Rose Nacree du Desert

Do you believe in djinn? I think they have worked some magic, either on my nose or on the 8 ml decant of Rose Nacrée du Désert which has been lurking in the darkness of my wardrobe for the last four months. I first tried it out when looking for a wedding fragrance. A kind member of Fragrantica suggested Rose Nacrée du Désert and Une Rose Barbare, both exclusive Guerlain creations with price tags equivalent to gold jewelry (well, maybe not a tiara, but at least a couple of small 22k earrings). When the decants arrived, I instantly loved the aldehydic fireworks in Une Rose Barbare. Its little sister from the desert seemed to be nothing but grossly overpriced bug spray. If I needed to protect myself from mosquitos during the wedding, there were much cheaper ways of doing so (OFF! would probably be just fine). Rose Nacrée du Désert went straight back into the closet. The last couple of days I have conducted some archaeological investigations among my samples, and there she was again - the desert rose! Everyone deserves a second chance, or so they say. And oh, what difference! How could I possibly have dismissed this soft beauty as bug spray? She settles on the skin like a silky veil of roses, saffron and oud, she nestles into the pores and stays for hours, becomes one with me - and I become a Desert Queen! I agree with Cairo Rose: This is definitely the scent of Sybilla from the Kingdom of Heaven, or maybe the Queen of Sheba herself. Rose Nacrée du Désert is sophisticated, and next to her, Une Rose Barbare is only a poor cousin from the countryside: Smiling, pretty and lacking finesse. PS 1: christianne1: I got my decant from Surrender to Chance. PS 2: I ended up wearing Estée Lauder: Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia for the wedding.

Simply stunning, but not for the faint of heart. I've tried a few rose-ouds that were just jammy and sloppy. Not Rose Nacree du Desert. It's definitely one that needs to be worked through slowly before you come to a conclusion. The first time I wore it I tired of it after a couple hours - I mean, this is ROSE. There is the definite sharp-medicinal oud backing it up, but to the untrained nose it's just rose overload. I don't get any other notes than these two. After just a couple days I was craving it and was able to stand it for much longer this time, though by the end of the day I was a little rose-fatigued. Third wearing (by which time I'd learned to spray it later in the day) I was ADDICTED. It's my go-to for when I'm feeling confident or simply am trying to feel confident; for when I'm tired and need some me-time; for when I feel like telling the world not to mess with me; for when I feel sexy; for when I've had a bad day; for when I'm getting dolled up for no one else but myself; for when I need a real perfume that doesn't disappoint. One spray is plenty, but two is what I prefer. This is a seriously long-lasting perfume that I'm told on good authority is authentically Middle-Eastern in character and quality. Guerlain has kept the oud prominent without allowing it to overtake the scene. The bottle is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. I really hope to own it soon. I'm working through a small decant and can already tell this one's becoming an alternate for my signature. Edit: I've now obtained a bottle and to my great pleasure I can detect a lot more incense and patchouli. I can't get enough of this one!

CLEAR ROSEWATER FOR DAYS ______________________________________________________ I visited the Guerlain Shop because i was told that Shalimar Parfum Initial would be a very interesting iris fragrance. I was informed, that it is discontinued and was offered to try other fragrances. Among the fragrances that I tried was Rose Nacree du Desert. I was told to give it at least 30 Minutes to fully evolve. I sprayed it in an envelope and took it home. Around 2 hours later the hole table had a very clean rose vibe about it and I didn't know why, because there where other testers and paper stripes around. But Rose Nacree fought it's way to the top and was the only fragrance I could smell. About an hour later the whole room was infused with the scent of a very clear rose water. Every now and then, hints of oud or saffron would come through, but the rose is very strong and dominant. I opened the envelope and for 3 days the entire room smelled wonderfully. Thanks, Guerlain, for this wonderful fragrance. Longevity: - 10/10 Sillage: - 10/10 All in all: 10 out of 10 subjective points -> because I was looking for a clean rose scent, and that's what ROSE NACREDD DU DESERT deliveres.

