that feels pink, if you know what I mean, rather than red (despite the bottle-cap and the video). It's all very spring-y and girlish, but it's also shrill, and there's an Elmer's Glue-like note throughout that makes me wrinkle my nose. The base is a transparent yet very persistent synthetic musk. Basically, Dolce Rosa Excelsa is to rose as the original Dolce was to white florals: thin and generic and long-lasting.

Come to think of it, Rosa Excelsa is not only similar to other "prestige" rose flankers, but it's uncannily similar to Dolce & Gabbana's own Rose The One from 2009. I laughed when I re-read my own review of Rose The One, which described it as having "a very familiar-seeming accord of lily of the valley, peony, and unripe mulberries" and being "unapologetically synthetic and somehow high-pitched, sweet with a sour edge, and although it lasts a while on skin, it never deepens into anything more reflective or seductive." If D&G can rework their fragrances, I suppose I can recycle parts of my own reviews.

As always, I'm in favor of a new rose fragrance. But if you're looking for a very pretty, fresh rose scent and you want to set your sights higher, there are better alternatives: Annick Goutal Rose Splendide, Divine Spirituelle, YOSH Sottile, Byredo Rose of No Man's Land — I could go on. Feel free to share your own favorites in the comments.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa Excelsa is available as 30 ($74), 50 ($93) and 75 ($117) ml Eau de Parfum.

Possibly of interest

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Italian Love ~ new fragrances
Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Lily ~ new perfume
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Forever ~ new fragrances

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: dolce gabbana, flanker, rose

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21 Comments

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  1. scentfromabove says:
    21 April 2016 at 1:50 pm

    This one seems like it would be such a pretty rose scent. I would love to try it.

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    • scentfromabove says:
      21 April 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Then again, I do like fresh scents……decisions, decisions

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      • kelly 4 says:
        21 April 2016 at 3:07 pm

        I want to try it too. I also like fresh scents. Pretty bottle.

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    • Jessica says:
      21 April 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Well…I do think there are other pretty fresh rose scents out there that offer better quality for less money…I’m surprised at the prices for this one. Tokyo Milk Waltz is $30. Something from Rosine would be $110. D&G just doesn’t put the effort into its fragrances than it puts into its marketing, imo.

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  2. Cries and whispers says:
    21 April 2016 at 2:11 pm

    It smels like laundry detergent to me.

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    • Jessica says:
      21 April 2016 at 9:24 pm

      It does have a “functional” feel. I thought of shampoo.

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  3. meredifay says:
    21 April 2016 at 3:54 pm

    Does anyone have a D&G scent that they really like? I like the original The One, and I wear it from time to time, but I have found nothing else in their fragrance catalog that pleased me – I agree with Angela’s evaluation of Rose the One as “Screetchy”. But, I do admire the brand’s out there colorful motifs, and would like to find another of their scents that I could enjoy….

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    • lillyjo says:
      21 April 2016 at 8:58 pm

      D&G Sicily. It is discontinued, but I loved it. I remember it being a dark, powdery floral. I used the whole bottle. One of my lost loves.

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      • Jessica says:
        21 April 2016 at 9:26 pm

        I don’t mind Light Blue. It has its place.

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      • jovejove says:
        22 April 2016 at 6:39 pm

        Sicily is not discontinued. It’s on their website. You can still get it all over Europe.

        http://www.dolcegabbana.com/beauty/m/perfumes/women/

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  4. mals86 says:
    21 April 2016 at 4:31 pm

    I really need to try Rose Splendide. As a matter of fact, I think the only AG rose I’ve tested is Ce Soir ou Jamais (well, and Petite Cherie has a prominent rose note to my nose. And Heure Exquise, though it’s about other things as well). So I need to try the Rose Absolue too.

    Teo Cabanel Early Roses is gorgeous, and if I remember rightly, it’s about the same price points for 50 and 100ml.

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    • mals86 says:
      21 April 2016 at 4:33 pm

      What, Jessica, would you say is the difference between Rose Splendide and Rose Absolue?

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      • Jessica says:
        22 April 2016 at 11:21 am

        Oops, meant to reply to this earlier! To me, Rose Splendide is a bit fresher and brighter, with hints of fruit and champagne, while Rose Splendide is a deeper rose soliflore. Victoria of Bois de Jasmin contrasted them beautifully in this review a while back:

        http://boisdejasmin.com/2012/04/annick-goutal-rose-absolue-and-rose-splendide-perfume-reviews.html

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        • jovejove says:
          22 April 2016 at 6:40 pm

          :/ what?

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          • Jessica says:
            22 April 2016 at 9:58 pm

            That is: Rose Splendide is a bit fresher and brighter, with hints of fruit and champagne, while Rose Absolue is a deeper rose soliflore.

  5. cazaubon says:
    21 April 2016 at 4:40 pm

    I am anxiois to smell the new rose Dior Privée scent, La Colle Noire. Hoping the quality will be good.

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    • Jessica says:
      21 April 2016 at 9:29 pm

      Oh, I wonder! I hope it’s good. I’m anxiously awaiting Grace Coddington’s new signature fragrance and Maria Candida Gentile’s Rrose Selavy.

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  6. sugarvenom says:
    21 April 2016 at 5:13 pm

    Have you tried Liquides Imaginaires Dom Rosa? It’s a lovely champagne rose.

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    • Jessica says:
      21 April 2016 at 9:27 pm

      Yes! I went to a Liquides Imaginaire once and I did enjoy it. I need to get my hands on some samples from this line so that I can try them again.

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  7. lillyjo says:
    21 April 2016 at 9:02 pm

    Jessica, I am not a huge fan of rose scents, but I tested this for my friend who is. I told her the same thing you said, that she could do better. It really isn’t very rosy. Thanks for the review.

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    • Jessica says:
      21 April 2016 at 9:26 pm

      I’m always excited when people are curious about rose fragrances — but there really are better options out there!!

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