Istanbul Rose

It's been a while since I've felt inspired to do a review, but as I'm wearing this scent, I think it would be good. First of all, I am not a huge fan of pure rose scents. I like some powder, some oud, some leather, some SOMETHING. Anything really, to cut out the sharpness that is rose. Sometimes I feel that rose and vanilla are the most synthetic notes flooding the perfume industry. I tried PW's Tea Rose, and could not handle the sharp, overbearing yech that I got. Sure, it smelled like roses, but sort of like those velvet roses you can buy at questionable convenience stores that are dusty and smell WAY too much like rose perfume was sprayed on them and left to "simmer." Istanbul Rose is not that. It is sharp, and it is "pure" rose, but there's something else here. There's depth. Yes, it's probably synthetic, but I don't get the burned plastic note in other rose scents. I can actually stand this. It's not something I'd chose to wear every day, but it is lovely. I think that the strength of this scent is in layering. I feel that it is brilliant layered with powdery, leathery, gourmand scents, or really with any scent that is too "nice" and needs a bit of a kick. I find that most of the Al-Rehab scents are much better layered than worn alone. For me, this is a winner, and the one of this genre I'm likely to ever own.

I have the Perfumer's Workshop 'Tea Rose' parfum (and Jo Malone's 'Red Roses') but in comparison, Rasasi's 'Istanbul Rose' is very synthetic. It's not a true rose like PW's 'Tea Rose' as this is so citronella smelling that it's certainly not rose absolute nor rose that they have used to create this budget fragrance but geraniol (not to be confused with geranium). Gereniol is the primary part of rose oil, palmarosa oil and citronella oil. It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils and as a result, smells too citrusy and sour. Although this is a cheap fragrance, I was hoping for a realistic soliflor as Rasasi's 'Full' is a stunningly realistic and impressive rendition of jasmine. Sadly, 'Istanbul Rose' is not in the same league to impress me with it's synthetic attempt at a Turkish rose.

I bought this because it was cheap and I was after something that smelled like Turkish Delight sweets. Not the commercial chocolate covered bars by ‘Fry’s’, but the rose and lemon cubes, covered in a fine icing sugar powder that come in boxes. First whiff, I do think it smells like that. The combination of citrus and rose, the rose in Turkish delight is a bit ‘synthetic’ anyway, because they are rose flavoured sweets, not actual roses. I thought the silage wasn’t that great but maybe I need to be careful and I just can’t smell it anymore. I do have the spray and not the oil though. It is a bit basic, like a product my gran would use (not saying that is bad btw, I love ‘old fragrances). I topped up with a bit of Mon Guerlain Intense to give it a bit more depth. Ok for the money.

I've tried this on and off and today I gave it another go. If you want rose with a citronella touch, I think you'd like this. I cannot stand wearing it on my skin. It is too reminiscent of old ladies doused in some cheap rose scent. However, I sprayed the bed linen and clothes in drawers and everywhere except myself. A lovely bedroom freshener but nothing more for me.

Well, my husband would tend to agree with ChaiLatte2009! The reaction was priceless. I put it on sat down beside him and within seconds he said, "what the h--- did you put on", LOL. He said it smelled like bug spray to be specific "Cutter Deep Woods Off". I like it ok it is very strong so go easy if you happen to get a bottle. I bought the oil.