White Diamonds en Rouge

Another worthy flanker in the White Diamonds line--I like the soft raspberry and rose with the pink pepper--not too peppery, but just enough to make the slightly soapy rose/raspberry accord smell a little more tangible, if not exactly earthy. I really like the base notes, too. I have been sampling so many actual Middle Eastern fragrances lately that this doesn't smell especially "Middle Eastern" to me, but it does seem a bit more "exotic" than the other perfumes in this line that I know and like, especially once you get about an hour into the drydown. It's not what I'd call incensey by any means, but the base notes of patchouli, amber, vanilla, and vetiver collude to create a sort of mildly incensey effect somehow. It's not nearly as heavy or resinous as an oudlike note, but it's also not just a clean fluffy musk. I can pick up on the sharp herbaceous note of the patchouli and vetiver, and the vanilla is not the treacly cupcake variety, but more of the headier floral kind. I decided to put this one before sending some to a friend's mom in a sample decant--she loves White Diamonds and LouLou by Cacharel, so this seemed like it might hit at least some of the same buttons--and it seems like a reasonably safe bet. I have so many variations of rose scents--some jammier, some sharper and fresher, some with lots of green stems and citrus touches, others with more of a powdery potpourri feel. I'd say the rose in this one is fruitier, and it's not hyperrealistic by any means; it reminds me a bit of Turkish candies, a bit of a rose-scented plastic doll I used to love as a child, a bit of raspberry punch. It might not smell exactly like a rose on a rosebush, but it smells like a delightful abstraction of a rose, maybe like an expensive rose-scented candle from Diptyque, or an extra-rich and fragrant rose body lotion from The Body Shop or Bath and Body Works. I love all sorts of rose scents, so I'm more than cool with that. I might upgrade this one to a love, actually. It's hitting the right balance between the soapy white florals of Sparkling White Diamonds and the rose-spice-fruity notes of Diamonds and Rubies, a scent that I haven't warmed to as much as I hoped I would, despite the Sophia Grojsman factor (ordinarily a big plus for me). I'll give that one some more time (I change my mind all the time), but I think I was hoping for something like White Diamonds en Rouge all along. The longevity is always impressive, especially since these are all EDTs. The only ones that don't seem to hold up quite as long (even though I like them a lot--they're just different, softer fragrances) are the ones that aren't White Diamonds flankers (i.e., Violet Eyes, Forever Elizabeth).

I am pretty surprised that there aren't more votes comparing this to Lady Vengeance by JHAG. The rose and patchouli are incredibly similar, and even the berry note is pretty comparable. I think this is a little less aggressive (or maybe vengeful?) than Lady V in that it is a little sweeter and the sharp edges of the patchouli are sanded down a bit. It is still an assertive fragrance, but rather than being a mean bitch kind of scent it is more of a bossy (positive) bitch fragrance. I also think Lady V leans a little more unisex due to the abundance of untamed patchouli whereas the sweetness in the base WDER into more feminine territory--that is not to say that a man or someone nonbinary who loves rose chypres couldn't or shouldn't wear this! Quite the opposite, really. If you are someone interested in a classy, timeless, bold rose chypre without spending JHAG or even Diptyque money for Eau Capitale, WDER might be your girl. The rose note stays prominent throughout while the jasmine & berry burn off early on. With the first spray, this has a sort of lipstick-y quality, but after drydown it becomes rosey with just a touch of pepper & slightly sweetened patchouli. If the pepper wasn't there or the patch was toned down more, I think this fragrance would read more immature or basic, but since the prominent notes are developed, it comes across as a scent for a confident, sophisticated kind of person who still knows how to cut loose or drop an f-bomb when the mood calls for it. TBH I think this is what Lady Vengeance was meant to be, but in that era JHAG was trying to really push the envelope with making more truly unisex fragrances, which comes through more in the base of Lady V. Anyway, I do think that rose lovers, chypre lovers, lovers of classic Hollywood, lovers of patchouli, lovers of cheapies.... heck, everyone should try this. You can get it for next to nothing at the moment, but I wouldn't be surprised if prices skyrocket when more folks realize what they've been missing. This will be in my usual rotation from here on out. During the cooler months, this could work during the day or at night, and in the warmer part of the year I think this could be a sexy date/nighttime scent. This is a great tribute to Liz's legacy, and proceeds still go to a damn good cause. Don't sleep on this one!

