In honor of Dr. Jessica, who celebrates her 10th Now Smell This anniversary today, we're talking about roses. Three questions, answer as many or as few as you like.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
1. Name a favorite rose fragrance.
2. Name a favorite rose-scented body product.
3. Tell us about anything wonderful or interesting that has to do with roses, in any form whatsoever.
Note: top image is Rose petals. #b3d [background extended] by The Paessel Family at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hi everyone! Thank you for your birthday wishes. My birthday yesterday was calm but amazing. I wore Vintage Dioressence, naturally.
1. Probably Nahema. Lovely.
2. I’m no rose fan so I haven’t tried many rose products, though I’d love to try that new Portrait of a Lady body oil.
3. My mother used to grow this variety of antique rose called Mermaid roses. Wide open yellow-tinged white blooms with vicious thorns. They smelled like heaven. Not very rosy at all but slightly fruity, and pungent.
Calm but amazing is the best kind of birthday! Happy birthday a day late
Sorry I missed it in the thread yesterday!HAPPPPYYYY BIRTHDAY!!!Hope it was an awesome day!x
Wishing you a calm – but amazing – year ahead! Happy Birthday + one day!
Happy belated birthday! Glad it was a nice one!
Happy Birthday! Yay for amazing????
Sorry I missed your birthday. Hope it was grand!
My mom has a mermaid rose. Talk about a beast. She gets a trim twice a year or she would pull the entire arbor down and probably go for the house, but she does smell wonderful.
Happy belated birthday! I hope you continue the celebrations for the rest of the year, calmly and amazingly
Beltated birthday wishes here too! Hope it was a fab day!
Happy belated Birthday!
Glad to hear your b-day was a good one!
1. Name a favorite rose fragrance.
Nahema
2. Name a favorite rose-scented body product.
I started to answer that I don’t use scented body products, but then I remembered that I make my own facial moisturizer and the current one is a blend of rose otto and blue chamomile. It smells wonderful!
3. Tell us about anything wonderful or interesting that has to do with roses, in any form whatsoever.
Back when I had acres of land on which to garden, I grew roses. My favorite was called Dolly Parton, a beautiful deep coral pink, and it had the biggest buds I’ve ever seen on a rose, HUGE! So you can use your imagination re the origination of the name. One rose could scent an entire room too.
Happy Anniversary, Jessica!
Do you add the oils to something else or use them straight? It sounds lovely. I have a bottle of rose otto which I prefer to the absolute I have. So much more complex!
If I can add my two cents you would not want to apply an e.o straight up onto your skin. So you would definitely dilute in a carrier oil that is good for your face. I have used jojoba oil, argan oil and even apricot kernel oil . Other good essential oils for face serums would be tamanu, sea buckthorn, patchouli and frankincense (great for mature skin and skin cancer). you can also add a bit of hyalauronic acid for extra moisture boost but just make sure to shake well before application.
and rose hip seed oil is great for the face too!
I like the hyaluronic acid idea…
Elisa – see below. I’ll answer both you and Lovestosmellgood at the same time. But especially for your face, the absolute has been extracted with solvents and therefore will have traces of petro-chemicals remaining. The rose otto is steam distilled and is what should be used for aromatherapy.
I am interested in your facial moisturizer as well!
For one ounce of moisturizer, I start with about a teaspoon of apricot kernel oil and just a bit (@ 1/8 teaspoon) of either borage oil (winter) or rose hip seed oil (warm weather). I add 8 drops total (1% dilution) of one of these combinations into the carrier oil: a) 5 rose otto & 3 blue chamomile, b) 5 lavender & 3 roman chamomile, c) 5 helichrysum & 3 neroli.
Mix the e.o. oils into the carrier oil and then add the ounce of lotion and blend. I use an organic, unscented lotion with minimal ingredients as I have super sensitive skin.
Email me at rappleyea11 with a yahoo address if you have any questions. I’m always happy to give aromatherapy help. Just so you know that I am qualified, I’ve taught aromatherapy classes at a major hospital.
Thank you for sharing that recipe!
Are there any particular e.o. companies that you would recommend?
Thanks and I trust your credentials ????! I think I’ll try your EO recipe in my Shikai Borage Therapy lotion which I’ve been using for a long time now and really like.
SOTD is Chanel Coco Noir. (Thanks, Hajusuuri!)
Congratulations to Jessica on her NST anniversary! Here’s to many more years! (As a fellow rose lover, may I make a plea for a new list of Rose frags?!?)
1) Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin is a fave.
2) I loooove Pacifica’s Persian Rose body wash, which I believe is now discontinued.
All the really great Pacifica scents and body products have sadly been discontinued…I think the company is leaning more towards beauty and make up now
It’s such a bummer! Especially considering the makeup isn’t particularly great. (The skincare’s quite good, though.)
So THAT’s why there are so many Pacificas at Winners – I have been scooping them up at less than half price. They, and the latest Yves Rocher (whose Rose Absolue was great) order should keep me clean for a good year minimum.
Yep. Snap them up while you can!
What would be the theme of the new rose list you want?
Ooh, I can play this game!
My first thought is that rose is an obvious note to do a seasonal list for–roses for summer, roses for fall, roses for winter. . . Those last two would be especially of interest to me, since I like my roses a little on the rough, spicy, and dark side of things.
I think there’s also something interesting to be said about the many faces of rose. I don’t know if it’s one list that provides a few good examples or if it’s a few lists that go into detail, though.
-Light, airy roses (these are the ones that I think of when I heard “rose” pre-perfumista)
-Dark, spicy roses (these are the ones that convinced me I actually like rose scents
-Earthy and/or green roses (mixed with iris and other notes that make them smell like the whole plant, not just the bud)
And I keep thinking about all the oddball rose scents–Portrait of a Lady, for example, with it’s HEAVY patchouli, almost dominating the rose; PHI: Une Rose de Kandahar–a gourmade rose. . . not sure if that’s it’s own list or if they are unusual examples in the categories above.
Oh, and meant to add in my “rose types” list my favorite!: nostalgic, cosmetic rose-violet frags (boudoir fragrances?). I could list 3-4 everyone should try rather easily.
Thanks!
I didn’t have a particular theme in mind, actually. I guess, if anything, I was thinking more along the lines of a sequel to her “25 Rose Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try” from 2012. Really, I’d just eagerly read anything Jessica might choose to write about roses!
Ok, got it.
1. I wasn’t a lover of rose perfumes, until I discovered Papillon’s Tobacco Rose, which is gorgeous. Then I tried Portrait of a Lady, which I also loved. On the other hand, I can’t stand Knowing and nor am I fond of YSL’s Paris.
