Ombre Rose L'Original

(Review of a mid-1990s EdT) Ombre Rose is misnamed. Ombre Hiris, or Ombre Musc on the other hand would be very accurate. The perfume wants to play in the gray shadows of orris and musk. To create the shadowy effect, Francoise Caron relies heavily on powdery textures. The opening of powdery aldehydes and sweet, honey roasted nuts lasts only for a second - at least in my vintage bottle - while a whoosh of civet brushes them away like a broom and disappears very nearly as quickly as those sweeter opening notes did. The rest of the perfume is a linear presentation of orris and musks that have very demur costars entering stage right and then exiting stage left in rather quick but seamless processions. The orris is properly starchy yet oily, not buttery or creamy or dry, like texture of cooked and cooled potatoes - or perhaps like a fine luxury powder that was probably applied while the skin was still a bit too wet. The musks help with this texturizing by coming across as animalic, thick, gray, and almost slick to the touch. Ylang-ylang walks on stage, presenting a pale yellow floral that’s a touch fruity and creamy, and then exists stage left. A bit of vanillic tonka slowly works forward from backstage, but then the lights continue to dim and you wonder if this character is actually a creamy, benzoic sandalwood type actor. And that is where Ombre Rose L’Original stays for the rest of time nestled against your skin - the powdery orris, the silken musks, and the creamy and vanillic sandalwood. Much like many others before me in reviews of this perfume, I use the word “nestle” very deliberately. Ombre Rose feels like a second skin, a whole other layer to your person that is warming, comforting, inviting, and snuggle worthy. It might not be much to write about in terms of accord or note presentations, but this perfume is only barely short of a masterclass in textures. Like pleasant and gentle shadows that move about quietly, effortlessly, and quickly around you it is just as much a part of you as it is separate. Lovely.

Ombré rose is my kind of rose if it grew on a bush. It would be dusky pink with golden edgings and veins greying softly. Warm, soft, rich and round. It's like a beautiful musky night infused with real rose essence leftover on a huge down pillow. Its soft, barely sweet, not sharp or acrid. I want to wrap myself in it, drink it. Its one of my favorites. What I love most about it is that it doesn't change on me, just mellows. Its not a crazy roller coaster ride from one bunch of notes to another, it's a perfect sensual lullaby that you can trust not to turn on you. Ombre Rose is one of the softest most beautifully feminine fragrances I’ve ever owned. I purchased a bottle soon after it was released and couldn’t wait to try it. I managed to spill a large amount of the mini all over myself and my things which upset me to no end. I was on a Chicago train, any other fragrance would have people moving to another car or ejecting me from this one. Ombre Rose began soft and stayed soft, it’s what I love most about this fragrance. Ombre Rose doesn’t change like a roller coaster, it just mellows. Soft, smooth and creamy, it’s a masterpiece. The Jean-Charles Brousseau site and Frangrantica site show different compositions, but the lovely soft rose is balanced by musk, honey, peach and sandalwood. It’s one of those scents that seem simple in their complexity. The bottle is beautiful to touch and feel too, like Lalique. Textural not slick, like the scent. I just recently purchased another EDT through amazon while I still have my original mini perfume (actually two) On testing, the perfume from the 80’s is just as rich and warm as I remember. The EDT is a pale shadow of the delicious Ombre Rose I know and love. EDT is ok as a quick fragrance splash, but it’s not the one. My next trial will have to be the current perfume not EDT

