In its promotional description of Coup de Foudre, Parfums DelRae promises that “regardless of your previous ‘rose’ experience, it is ‘love at first sight.'” I’m always a little amused when new rose-inspired fragrances take this slightly defensive stance, as though we all carry negative preconceptions of rose perfumes and need to be reassured that this flower is actually very beautiful, sensual, and yes, “modern.” I wore my first rose fragrance when I was about eight years old — it was Avon’s Roses, Roses and it was memorably contained in a pig-shaped bottle — and I’ve never turned away from roses, so Coup de Foudre is preaching to the converted, in my case.
Coup de Foudre starts off as a just-picked rose and then turns gently romantic. Parfums DelRae mentions its use of true Rose de Mai from Grasse, in a composition that allows the raw material to shine through, and the natural rose note is definitely evident. It’s bright and clear, with hints of lemon and mint…
