Right up to this moment I was feeling rather uninspired and woefully unfabulous when it came to Valentine’s Day fragrances, so I was digging deep into the scent closet and pulling out various rose frags to lift the winter spirits. I started with the exquisite ‘Rose & Cuir’ which is a gorgeous summery bloom that somehow sparkles in the snowy crystals of winter. For the nights, when the air gets a little smoky there is ‘Oud Fleur‘ and the even more divine ‘Portrait of a Lady‘.
So the rose was very much on my mind when I let out a startling gasp in front of Andy as I read about this new trio of fragrances from Tom Ford based on a rose garden. Much in the same way that his ‘Ébène Fumé’ took me by surprise with its beautiful alignment with Palo Santo incense, this rose triumvirate may be exactly what we need right now. Here is the literature on these new beauties:
Rose d’Amalfi: Inspired by the designer’s favorite Italian coast of Amalfi, this rose is sprinkled with fresh citruses and spices. It opens with Italian bergamot and mandarin paired with pink pepper. With rose, heliotrope and almond, it blends in romantic pink magic in a scent that is sensual and intimate.
Rose de Chine: This is a more potent, smoky and sensual rose fragrance. Besides rose, it features yellow peony, labdanum and myrrh, with a hint of smoky accords. According to the designer himself, the fragrance exudes an indomitable and untamed attitude as decadent rose and Chinese peony form a gorgeous and strong contrast. It has a provocative and challenging feel.
Rose de Russie: Announced as opulent and dramatic, this edition blends Russian black leather with a rich rose scent that is nighttime appropriate. The composition also features notes of white pepper and woods for a sexy and warm finish.
These all sound intriguing, but Tom Ford and florals are a bit of a mixed bag. It began with the spring blooms of his Jardin Noir line which completely missed for me, and the Vert line he did afterward only had two of four frags that I would consider (and only ‘Vert d’Encens’ was worth a purchase). Recent offerings ‘Rose Prick’ and ‘Bitter Peach’ also smelled lackluster, with the juice veering much too sweet and sugary for my taste. That said, after the brilliance of ‘Ébène Fumé’ perhaps he’s found his way back to the dark beauty that I’ve always loved. It’s definitely that time of the year with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.
{And if Andy is looking to completely sweep me off my feet and semi-surprise me for the holiday of hearts, the most promising option would be the handy-dandy sampling collection at this link, which includes all three for a fraction of what a full bottle costs… Also, for those of you looking to purchase some yourself, the Tom Ford store is offering them for $270, while Sephora has them listed for $368 – both at the 1.7 oz size. Something to think about for gift cards as well… Not sure why there is such a discrepancy.}