A formal, distinctive and expensive perfume. The smell of perfume is dry but not serious. A pure, transparent, non-romantic scent. The smell of rosehip along with oud and patchouli is strong, but it is not juicy and moist. The warmth of saffron and the dryness of benzoin make it feel like the Arabian desert.The fragrance is similar to the Arabic style of perfumery, but here the dryness of the rose has made the fragrance not have the wet feel of Arabic perfumes and roses water. A very good and high-quality perfume For men and spending time with men and not for women and not for being with women. Perfume is synonymous with its name. عطری رسمی و متمایز و گران قیمت.بوی عطر خشک است اما جدی نیست.رایحه ای خالص و شفاف و غیر رمانتیک. بوی گل سرخ همراه با عود و نعناع هندی قوی است اما آبدار و مرطوب نیست. این عطر حسی خشک و معطر دارد و یادآور صحراهای عربستان است. عطر با وجود شباهت به سبک عطرسازی عربی ، اما در اینجا بوی خشک گل رز باعث شده است که عطر حس خیس و گل رز عطر و رز عربی را نداشته باشد. حس گرم زعفران و کندر خشکی صحراهای عربستان را به تصویر می کشد. یک عطر بسیار خوب و باکیفیت برای مردان در کنار مردان و نه برای زنان و نه در کنار زنان نام عطر بسیار با عطر مطابقت دارد .

Well, I can't comment on the oud because I'm not sure what oud smells like but let me say this - a rose by any other name would not smell as sweet. Rose Nacree du Desert is the sweetest floral oriental I've come across. It's not Hypnotic Poison type of sugary sweetness - no fruit or vanilla, it's a warm musky, incense sweet. I know these notes aren't in the mix, it must be the benzoin/saffron/patchouli notes. For once Guerlain has delighted me with opening notes, no nose burn, I found a delicately spiced rose bomb. Yep, it's definately a bomb, but it's divine. The rose smells like the ones you find in older person's gardens, an old fashion rose that has been made redundant by all the new hybrid blooms. The longer I wear the perfume the sweeter it becomes, is there such a thing as too sweet? I seriously can't imagine this as a unisex fragrance. It's a beautiful fragrance as it is but I would like it to have something else to round off all that sweetness. Edit: after wearing this perfume for a couple of days I've become used to the sweetness, it's no longer O.T.T. It's addictive.

I bought this gem last year and I consider it one of the most precious in my collection. It is the best rose/incense/woody fragrance I have in my entire collection, far from the others with aparently same composition. The quality of ingredients is quite high, also the longevity - almost 12 hours on my skin, using 4 sprays. If more, it become suffocating for hours. I am affraid I cannot write a properly description of thIs magical potion, I read so wonderful reviews below. It is not a classic, regular rose scent. Not at all. The roses used here ( at least three species) are very cold and dark. velvety, bit bitter rose, I imagine a dark violet or even black rose. A dangerous one that I never found in any other rose based scent as a rose fragrance lover. This is something magical, a " Rose Magie Noire". No doubt for me this is the best Guerlain made in the last 20 years. No question why it was so quickly discontinued. The rose essences used here are from the highest quality available. Also the other ingredients. Masterpiece.

when I thought Guerlain lost the recipe of a 15 hours + longevity...well here you are, beautiful, strange, different, pearled ROSE. I am amazed. No, this has nothing do with the same old boring story - Rose & Oud. Not at all. Something totally else. No need to describe it, so many beautiful and useful reviews down below. I only want to say that the oud is absolutely NOT proeminent, and this is a big plus for me. UNISEX, yes. Considering therea re fragrances for men and for women, which I do not agree. The sillage is stunning, hours and hours it literally blooming out from your skin, and the longevity was a shock for me, 3 sprays at 7 PM after shower, and after a party night, in the morning, was still there. And NOT a skin scent. Amazing and if not the most beautiful one from this collection in all oppinions (for me, yes, the most beautiful) for sure it is the gratesc considering the longevity and sillage. Absolutely great art of work, catch it if you like dusty, austere rose, this one is the ONE.

