Rosa Incandescente

Who compared this to Exit the King? They are night and day. Here the rose is front and glowing, wrapped in a beautiful play of salt and marine facets that feel bracing and luminous rather than soapy. Think salty red seaweed and freesia lifting a honeyed Damask rose, with a mineral drift underneath; it gives the fragrance a cool, windswept energy that reads elegant and unisex, but also a little dangerous and very attractive. It gave me a similar mood to Lancôme Absolue Not Your Rose—that modern, watery-fresh rose idea—but this one is more saline, more textural, and far more distinctive on skin. The moment I smelled it, my jaw actually dropped. For me this is Gucci back in form. It sits with the best of the line like A Chant for the Nymph and A Floral Verse, but feels the most original of the bunch. I’m thrilled it’s in my collection. And credit where it’s due: Ralf Schwieger, with Cécile Matton, nailed it.

This one’s very good, marine without being harsh or chemical. It seems the line is going in a more mass market direction but is still quite good.

This is a beautiful scent definitely I never smelled anything like it.

A rose swaying in the refreshing sea breeze. The opening is light and crisp, as clear as the morning air by the sea. The rose does not blaze red, but rather its petals seem to let the light shine through. A mineral quality that is not overpowering, yet distinctly perceptible—like the glint of salt crystals. An exquisite balance that strips away the sweetness, revealing the flower in all its three-dimensional beauty. The rose and the salty notes do not clash, but blend together, dissolving into the breeze. Rather than opulent, it is pure. Rather than passionate, it is transparent. However, the scent is understated. It is the sort that whispers close to the skin. Rather than spreading widely, it is a rose worn for oneself. At the end of summer, it would seem to suit white linen by the sea.

The salty seaweed opening killed it for me. Way overpowering for my taste. But when it died down, the rose was beautiful and rather familiar. Just can’t put my finger on it yet. But for a bottle at this price and with such horrid balance, it’s definitely not a dafe blind buy.