Róisín Dubh

I just discovered this hidden gem... really impressed by the quality of this perfume, the scent is unique and the packaging is luxurious. The image of the brand is impeccable, also the client service in the shop, Cloon Keen really understands and represents the entire concept of Niche Perfumery

I bought a bottle in Galway last year. Róisín Dubh (Gaelic for Black Rose) is a beautiful smoked, dark rose.

Róisín Dubh (little black rose in Irish, also the name of a traditional song) is aptly named - a dark, boozy rose scent from an Irish perfume house (and an Irish nose!). On initial spray, it smells familiar - a little bit Malle Portrait of a Lady, a little bit Matière Première Radical Rose - but the initial intensity dissipates, giving way to a lighter rose. RD opens with rich, boozy rose, given earthiness by a cloud of patchouli. It is a classic accord - one of my favourites - beautifully rendered. There is a dark, slightly mossy undertone to it, true to its name. There is a slight smokiness too, and a hint of pepper - all in keeping with the dark theme. As it develops, the rose becomes powdery but brighter, like pink rose petals. Patchouli remains, keeping things earthy. It fades to an amber-rose skin scent with a hint of patchouli. Sillage and longevity are moderate and it is transeasonal. A good-quality, feminine-leaning rose scent, RD isn't anything groundbreaking, but is nicely put-together. Classic elegance at a good price point with a nod to Irish culture. 3.5/5.

I am getting more obsessed with this creative Irish brand. I first know them from Castana, then I tried the rest today. As its name suggested, Roisin Dubh indeed smells like a black rose. It is dark and jammy, very mysterious and sensual. The silver metallic bottle is also really cool.

Like others said, very easy to wear, smooth and well blended, it's one of those 'dumb reaches' when I don’t know what to wear, and the same apples to another one of this, which is Suede Galore. I've had both for nearly a year, and to be honest, I never really read the reviews till today, and I read it's very feminine leaning, which now after reading it seems like a yes, very rose dominant, but I do absolutely adore rose when it's done right, and I think it's done perfectly right, and not in your face rose, which can obviously make it extremely feminine, but the entirety of last year I wore with the attitude that it was unisex or even masculine leaning, so the vote is that it is feminine leaning but completely unisex at the same time, depending on how you wear it I guess. It's lovely, smooth and nice moderate tillage, which is why it is so easy to wear and is a 'dumb reach'. I'd say easily FB worth at their price being below average for a 100ml Niche (currently is £120), definitely worth a try, and an extremely safe blind buy :)

Wow . This is fantastic. Deep full bodied and sweet. I have maybe 20-30 rose scents and I think this is probably my favourite now. To me it’s not an obviously rosy scent , like for example Paul Smith Rose , it’s a rich sweet warm & dark classic that has Rose as the star, but there’s a lot more to it .So sensual.I don’t find it Smokey or Incense laden as the notes suggest. Probably closest to Aetelier Cologne Rose but a much deeper and richer yet sweeter type. Not disimilar in DNA to Sybarite by Cloon Keen which is one of my favourite perfumes. I have a few by Cloon Keen now and I’m really impressed- they are all very different to what’s on the market, looking forward to seeing what they release next . This would make a great evening perfume.

I had high hopes for this as I have enjoyed, and even loved, other fragrances by this house. It starts out with an interest rose and incense but is quickly spoiled by the same overpowering woody synthetic that is in everything from Dior Sauvage to Citron Noir. I binned the sample; the world does not need anymore of this type of stuff. Such a shame - hardly up to the romantic Celtic rebellion that inspired the scent.

I happened to come across this perfume house in Galways bustling tourist area yesterday and the first bottle I tested was Roisin Dubh. It is a boozy dark smokey rose chypre reminiscent of Frederic Malles Portrait of a Lady just with more incense. It is an elegant evening scent. Very salubrious smelling!