After sampling Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme that won my heart I was sure that was going to be 'my' rose-oud scent. And then some little perfume devil whispered to my ear: but you haven't tried the other ones! After thorough research on the net I came with a list of rose and oud combinations. Somehow Rose Nacree du Desert was on the top of the list. I think apart from Bond no 9 NY Oud, I smelled all most popular rose and oud scents. And all the way through sampling and sniffing there was only one rose I kept constantly coming back to: Guerlain's RNdD. It's mysterious, a bit heavy, dark, it's extremely sensual and erotic and I love it for all these qualities. It's rose all way through, but this rose is a socialite surrounded by her good friends: oud, saffron, cardamon and what I guess is benzoin. For me it's the absolute winner, not only on the top of rose+oud combinations list but also on the top of my 'to buy' list!

Sillage: Beastly (A+) Longevity: Strong beyond 12 hours (A+) Craftsmanship: It’s Guerlain (A+) Scent (Subjective): I first smelled this at Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza. I literally had to sit down. I was blown away. It’s a stunning rose fragrance. I’m a middle aged guy and such a bold powerful floral doesn’t match my style in concept. I don’t care, it’s just that good to my nose. Just amazing. (A+) Season: Cold nights Drydown: Fantastic strong opening with a characteristically Guerlain long complex drydown. It will stay on fabric until washed and it’s always great until then. Value: Expensive (280$ I think) but worth it. Gender: Feminine and mature. Learning Curve: It’s a beastly exotic rose/oud, not typical, not for everyone. All I can say is I loved it from the beginning and I don’t have any rose frags. Emotional Response: High quality, smells of wealth, mature feminine rose.

This is a most beautiful rose fragrance. The rose smells very natural and is neither a dark rose nor a fresh rose - it is supposed to be a Persian rose, I believe. The rose is blended with soft oud, saffron and other notes to make a superb fragrance. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful and most natural smelling among the rose-oud combinations. It projects somewhat a Middle East sensibility, though can easily be used everywhere. It probably leans more towards the feminine spectre, though men can use it in small doses. It is nuclear in projection and long lasting so one or max two sprays is all that is needed. Edit: I have tried more rose fragrances over the last months and years, but Rose Nacree remains the most beautiful rose, ever.

this is a beauty. if it were a rose it would be deep velvety red with dark dusky purple veins. it's presence is a complex saffron oud rose lying on a gentle patchouli base. enchanting, Delightful and multi layered. testing on a warm summer day I feel like I am in a mysterious magical rose garden. it's sillage wafts and envelops me in a beautiful passionate dream. reading previous reviews there must have been some bad samples on sale because this could never be terrible. I appreciated rose barebare but disliked the sweet honey notes, this is defiantly the queen of guerlain roses. A very grown up sophisticated fragrance. I am so glad I purchased it.

A lovely Floriental centered around a most delicate Turkish Rose. The perfume opens with a string saffron and Oud leading to the beautiful rose heart. As it dries to a powdery rose, one can detect notes of patchouli and benzoin in the mix. Still very different from the glut of Rose Ouds in the market because the Oud is a very small player in this rose, benzoin and patchouli dominated scent. The unisex scent has moderate to strong projection and excellent sillage. An enveloping and transportive experience. Enjoy!

This is a really beautiful scent, a standout in the field of rose-oud perfumes for me. It's so well blended, a woody, oudy, velvety, faintly smoky rose resting on a quiet mist of saffron, patchouli and resin, all in just perfect proportions. That's my description of the smell - which is lovely. But the magic of it is, when I breathe it in it makes me feel so wonderful, I feel I could just sit here breathing in this scent from my wrist all day and all night forever. That's the magic of a really good perfume.

i have just received a decant of this and it is absolutely amazing!the rose i have been looking for!all the other rose perfumes seem like water compared to this!it reminds of a little bottle of 1ml rose perfume i used to have..one drop of it was enough to last a day and it was enclosed in a beautifully carved and painted wooden case that looked like a miniature tower from a middle eastern palace!i hope i'll be able to find a full bottle of this.it's the real thing!