2. Rose Jam shower gel and Ro’s Argan body conditioner.
3. Nothing really. I had white roses in my weddings bouquet and my mother had a beautiful rose garden, that’s about all.
Have a fragrant weekend!
TR is one of my favorite perfumes in the world. In with you on all of these.
Happy anniversary Jessica! Thank you for 10 years of great posts.
I love Tauer roses: PHI Rose de Kandahar, Rose Chyprée, Rose Vermeille, and of course the Rose Delight body oil works well under all of them.
At a previous house I had a rose garden. My favourite was Tropicana which was a beautiful peachy red rose with a fruity aroma. So good to bury your nose in and inhale deeply.
Oh, and I am wearing Musc Nomade today!
Oh Phi is so pretty!
My father grew Tropicana and it was a favorite of his, also. So I always think of him when I see or smell one.
Oh, thanks so much to Jessica for lovely NST review and her beautiful blog Tinsel Creations!
For rose lovers, I’d recommend Sottile by Yosh Han and Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Shampoo with Rose Extracts.
But what I’m actually wearing is not roses but tangerines, spices, and resins. Basile Femme – even before you smell it, you know it’s an 80s perfume because of the shoulder pads.
http://perfumenw.blogspot.com/2015/11/basile-by-basile-vintage-version-198687.html
You smell amazing!! Love Basile Basile, shoulder pads and all.
Thank you, I will have to smell that shampoo.
Robin, FYI, if you order anything from Beautyhabit, you can request a sample. There is a matching volumizing conditioner, too.
Oh, good to know, thanks!
1. L’Ombre dans L’Eau without a doubt. Very addictive. I need a full bottle.
2. Rose 31 conditioner which is a good enough reason to stay at a Fairmont hotel.
3. This rose I smelled at the Villa d’Este in Tivoli this November smelled amazing. Pink Sevillana it was called.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FDAThzjywhM5s2cw87J2QURcoINYv8MAKA/view?usp=drivesdk
And I’m wearing Fou d’Absinthe today.
What a gorgeous rose, thanks for the link!
I’m generally a RosePhobe *ducking* but today I’m coming up roses (or as rosey as I can be) by using Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Sugar scrub in the shower and Tauer Rose Body Oil after.
Roses. We’re circling each other warily. I may add a spritz of PHI on top, but that doesn’t really register as a “Rose” fragrance to me at all. We shall see but in the mean time Happy 10th Anniversary to Jessica! I’m sure she does Rose much better than me????
So this explains the accidental 2 bottles of Amber Flush Body Oil
SOTD: planning to wear Hermes Hiris.
1. Frederic Malle Une Rose is my favorite rose.
2. I like KORRES Japanese Rose & Le Labo Rose 31 shower gels.
3. Bois de Jasmin has many posts on rosewater. I am hooked on a tea concoction she wrote about: brew black tea, add dash of vanilla extract and rosewater, as well as some apricot jam. It’s heavenly.
On another note, I am thrilled because I purchased a barely used 100ml Le Temps d’Une Fete at a very reasonable price on ebay. I can’t wait for it to arrive
Ooh! Nice in the LTdF!
It’s a blind buy. I have heard so many great things about it, I wonder if it will live up to my expectations
I’m in the love camp. Report back!
Good for you!
The Korres Japanese rose lotion is lovely too
It is! I don’t use it just because I don’t like lotion interfering with my perfume. I usually go for an unscented one like Aveeno.
I believe what we call that is an 100 mL sample. . . sounds like a great scent to take that chance with!
1. Une Rose Chypree, AG Rose Absolue and Mona di Orio Rose Etoile
2. Lush Rose Jam showergel, Andy Tauer’s Rose Delight oil
3. I have wild roses in my garden (Rosa Canina) and they still carry rosehips, very healthy, lots of vit C. I snack on one or two when I walkd in the garden with my dogm she likes them very much too.
Thank you Jessica!
SOTD Arbolé Arbolé.
I have never eaten a fresh rose hip, how cool!
In the Netherlands jam is made from rosehips, and sirup which all children drink diluted with water. But I think snacking is a bit of an eccentric habit but highly recommendable!
I generally recommend eccentricity. . .
My grandmother used to make rosehips jam – it was divine! Those that I’m buying in ethnic stores today aren’t as good but I still enjoy them.
Happy Anniversary to you!
1. la file de Berlin
2.Rose Delight Body Oil
3. tea rose preserves on toast or fruit. add rose petals to your tea.
Fluer de China is my Sotd, did they really discontinue this one..sigh..
I love rose preserves. I had a jar of gulkand a whiles back from an Indian grocery store but don’t remember which store. If you know where to get a good one, let me know!
I got mine at Francios Payard, so you can find cheaper at Murray Hill for sure..
They did discontinue Fleur de Chine, but it still can be bought online.
Woot, FdB! ????
1) ELDO Rossy de Palma, SHL Rose de Petra, Lyric are 3 favorites. Providence Perfume Co Rose Boheme is really beautiful, too…
2)Good ol’ Dr. Bronner’s Rose castille is a longtime favorite. I also really like Lush Turkish Delight shower smoothie since it’s more tart rose water than candy-very moisturizing. And not a body product, but I recently got the Archipelago candle in Rosewater which does smell like spiced dark rose candy! It’s really delish.
3)I don’t know much about rose species, but rose in Aryuveda is supposed to have an overall balancing effect and is said to impart joy when ingested or maybe smelled.
I like Rossy de Palma too – you can smell the thorns, if that makes sense.
It makes perfect sense! I love how it starts off fresh and dewy-wet and then gets dark and angry and thorny. It might be my favourite of all rose scents.
Yes, some elements keep it from being too pretty.
Lyric is sooo fantastic (even if it doesn’t smell all that ‘rosy’ to me). I just scored a bottle of the Dr. Bronner’s rose castille soap at Ross this week!
The search for rhe perfect roses is what got me perfumed obsessed. Jessica helped *a lot.* I too would love to read a list of her favorite newer roses!
So my favorites: Tobacco Rose, Fille de Berlin, Une Rose, PoaL, the newly discovery by me Lumiere Noir Pour Femme are probably at the top of the list. Sadly the Tauer roses don’t work for me, although I have Phi and keep hoping whatever didn’t bug me and now does passes. (Same for Hippie Rose. I love the way it smells but it now makes me a little queasy.)
I also l
Oops, cut myself off, which is probably just as well! BUT the new or newish Molton Brown rose shower gel is very nice! And although I don’t like Rose 31 as a perfume it’s great – if ridiculously spendy – as a shower gel. And like everyone else I love Rose Jam.