I didn't know what to expect when I blind bought this last year. The reviews here run the gamut, so I was truly on my own when I ordered it. The first time I sprayed it on, I was underwhelmed. It didn't smell bad, it just didn't smell much. Because my hubby is sensitive to smells, I always try new ones while he's not home. (It has happened many times that my first try of a new fragrance has included trying a little or a LOT of sprays until I feel like I've finally understood the scent and how it wears on my skin...hence trying all new frags while hubby is away.) So, being the owner of a very brave olfactory system that I am, I just kept spraying - neck, chest, shirt, hair even. After only a couple of minutes I was OVERwhelmed - in a very good way. A lot of people who describe some scents as smelling "like an "old lady", I suspect would describe this gem that way. Patience, my beloved frag addicts. Give it more than one try, and try it with one or two sprays and then try it again with many sprays. To me, this is such a beautiful scent that I would say any lady of any age would love this. Just give it time to "develop" on your skin before you make your judgment about it. Ombre Rose has made it to my top 20 list, and considering what a perfume hoarder I am, that is a real accomplishment! Other than roses, I get a pleasant, mild, soapy glow. If you like/love roses, and if you are feeling like you would like to add another rose scent to your collection, I highly suggest this one. I don't think you can go wrong here. Even if the rose scent isn't as powerful as you would like to be, it is mingled with such a beautiful background, that I truly believe you will be pleased you try it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Brosseau's Ombre Rose is one of those landmark perfumes that revolutionized the industry when it debuted back in 1981. It's readily available and inexpensive so I decided to buy a 1 oz bottle blind. I've been wearing it on and off for months, here's what I think. A low budget, high concept abstract floral masterpiece. In the center of this floral powder puff lies a smooth, rounded lipstick-y type of rose. The rose is accompanied by a softened, abstract bouquet of powdery purple flowers... iris, orris, heliotrope, with other subtle floral touches. The base reveals clean, soapy musks, soft woods, and tonka. The notes blend seamlessly, this perfume was crafted with the intent of maintaining the lovely texture throughout its lifespan. Impressive to think that cheap synthetics can be tweaked and refined to such a degree that they smell this plush and velvety, but I suppose that's where creativity, innovation, and skill come in to play. Ombre Rose has a deeply nostalgic, warm aroma that will remind people of makeup products, talcum powder, and playing with plastic dolls. This type of scent feels like it has existed since time immemorial. I'm not an iris lover, but this is an inexpensive, sophisticated, and stunningly executed iris-rosy floral perfume. I would encourage everyone to sample this before sampling niche irises. There is a timeless quality to Ombre Rose, it smells a bit old fashioned but there is nothing off-putting or unpleasant about it. Most people will enjoy the smell of this perfume. I love discovering perfumes with this level of mass appeal that aren't boring to wear, it's a great option for the workplace environment.

This review is of vintage parfum in the black quarter ounce bottle. Although rose predominates, it would be a mistake to think of this as a rose perfume, much less a rose soliflore. This is a well composed woody floral with an exceptionally protracted and inspired heart. Peach and rosewood open, giving a creamy, succulent fruit note that is well balanced with a citrus that is not at all sour, nor sweet, but fresh and crisp, surprising since most of this fragrance's work happens on a different tonal level. The heart is complex, precessional, stately, not playful, but certainly witty. The roses, since there are more than one rose, open strong, and never really leave the scene, but are quickly joined by an inspired iris, a delicate lily of the valley, and a soapy sandalwood, that combine to create the "first" heart, and which also combine to smell hauntingly of theatrical makeup, powders and lipsticks. There is a moment when you are suddenly backstage, in a dressing room with old fashioned powders and feather brushes. But ombré rose doesn't stop there. You literally have another heart and two Base phases to go, with at least two distinct dry downs. And what dry downs they are, musky, woody, balmy, earthy. The honey, iris and tonka create a profound vanillic backdrop, on which the vanilla, cinnamon and heliotrope are anchored. The long, sexy dry drown combines a rich rose, deep woods and a resinous cedar, and a velvety iris. Lovely, powdery, sophisticated and more sensual than sexual, with fabulous longevity, projection and sillage on me.

Wow, this is unusual. It was made in 1980s but I would never guess it is not "old lady" at all if you know what I mean. Alert: it is very powedery and very sweet. It is like this sweet, sweet poweder or powdery, powdery sweet :-) this is my kind of perfume, this is what I like. For some reason I want to compare it to the Tient De Negi. They are both from the same category but TDN is sharper and stronger it's like it hits you in your gut and keeps going. I love, love TDN. This one is the finiest, most feminine almost baby powder sweet perfume. It has much less staying power but it is so, so beautiful. It is very clean and light as well and very dry. One of not many perfumes that can work in the summer even though it is very sweet and very powdery. It is "just out of the shower" sweet and powdery scent. Gorgeous. I had a craving for "clean" perfumes but I am poweder/sweet lover so to find the combination of all 3 is pretty difficult. 7/11 edit. I got pure perfume in a black bottle and I solved the mistery of ammonia smel. People who got EDT in the light bottle may experience a little ammonia smel when spray too much. I had it a little too. Pure perfume in the black bottle does not have it at all. It is absolutely gorgeous. Someone said its like pink cloud around you and now I get it! Oh it is so gorgeous! Magical. So long lasting and I have dry skin so I have problems with perfumes staying on me. It is sweet and powdery but it is also so fresh and clean, and magical! It does not knock out anyone. It's a masterpiece!