من افخم و اجمل العطور نعم هذا العطر يحبس الانفاس لوهلة روز مدّخن مع نفحات عودية مخملية .. مع الاسف تغير العطر قليلا في الاصار الحديث والشكل الجديد بداية العطر اللاذعة و المدخنة انخفضت كثيرا و بالنسب لي كانت هي سر جماله وسحره .. تم تخفيف نوتة الباتشولي في اغلب الظن كذلك لون سائل العطر اصبح فاتحاً بعض الشيء مقارنةً بالاصدار السابق .. لكن لازال يحتفظ بجماله و هويته تقييمي للاصدار الحديث ٦/١٠

Regal oud and rose combination. It opens with the oud, which smells like burnt rubber and a bit medicinal. Later, the other notes come out, starring a jammy, velvety rose. The patchouli balances this out, it's light and sweet, so it does not overpower the other notes. Definitely full bottle worthy if you can afford it and have the personality to carry this perfume.

بعد استخدامي للعطر لفترة ليست بقصيرة اكتشفت ان العطر يحتوي على احد انواع المسك انا متاكد من ذلك و اغلب الظن مسك الزباد وهذا ما كسى العطر بذلك الطابع الاغوائي الذي يشعر به كل من استخدم العطر او قام بتجربته او استنشاق عبيره .. حديثي عن النسخة القديمة التي تاتي على شكل زجاجة سكب مع سبريه تقييمي لهذه النسخة ١٠/١٠ العطر لازال يكبر في قلبي

This is one of those 'fat at the beginning' scents that opens in a very balsamic fashion. Once that mellows out, it becomes one of the most beautiful rose oud scents you could ever imagine. Very Arabian in style, surprisingly. Much like the beautiful Santal Royal. Only, less woods and more earthy patchouli

عطری تلخ با بوی قوی رز . با اینکه از رایحه رز خوشم نمیاد ولی هیچ چیز به اندازه بوی رز نمیتونه ادم رو یک اشراف زاده جلوه بده در محفل متشخصان و افراد بزرگ این عطر به خوبی میتونه انتظار ادم رو براورده کنه اما هیچ وقت بدون تست خریده نشود برای پاییز و زمستان 3/5

Feels like I'm late to the party but this suddenly became one of my top rose-ouds! Perhaps right behind Montale's Aoud Damascus (#5 in my book), but definitely ahead of most popular ones like Armani & Kilian (except Eternal, which is #3).

I hate ouds and normally avoid it. It is strange now that it falls in my "love" shelf. I sprayed it by chance at the collector's house and fell in love. It is superclean crispy oud and rose. Guerlain oud - french way.

Such a beautiful, dark velvety rose! This is the perfect rose, in my opinion. Edit 12/5/2016 I kind of realize that real roses don't smell like this, but it's what the darkest roses SHOULD smell like!

Totally stunning. The most gorgeous rose and beautiful deep sensuous oud. It's a glorious perfume. Perfect. Deep and mysterious, feminine and elegant. A beautiful beautiful fragrance.

Not a review, just a sharing.... This has such a divine dry down. I love to spray this on my scarfs in winter and enjoy this for days. It lasts forever and is gorgeous.

I love this fragrance.this is gorgeous! it is My favorite perfume It's very good,This one has great longevity and the silage is amazing

Omg, I've grown Damask roses, and this is exactly the same rose smell: heavenly and earthed with oud. Absolutely stunning.

لا اعلم سبب تلاعب الشركة بتركيبة هذا العطر الرائع ..!! .. انا حزينٌ جداً لذلك

العطور جميلة و شطر الجمال قد اختصر في هذه الزجاجة

I have a partial bottle if anyone is interested.

