Asphalt Rainbow

I bought this at Twisted Lily on a trip to NYC three years ago. I always like to buy a scent that helps remind me of my vacation. (Oscar de la Renta Ruffles will always remind me of Grand Bahama island in the mid-80s.) When I smelled this in-shop, though, I knew it already reminded me of something. I couldn't place it until months later when I found a little vial of Aveda oil perfume that I had from the early '90s. (The things we find when we move.) It was called Equipoise. I had the shower gel, too, and it had that same lusciousness, equal parts sweet rose and tart citrus with and underlying wisp of something herbal that was signature Aveda. However, the Aveda Equipoise that I tagged is a more recent formula and really has no relation to its predecessor nor Asphalt Rainbow.

This scent is very much my jam. I really like stuff that has lends an edge of the industrial to more classic ingredients. Formerly I would have said I wasn't interested in rose as a note, but in this context I find it fits me perfectly (and makes me reconsider it, moving forward). Vibe-wise, this is about as urban as it gets. I use it as an alternative "clean" scent, something approximating "sporty" even. But it isn't really clean at all. It makes me think of the feeling of having been up all night dancing. Whatever you were on is almost worn off, the sun is coming up, and you're walking home in a cacophony of birdsong and fragmented memories. You're about as far from feeling "clean" as possible, but yet in a way you feel scrubbed and reborn to life. Anyway, I like it a lot.

whiffs of floral. asphalt. slight patchouli and saffron. strong rose. a bit woody, very rosy and shiny. the name honestly nails it which is crazy. this is right up my alley. on the skin: clang-y loud metallic rose. metal touching mint and leather. theres a v familiar scent hiding in there - is it baby powder? rosemary? it's something close to home. their website says "spray paint (aerosols)" are the accent fragrance notes. is that what i'm smelling? i'm truly mesmerized by this.

I'm honestly surprised by how wearable this is. I bought a sample out of curiosity since it sounded so unusual - which it was - but it also was very beautiful in a more approachable way to a novice wearer. Goes very distinctly from aerosol paint --> petrichor --> rose --> bar soap on me and definitely evokes the tough chicness of an industrial city. Sort of a cerebral feminine scent.

actually love this i was wanting a fragrance that smells like glue, and this does at least initially, its exactly like huffing rubber cement mmmmmm

Usually I don't think that rose benefits from the addition of other notes (rose oil or bust), but this is one of the only fragrances I have smelled that actually integrates rose well into the overall composition in a way that complements it. The rose blends well with the other floral notes, all of them quite strident. They're softly cradled by the galbanum, which I catch here and there. The patchouli, labdanum, and wood notes are the underpinning for this scent and lend a warm, gently spicy undercurrent to the loud florals. The lychee is a light touch, just the right amount. Everyone is interested in the asphalt note, of course. I think it's neat; some say industrial, some say spray paint, some say plastic. I think it's plasticky, but in more of a pleasantly neutral way. I feel like I can smell the crude oil just a little bit, and it gives a slightly darker edge. The asphalt note is definitely present and will have haters, but it does fade over time so you won't go around smelling like fresh pavement all day. I think it's charmingly interesting and surprisingly wearable. 8/10.

Another weaker fragrance, but an interesting one this time! This infuses rose and lychee in a very creative way with the synthetic roughness of the asphalt. It sort of feels like if rose flavoring was being sprayed onto your face or something, I don't know. It's a very strange note that is barely noticeable after a few minutes of smelling. It's sweet and also subtly leathery and spicy in a nice unisex blend that I love. I think the reason why I put this as only a like is its lack of longevity. It's not a loud scent, not even a kind of inside voice volume scent: it's the first scent I had to spray twice in order to fully smell it.

Opens with that VOC/solvent smell of, indeed, spray paint. Then cool, sweet rose and powdery concrete dust. The rose note has a sort of berry and lemon aspect that reminds me of the Bulgarian Rose Orpur in ELdO Eau de Protection. At the end is a wet, laundryish musk and a late-arriving sharpness of patchouli. You couldn't wear this everywhere, but it might make you feel pretty cool at a gallery opening or a party.

coming off the heels of ultra assertive christopher st, the wan post-industrial hum of AR is a delightful surprise. as deadidol infers, it could probably work as a top quality cdg, but i really sense a strong affinity with h&g clemency - holograph rose and urban nu-skank. so, a totally appropriate name and a entirely positive new addition to the hypermodern zone of my wardrobe

I liked the concept of this and it does what it intended. It is a scent that is somewhat hard to put into words. This reminds me of a department store in the late 80's & early 90's + Pavement right after a light shower as sun begins shine. (if that makes sense lol) Oddly nostalgic vibe to it.

Deadidol pretty much summed it up. It's funny, when I first smelled my tester, I instantly thought of CdG. After a while it reminds me of one of the Amouage Opus's, I just don't remember which.

This is like coming fresh from a shower and spray painting an abstract mural in the middle of a rose garden at dawn while the dew is starting to dry. I can’t live without this one.