Agreed! A list of roses-maybe-you-haven’t-tried-yet-but-should would be a good read!
1) Les Perfumes de Rosine’s La Rose
2) Jo Malone’s Red Roses Shower Gel
I am really cranky cause I just spent an hour and a half shoveling the driveway with five others as our snowblower would not start…must have lost five pounds in sweat! But I smelled good in vintage Chloe perfume (circa late 70s). It is evaporating from that gorgeous bottle so being aligned with the weekly challenge I may drain this one. I decided to no longer hoard my lovelies. thanks to the influence of a great friend who is like an older sister to me I am turning into a bit of a minimalist and I want this to carryover into my perfume collection. I want 7-10 bottles of what I truly adore and that is it….I thought this article was very interesting too now that the holidays are approaching-
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/dec/12/frugal-christmas-people-stopped-shopping-minimalism-movement
and the poll
1. Pacifica’s Egyptian Bergamot Rose EDP
2. Pacifica’s Egyptian Bergamot Rose Soap or Body Butter
3. Pacifica’s Egyptian Bergamot Rose Soy Candle which I stocked up on when it became discontinued.
Happy anniversary, Jessica!
Oh and any rose essential oil from Eden Botanicals is sublime…I have tried them all
Y’all know I just HAD to throw in an e.o.!!!
http://www.edenbotanicals.com/products/sampler-packs/rose-sampler-pack.html
here you go , peeps!
Have you tried av-at.com rose e.o.? They were recommended by the Natural Perfumers Guild and are the best I’ve found. They buy the oil directly from the growers in Turkey. You can see videos on the website of the rose fields and the oil production.
Ooh! thank you for that rec! Going to add that to my list…
I’ve been an aromatherapist for almost 25 years now (gulp!), and this company is far and away my favorite.
OOO! Now i really need to heed all of your advice-LOL! I am just an amateur but very fascinated by e.o.s….
I’m sure you could teach me a lot about the perfume making part of as I’ve spent my time strictly on the therapeutic end. I’d have no clue how to make a rose perfume, but could tell you how to use that rose e.o. for liver problems!
You keep the Avatars interesting!!Hehe!x
It is a Christmas ornament so I may keep this one for a while…and I promised Undina that I will eventually go back to my edible owl
I love it.
That is one cute owl!
This avatar is definitely good for Christmas even though it’s not edible (or maybe because of it? There’s enough to eat during these holidays
).
Yup! Loving that there’s different sweet every time I log in!
Let me take a wild guess…you really really REALLY love love love Pacifica’s Egyptian Bergamot Rose!
And the owl — LOVE. I hope Bookgirl sees it because she is owl-obsessed as well!
I managed to get a bar of the Egyptian Bergamot Rose soap a few years ago before it was discontinued. I just hope she doesn’t stop making the Persian Rose stuff!
I love your gravatar, too–I adore owls.
I love Dame’s Desert Rose. I’m actually continuing our sandalwood theme today in Dame’s Cassis, Rose, and Sandalwood.
I don’t use body products.
My father used to grow roses in our front yard. He always was very particular about taking care of them. I was the one who was tasked with taking off the spent flowers so new flowers would form, and it was one of my favorite garden jobs.
OOO! I forgot about the Dames! yes!!!! They are gorgeous! Yu smell fabulous!
I really “need” to order some Dame samples. I keep seeing them mentioned by people with good taste.
Desert Rose is really good! I find it quite similar to La Fille de Berlin.
1. My favorite rose perfume is Kelly Caleche.
2. My favorite rose body product is Rose Jam.
3. I used to work as an agricultural consultant in California. I got to do experiments in the Rose greenhouses in Carpenteria and Oxnard, which was both great and terrible. Great – houses full of beautiful, pampered roses!!! So many!!! So pretty!!! Terrible – ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch. Having to go into the bushes to sample was an extremely painful process.
I have a question for all the tea experts at NST. My brother-in-law loves tea, and I would like to get him some really nice tea for Christmas. Can you recommend a house or even a particular gift set that you think would be a good choice? (He prefers black teas.).
Tea houses I like that are also affordable- Republic of Tea and Harney and Sons. They have a great selection and also do nice gift sets and samplers.
http://www.republicoftea.com/
https://www.harney.com/
http://www.republicoftea.com/comfort-and-joy-black-tea/p/v00598/
this one is really tasty…and the Organic Peppermint Bark, while not black, is really delicious too…
Oh yes and the Gingerbread Cuppa Cake Tea is delectable! In fact all the Cuppa Cake Teas are really good
I think Palais des Thés does a nice tea sampler. They are not my favourite house but their sample sets are very nice. I’m in Europe so I’m not familiar with American tea houses.
I adore both Mariage Frères and Damman Frères but I gather that shipping is very expensive for both of those.
I hope Austenfan drops in this weekend, she is our top tea expert!
I made it just before you!
Thank you, on behalf of all those in need for serious tea advice!
I was about to suggest Marriage Freres, and now am completely distracted by the news that they have perfume too…
Well Kusmi is a universally loved brand,and they have a nice selection.Their packaging is also always pretty,so you can actually get something from their regular line-up,that looks “gifty”,but isn’t neccesarily an exclusive to the holidays set.
I’m a fan of both Stash teas and Art of Tea. They both have some wonderful organic teas, which is what I drink.
And meant to say also, what an interesting job you had!
Yes, why do roses have thorns on them I wonder. Other flowers don’t have thorns, at least none I know of.
Thanks everyone! I was just at lucky scent browsing for other gifts and noticed that they carry Kusmi and Mariage Freres – is there any reason why I shouldn’t order the tea from them and combine it with my other orders?
I don’t understand the thorns either. However, I had to have a special set of clothes that I only wore to those greenhouses and then kept in containment (a garbage bag in my trunk) when not in use – the thorns would come out in the washing machine but then get lodged in other articles of clothing. You make that mistake only once – thorn filled panties were a nightmare.
Happy NST anniversary Jessica.
Madame Hardy is one of my favourites: a clean white damask rose with a green eye that smells of honey. But I guess graveyards and hillsides are my favourite places for finding roses….all those rambling Cecile Brunners and moss roses by the gravestones, or rosehips near ruined homesteads, especially in old gold mining areas where there is often thyme as well. I don’t wear roses but Nahema is beautifully rich and Stella is good, and Kelly Caleche is lovely…all my favourites. Weleda for rose oil. Happy weekend!
On a relates but not happy note, did you see the article in the ODT yesterday that some has sprayed herbicide on a lot of the roses in the Northern Cemetery? I was upset to read that, the Northern Cemetery is a beautiful place.