@distictic "resonable price" ?! Wake up... 😅

Overall rating: * * * When I first heard about Guerlain's foray into the world of contemporary Middle Eastern fragrance, I was skeptical. What could this quintessentially French, classic perfume house possibly have to add to an already-glutted "Oud plus whatever" marketplace? If Guerlain's only entry had been Rose Nacree du Desert, I'm afraid my skepticism would have been well-justified. RNdD is, like *most* Guerlain fragrances, an extaordinarily well-blended, balanced composition. There is indeed a touch of the Guerlain sparkle, here. But on the whole, nothing new has been added to the conversation. One might say that it is a kinder, gentler Oud Ispahan, which is of course not a compliment. Rather than coming across as a sophisticated and novel French take on Rose+Oud, it instead seems a bit self-conscious and fearful, like a guest who has inadvertently shown up at a party where everyone else is slightly younger, slightly cooler, and slightly better looking. Guerlain's entire Deserts d'Orient experiment is redeemed, however, in RNdD's sister fragrance Songe d'un Bois d'Ete, which is an unqualified masterpiece.

I like this very much. It starts with a soft mentholated oud note, but it’s not rough it’s smooth and it lasts only a short while. The rose is very neutral – not sweet, jammy, soapy, green, tart, dewy, plush or powdery – but a real rosewater note without the water. Like rosewater spilled on wood and dried overnight. Where other rose/oud/patchouli perfumes are fudgy, thick and chewy or rich and spicy this is dry, transparent, clean, woody. It sits like a thin veil on the skin with suede-like finish that is indicative of how dry it is. Desert not dessert. After the first hour, sillage is close with the small sprays I do, and melts beautifully into the skin.Longevity about 6 hours which is good for me. Definitely unisex. If you’re female and you like gourmands and sweet florals this might be too masculine, but if you love chypres and woods, it’ll fit right in.

Like the reviewer below me, I also ordered a sample before investing in a full bottle, which would have been a big investment seeing as it’s not sold in Sydney to my knowledge. I was quite surprised by this fragrance, and I shared my views with other followers on one of Monsier Guerlain’s Facebook pages. What I got, both times I tried it, was that musk smell that is reminiscent of those pink musk sticks we used to buy as kids. Soapy and pink musk sticks. Apparently, according to some of the FB members in that group, it is supposed to dry down to the most magnificent rose, but I am getting mixed reviews there. That elusive rose has not revealed itself to me at all. Blindfolded, and without knowing this was a Guerlain, I would have dubbed this a musky, Oud with a sweet note.

I tested a few samples today, and this was the biggest surprise of the day. I almost didn't even test this one. I struggle with roses and oud and sometimes patch - it didn't even make sense to try it. I even rolled my eyes a little when I dabbed it on, and was standing by the sink, ready to scrub. However, Guerlains always work on my skin, so I should not have been surprised it would be lovely. It's a dark, spicy, patch covered rose, punctuated by a nice (but not too medicinal) oud. Not suffocating, the way some perfumes in this vein can be, but definitely has a presence. It's really blooming in the heat today, too. I tested this one dabbed. Going on wishlist immediately!

this is not bad at all, quite elegant and not too strong Rose Oud, reminds me a bit also By Kilian's one on the same theme... nothing too original I'd say, pleasant, well balanced, the patchouly note is quite present, the rose is soft, but there, the safron is very mild, barely there... not sure it's worth the price tag, and very "emirates friendly" in it's marketing profile :-p I prefer the Art et la Matière ones, specially Bois d'Armenie and cuir Beluga

starts off rosy and animalic on me, so i suppose this is a more animalic oud? at least to my nose (not incredibly, but a bit.) i get rose, saffron and oud, and something here seems a bit spicy too. after about 5 minutes i get some smokiness, maybe from the oud? it smells like roses and smoke with a hint of oud after about 15 minutes. it goes between smoky and a bit animalic during the drydown but the rose is constant.