Seconding the spray paint comments here, although I think it's a very short-lived top note. It may pollute your perception of the rest of the lifespan of the fragrance however. Overall, this scent is confusing in a way that doesn't leave me obsessed. The florals here are so aggressive that it brings me on the brink of sneezing. They're very powdery, particularly the rose, driving it a little too close to hotel soap territory. I do think the asphalt and leather somewhat successfully counterbalance it in a way that's unique, but not necessarily super interesting. I can see how this could appeal to someone, though, and it's not worth ruling out. I just don't personally think this was a very provocative marriage of two opposites. Very authentically unisex, though.

initial sprays are striking and enjoyable (for other plastic lovers at least) - wet pavement, new tennis balls, sharpie-esque. very industrial without turning too metallic. the following soapy rose is confusing in this scent story between the paint, patchouli, leather, and florals. but, overall a very fun tester!

Cleaning products, aerosol, rosewater, some woods and metallic notes. It's in this weird middle realm of not being polarizing enough to be a statement fragrance and not pleasant enough to be wearable, so I'm not much of a fan.

اسم غريب اختارته هذه الدار الجديده الواعده لعطرها الثانى بعد العطر الاول الرائع شارع كريستوفر المستند على الباتشولى والجلود . هذه الدار تتبنى شكلا عجيبا من الدعايه لعطورها وتفرد صفحات وصفحات للكلام عن الفكره الملهمه للعطر واعتقد انها تخاطب فئه المثقفين والادباء والمبدعين قبل مخاطبتها لرجل الشارع العادى والذى قد لا يهتم بكل هذه التفاصيل. على العموم لا مشكله .... (( اجعلنى ورده )) ،،يأتى العطر ترجمه لفكره فن الشارع او الجرافيتى ويستند على فكره كسر الحواجز والاعتماد على الرسم بجرأه غريبه على اسطح الاسمنت الخشنه ،،،هذا الفن المغاير بالوانه الصارخه وغجريته واشتعاله اوحي لهم فكره ان نصنع ورده غجريه ونريق دمها على بشرتنا كما يسكب الفنان الوانه ويرفع زجاجاته فى وجه العالم . اعتمدت سيسل - Cecile Hua الانف وراء العطر - ((الورد)) لعنصر اساسى تدور حوله بقيه نوتات العطر واستخدمت نوتات غريبه منها نوته الاسفلت وايضا نوته الايروسول المستخدمه فىاسبراى الالوان مع صمغ الجلبانوم الراتنجى ونوتات زهريه من زنابق الوادى واليلانج يلانج والمانوليا مع فاكهه الليتشى مع الزعفران والجلود وخلفيه معتاده من الاخشاب والعنبر والمسك. بالطبع كانت هذه السنه سنه الورد بلا منازع بعد انتهاء تقليعه استخدام العود ولكن هذه السيده ارادت ان تلومنا بقولها : هل سئمت الورد ؟ فارادت ان تدير رؤوسنا نحو وجه اخر للورد هذه المره فهل افلحت فى ذلك . على عكس عطور الورد الشرقيه يبدأ العطر ببدايه كيميائيه مشرقه الدهايدات فى الغالب تشبه افتتاحيه كوم دى جارسون المميزه مع لمسه معدنيه وتمهد الطريق لرائحه الورد المخملى الناعم مختلطه بالزعفران ،،،فى البدايه تلمح رائحه خضراء تشبه بتلات الازهار تعطى العطر احساس الحياه ،، تظل الورده تتحرك وسط وصيفاتهم من الورود البضاء ويبدو العطر انثويا للغايه ثم ياتى الباتشول الناعم الارضى مع اوركسترا النهايه المعتاد من المسك والعنبر ليكسب العطر عمقا وثقلا ويحبط ثورته فى البدايه . العطر فى المجمله محاوله عصريه لعمل عطر مستند على نوته الورد المستهلكه واعتقد انها محاوله جيده فالعطر مميز وغريب قليلا ويبدو لى انثويا اكثر من كونه يونيسكس الثبات جيد جدا الفوحان متوسط وما يميز العطر كونه يناسب السهرات انيق ومودرن و مثير للاعجاب. ياتى العطر فى الزجاجه الاسطوانيه المميزه سعه٣٠مل ملفوفا فى قطعه من الجلد الفخم و مصحوب بقليل من اوراق الورد المجفف كما هى عاده هذا البراند انتاج ٢٠١٥ ،،السعر ١٠٠دولار .

