Rosenthal

I've just added a travel spray of Rosenthal to my moderately sized collection, of which about 40% is rose-centric scents. I don't know what it is about the smell of rose that just makes me feel perfectly right in my own skin and that all is as it will be in the world. Rosenthal is a patchouli/rose with an herbal, earthy bent and hints of incense and sandalwood. I'd put it in the same darker rose category with ELDO's Rossy de Palma, Providence Perfume Company Rose Boheme, L'Artisan Voleur de Roses,, and Aroma M Nobara Cha. (I personally don't think it smells like Malle's POAL, though is a similar theme). It smells really natural without smelling like an aromatherapy blend and is also beautifully blended so there aren't too many sharp angles. It has a raisin-like sweetness which I suspect is myrrh? The rose smells deep and wild with a little of that honeyed smell of dried, burgundy rose petals. The description from the perfumer mentions hippie references, but this smells more intellectual to me. Beat poet maybe. Well worn tweed jackets with suede elbow patches, moth-eaten in places. Rosenthal. The name suits. I was testing this a few weeks ago while doing some cleaning up around my apartment and Gil Scott Heron's The Revolution Will not be Televised came on. It was a synchronous moment.

I guess i saved the best for last! This one is quite Gothic. Some urine note is added here. The incense, sandalwood, red wine, dried fruits, pepper, and roses are making a fuss. Quite interesting, specially the fruits, & red win are darkened with incense. It's like a dark sweet. It reminds me allot of "Bello Rabelo" by Les Liquides Imaginaires with that resinous red wine & dried fruit note. This fragrance mostly describes Laura Branigan's version of "Self Control" song. Each word in that song describes this fragrance. Hans, you need to visit the middle east for an inspiration, specially Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, & UAE for the Arabian culture of fragrances. Also u need to visit Morocco, Turkey for the Bazaars experience. Jordan, & North Saudi Arabia for the historical Petra. Egypt for the pyramids experiences, India for the Taj Mahal & spices experiences. East Europe for the roses naturale & specially Romania for Dracula's myth. I am quite interested to sense your next creations when you expand your imagination and visit these places mentioned above, i'm quite sure you'll be amazed of what you'll witness, & you as an artist will create a trend that every single perfumer will not follow but to admire your inventions.

Hans Hendley is going to bankrupt me because I love another creation by him, this one called Rosenthal. I read some criticism below that stated this blend has been done before, but in my opinion Rosenthal is much more interesting than Amouage Lyric and Portrait of a Lady, and I find it more wearable. I wouldn’t call myself a “biker chick” but somehow it suits my personality better. The opening is not about rose, but instead it’s a dirty angelica with some patchouli. Rose and incense comes out in the drydown...but this rose is never dominant. Damn, this is so very good. And I love that this is sold in smaller sizes. Yes, I’m going to buy my third Hendley. Someone take away my paypal.

I just got my bottle. I like it a lot. Dark rose and patchouli. It reminds me of 1980s type chypre perfumes that my wife likes to wear, but this feels more masculine to me. Boozy, woody, not sweet and floral. And a touch of some intimate female bodily scents, which makes this sort of erotic.

This is SO DEEP and DIVINE. It's far too warm for me to be testing this today, but I just know that when it's winter......this will thrive!