Rose pressed between the pages of an old first-edition book was my first impression. Then a quick cascade of herbal green notes, fleeting and crisp. The middle, which I did not enjoy, was a heady, heavy red rose; the actual rose note ws very nice, but it was quite strong for a while. Once this passed, the dry-down of delicately spiced dried rose was wonderful and long-lasting. (3/5)

Like @chicbellavintage said! There’s a menthol note hiding there! The rose component is beautiful. But there is something Aromatics-ey about it. Which is not a good thing for me - my mum wore it and it has bad memories. The power of scent on our emotions! I had to temper it with some Samsara to ground it a bit more. I think it is a really warm, embracing scent. Just not for me.

this is a sweet and sticky candy rose. to my nose it does not at all smell arab. i cannot sense oud in this creation. to me its the rose and the patchouly making a sweetish scent for the day. definitely more for women. i have to say i am somewhat disappointed as i expected a full bukhoor kind of incency perfume more like the oud ispahan.

Dark dusty rose, spicy, warm wood notes. I just got this scent and glad it is winter as I don't know how I'd do with this in heat. I'd love to hear what some of the men think about this for themselves. I think it is totally unisex.

لا اعلم هل شممت الورد سابقا بهذه الطريقه ! رائحه ترابيه مختلطه بالورد والعود الرائحه الترابيه واضحه جدا عجبتني الخلطه الاحترافيه سأعيد تجربته.. ربما يكون يستحق الاقتناء 8/10

like By Kilian Rose Oud but better... can also try a cheaper one very close with Rose Oud by Yves Rocher...btw I prefer Rose barbare fro Laer et la matière collection.

another very similar Rose-oud-saffron, like some other niche ones; seems like they just copy-paste the same composition!

I really don't get the raving reviews about this one... I tried it twice because the first time, I could not believe that it was what it was actually supposed to smell like! It is truly the most terrible perfume I have ever smelled (on me at least, as I have not smelled it on anyone else.) The staying power is amazing, after 3 days and as many showers, it was still clearly noticeable and I only sprayed it once on the back of my hand. Two friends of mine asked, on separate occasions, what smelled so disgusting... The smell was pungent and chemical, a very strong disinfectant is the closest thing I can think of. I would love to smell it on someone else because I cannot believe that this is what it's supposed to be. But then again, I only ever had 2 problems of skin chemistry and I tried hundreds of perfumes! (a slight garlic aroma in Fracas and a light nail polish remover smell in Lolita Lempicka!!)

So giving me head ache, old smell of rotten thing sort of speaks please don't hate me for saying the truth. Please don't like perfume just because it is expensive and it is a high-end brand name. May be I will change my mind later but at this point in time nah... I have just finished my dinner when I applied this perfume and made me feel like I want to vomit.

Rose Nacree du Desert Guerlain. This time there is a very feminine and delicate handling of an oud/saffron/ rose or more precisely of the saffron/rose/oud/benzoin/patchouli combination, I smell it in that order. Previously smelt by me oud/rose/saffron compositions, such as Rose Oud By Kilian or Black Rose Oud Trish McEvoy attacked me by a rubbery oud, not sure synthetic or natural, a monstrous rose looming above me and immense patchouli and surprised me with very short life on paper and clothes. Rose Nacree du Desert Guerlain is a very delicate yet assertive composition that while showcasing saffron, benefiting from oud and patchouli just to the degree necessary, makes the rose very intimate and dear. This fragrance gives me a rare opportunity to learn about saffron: the soapiness that it imparts to the rose is not as bittersweet and brooding as if it would be imparted by an iris, but instead it's a very refined sweeter soapiness that is fused with the refined patchouli and oud and benzoin into the sweet rose balsam. Subtle leatheriness of saffron is also different and more delicate than in case of iris(saffron does belong to an iris family). The rose sits under the soapy sweet saffron/oud/patchouli/benzoin veil, or she makes her royal walk in the garden, very well guarded princess. So far my favorite long lasting oud/rose. Quite a noble one. Today I lifted the lid of the small crystal jar with the Pottery Barn rose potpourri in my daughter's room, that smelled somewhat similar to the fragrance being reveiwed. Thinking again about Guerlain price policies.

