African Rooibos

A Fantastic ode to the noble and beautiful red flowering bush from the southern subregion of Africa. Grown wildly in South Africa in the Fynbos or "fine bush" in Afrikaans a Dutch vernacular, dried rooibos leaves are characterized to have some nuances in scent profile of tobacco, cranberries, apricot, honey and yerba mate. It's profile comes across as bitter, sour, herbal and slightly fruity sweet when consumed. Records of the usage of the Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos plant) shows that Khosian communities of the Southern nations of Africa, some examples being the nomadic tribes of the Khoekhoe and San, used this plant for horticulture medicines and remedies noting to have found its taste quite appealing when ingested. Rooibos means "Red Bush" in Afrikaans. Because of its relation in profile to Ceylon Tea or Black tea, the plant was quickly cultivated by Dutch colonialists who consumed it as a replacement for the more expensively imported Black tea from Sri Lanka. The Dutch farmed Aspalathus Linearis in Cederberg a mountainous region in the Western Cape of South Africa where local African communities had harvested it wild. The Dutch colonizers seized this location to ensure their commercial output of the plant for tea was maximized. This is fine tea perfume that to me does better justice to the material than Bvlgari Eau Thè Rouge and mind-you please, that is no easy feat because the Bvlgari is one of my favorite tea fragrances. While not at all redundant, Bvlgari Eau Thè Rouge is quite a good representation of the smell and African Rooibos has to follow similar facets to achieve the smell properly. But African Rooibos is easily much different in its profile and much deeper. Where Eau Thé Rouge is creamier, nuttier, and slightly thick, African Rooibos is smokier, fresh and watery, with a myriad of quality ingredients in its palette. It has easily stolen Bvlgari Eau Thè Rouge's spot. As it stands at the writing of this review there are a good handful of Rooibos tea fragrances that exist by indie houses. Some designers have had their takes on the ingredient as well. However with such a complex and soft profile as tea it is so incredibly difficult to get the scent right, balancing the transparent wateriness and herbal density of the ingredient. In my opinion perfumes that have achieved a tea character with striking realness are mostly the ones that do not consider themselves tea fragrances at all. These fragrances are named after the functions of their main ingredients but provide much more fresh dimension than the sum of their parts like Flos Mortis, Cuir de Chine and Slowdive for example. African Rooibos opens very watery and smoky with some bitter tobacco, a metallic, mentholated, bittersweet cranberry and some apricot nuances. There is a delicate earthiness from orris and cedar that is muted but authenticates Rooibos' organic, mildewy or earthy qualities and some sweet vanilla facets that are probably contributed by a quiet hint of tonka bean. The immortelle is definitely here but so well blended it is almost imperceptible, providing more dimension as a harmonious, delicate, spicy and tea-like herbal partner to the main Rooibos component. The fragrance wears quite fresh and well groomed and has a smoky sleekness in its profile that smells rather debonair. This profile is incredibly difficult to unpack I almost gave up trying in my notes because it smells so natural, so delicate and so real that even the slightest change in temperature made the profile smell completely new. A fantastically designed tea fragrance that actually smells like the essence of the Rooibos plant or a realistic and fine quality Rooibos brew. A brilliantly sincere composition dedicated to African art and culture. African Rooibos is unisex leaning masculine and an excellent fresh signature with long duration and polite sillage. African concepts in scent is still a very much unexplored sector in perfumery. The furthest perfumers are willing to go to represent the massive continent and its many countries and cultures is to stop at Egypt which is a very surface level approach to Africa, and has been explored and investigated to death in my honest assessment. Create a perfume about the Zobo drink otherwise known as Sorrel in the Caribbean, or the African Samurai Yasuke, or about Mansa Musa, or about the warrior diety Ogun for example. So many avenues, but it must be approached with endearment, research, and integrity. I hope the brand of Chris Collins continues to take these creative approaches to perfumery, exploring artistic media to produce very original, evocative, smart and well blended fragrances. Try it for yourself, but for me, a must have. 🌺🫖🍇 10/10

