Rosae

I found Aquaflor accidentally as I was running through Florence early in January, late for an appointment to go up the Giotto tower! As I and my family were running through a very inauspicious, narrow little lane, there came wafting a beautiful fragrance and I knew that there must be a perfumery there, although there seemed to be nothing. Sure enough, I passed a very simple entrance, marked by some reed diffusers placed outside, and I noted the name of the perfume house, determined to find my way there later. I came looking for it late in the afternoon, when it was getting dark, and my family were getting tired of being dragged around the maze of Florentine streets. I could remember the name, so I used my phone to find it, but even then, things were very confusing. However, I saw a woman and her equally tired family approaching with an Aquaflor bag, and they kindly gave us directions (it was very well met since they were fellow Australians - what are the chances?) Well when I found the little lane and went in, let me tell you - it was perfume heaven in there! Not just the perfumes, but the whole experience - lovely leather sofas for exhausted relatives, and kind and patient sales assistants to show kids raw ingredients to keep them interested whilst the serious perfume talk takes place. There is so much to see, learn and discuss, that if you want to , you can book a time to meet the nose and have a tour (which I sadly didn't have time to do). And then there are the perfumes... Well I could only choose one because I had already bought seven other perfumes on my holiday! Rosae is the most beautiful rose I have smelled, and I have smelled so many. I have been on a quest to find a jammy, rich, long-lasting rose that is not violetty, not old-fashioned, not dusty, no oud, not powdery, not green and not too light, but actually like a real, fresh-cut deep, red rose. The nearest I have come so far is Frederick Malle Une Rose, but the truffle is a bit rank for me, so this is the perfect rose, but without the dankness of Une Rose. I don't really get any mint. The fragrance lasts for ever (including after a shower and a bath in the same day), without changing its beauty. This is because you are buying pure perfume (a huge bottle for 140 euros). The next wonderful thing is the presentation! Just beautiful (got to be seen really). This is simply the best rose, if you want a pure, linear rose with no complications, but a full-blooded one that means business. I could go on about why is is so good (I had a whole lesson on how it is harvested), but you should go and find out yourself if you are ever in Florence! Seriously, don't miss this place if you are! Rating 10/10

A straight-forward, kind of dark, jammy rose in the most traditional oriental way. If you like the genre this smells pretty decent but, again, a bit too academic and standardized. Rating: 5/10