I saw that . It’s very strange. The Bolton St cemetery in Wellington is meant to have one of the best rose collections, I believe.
Are you a rose rustler, Kanuka? I read something recently about them; they’re doing a great job in preserving heirloom roses found in the places you mention.
I’m not…yet. Really, I am probably more interested in the heritage fruit trees found around the old homesteads and ruins. Really fantastic.
I am so, so grateful that there are people who care about old varieties–of roses AND fruit trees! I feel like there’s so much loss with standardization and prioritizing pretty over flavor /fragrance /hardiness /beauty!
I’ll second that!
Happy 10th Dr.Jessica!Always love your reviews!
SOTD!Started the day in Joanne Bassett Temptress(shortlived but interesting musky skinscent),and now I’m post-shower wafting Walk of Shame from my beloved(??) smellbent.
1.Favorite rose perfume!Portrait of a Lady,Rose Noir from Byredo and of course Rossy de Palma.
2.The Ren Moroccan rose series,especially the oil and the yummy sugarscrub.So good.
3.Imam currently living right smack in the middle of a diary farm on the left and a rose farm on the right!Sometimes the “compost” smell is worse from the rose farm side than the diary farm!!Haha!Excellent because I get milk and roses from both sides delivered to my door,at a fat discount as opposed to the shops and florists.I will miss this place after my move.
4.Happpyyyyyyy Weekeeeeeend!!!!
X
I second the Ren, which I bought the one trip to England when the exchange rate wasn’t too bad. Nice but spendy otherwise…
Yes,but the gigantic tub of sugarscrub will probably outlast me!Lol!(compared to Rodin and Caudalie relatively inexpensive over here)
Just after I posted I realised question 1 is actually quite difficult,as I love quite a number of roses…Phi une Rose,Rose Poivree,Paris…Tocade!!Desert Rose!Rose Barbare…Nahema!!Ok I’ll stop there.Lol.
yes to Desert Rose!
Laughing at your answer to #3! Great answer!
Haha!Thanks!#TrueStories.
Rose Noir is gorgeous. I really need to get some more of this one.
It’s an underrated gem!
A visit to a Bulgarian rose farm, including harvest and distillation, is featured in the latest series of Rich Steves travel programs.
Rick.
As a result of a recent patchouli conversation I am currently wearing ELO’s Nombril Immense. It should go well with this bright winter day.
Happy Saturday Everyone! Hope everyone is having a rosy one!
I love weekend polls. Here are my answers:
1. Name a favorite rose fragrance.
At the moment, I am really in love with “Rose Elixir” by Montale. I just ordered a decant from STC and I can’t wait for it to come in!
2. Name a favorite rose-scented body product.
My favorite product is The Body Shop’s “British Rose”body butter. It keeps my skin so soft and lightly scented all day. It’s good stuff!
3. Tell us about anything wonderful or interesting that has to do with roses, in any form whatsoever…
I can tell that my sense of smell has grown and matured over the years. There used to be a time when I didn’t really care for rose-scented fragrances, but now I have quite a collection.
Have a great weekend everyone!
I forgot to mention that before I even opened the poll, I had already sprayed on “Lady Vengeance” by JHAG. This was one of the first rose scents that I really fell for.
I can’t believe I still haven’t tried the British Rose collection. So behind this year!
SOTD is the magnificent one-of-a-kind Alahine.
Favorite Rose is Amouage Homage attar, but Andy Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree and Incense Rose are close runners-up.
2. I haven’t found a rose body product I like.
3. I know nothing about roses except I keep cutting down the bushes on the side of the house and they keep growing back.
Thanks, Jessica, for your wonderful reviews! Here’s to ten more years!
I really need to try Homage. . . I’m a sucker for Amouage AND roses. Do you know, by chance, if they carry it at Perfume House for testing? I haven’t been over there since the Fumerie Reformation.
Amouage discontinued the attars, sadly. I think Sultan Pasha has made one that is like it, more reading on Kafkaesque’s blog.
1. I love rose fragrances, and my current favorite is YR’s d/c Rose Absolue from its Secrets d’Essences line. A bit of sweetness adds a gourmand touch, and its lovely cinnamon note lingers deliciously, making it a winter favorite of mine.
2. The matching shower gel and body lotion to Rose Absolue – I don’t usually buy matching body products but I’m so glad I purchased these!
3. I’m a gardener and my favorite roses to grow are the old-fashioned shrub roses that bloom once but spectacularly and with a fragrance like no other! But my favorite rose memory is that of a trip to England to visit a dear friend who lives in a tiny village in the west country. Roses, roses, everywhere, much taller and fuller than any I’d seen where I live, each one blooming – and scenting -profusely the gardens of their small cottages, and each of the cottages were named, with a small sign or plaque to that effect. A totally charming memory I shall never forget!
Yesterday was such a busy day I didn’t have time to post, but I did join the Box of Eels group enjoying that scent. One of the few Chanels that speaks to me and that I can wear.
Regarding no 3, have you ever watched Rosemary & Thyme? It is a great British mystery series and the main characters run a landscaping business…the views of the British gardens in each episode are sublime….it streams on Netflix if you are interested…and I binge watched my way through three series lickety split!
Yes, I love it!
And I have to tell you I think of you now on my weekly trips to Aldi, each time my hand reaches for one of their delicious yummies!
LOL! thank God there isn’t an Aldi’s near me cause I would be going crazy there every week!
I mean “three seasons” NOT three series!
I like this series as well
P.S. Congrats to Jessica, and thank you for all your wonderful reviews!
Morning, all. Congratulations and thanks, Jessica.
My favourite rose scents are Nahema and Rose de Petra. I know RdeP thanks to Gaynor, who sent me a sample. It’s one I want to buy one day: maybe next year when I visit the States. I thought I didn’t use any rosy body products, but then recalled that I have quite a lot of Chanel makeup, and it often has a scent that gives the impression of a rose, albeit a slightly confused one. So, not a body product as such, but I will offer Sublimage foundation for question 2.
Something wonderful? This is making me so homesick I could cry, but up in Northland, there is a small pink rose that grows wild over old farm buildings, abandoned houses, up trees and down ditches. My father told me that settlers from Dalmatia brought it with them, and when it reached our climate, it thought it had gone to heaven–it just took off and took over. Whenever I think of my proper home, I picture intense green and smell clean air, just slightly scented with the sea, which is never far away, and these mad, abundant roses rampaging and rioting everywhere. The roses wear fluffy debutante dresses, but their behaviour is completely Viking. Most Northlanders would pick the kauri as the symbol of our region, and it is, of course, but for me this tough, crazy little rose also speaks of home.