أسفلت !! هيا وصلت للأسفلت كمان والله مش أسفلت خالص، بعدين يعني شفت كلمة أسفلت ومشفتش قوس قزح بلاش تقفولي ع الواحدة مكنتش كلمة واتكتبت هكذا أحسست مع أول بخات العطر الثاني للدار الأمريكية تشارنتون ماسيريشانز صاحبة عطر كريستوفر ستريت الذي سبقت الكتابة عنه يبدو أن الغرابة والطرافة هي وسيلة الدار للدعاية عن عطورها القليلة إذا كان عطر Christopher Street - سواء أعجبك أم لا- عطرا عميقا بذلت فيه الأنف جهدا كبيرا فإن عطر Asphalt Rainbow يعد أكثر بساطة وصراحة هالة كبيرة من الورود الحمراء والماجنوليا البيضاء ولمحات من الزنابق لإضفاء لمحات من وجود التلطيف لحرارة الجو والبهجة الدخول للنوتة العصرية أصبح شيئا مستهلكا وقد اختارت لها السيدة Cecile Hua الطريق الفاكهي البلسمي وذلك من خلال فاكهة اللوتشي التي ستكون داعما جيدا لزنابق الوادي "Lily" وهناك تعمد لتحويل العطر للنمط الزهري الجورمندي بإضافة الزعفران والعنبر والإيلانج وربما أيضا لتطويل زمن ثبات العطر. الماجنوليا بطبيعتها زهرة تميل للمسكية البودرية ولكن بفوحان قوي سرعان ما تشعر معه بوجود رائحة معدنية بعض الشيء وقد لعبت مصممة العطر على هذا الوتر حينما دفعت بالزعفران ليزيد من تعميق الرائحة المسكية البودرية. ولكن الوقوف عند هذا الحد كان سيجعل منه عطرا أنثويا طاغيا لولا وجود راتينج الجالبانوم ذو الرائحة الخضراء المرة بعض الشيء وجود النوتة الجلدية والخشبية لخلق نوع من التوازن والعودة بالعطر لحيز التصنيف اليوني سكس إذن فليس هناك ما يسمي برائحة الأسفلت في العطر رغم تصويت الكثيرين في فراجرانتيكا على وجود رائحة الأسفلت كصاحب الكثافة الأعلى، وهذا يدل دلالة كبيرة على اندفاع الكثيرين وراء الأسماء والتصويت بشكل عشوائي أو غير دقيق العطر بالفعل زهري مسكي بودري بعض الشيء وللتقريب يمكنك استحضار بودرية عطر نارسيسو مسك كوليكشن الرجالي لاستحضار النوتة البودرية المسكية فهو يسير على نفس المنوال إذا كنت محبا لهذا النمط من العطور الزهرية البودرية المسكية الفواحة فسيروق لك العطر وربما تشتريه، وإن كنت أعتقد أنه سيكون أكثر ملائمة للنساء منه للرجال العطر جميل ونقي وفواح بشكل كبير فقط ينقصه التميز التقييم العام 7/10

I must be the only person I know who wasn’t smitten by Christopher St., but my expectations for this were neutral. I like the concept a lot, and the scent itself isn't bad despite not being my thing. It seems to ride the au courant wave of ozonic minimalism while leaning fairly mainstream, but it has just enough character to stand alone. Asphalt Rainbow has a carbonated, gin-like feel to it — it’s kind of fizzy and buzzing. It also comes off as quite industrial, reminding me a little of Odeur 71’s laundry vibe as well as aspects of several other CdG scents. Somewhere between the fizz and the industrial is an outlying rose — surprisingly shy and backgrounded. The rose smells crisp, but it’s peripheral within the blend — an effect that I think works in the scent’s favor as it keeps it from being just one more floral perfume. It wears close to the skin as a sort of floral transparency, but the effervescent effect and the factory accords are prominent enough to engulf the florals; it’s almost as if the rose is suspended in clear plastic. The result is like a department-store floral crossed with a washed out ultra-modern CdG scent that has a rose-colored filter applied. The base seems a tad redundant — a stock synthetic musk — but it fits the purpose and adds enough body to carry the rest. Subdued and polite — it’s a smart approach and a fine addition to minimal / mainstream perfume styles, yet it’s way more delicate and muted than Christopher St.

The name recalls a pool of iridescent oil left behind in a parking lot, but there's more to this scent than that. However, there is no petrichor to this one, and it's artificial, but it doesn't make me think of petroleum or pitch. The best way to describe this scent is half-synthetic and half-floral. As others have noted, the outré notes are reminiscent of Comme Des Garçons. It's the rose in this that makes it the most fascinating to me. The floral is clever and handsome the way it's working with the plastic-like or factory-like smell of artificial. One reason I'm gravitated toward this scent is because it's familiar in a way I can't quite put my finger on. It's pressing on some scent memory part of my brain. Does it smell like a daycare I attended as a child? Or a post office near an old apartment? A store in a 1990s shopping mall? The mysterious quality to it is what is keeping me interested. Soft, gender-neutral, and perhaps worth a full bottle purchase in the future...

I love this one... opens like the smell of a spraypaint can.. aersol vibes.. then has a kind of translucent rose through out it and a clean herbaceous feel but also musky/soapy clean. it feels organic and also metallic. i also like that it's cheery but also somber feeling.. its colorful at the same time as it is gray if that makes sense. it does have a CDG vibe to it but i'd liken it much more to bruno fazzolari's Lampblack. AR is a bit more expressive and less linear than lampblack though and i prefer it :) what i ilke about this too is that it does feel modern and avant but when u really smell it you can pick up a classical perfume in the back.. really easy to wear for a modern fella like myself...