Pulled in very different directions here, because while African Rooibos is sheer heaven in many ways it's a miss on certain important other metrics. GOOD: Judging purely by nose, simply as a smell alone, it's gorgeous. A really intense, golden-herbal-friendly rooibos, with a great citrus zing up top for the first half hour (at first pour?), and undergirded with a convincingly woody-peppery layer that somehow conjures even more of the true joy of tea. While fit to stand between my own tea-centric favourites it's not really much like any of them; there's no green-conifer edge as in Mona di Orio Bohea Boheme, no orange zest as in Winter Palace, and it's much pepperier and a bit more masc than Bvlgari au The Rouge. Definitely not aiming to duplicate anyone or anything else - it's doing its own thing, with great aplomb and charm and self-control. Impeccably unisex. Something about it is truly classy; seems upscale, discreet, moneyed without vulgarity, genuinely made of plants. Has a great sense of almost-spicy almost-herbal goodness rounding out its lovely rooibos. Also has that fascinating see-saw effect going between warm and cool which makes many a good tea scent great, and which settles into a perfect equilibrium in the middle. The orris is a low-key, chalky pastel feel smudging everything together rather than screaming IRIS!!! and the immortelle just adds a little bit of bass-hum earthiness rather than its sometimes bullying spice-beast aura. So this is a pretty stunning all-rounder, to be honest - something that could be worn anywhere on any day of the year, without seeming at all basic - and how many perfumes can do THAT? BAD: Overpriced. Longevity is not strong. I'd thought / hoped / feared this might be the final boss of all teas, something whose price and pedigree would mean it would FINALLY hold on to that precious aroma of freshly brewed leaves and last, for far longer than any of my Bvlgari or Floraiku or Welton dalliances. (And that's a high bar to clear, because all those houses are serious tea specialists and their scents are fantastic ... while they last). But sadly the Collins also fades fast - down to skin only within the hour, barely detectable 6h in. From the reviews on fragrantica, it looks like even the even-more-expensive African Rooibos Intens version wouldn't resolve either issue. Like fresh tea itself, it seems, tea scents are just not mean to be kept hanging around. Whoever cracks this chemical conundrum in future can take all my money. UGLY: Not available in my country (the UK) anyway - and Chris Collins doesn't ship outside the US, which is WILDLY frustrating. So this is the story of an obsession safely dispelled. As another Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Au The Rouge fan heartbroken by its discontinuation, I was genuinely tormented by the idea that this scent - so often mentioned as the "next best thing" to BEPATR - was out there in America and I'd never get anywhere near it. I've been hunting for samples of this for literally years - stalking any number of dubious decanters, iffy eBayers, and resellers of unproved honesty, all around the global web, to try and track one down. So I was perhaps over-excited (in an over-caffeinated sort of way) to finally find someone who'd sell me a small sample of African Rooibos. Overall result: I truly love the scent itself, adore its artistry and would wear it any day with complete happiness. But in the real world, it turned out to be a rarer beast than even I suspected - a true and beautiful scent unicorn which I can still live without. Even though yes, I'm smitten, it's not workable. The story, yet again, is DON'T RUSH. It's always worth waiting to test before blind buying, even if the wait is torturous, because sometimes what you're most in love with is the weight of your own expectations, rather than the actual liquid in the bottle. Lurk with patience and never pay for something you've never smelled.

I don't give the title of "masterpiece" to many fragrances, but African Rooibos is one of the few that is truly deserving of that title; this is high-art for your nose. I've smelled many tea fragrances in my lifetime, but none quite like this. Let's start with the bottle that houses this magical juice; it's a beautiful deep ruby colour (very reminiscent of rooibos tea), with Chris Collins' signature rose gold cap and label. It gives a very classic and elegant presentation. Now as far as the actual fragrance goes, I can guarantee that you've never smelled anything like this before. For starters, rooibos isn't a very commonly used note, but the way Mr. Collins has crafted it into this fragrance, is masterful. Upon first spray, you get the unmistakable scent of rooibos tea. He mixes it with his top-note lineup, which includes black pepper, cardamom, and bergamot. The pepper and cardamom offer a wonderful warmth and spiciness that isn't at all intrusive or offensive, but just right. I would say that-that is Chris Collins' signature; perfectly balanced fragrances. All the notes compliment each other exquisitely. As the fragrance dries, you get to the woody/earthier side of things and discover the orris root, cedar, and tonka bean. It provides so much complexity and nuance to this fragrance, the likes of which is no doubt very hard to craft. It's equal parts spicy, earthy, woody, and a surprisingly green element to it. It has an herbal, slightly medicinal smell to it, perhaps due to the presence of the immortelle note? At times it wafts over into a soapy kind of smell, albeit a very luxurious soap. All the while, the rooibos note lingering in the background, reminding you it is the star player. My favourite aspect of Chris Collins' fragrances are the vivid images they evoke. Each fragrance provides very clear and distinct images of the story that lies within each bottle. African Rooibos immediately transports me to a small, warmly-lit café, with a crackling fireplace in the background. You're in a cozy arm chair, enjoying a steaming cup of rooibos tea with a little cinnamon stir-stick, looking out one of the frosted windows as the snow falls. Because of this vivid imagery, and the overall warmth and spiciness of this fragrance, I associate it more with cold weather-wear (fall/winter). However, the herbal/green aspects of it also make it perfectly suited for spring weather, as well. Honestly, it's very versatile in that aspect, where it transcends seasonal-wear; day or night, it doesn't matter. You get a full day's wear out of African Rooibos. The sillage and projection are powerful without being overbearing. Everything about this fragrance is perfect. Saying that this would be the crown jewel of Chris Collins' line would be a gross understatement; a no-brainer.