Oh wow,the picture you described of the wild roses sounds wonderful!Inapiration for a perfume!Wild roses and salty sea-air…wonderful.
*Inspiration for a perfume…My excitement to comment lead to whatever word came out there.x
oh but I like that word -“inapiration”
Haha!Does it actually exist?(English second language,Afrikaans would be the first,ja.????)
probably not but then again there are so many words that once did not exist but now do….when slang words become so ubiquitous they turn into real words!
That’s a beautiful description, I think the things we associate with home and childhood are often the little things that no-one else would notice.
Love this. Thank you for painting this beautiful word picture.
Those briar roses are so beautiful and tenacious. I think some of the earliest roses are in Kerikeri . I am planning to go north when I am in Auckland and I can’t wait.
Your description made me want to book a flight immediately. Roses that look like ladies but act like Vikings? Sounds like my spirit flower.
Vikings in debutant dresses . . . such a wonderful image!
I love rose perfumes, but quite a lot of them don’t work for me – I get a sour green note rather than a lush rich rose. Some that do work and that I love are Nahema, Rose de Petra and Rose d’Arabie.
I tend to use unscented body products so that I never need to think whether things will work together. Particularly not when rushing in the morning
My mother used to grow a few roses, including Rose Etoile d’Holland, which had what I think of as a true rose scent and was glorious. I was very excited a few years back when Mona di Orio brought out the perfume inspired by that rose, but it didn’t work for me at all.
It did not work for me either, but love the name even though I’m not familiar with the actual rose. Nice that your mom grew them!
What a beautiful anniversary, great to have you around Jessica!
1. My favorite rose is Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme. Of course there are many more because rose is one of my favorite notes.
2. Atelier Cologne skincare range – this includes shower gel, body lotion, soap bar and now also a hand cream.
3. Nothing wonderful today – very opposite. I’m watching TV and am very upset seeing that Polish government is trying to force a law that will forbid journalists to enter the parliament building. Citizens are on strike for 2 days now!
SotD is Puredistance Warszawa.
So sorry to read this Lucas. Hope Warszawa helps.
Agree that the Atelier Cologne bar soap’s are among the best that money can buy.
And they last forever! My Orange Sanguine soap took me the entire summer to finish and I just about used it everyday.
I know, right? Definitely the best soap I have ever purchased. And so fragrant!
My Silver Iris lasted forever!
Need THIS one in my shower!
I never tried the soap, but love, love, love the perfume. OS stays on me for a good while unlike the other Atelier fragrances. Might have to look into getting some of the soap later on.
I asked for 2 bars as Christmas presents these last couple of years and they last 3-4 months each. I found Grand Neroli to have more scent than Bois Blond, but both have been lovely.
Knowing you are such a big fan of the Atelier line a quick question- have you sampled Clementine California yet? I am curious about that one…
Yes, good question!
I just love the sound of that name, Clementine California.
Hello, no I didn’t try it yet. But I hope this will change soon
I got a sample of Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme a while back and remember how nice I thought it was. It didn’t last on me very long so I decided against purchasing a FB. Does it last a while on you?
On me it easily lasts for 8 hours, it’s quiet but it’s there
I hope things calm down soon. Thinking of you.
Luckily I saw this intended law banning journalists is withdrawn (at least that is what the news says here). I hope this is true and gives some relief.
Very distressing times we are living in. Love and peace to you and your countrymen, Lucasai!
If omly there were a law to keep imbeciles out of national parliaments – and presidential mansions, while we’re at it. The “March of the Idiots” has been one of the most depressing aspects of 2016.
Yay for Jessica’s 10 years! The reviews at NST are refreshingly candid. Thank you for that. Two recent reviews by Jessica that I enjoyed are Caroline’s Four Hundred and Nirvana Rose and Bourbon.
SotD = Geisha Vanilla Hinoki perfume oil. Jessica described it as a sophisticated vanilla.
1. Favorite rose scents: Mister Lincoln roses from my backyard, a sample of JM Red Roses, and an uber-inexpensive bottle of PW Tea Rose. I like my roses relatively unadorned.
2. Most loved rose body product: Roger & Gallet Tea Rose bar soap. I have an empty box that is about 20 years old, it still smells of roses.
3. This week for the first time I heard a centuries-old holiday carol called “What is This Lovely Fragrance?” (“Quelle est cette odeur agréable?”) Probably not referring to the scent of roses but a nice reminder that people have celebrated olfactory pleasure in many ways for a long, long time.
Nice to hear that carol, maybe referring to frankincense and myrhh? Or mulled wine
Happy Birthday, Jessica!
I think this might be my first post of this kind, since I’ve mostly been a lurker over the years. But the mention of roses got me.
1. A toss up between Juliette Has a Gun Lady Vengeance and Ex Idolo 33.
2. Lush Rose Jam shower gel
3. The rose garden at the Huntington Library in SoCal, where I live. I have a membership and visit as often as possible!
Welcome and I love the Huntington Rose Garden! I haven’t been there in years but I want to make a point of it next time I’m in LA. Although, they used to take us there on field trips when I was in grade school, and Ididn’t think it was that much fun then, lol.
Hooray for de-lurking! I also like Rose Jam shower gel!
Hello there! I like you already with your love of rose jam
I love the Huntington rose garden! It’s so beautiful and serene.
Happy 10th Anniversary, Jessica!
Commando right now as I just got my haircut again. I was at the mall thinking that I will put a dent in my Christmas shopping but I couldn’t find an item with the Giants logo that is practical and that my friend doesn’t already have…and I just found out today that The Limited is going out of business (I was going to get a gift card for one of my nieces). In the From Me to Me department, I did some damage this weekend and it is not even half over! One purchase was a bottle of MAC Velvet Teddy. It will make a good layerer, just like Philosophy Fresh Cream.
Now onto roses:
1. Favorite rose perfume – Mohur Extrait
2. The Body Shop British Rose Body Scrub (I haven’t used the POAL Shower Cream yet and it may surpass this)
3. I don’t like real flowers but enjoy looking at pictures of flowers
OOo! I will second that Mohur Extrait…exquisite! and I have you to thank for my sample of that beauty!
Yes, if I recall correctly it was over a meal with other perfumistas in NYC that Hajusuuri gifted us all with samples of her recent purchases and I, lucky me, got one of the Mohur Extraits which was a complete revelation to me with regards to rose & sandalwood.
Oh how could I forget Mohur. I love it in both forms.
