Rose Oud

I love this fragrance, despite polarizing reviews - it is truly lovely, feminine and very well blended. Opens like a very creamy lush lily-of-the valley with soft rose petals, rather than rose itself on background. At first I didn't get oud or castoreum at all, enjoying this unusual blend of tender florals. I don't wear white florals normally, I love rose. Yet this fragrance smells like no other rosey one. It is velvety and sensual, yet fresh. It has really rich, melting on skin base, like a physical touch or like when you would dip your finger into wipped lily-of-the valley and rose souffle. Oud is late to the party here, it is tamed and thinned nicely. All the way fragrance remains silky-smooth, no edges, very liquor-like, suits to posh outfits for special events, I am really glad I went for this blind swap. I know it is not easy to give hints for ppl, whether to go or not go for it, especially when you can't compare it with anything on the market. I personally never came across anything similar at all and that is why I treasure my bottle.

Such an unusual and mysterious wonder, this lovely scent. At first it is bewildering because the rose is very pale and hidden, and the 'oud' almost seems non-existent. In its place there is a lovely and strange soapy note that has some wood and very, very indistinct flowers in it. Basically what you have here is pure abstract perfume making, in which the parts have created a greater whole that is more than the sum. It's alternately creamy, sharp, floral, soapy, jade-like, smooth, sultry. It is also a very intense scent (one that lasts all day - something which I admire about all the Illuminum scents is their incredible longevity). This is also a very modern creation, extremely wearable in any instance, unisex, cool and sleek and sophisticated. It really embodies a lot of qualities. If you're expecting a powerhouse type middle eastern rose-oud combo, this would not be it. Illuminum's Rose Oud is a much subtler creation, nuanced with many elements. Worth a try for anyone interested in sublime floral unisex scents.

This fragrance is my 2nd in the line (White gardenia petals being the first)and upon first sniff my memory was immediatelty transported back to 1992, a period when i wore Dolce and Gabanna for women, of which i used to love although nowadays find it rather harsh hence suspicions of a reformulation perhaps? Comparatively, Rose Oud is a more stripped down, pure, soft and timeless rendition...innocently leaving spaces between its notes, evoking perceptions such as; 'I am a Rose, a creation of delicate beauty - Please feel free to admire, smell, and even touch me albeit gently. Therefore, given my armour of defence, you may experience pain should you ever attempt to harm me. Bearing in mind these sharp thorns surrounding the stem beneath me are indeed part of who i am. After all, i love life too.' ;o). All-in-all smelling is believing with this heavenly scent. Kudos to Michael Boadi. x

I think this fragrance is one of the most interesting in this line. The fragrance is very clean and soapy due to the lily-of-the-valley note.

Aldehydic but somewhat warm, animalic, soapy to me. My bedtime perfume... it stays all day long, my best illuminum perfume.