How quickly they grow up! It seems like yesterday I was trying out Les Parfums de Rosine's "tender and innocent" Ballerina No. 1 and now we're already up to the "shimmering and rich" Ballerina No. 5. Like other Ballerinas in this series, No. 5 was inspired by a specific ballet — in this case, La Bayadère, which made its debut in 1877 with music by Leonard Minkus and choreography by Marius Petipa. La Bayadère is an opulent but tragic tale of a romance between a beautiful bayadère (temple dancer) and a warrior.
La Bayadère's passion-fueled plot and its Indian location help to set the scene for this rose-centered perfume. Ballerina No. 5 was developed for Les Parfums de Rosine by perfumer Delphine Lebeau and in addition to rose, its composition includes top notes of tangerine, fig and orange blossom; heart notes of crystallized violet, lychee, almond blossom and heliotrope; and base notes of benzoin, tonka bean, patchouli, cedar and gaïac wood.
Rosine describes Ballerina No. 5 as a floriental but I'd call it a fleurmand: it's a floral-inspired fragrance with a strong gourmand influence. It starts off with a burst of juicy tangerine and then lots of bright, jammy rose with something vanillic underneath. If you like rose-petal preserves or rose-flavored lokum confectionery, or you're a fan of Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel, Ballerina No. 5 will make you want to dance. (Sorry!) I adore Rose Jam but I haven't had much luck with its matching perfume or body spray, both of which turn thin and a little harsh on my skin. Ballerina No. 5, however, feels rounded and "shiny" throughout its fruity introduction and candied-floral heart. There's something a little sharper later in its evolution, when some of its resin notes emerge. But its base turns smoother again, with the sweetness of tonka and benzoin playing off some low-key wood and musk notes for an amber-y effect. Plus, there are still lingering hints of full-blown rose.
Overall, Ballerina No. 5 might be able to secure a spot in my "Rosine Top 5." It has moderate sillage and longevity for an Eau de Parfum and I was able to wear it to the office when I applied it lightly, although its mood feels more festive and appropriate for a party or an outing with friends. It's a well-timed launch for the holiday season. I don't know much about classical ballet and I haven't attended a dance performance in a while, but Ballerina No. 5 makes me want to point my toes and smile.
Les Parfums de Rosine Ballerina No. 5 is available as 50 ml (€108) and 100 ml (€140) Eau de Parfum. For purchasing information, see the listing for Les Parfums de Rosine under Perfume Houses.
Some good related reading: Kevin's post about making actual rose jam!
Note: top image is detail from Rosa ‘Ballerina’, PAN Botanical Garden in Warsaw, Poland via Wikimedia Commons.
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That’s probably too sweet and feminine for me but occasionally I like to think of myself as the sort of woman who could pull it off. Rose Jam is good enough for those moments. I’ve only tried RJ in the shower gel but can easily imagine that it doesn’t translate well. It probably works best as a fleeting pleasure. ☺️
I have varying tastes in body products and perfumes, too — I enjoy some notes/blends in certain formats but not in others!
Oh, and I’ve washed my hair with Rose Jam a few times — I wouldn’t do that on a regular basis (much too drying) but it’s a good way to keep just a little of the scent with you all day.
I agree! I wash my hair with Lush Happy Hippy quite regularly, and I think I’ve done so with Rose Jam occasionally. It’s not so silly as it sounds. It certainly gets rid of build-up ftom various other products you might be using.
Sent the review to a friend who is a ballet aficionado. She also loves tangerine, so maybe she’ll try to check it out. She always hosts a party before the season opens, so maybe she should splurge on this for that occasion…
If she’s a ballet aficionado, she should definitely know about this collection! I hope she can order a few samples and find a Rosine Ballerina that fits her taste.
You make this sound very tempting and I have a lot of Rosine samples, but not this one. I will give it a sniff, though, when I happen upon it.
I hope you’ll be able to find it and sniff it! I love some Rosines, like others, and dislike a few…but this one was a like-to-love for me.
I adore Rose Jam, so I might need to give this one a shot. Thanks for the charming ending to your review
hah! Not too corny? I figure, if anyone reads to the end, they deserve a little whimsy!