Oooh I spritzed myself with Voleur de Roses before I even saw today’s theme. I’m a newcomer to rose scents – never especially cared for them but recently discovered that they are PERFECT for the winter months in the desert. My current fav is L’Hombre dans L’Eau, but there are many I want to try, and I’m sure I will add to that list thanks to today’s comments . . .
That’s L’Ombre! But L’Hombre dans L’Eau made me laugh
I love roses, and really especially enjoy Jessica’s reviews, and appreciate her love of roses too, so thank u Jessica, keep them coming for at least another 10 years please!
One of my favourites is Hippie Rose which was given to me by a wonderful new friend. I also adore POAL, which was my first niche full bottle, its the perfume I always receive compliments when wearing.
Lush Rose jamShower gel, it’s just so good!, looking forward to trying the body shop British rose body butter after reading about it here.
Another good rose find was a small bottle of ale Labo Rose 31 shampoo in a charity shop for 50p!- it’s nice, smells similar to Hippie Rose methinks.
I grow old rose’s in my garden, my favourite is ‘Jaques Cartier’ a wonderful, robust but delicate looking pink rose, with an exquisite old tea rose fragrance.
Let us know how you like the body butter. I don’t really care for the shower gel or the body spray (perfume), but the body butter is divine!
So many rose scents don’t like me; they turn soapy or sour or -oh the horror!- both. But recently, I’ve come across a few that work.
1. Name a favorite rose fragrance. Andy Tauer’s Rose Flash with I Profumi Di Firenze Miele Rosa a close second
2. Name a favorite rose-scented body product. What can I say? I just bought another of what Mr. Aparatchick refers to as the “giant economy size” of Lush’s Rose Jam shower gel. It is divine. I use it for my morning shower and know that no matter what else happens that day, I’ve had at least one little bit of beauty to savor.
3. Tell us about anything wonderful or interesting that has to do with roses, in any form whatsoever. I used to live in a house built in 1912 and in its tiny backyard I planted flowers that would have been common in 1912. I had two beds of old roses (Bourbons, Moss, and Chinas mainly) and the scent was amazing. The old roses, unlike so many modern ones, are highly scented and tend to be more disease and bug resistant. Mme. Isaac Pereire was my favorite. I wish I could grow them where I live now.
I can just picture your rose garden. What a wounderful idea and special memory.
Congratulations to you Jessica!
1) Too many; Paris YSL, Rose Nacrée du Désert, Rossy, Ecume de Rose, Zest de Rose, Un Soir ou Jamais, Une Rose, Nahéma, Une Rose Chyprée…
2) My favourite rose soap is made in a small pharmacy in Veules les Roses, France. It’s lovely and cheap. I’ve loved the Rose et Reines bodylotion for years, and I’ve just bought my first bottle of Rose Jam shower gel.
3) No rose centred anecdotes, sorry.
SOTD is Amouage Gold, and some Lonesome Rider.
Awesome roses going on there!
Happy Anniversary Dr.! How lovely!
1. Tie between Artisan Parfumier Safran Troublant and Aqua di Parma Rosa Nobile. Mmmm.
2. Rose Jam, but of course.
3. I don’t have a single rose trivia point! Oh, wait: in Seattle there is a beautiful rose garden located next door to the south entrance of the Woodland Park Zoo. All sorts of varieties, and many many beds to walk among. Definitely worth a visit when the roses are in bloom!
And now for my SoTD: Dzing! Getting close to emptying my sample.
Going to my family’s place for our annual neighborhood Christmas/white elephant party, and I will likely borrow a couple spritzes of my mom’s Parfumerie Generale Bois Blond.
Ooh, that’s a dynamite combo. I bet the smell of faded Dzing! with Bois Blond is incredible. I’m going to try it once I shake this cold and can smell properly again.
1. Vintage Crabtree & Evelyn Evelyn. Such a superbly made scent and smells just like a rose garden!
Yes!
–Portrait of a Lady
–my newly-discovered Vaseline Rosy Lips balm–it’s rose-scented!
–I am a rose fanatic and collect clothes in rose prints, or, as my husband puts it, “*Another* rose sweater?!”
Oh, I will look for that lip balm!
1. Rose Poivree and Mohur EDP and extrait
2. Rose Jam and the Tauer Rose body oil
3. I love how different varieties of rose can smell so different! A few weeks ago, I smelled a rose that smelled like guava and passion fruit
I just ordered some of the Tauer Rose body oil. I hope I love it as much as everyone else does.
Congrats on 10 years Jessica! What a great addition you are to NST.
My two favorite rose-centered scent items are… drum roll please…….. rose jam & Mohur Extrait & PHI!
It gave me great pleasure to stroll into Lush yesterday and see row upon row of rose jam. Sigh. Holding off buying until I see what’s in boxes under the tree.
No fragrance today. Was in such a rush getting out this morn. that I forgot. Ah! I think also my nose is overexposed to scent with all the baking I’m doing.
Off to make some more cookies!
I am still bummed they did not do the Rose Jam perfumes in the US this year…would definitely have bought the solid.
Just seeing all the love it gets on this post it’s got to be one of their best sellers. Not sure why they don’t go nuts and create many variations of the scent.
1. Favorite rose scent is Jo Malone Red Roses. Knock-you-off-your-feet roses happening with that stuff.
2. I’ve always loved Smith’s Rosebud Salve.
3. I have a small rose garden out front (just three bushes), and every now and then I literally stop to smell the roses. It’s calming to prune them, as well. I have one variety that smells lemony, and makes me wonder if a lemon-rose scent could catch on.
JM’s Red Roses was probably the first rose scent I actually wore. If you like that one, you should try Aerin Lauder’s Evening Rose. It’s one of those “sexy”, night-out rose fragrances. I like that one a tad bit more than Red Roses, but they are both amazing rose scents.
My Jo Loves discovery set included “White Rose and Lemon Leaves”. The rose lingered longer than the lemon but I did not give the perfume a chance to develop so don’t know overall longevity. My guess is its half-life is similar to that of most Jo Malone perfumes.
I must be the only person who has luck with longevity when it comes to JM perfumes. Mine literally last on me all day.
I have been wanting to try WR&LL . I have been waiting to see when they would be released in the U.S. It sounds like something I would really like. Can’t wait to try it.
Favorite rose scents–Rozy edp (and I’d love to own Rozy voile de parfum except that it’s completely not work appropriate since it’s quite animalic), Jardins d’Armide, Ormonde Jayne Ta’if, and Soivohle Rosa Sur Reuse (sadly discontinued)
Favorite rose product–Rose Jam shower gel
SOTD–Larmes du Desert
“Rose Jam” is such a favorite at NST and has a huge “cult” following. I tried it when I first started commenting on NST to see what everyone was talking about. I don’t know why, but it just wasn’t for me. I guess I’m the only person in the world who isn’t in love with it. Maybe I will try it again next year around this time to see if I have a change of heart.