UPDATE: I got another sample and this one smells MUCH better!! I knew something had to be wrong with the first ones I received. Still a bit too authentically middle eastern smelling for me or something but it is a vast improvement from the first samples I received. Dark, dusty and gothic. Like dusty velvet roses in an old castle. A very interesting fragrance, just not one for me. UPDATE 2: Spoke too soon...dry down after about 2 hours is just beautiful. When am I going to learn to be patient?? Original review: I feel certain there are some bad samples being sold on Ebay because the ones I got smell, how should I say.....freaking horrific. They are manufacturers samples but there is no way the perfume I smelled is what others here are smelling (with the exception of the ones also screaming yikes). I am a rose fan, rose oud fan, patchouli, spicy, oriental and middle eastern fan....I like exotic and animalic and weird and all that but this isn't a normal smell. It smells like rancid wine left in a hot car all summer. Could someone tell me where to get a GOOD sample of this? Ambrosia, did you get your sample off of EBay by chance?

Hope you don't mind if I add a bit to this....It is that GRAND! I tested this again today.....THIS time...in the best of all places....upon my neck where it can send vapors to my nose with full force. This duft lasted the entirety of the day....from morn' till eve.... But the scent compelled me to share once again. I am not the best at writing descriptions of perfumes...but more so about what I feel or invision.... The Damask Rose is present....but obscure...and as time enfolds the Oud here is like no other I have smelled. I am not an expert...but I have had my share of sampling.... I had to say...."This was an ancient bottle discovered in the sands of the Orient!" It some how smells.....ancient...if you can imagine...like how you would imagine if you woke up and Cleopatra layed there on a posh array of golden and embroidered pillows....her lovers strewn about....in a slumber...only to be awakened by her mere command! To say this is sexy does not do any justice. This is an artform...a soul from essence... Only one simple spray upon my neck.... Now where is my purse?

This is one of the better renditions of rose and oud I've ever had the pleasure of sampling. The accord has been done many times before, but to criticize Guerlain from releasing one now is like discouraging Rolls Royce Motors from making a new coupe because Fiat and Renault have already made one. Thiery Wasser made a terrific fragrance in the signature Guerlain style. I actually give credit to Guerlain for not trying replicate exactly the perfumes of the middle-east, but just a suggestion of it, like what a Parisian would imagine the middle-east to be. It's romanticized, almost idealized, and it's hugely successful in that regard. The rose is so elegant, like the rose from Amouage Lyric Man, and the whole thing is absolutely refined. So back to the car analogy; the Germans now own Rolls Royce and they've created a car in their own idealized style; what they imagined the ultimate in British luxury motoring should be. It turns out that it's way better than anything the Brits ever made while they owned it. This is the equivalent of that perfect car.

I'm so glad I was able to get a sample of this before I put out some serious dollars for this scent . I have tried it twice , the first time for several hours all I could smell was a clean soap smell , albeit a strong soap smell , then a Rose although slightly strong for the first hour or so , then the final take off is a soapy Rose { on me } I wonder why as I have several Agarwood , Patchouli , Rose scentual loves . I also have a few with Saffron , and none have ever taken a turn like this one . I wonder if the sample was bad , because I have the Encens Mythique D' Orient and that one is pure Joy . I get the full benefit of that one . So , I'm a bit saddened as I truly have it on my want list , but I'm glad I was smart enough to get a sample . I will probably try again later on in the year as we are having cold weather one day , then hot weather the next , as the changing of body chemistry from day to day also changes like the wind as Bowie sang " Wild is the Wind " and our winds direction is blowing mightily right now ~ /=^ } ~