I've owned this beauty for a couple months now and I'm loving it every bit as much today as I did when I first tried it. Ombre Rose L'Original opens with a bit of a pinch - I agree with some others that it is a teensy bit hairspray like (but like, Elnett, the nice smelling hair sprays)but it quickly settles into a dry powdery scent that is all at once simple, pretty and cosy. I won't pretend I smell all that there is listed in this scent. For me this is predominantly geranium and iris, with an old school rose and some sweetness, more from tonka than heliotrope to me. While very powdery, it has more of a woody character than a floral one. More than anything this smells like expensive, vintage talc. If you're not interested in baby powder smells this is probably not what you're looking for - it's definitely face powder rather than lipstick as far as make-up smells go. I associate the scent of talcum powder with childhood, as that just out of the bath smell and this is why I think of Ombre Rose as a fresh scent. It's not fresh like green or watery, but fresh like clean skin and soap, even though it's also not a soapy fragrance. Perfect for cuddling up at night, starting out a day fresh or feeling pin-up pretty and popping out in red lipstick with a perfectly powdered nose. A very versatile scent, that has excellent staying power. As a note though, my bottle is vintage. I can't say if the newer version smells identical.

One of the fluffiest perfumes I wear. It appears that a large variety of body and baby care products smell quite similar. It doesn't matter when that started, what came first, the result is the same, generations have the same opinion on how clean and comforting smells like. And clean is something that never gets old. We can discover and experiment all we want, some fragrances are like coming home. Lotions, creams, powders and in this case perfume. I believe that Ombre Rose appeared vintage even when it came out. Well, it certainly didn't smell like the perfumes of the '80. Ombre Rose is lovingly reassuring, somewhere between your grandmother's makeup and clean baby's bottom. It's universal, I never get bored of it and it's never out of place. It stays close to skin and lasts for a very long time. When I wear it, I feel cared for. I have a recent edp and it has become one of my very favourites. One of those I reach for without thinking. I'm looking forward discovering other concentrations. Update: I just received edt. Basically the same as edp just thinner. Everything brighter, more transparent and more floral. For me edp is more balsamic than musky, maybe because it's quite woody. I see them as the same perfume that behaves in two different ways. Fascinating. The perfection would be the opening of the edt and the edp dry down. I'm certainly not disappointed.

This is so haunting and beautiful to me. It smells of some kind of echo,takes my soul back to my past life. It is rosewood I feel right away,and the bubbles of those precious aldehydes the bubbles are floating to my smile. I can spell spicy red rose geranium,and the peach is very slight for me. I feel it in my bones,cannot keep my face from burying deep into my own arm while I am wearing this. It is very potent and powerful to me,and so very bold those woods and rose geraniums. I love so much all stages of this glorious scent,but I do understand a change is good sometimes,and the change smells GORGEOUS here. All of a sudden, I close my eyes,bury my nose in my arm again like a mad woman,but I do NOT care! Here is the real and true sweet, rich rich sweetness.Here is a powder,a soft rose,here rolls in like emotion,the sweetest vanilla,and softly spicy cinnamon. I am enraptured! I am amazed that there is a synthetic honey in mine,because I could swear this is real true bee pollen and honey inside of a flower! I hope not to offend,but I have a scent replica of this beauty. I cannot afford the price of the original one. But bless the nose behind this precious scent. I believe the nose would be Jean-Charles Brosseau,am I correct? ** Oh and mine has a synthetic vegan musk.

I had this back in the 80s, the tall, black, cylindrical bottle. I scored it for $1 at a neighbor's yard sale. It was missing the top, but who cares? Only certain bottles end up on my vanity and this one went into "my collection", stored in my cool, dark fragrance vault (now 300+ and counting). I've moved a few times since then and that bottle disappeared along the way. I KNOW I did not finish the bottle. Probably will never finish any of my fragrances (my lucky daughter, step daughter, daughter-in-law or grandaughter...or heaven forbid, yard sale shopper, lol). While scrolling through eBay, this fragrance appeared in auctions starting at .99 cents. I thought, "Why not?". No one bid against me! Another $1 (plus shipping score)! It is the same black bottle from the 80s that I remembered. I sprayed once. Yikes!!! Harsh alcohol!!! Had it turned? Had I somehow mistaken it as a vintage, but in actuality it was a reformulation that is getting scathing reviews here? No, thank goodness! After the initial blast, the drydown is that soft, powdery, rose, sandalwood, possibly almondy concocoction of the past. Lovely! Purchase the vintage, not the one shown in the photo here.