Definitely try it again. I didn’t see what the fuss was about, either; I didn’t dis-like it, but thought it was a little odd (there’s a foody note in it to my nose, and I don’t like gourmands). I ended up giving mine away, but I missed it enough that I occasionally rebuy it. I found myself craving the smell often enough to want some on hand.
I don’t think of it as a rose scent, even though it very much is; I just it enjoy it as something that smells good when the mood hits.
Kevin *hates* Lush Rose Jam! (and he makes the most fantastic real rose jam ever).
Happy 10th Anniversary Jessica! I’m not very experienced in rose perfumes, but my favourites are Paris, and Mad Madame. Rose Jam, of course for a body product. I don’t know if this is interesting, but sometimes I use the song ” I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden ” as some kind of weak argument. Lol, or just sing it for no reason at all.
I love Rose Chypree and Incense Rose by Tauer, and Ta’if, and By Kilian Rose Oud. I can’t think of a body product. Here’s a color of rose that seems unusual and especially gorgeous to me–lavender. Hope the link works: https://www.flickr.com/photos/94283635@N00/6328043665/in/photolist-aDbSV8-aDosSS-aDjBKF-aCCQsb-amLpc7-an31c9-anczSw-an9Lu8-adSumd-adPEMn-adSufA-a7yfqb-a92Rpv-9ApkZ6-9m1U6H-9mrRfM-9iuvTp-9ibJ4f-9iuvUx-9cHxBL-9avimA-9as9Di-9avijQ-9avitf-9as9VD-9awZwq-9awZes-9mCa72-9imbUS-9aCLXe-9aA5L1-8NxJA8-8EW3WS-8EW3Yy-8EW41j-8c7ZDT-8bB4Qw-8bAVAM-8bKPxG-86T64i-7StdhM-7Swuo5-7rDLcF-7oeuVM-7nGjJu-7j9sMn-7j9sJ6-7j9sJH-7hUZ1a-7eugRH
Yup, what a gorgeous shade of lavender!
Wow – that’s gorgeous.
Happy NST anniversary, Jessica–so enjoy everyone’s contributions.
I know I’ve gloated about my estate sale find before, but here I go again–fave rose is contained in vintage Joy’s edt composition–yeah there’s a superb jasmine, but I can almost feel its velvety rose petals too. Jessica would LOVE MFK’s A la Rose shower cream–when used at my house, it scented the bathroom for the entire day.
That MFK shower cream sounds heavenly!
Very late to the game – again.
1. Evelyn, the original is my all-time favorite rose perfume. Since it isn’t around anymore (the horror currently marketed as Evelyn doesn’t count), my favorite is probably Epic.
2. My current favorite rose auxiliary products are probably Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood products. At one point I had enough of the cleaning concentrate that I found at clearance prices that I could wash my truck with it
3. My mom grew lots of found and antique roses when I was a kid and always made a second batch of iced Christmas cookies in for her garden club’s spring party. We decorated them with pastel sanding sugars and lots of different rose petals and scented geranium blossoms. Wish I had a picture (and a cookie). They were beautiful and very tasty.
Whoops. Happy anniversary, Jessica!
Evelyn is also one of my favorite David Austen Roses. I beleive it was inspired or commissioned by Crabtree and Evelyn. Sadly, not hard enough for our harsh Canadian winters.
That is a beautiful image, Robin!
I’m not really a rose person but strangely I have a couple favorite rose frags. Parfum Sacre of course. Also, a very very kind NST person swapped or maybe freebied? me a small bottle of JM Red Roses. I love it so much that I made a decant and have it with me here in India. Favorite rose body product: Atlas mountain rose body lotion from the body shop. Also brought some with me to India.
Just an aside about flowers. Yesterday I heard lots of drumming and when I went up to the main road, there was a group of about 40 drummers! standing in front of a truck that was carrying a body in the back, tilted up for display and covered from head to toe in flowers. As I walked to town, there was a wake of flower petals, roses, marigolds, fuschia colored petals and others, that stretched at least a half mile down the street. The deceased must have been very rich to afford such an extravagant funeral procession.
I still find it hard to believe that the picture is really rose petals! Would love to know how they shot it.
The funeral procession sounds amazing, would love to have seen that.
Happy Anniversary, Jessica! I so enjoy reading your posts.
My rose is Lancome Mille e Une Roses, but I also love some fragrances that include rose without being rosy – Amouage Lyric and Tom Ford Noir de Noir to name two. (Both of those are just outside of my comfort zone as far as projection/sillage but are so complex and interesting.)
Mille et une was such a great scent.
This one’s easy:
1. Fille de Berlin
2. Rose Jam
3. Two things to share actually : ) I discovered Igloo soap at Lush last week. Dominant scents are citrus and rose. I did not realize until I got home that the layer of cornstarch all over the soap was intended to evoke Turkish delights. The lemon is bit too screechy in its soap incarnation but overall its a nice bright rose soap for that morning shower. Rosebuds! A few years ago my dad came back from a trip to China with a few kilograms of rosebuds: more than enough for my lifetime. I tossed a few in my jasmine tea infused hot almond milk, added some honey et voilà! Sweet floral deliciousness.
Happy anniversary Dr. Jessica, from a fellow art historian : )
Looking through all the roses, I don’t think anyone mentioned BK Liaisons Dangereuses, a beautiful rose with plum that is perfect for late November and December.
I also love vintage rose chypres like YSL Rive Gauche, Paco Rabanne Calandre, Jacomo Parfum Rare Coeur de Parfum, and many others.
A wintery snowy morning here in Toronto. The sun is shining brightly.
Favourite rose perfumes, Andy Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree, Phi Une Rose de Kandahar, Rose Flash and Sa Majeste La Rose.
Body products – Tauer Rose body oil and Rose Jam – I wish they made the perfume.
Perfume for a wintery day Alessiene.
A Christmas present to my self is going to be Annik Goutal Rose Pompon.
Yes! Rose Jam perfume please!
I am very late to the party, as Mr. Spicebomb and I flew into LAX yesterday, and we have been playing in the sunshine (and laughing at the locals in their winter coats even though it’s 60oF.
I don’t know how to answer the first question–I have fallen hard for rose fragrances! I love my cosmeticky rose-violets (Beloved, Lipstick Rose, Guet Apens); I love my dark, spicy roses (Lyric, OJ Ta’if, Une Rose Chypree); I love my oddball roses, too (PHI, and others already mentioned)! And then there’s the old classics that don’t smell like “rose” but have rose in them like No. 5, Parfum Sacree. . .
