Innocent Tuberose

Dominique Ropion's "Innocent Tuberose" for Aphorismes, launching in 2024, arrives with great anticipation, evoking the revered "Carnal Flower." Although I haven't experienced the latter, Ropion's mastery of tuberose sparked instant curiosity. It felt like a personal tribute, a refined exploration of this captivating bloom under his own brand. As a tuberose enthusiast, I was eager to discover this new facet. The first spritz is a burst of sunlight. Zesty mandarin, grapefruit, and bergamot dance playfully, their brightness sharpened by the intriguing prickle of pink pepper, ginger, and cardamom. This isn't the heavy, opulent tuberose one might expect; instead, it's a vibrant, almost effervescent opening, a prelude to the heart's unfolding drama. Then, the tuberose reveals itself, not as a solitary queen, but as part of a verdant garden. The green accord, a stroke of genius, adds a crisp, dew-kissed freshness, preventing the tuberose from becoming overwhelming. Jasmine sambac, ylang-ylang, and lily of the valley weave in and out, creating a tapestry of floral nuances, each contributing to the tuberose's multifaceted character. It's a sensual experience, yet one that retains a sense of lightness, a delicate balance between the flower's inherent richness and a breath of fresh air. The dry-down is a gentle embrace. Cashmeran, ambergris, and musk provide a soft, warm foundation, while vetiver and cypriol add a touch of earthy sophistication. It’s a beautifully crafted conclusion, leaving a lingering trail that’s both comforting and intriguing. This isn’t a thunderous declaration; it’s a quiet, confident whisper. What strikes me most about "Innocent Tuberose" is its exquisite balance. It captures the essence of tuberose—its creamy, floral sweetness—while tempering it with a refreshing greenness and a sparkling citrus opening. It's a tuberose that feels accessible, wearable, and utterly captivating. Ropion has, indeed, crafted a personal ode, a testament to his artistry, and a delightful addition to any tuberose lover's collection. It's a journey through a garden at dawn, where the tuberose blooms not with unrestrained opulence but with a serene, radiant innocence.

Beautiful tuberose perfume in a way only Dominique Ropion can create! Sure, a few of his previous creations come to mind when you smell this one (e.g., Supreme Bouquet, specifically). It's so pleasant though! White florals in full bloom, honeyed, decadent, spicy. As far as the name, I'm not sure it really fits the smell... perhaps Ropion was inspired by Carnal Flower, as this could also pass as a Carnal Flower "L'Eau" flanker. This is not innocent; this is mature and confident, as tuberose is expected to be. Another scent that came to mind was Matiere Premier French Flower, granted this one is smoother and less screechy. Is this original? No. Is this absolutely gorgeous? Many times yes!!

If you like a gentle, sweet tuberose, this is lovely. I don’t find it similar to Carnal Flower which is too harsh for me, more akin to Bloom Ambrosia Di Fiori. I have a lot of tuberose perfumes, but this one offers something different. I would happily buy it if it wasn’t so damn expensive.

An even more smooth and elegant version of the adored Carnal Flower, making it a more wearable and versatile piece. I’m a huge fan of Carnal Flower but I wouldn’t wear it every day as it is quite particular.. whereas this I happily would. A stunning fragrance by Mr Ropion 🤍

This perfume was on the “must try” list because of a) all the rhapsodic mentions b) Dominique Ropion and c) the fact that I’ve grown tired of heavy tuberose so the notion that this was a tuberose “lite”really appealed. The green, young, almost sheer tuberose in Innocent Tuberose is accompanied by an almost as important orange blossom and a nose tickling pink pepper. Later jasmine comes in, a jasmine that is the most approachable and easy going version of itself. There is also lily of the valley, and it brings a sense of green muskiness that is a little bit cloying instead of fresh. Still the perfume is light, it gives the impression of buoyancy and radiance, but there’s also something that feels a little synthetic and a little old fashioned holding me back from really loving it. I hate comparisons to old ladies, but I understand their basis. Most perfumes that people characterize this way lack freshness. And a perfume like this, a sheer floral appropriate for warmer temperatures, I think really needs freshness to seem modern. Nothing wrong with a vintage feeling perfume, I’m starting to lean towards them myself if only to escape amberwood, but I understand that people have associations with them. Honestly though, I’m realizing I’d rather have a really rich dessert once a month than a diet cookie every day. Even though tuberose now seems over the top to me most of the time, I think I’d rather wear Narcotic Venus on the rare days I want to bathe in that luxe heady dense wave of almost animalic floral pheromones that tuberose gives off. So this perfume, while nice, is not something I’d pay the almost exorbitant price it costs to import it to the US. I like it, I’ll use up my 2 ml sample, probably saving some for warmer weather to see how that changes things. Innocent Tuberose lasts 7 hours on skin with a pretty big scent bubble, even though it is light, spray carefully.