Wow this is right up my ally...I’m obsessed with powder fragrances and musk. Different smells can sometimes be associated with a sound and this one is a lower pitched whisper to L’instant magic by Guerlain. It’s also a warmer powder. This transports me to my grandmothers peachy colored bathroom with her plush and floral embroidered faux leather toilet seat (true story). She has a plastic soap dish with grooves in it, and a pile of decorative peach toned sea shell shaped soaps next to the sink, but those are not to be used. There’s a liquid soap for hand washing. The top of the hamper is a pinky colored tufted satin. Jean Nate powder sits there, beside a bottle of Rose Milk lotion. The bathroom is warm from the hot water in the tub, and I’ve cleared just enough condensation from the bottom of the mirror to brush my hair. As a little girl, I’m obsessed with her products and the new smells. I’m putting dollops of lotion, mousse, and powder everywhere. I smell like a warm, soft, clean, floral, powdery bomb. I smell like ombré rose. God how I miss that room.

The last time I fell love with a fragrance this much was 10 or more years ago. This is for the new EDT. This is more rosewood than actual rose, so I can imagine it may not be for someone who loves the smell of true roses (which I do not) .It opens with the rosewood, the peach is minimal but just enough to make the opening juicy (really, the combination is just perfect, neither one over powers the other).The peach dies down but the rosewood stays, as to do the aldehydes (but not too much) and although it is powdery it has this brightness in the background that stops it from becoming cloying (the vetiver ? the iris ?). This is an elegant smell, and haunting, I do agree with those who used that word to describe this scent. Even though it is powdery, it`s sheer and yet still strong. It does not smell like any of the new perfumes you find today but it is also not like much like the old school scents either, it is very unique. It dries down to something tasty, but not overly sweet or cake like, just slightly honeyed cinnamon , enough to make it a warm.

NOW, HERE IS SOME SERIOUS VINTAGE ' PARFUM DE BOUDOIR ' AS I AFFECTIONATELY LIKE TO CALL IT: SEDUCTIVE IN AN UNDERSTATED POWDERY WAY... YET, MOUTHWATERING FOR SOME REASON (NOT ONLY I FOAM, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO TOO!) I STRONGLY DETECT THE ALDEHYDES WHICH REMINDS ME OF THE POWDERY FLORAL SCENT OF MY BELOVED CHANEL NO 5 WHEN I FIRST SPRITZ IT ON. AS IT'S NAME SUGGESTS, IT LINGERS SOFTLY LIKE A PINK SHADOW, SOFTLY ENTRANCING . ROSEWOOD CONTRASTS NICELY WITH THE PEACH NOTES, MAKING THEM SPARKLY WHILE THE TONKA CRISTALS ADD THIS WHITE CHOCOLATE NOTE IS SO ENJOY. HERE COMES GOURMAND BLISS! . BEING A LOVER OF YLANG-YLANG, I TREASURE THE DRYDOWN WHICH LASTS AND LASTS, ENVELOPING ME IN WARM HONEY, SUGARY VANILLA AND FRESHLY GRINDED CINNAMON. FROM FLORAL TO GOURMAND, IN THIS ONE, YOU WILL FIND IT ALL! I JUST MIGHT CHOSE IT AS MY SIGNATURE FALL PERFUME THOUGH I USED TO LOVE IT FOR SUMMER. TIMES DO CHANGE! TASTES EVOLVE TOO I GATHER! I HAVE THE EDP AND COLOGNE VERSION. SINCE IT IS A POTENT POTION, USE SPARINGLY OR LAYER COLOGNE . HAVE A FRAGRANT DAY!

My review is for the lovely Cologne that was gifted to me by my Fragrantica pal, Whiteshoulders. Thank you for a marvelous perfume! I was always curious about Ombre Rose but never went ahead and purchased it. I wish I bought it a long time ago! The amounts of powder, sweetness, and rose are all just right, blending together to create a delicate fragrance that smells both complex and clean. If the cologne smells this perfect, I can only imagine the EDT! I am pregnant with my first child, and when I smell this heavenly perfume, I can just imagine holding my newborn baby and nuzzling his/her soft, sweet skin. This perfume is so cozy and tender. I think I prefer Ombre Rose over Keiko Mecheri's Loukhoum. Loukhoum seems unbalanced in comparison--too much sugar and too much powder. The Cologne is soft, but it lasts a long time. I only sprayed once and rubbed my wrists together, and people could smell it on me from 3 feet away, so it is heavier than a skin scent. Thanks again for this endearing beauty, Whiteshoulders!