Not a scented body product kinda lady, for the most part, but I did buy some Shea butter hand cream from L’occitane that I’m enjoying. Can’t find a list of fragrance notes, but it smells like old cosmetics to me.
I made Kevin’s rose jelly this summer, which was a lot of fun! It makes me wish I baked more biscuits.
So glad someone made the jelly! Because I sure didn’t.
Congratulations, Jessica! Your articles are a bliss!
1. Mohur Extrait, hands down.
2. Rose Jam
3. I’s raining normally this year, no draught, rervoirs are full and I can water my roses, so they are blooming beautifully. Yay!
And I have to mention Chilean rosehip oil, best thing for preventing wrinkles around the eyes.
Mohur Extrait. Portrait of a Lady. Un Fille du Berlin. YSL Paris I remember being all about the rose, although it has been a while since I smelled it.
I have some Rose Geranium hand soap I keep by my kitchen sink all the time – does that count?
Oh, rose story. In my mother’s front yard grew some lovely fragrant yellow roses, I believe they are examples of the Harrison roses that were planted all along the pioneer trails as people migrated across the continent. Sturdy little bushes thriving under benign neglect, impossible to kill off. Smell fabulous, a sweet rosy smell.
Love to Jessica and love to roses!! I can’t get enough–can’t pick a favorite, but Une Rose and Incense Rose are right up there. Best body product is Andy’s Rose Delight body oil, but also great is Jurlique rose face mist.
My mom was a florist and an avid gardener, so I grew up among the roses (any many other flowers). I remember a large orange Peace Rose that grew under my bedroom window and smelled of orange baby asprin….really!
Happy anniversary, Jessica!
1. Perfume: If I had to choose just one rose perfume, I’d name Ormonde Jayne Ta’if. Two more that follow closely are Amouage Lyric and Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady.
2. Product: I do not use too many scented body products, but I could name Le Labo Rose 31 shower gel.
3. Story: In my grandmother’s garden there were wonderfully smelling tea rose bushes, and she made the most fragrant rose rose liqueur from the petals. I’ve never tried anything like that produced commercially since then.
I’m testing Atelier Cologne Camelia Intrepide and I’m surprised to say that I actually dislike it. If it weren’t a carded sample from the store I would have thought it was a mix-up: I can’t pick out a single note that is supposed to be there… though, maybe what I’m smelling is “camellia leaves from China” since I have no idea how those smell? Anyway, it’s not something I would consider wearing.
My favorite roses are
1. FM Une Rose
2. I have a body scrub that my sister in law brought from Dubai, I don’t think it is a known brand, smells exactly like the kind of rose I love , it is Hammam El Hana body scrub in damask rose.
3. I love rose jam and my favorite is the one I bought in Armenia, they were selling all kind of roses in the streets, they smelled awesome, since their economy is not very strong, they didn’t have any perfumes or oils made by these, but they had jam so that is what I bought.
1. I was going to swear blind that I don’t love any rose scents, and then I suddenly remembered Hermes “Rose Ikebana” so no swearing for me.
2. The very idea! No, no, no, no, no.
3. I love Malaga and will seldom hear a word said against it, but the rose garden by the Ayntamiento has a knack of never being worth visiting. I always seem to arrive too early in the season, or too late, and I don’t like the silly little varieties they plant that only come up to your knees, and I’m damned if I can ever smell anything off them anyway. I much prefer the traditional English garden style of featuring roses in mixed planting.
SOTD has been Rundholz 03.apr.1968 and yesterday’s was Parfums de Marly “Hamdani”, which are as far from rose as you can get.
Going with the rose theme wi wore PoaL today. Just perfect.
Yep! It is perfect!
Jo Loves Discovery Set Final Report
I tried the last 3 samples:
– White Rose and Lemon Leaves – watery/muted rose with a lemon top note. The lemon disappeared within 1/2 hour and I got bored with the rose and I just scrubbed it off.
– Pink Vetiver – peppery spicy and devolved into plasticky sour note but partially redeemed itself with a creamy Vetiver dry-down
– Shards of Cedar and Red Thyme – yuck, smelled like body odor from the get go. No cumin in the paltry notes list but it certainly smelled like there was a good dose of it in this perfume. Surprisingly, Fragrantica listed cumin in Pink Vetiver but I did not detect any…it was probably drowned out by the strong pepper.
All told, Smoked Plum & Leather is my favorite, followed by Pomelo (despite me being cranky about the name not befitting the fragrance, the grapefruit you top note was very good and the Vetiver was sturdy).
Note: The U.S. version of the Discovery Set includes 9 spray samples vs 10 for the U.K. Mandrine was not included in my U.S. set. If I have time when I’m in London, I will try the Mandrine and then decide which 50 mL bottle to get. Even if I don’t make it to the boutique, I am very happy with Smoked Plum and Leather and will turn in my certificate for a FB of this one!
I’m surprised they didn’t include Gardenia into the set: out of the original perfumes they’ve launched I liked that one the most.
Here’s something interesting about roses from a list of Ten Monoliths of Perfume on Perfume Shrine:
“The distillation of rose by the Arabs: It was Ibn Sīnā, commonly known in English by the Latinized name Avicenna (Greek Aβιτζιανός), a Persian-speaking Iranian, Muslim polymath and the foremost physician and Islamic philosopher of his time that contributed to perfumery in an unexpected way. Up till the 10th century, the king of flowers, the rose, had been resisting methods of extracting its precious soul. Distillation became known, with Catalonian Arnald of Villanova’s treatise being the first European one focusing on the method, because Avicenna had introduced steam distillation in Islam and through the Crusades the secrets of this civilization expanded into the Western World. Thus he produced essential oils of delicate plants that resisted other methods, attar of rose being one such essence. One is hard pressed to imagine modern perfumery without rose essence.”
Gosh, I’m late to the party as always (weekend spent braving the crowds in shopping frenzy). But anyway, here goes, and I can see I’m not original in any of this:
1. So hard to choose a favourite here! Ormonde Jayne Ta’if, Vero Profume Rozy (edp, edt extrait, voile, whatever), Frederic Malle Une Rose and Tauer Une Rose Chypree. Amouage Homage attar for special mention.
2. Lush Rose Jam and Le Labo Rose 31 soap and Ren Moroccan Rose otto scrub.
3. When I was little, my mother had a tube of Lancome hand cream which smelled so beautifully of roses and it had of course the rose logo on the side. She used it at night and when she put me to bed I could smell it on her hands! I still have a soft spot for that Lancome rose scent.