Rainwater Rose

I wish more of Ananda's fragrances were promoted on this site. I can't believe Shakti isn't up of review, I would love to sing that fragrance praises on this sight. I can not say enough good things about this house and it's creator Ananda Wilson. She has a holistic approach to fragrance making that is unsurpassed. She is also a wonderful poet and I purchased her poetry book as well. I highly recommend signing up for her newsletter, she writes so beautifully about nature and the process she goes through to create her beautiful fragrances. I have sample quite a few from this house and decided Shakti (a slightly smoky, sweet citrus, amber, woody, and spicy vanilla fragrance, just stunning) and Rosewater Rain. My niece fell in love w/ Botany's Daughter. I have just ordered 3 other samples from her limited edition, they are all millefluers to honor and use all of the rare and precious ingredients that goes into natural perfumery. They are called Precipice, Mystery's Mistress, and Pleasures Unknown. I can not wait to see how they unfold on my skin. Check out this house, I know Ananda's creations are expensive but sampling is an affordable way to experience the wonderful craft of Ananda's work.

This smells just like the wild roses we had all over the fields on our farm. There is a wildness, a green earthiness to wild roses that cultivated roses do not have. I have really great damask rose scents that I love but a lot of companies, natural and otherwise try to add other notes like citrus, tea or fruity notes to capture the greenness of a wild rose and it usually fails. Ananda Wilson owns and creates the perfumes for Gather. She hand picks rose petals in the wild and distills them to make this scent. If you want a rose fragrance that smells like wild roses this is the one for you. I know her stuff is expensive but I have been impressed w/ the quality in each fragrance I have smelled. Even ones that I wouldn't wear I still like because they are so authentic smelling. Rainwater Rose is going to be a purchase for me, I love it.

This is an astonishing rose plus (natural and pleasant) petrichor scent. Some natural scents have an overly herbal grey quality to my nose, but this is not one of them. It's not a cheerful scent but instead seems to even out my mood. The unfortunate reality for me is that it's all very fleeting, and I can barely detect anything even with nose to skin after an hour or so. I think the price is justified based on the workmanship but for me personally I can't afford a fragrance that would require this much reapplication. Otherwise it is far and away my favorite rose scent.

Tried a sample of this today, and looked on YT for some video reviews, only had time to watch Peter's over at FragranceView...and I agree with his review completely: It's a great rose scent, and Peter describes it as "translucent and watery," and one of his favorites from this house. A very light beautiful red rose. There is such a distinct difference between the aromachemical rose of say Tom Ford, and a natural rose. The photo-realism of the former is incredible, but the nose knows, it is very definitely not a real rose. The accompanying headache is also a good indicator of that. This one does not give me a headache at all, and I also agree with Peter that as a male I will wear this. It doesn't come across as feminine to me, it simply comes across as..."rose." I do not automatically associate the Spring-Summer scent of a rose with femininity, as compared to nature, natural, and floral...again none of which automatically gets designated as "feminine" to me. Instead, absolutely unisex. A really great rose scent, I can confidently say one of the best I have ever smelled. Full bottle worthy.

This is FBW. When it comes to perfume florals, there is rose, and then there is everything else. Rainwater is a beautiful, delicate rose soliflore. More of a pink rose than a deep red. Yes, it is an EDT and wears accordingly, but I think this makes a beautiful addition to your yoga practice, if you have one and incorporate aromatics into it. Do try this.