Tea lovers rejoice! Photorealistic red rooibos tea in your favorite teacup, the cup warming your chilled hands as you watch the steam cascading off the delicate rim, the deep amber-red color gradually blossoming within the cup while you settle into a cozy, cushioned window alcove; the morning sun illuminating perpetually windy mid-autumn leaves reflecting the rooibos color within your grasp. You are at ease as the aroma seems to sweep away whatever worries the day could bring. First impressions aren't really this scent's thing. Upon application, I found the black pepper screechy, the herbs pungent and a bit dirty. Not to mention, when my sister had sampled it, I believed it did not agree with her chemistry very well (as it would turn out, she just oversprayed, which she has a terrible habit of doing). But as I let it settle, in a matter of minutes, it had become much more cohesive, harmonious, and wonderfully linear. A fresh pouch of red rooibos, earthy, woodsy, and inviting; black pepper in tandem with cardamom and bergamot adding a spicy kick and a drop of freshness, respectively—orris root adding a sprinkle of powder to tame and soften these notes on a backdrop of warm cedar. Perfectly unisex and unique, which is not as common as one may think, with so many fragrances marketed as such. A mellow, brisk autumn or early spring fragrance—I have no doubt this could come across as overpowering in warmer weather. Speaking of overpowering, please do not overspray!!! This scent has good throw and longevity; there is no reason to do over 3 spritzes max, otherwise, instead of coming across as mysterious yet inviting, it would come across as if you just finished rolling around in the dirt of a forest in attempt to dry yourself off after accidently dropping scalding tea all over yourself, which is what my sister smelled like when she proudly declared she did 6-7 sprays of this🙄. All this to say, this fragrance stands beautifully on its own and is one of the few fragrances out there to get a realistic tea scent right. Part of me wishes this scent had an actual matching rooibos tea blend with some of the notes listed, it really is that alluring! You can also feel free to layer this with a linear scent or lotion; I typically layer this with a dark vanilla, like Zara's Supreme Vanilla.

I wrote about this fragrance already. I said it was good, great, stupendous. Buttttt let me tell you! I wore this out in the bright sunshine on a 90 degree day. I was stopped 5 times by women and men alike. I was asked to write down what I had on. At the optometrist, the doctor had a whole conversation about why she needed the fragrance for herself and apologized for fawning over the scent. As I was paying, the girl behind the counter said, 'OK, you smell like really, really, really, really, really good' (and she used that many reallys) Afterwards I went to the grocery store. The guy wrapping my fish said 'sorry to ask but what're you wearing' and asked me write it down. The food inspector scanning meat Temps asked for the name of the scent too. A lady walked down the seasoning aisle three times and when she heard another woman asking me what I was wearing , she giggled and said she was trying to figure out so she could ask too. And trust, it wasn't just my natural aura. I had on board shorts and a wrinkled shirt with a pair of hey dude shoes on. I sprayed three sprays of the scent at 8am and by the time I got home at 4pm, I could still smell myself because this is one of few scent ls I don't go anosmic too. Over 100 frags in my collection, and this one is a certified banger. It lasts, great projection and sillage. Performs in any occasion. Gets compliments and come on, although we should wear scents because we love it, we know we all love the head nod from others. And to put this scent in context other bangers I'll list it in the rotation now of my top ten which are as follows: 1. BLEECKER STREET & Hampton Bond 9 layered together (doesn't seem like it should work but boy does it) 2. MFK Gentle Fluidity (women LOVE this on a guy) 3. MUSK Therapy Initio or Imagination by Louis Vuitton 4. PDM Layton / Apple Brandy by Kilian tie 5. CEDRAT Boise 6. Montabac Intensivo by Ormande Jayne 7. Rehab by Initio / Blessed Baraka tie 8. Black Phantom 9. Erba Pura / 40 knotes tie xerjoff 10. Chris Collins African Rooibos