A Rose with Light & Dark Together... Starts out really powdery and aldehydic with some icing-sugar sweetness from Brazilian Rosewood, but rose is swelling through a little. This is the light. Then it moves into a territory that reminds me of Ange ou Démon Givenchy with powdery, sweet & musky tones with a faintly luminous accent from ylang, and a touch of dirty earthiness from vetiver. This fluffy luminous mist that blankets the dank earth is the light and dark together, and what I get from the bulk of the wearing experience. It doesn't go quite as tannic & leather-like as the black rose I get in Rose Noire Giorgio Valenti (although they've been compared) and overall it reminds me more of Ange ou Démon Givenchy which may have been inspired by Ombré Rose imho. Overall, it's a beautiful and enigmatic scent that's more than just a pink powder-puff. This is the powder-puff of the Mata Hari archetype. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

Ombre Rose L'Original by Jean Charles Brosseau for women is a powdery vintage lipstick scent. It is not for those who shy away from coquette powder-puff pinup boudoir perfumes. In the best traditions of vintage perfumes this is a powder-powder-powder-rose. Yes, you will recall your grandmother and mother upon inhalation, and yes you will compare it to the rose-scented talcum powder. Which is the whole point of this scent. It is light and powdery rose that is hopelessly romantic yet persistent at the same time. She is going to hang on for a long time--specifically on clothes and hair (I have dry skin which unfortunately means that scents disappear from it fairly quickly). this is Ophelia, this is Juliette...Innocent troubled young woman, something Shakespeare must have mentioned in one of his tragedies. She fantasies about her future innocently. This is what Ombre Rose is all about to me.

I have to take a pause, the same pause I took when I smelled Boudoir for the first time. It is the aldehydes in the beginning that screams at you, and gives a sharp synthetic bug spray/hairspray scent. But you pause because you know this isn't it, there is something more lurking in the background something rewarding for those who are willing to wait. The rose dances in the background and then takes the centre stage, the screaming aldehydes quiets down a bit, but never disappears and gives the scent the necessary kick, and keeps it from becoming boring. I don't smell the iris but I suspect it is responsible for powdery feel of this perfume. This is in my eyes a vintage perfume, very feminine but not in any way girly, this screams woman all the way. I absolutely love the scent and the bottle, but I leave a warning, this is not for everyone, try it before you buy it (I didn't). LOL

My sister had a bottle of this when we were teens. I’d sneak into her room and spray it on because it smelled so lovely. Fast forward to a few years ago when I found a bottle of it while browsing on Amazon. I had to have it...when it arrived I held my breath while I sprayed frantically. I exhaled, then inhaled deeply. Ahhhh yes ! It smelled the same. Memories flooded back all warm and fuzzy...A warm high school Summer, putting on my white keds and running out the door to school after stealing a spritz of my sisters prized perfume. This scent is just so clean and carefree. I don’t think it has any age restrictions, maybe 16 to 99. I use it as a room spray and often put on some 80’s, 90’s music or a movie and truly feel transported in time. I will always have a bottle of this in my collection.

I am trying it out now and comparing it to the Eau de Cologne version. Exactly the same to my humble nose though the aldhehydes in the eau de cologne are lighter in the opening. The eau de toilette is an amped version but both are equally delightful, have a good pyramidal structure , great longevity and sillage. The peach is juicy and tart in the opening in the eau de cologne which is refreshing. Still as retro glam as ever, with it's musky rosy glow.. The drydown is light and everlasting. warning to those who are thinking about getting the eau de cologne: PLEASE DO! It is as opulent, long lasting and as priceless as the e.d.t. so do not go slap happy like I did! It is still very concentrated. I even wonder if I will need to repurchase another bottle since I have two 100 ml as backup ;)

Perfect! This is a wonderful fragrance. On me, I get a rose, powdery, wood scent. A little sweet, but not sickly, just the right amount. I got the edc formula in a swap, thank you so very much Rosie!, and it has quickly became my new favorite. Very strong for a cologne concentration so be careful with the trigger. I oversprayed it on my first try thinking it would be on the weak side, boy was I wrong, but there wasn't the first sign of a headache, just a room filled with a wonderful fragrance! This is a very well formulated scent, "smooth" from start to finish, and for me, after it really settles into the base notes is when it is best, sultry powdery woods! I give the EDC a 10/10 for its strength, composition, and longevity. I hope you have the same experience with Ombre Rose as I do!