White Diamonds En Rouge and I have a complicated history. I really wanted us to be besties at first sight, just as I am with everything else White Diamonds. Instead, it had to go into time out right away and I had to learn about having patience with inexpensive perfumes that are manufactured so quickly. At first I thought I had received a bad bottle. The opening was a nightmare. It was a cloud of rancid hairspray unlike ANYTHING I'd ever experienced. It was like En Rouge was breaking through the bathroom door with an axe like Jack Nicholson, screaming "HEEEERRRRRE'S EN ROUGE!!!" while I shrieked and cowered on the other side like poor Shelley Duvall, clutching my beloved bottle of the original White Diamonds for dear life. After airing out in a dark cabinet for four weeks it sort of blossomed, but into something entirely unlike anything related to White Diamonds. It became what I can only describe as a perfumey rose. The rose was obvious, but the rest was similar to the abstract, every-perfume frequency from the late 80s. Think of the "perfumey-ness" of Giorgio, but not a nice Giorgio. Instead, one worn by someone like Frances Schreuder. Appropriate for a murder trial or fleeing a hostile palace takeover? Perhaps, but surprising as it may be, neither of those are on my calendar often. Back to detention for two weeks. Then FINALLY, the rose completely blossomed. What started as a harsh perfumey slap lost its chemical edge and blended into a beautifully heavy, powdery rose. It's anchored by a distinct, earthy patchouli that gives it an expensive feel. Give it an hour or so to dry down and it melts into a spicy, powdery rose with a slight ripe fruit sweetness that is absolutely LOVELY. It reminds me of Diamonds and Rubies with less vanilla and no almond. When people hear rose and powder, they automatically assume old-fashioned. And yes it does have a classic quality to it, but it isn't dated. It reads as refined without feeling mature. I am genuinely shocked by how much I love this stuff. What initially smelled cheap in the worst way now smells incredibly unique and dare I say, expensive. You just need a little patience with the dry down. Give it an hour to settle onto the skin, and you will fall in love with it.

White Diamonds En Rouge! :))) There's a LOT going on in this one; it's really interesting and good! I've owned this for a while, but I own a LOT of perfumes, so I don't necessarily reach for some stuff often. In fact, I only noticed its significant complexity when comparing it with several others (Al Haramain Junoon Noir, Rochas 2019, Byzance 2019, and Hermes Twilly Au Poivree). I found it more complex than any of the aforementioned, with its layers of raspberry, rose, pepper, and what my nose picks up as a lipsticky makeup smell. It's really gorgeous and somewhat challenging, too, and I can see how it could be overwhelming to sensitive noses. But I'm a big fan of the original White Diamonds, as well as Twilly Au Poivree and strong, sweet stuff like Fancy and Reb'l Fleur, so I find it absolutely beautiful. Nonetheless, it's not an easy wear (just like some of my favorite chypres), so I'd definitely have to be in the mood for En Rouge -- but WOW!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edit: I just went back and read some of the other reviews and noticed that I neglected to add what a few others so correctly noticed/identified: 1. there's a strong orange blossom in the heart of this fragrance (I LOVE orange blossom!), and 2. there's quite a dirty patchouli base a la a classic fruitchouli. As a huge orange blossom and fruitchouli fan, WD En Rouge just mashes together a bunch of things I completely love, and it's definitely challenging, but it works! It's just sooooooo good!!!

I am a big fan of most of Elizabeth Taylor's fragrances. I very recently discovered this fragrance on a perfume website, and decided to buy it blind. I figure for me, an Elizabeth Taylor fragrance is pretty much a guaranteed success. Immediately after spraying, the raspberry and pink pepper are there, but they last only the briefest of moments. Right away I detect the rose, orange blossom, and a pinch of the patchouli. The dry down is gorgeous, as I mostly notice the patchouli, vanilla and amber. Overall I would describe this as a floriental rather than a floral. There is a very noticeable "spice" quality to the scent, which I love, but anyone who doesn't like spicy scents should probably avoid this one. This fragrance has amazing sillage and lasts what seems like forever. After wearing it the first time to try it out, the next day I could still smell it all day long without reapplying. Wow! That's a first for me. I feel like this one could definitely be worn very dressed up but also would work more casual outfits and occasions. To me, I don't think this one would be office safe, if you work near your coworkers. I could be wrong here, but with it's amazing sillage, I would be nervous to wear it to work myself. All in all, I'm so happy with my "blind buy" and I would definitely recommend to all lovers of florientals or those who appreciate "spicy" perfumes. It's a 10/10 for me.