Rituale Rosso

I had high expectations on this but I was very disappointed. I love fragrances in which you can distinguish notes through the evolution and this is not the case. The perfume is too strong in a bad way, lasting power aside, this smells like an old bottle left on a shelf. I may say vintage, but this really gives me old vibes instead. Not lipsticky at all or maybe a bit but, again it's a very old lipstick forgotten in a closet for ages. Not charming. Maybe suitable for older ladies who are used to old fashioned strong juices and really faithful to that vibe (meaning not wanting to smell younger or more modern!). I am sorry but to me this is a big fail. It could have been good if iris, heliotrope, raspberry and vanilla where more balanced. It could have been made sweeter, lighter and more "lipsticky" with a touch of violet. I can't smell any of this notes which are the basic components of a true lipstick scent. All I can smell is a overpowering mixture of old rose, strong amber and ylang-ylang with a touch of jasmin in the very opening. This is not powdery at all, really far from any make-up scent, just old fashion and monotone intoxicating juice. I don't get the gothic vibes neither, unless it refers to this old,creepy, dusty granma's closet scent which is not gothic to me but rather simply disturbing and unpleasent. The opening is harsh and almost bitter, it gets softer within a few hours and leaves a generic flowery, almost old fashioned soapy scent which is not worth the price nor the intoxication you have to go through in the first few hours. I wanted to try Audrey's Red by Amaranthvs Herbis but I think I am done with them, not my cup of tea...at least until I will have the occasion to take a trip to the shop and smell all or them before buying. Unsafe blind buy.