Rose Water & Vanilla

I definitely have a soft spot for Loukhoum inspired fragrances and so I was quite interested in Jo Malone's take on this classic perfume inspiration. I consider Keiko Mecheri's Loukhoum Parfum du Soir to be my favorite iteration of this Middle Eastern confection. Jo Malone's take on it was quite different, but lovely and intoxicating in its own way. I am used to Loukhoum fragrances to being a honey/almond/rose affair with a generous dose of powder. And on me, this combination is dynamite. But how would the normally restrained house of Jo Malone translate this? It seems they decided to go in a different direction, by choosing a creamy, custard like vanilla and putting that at the heart of this fragrance. The rose is a sheer, slightly green rose that is needed to balance out the sweetness of the vanilla. This makes Rose Water and Vanilla more of a rose water ice cream or custard than true Loukhoum. Which is actually fine with me as I find it different enough to have in my collection alongside Keiko Mecheri's masterpiece. The Jo Malone is more sheer, less dense, and highly wearable. The longevity is quite good, at least 6 hours on my skin. The sillage is moderate. The greenness of the rose keeps the vanilla from being too cloying even in very hot weather. I find this to be strangely addicting and have squirreled away a few back up bottles because it is discontinued. And I don't believe I have smelled anything like it. A truly unique offering from Jo Malone and one I will be wearing for years to come.

This is for those who want to know how it compares to the older perfume. I was happy to see that Jo Malone rereleased the perfume, but its not the same exactly. The scent is the same, but its not as powerful, and not as potent when compared between the two. Its still a beautiful scent, and it does last long, but its not as loud as the original release. The scent lasts all day, but it becomes a skin scent. The original projects so much for so long - this one projects for the first 20 minutes and then mellows down to a skin scent. Its so light, that I use it after a shower for the gym. Its inoffensive, and light, but lasts a long time. Doesnt project louder after an intense cardio session like some scents, if you were wondering. The scent is my favorite rose blend; the rose isnt sharp like Red Roses - this is Rose syrup, a gourmand for adults, a sweet scent thats not headache inducing. If you have ever prepared turkish delight, this smells exactly like it. Its a nice and clean scent, with just enough sweetness. The original is very sweet and very loud compared to this new 2022 release. Its like comparing an americano with a ristretto. Both are coffee, but one is concentrated and the other watered. Still, a very lovely scent that I got multiples of, because there is nothing out there like it. I only wish the perfume was offered in 100 ml.

This is •Y•U•M•M•Y• (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) 🍋🌿🌹🍦 I hurried up and got myself a bottle from Nordstrom (bought it blindly) and I couldn’t be more pleased!!! The new label is purple-pink-ish and it is offered only in a 50 ml bottle...At $110 USD, it’s expensive but worth it to me... I unfortunately never had the pleasure to smell the one from 2010 so I couldn’t compare the two but this is sooooooooo pretty!!! Candied Rose and citrus-y (Néroli & Petit Grain) notes with a slight sweetness make this fragrance an absolute delight to smell and enjoy!!! I’d say it is more of a springtime fragrance but hey, who’s complaining? Not I!! I will wear it on its own or layered with Kayali Vanilla 28 cream (which, by the way, I HIGHLY recommend) and I am definitely going to smell like a springtime fairy 🧚 Love love love it!!!! I may very well grab another bottle as a backup as this is a limited edition!!

I was starting to see hype on this perfume from YT influencers, and decided to check it out. When I sprayed it on the sampling strip, I just got a lot of rose water which is a bit sharp on my nose. However, as I let it develop for a few minutes, I was starting to appreciate it more and liking it. I had my bf sniff this and Rose Blush and he really loved the subtle and sweet fragrance of this perfume compared to how sharp Rose Blush is. Anyway, after testing it on the strip, I sprayed it on my arm to see how it settles into my skin. After a few hours of having it on my skin, I could still smell it. Like with most Jo Malone perfumes, they don't really project but this one stayed on my skin throughout the day. I couldn't stop smelling it on either my skin or the strip that I decided to purchase it. No regrets honestly. I like how light, feminine, and slightly sweet it is.

I have been a JM fan for several years. I've built quite a collection; it would be easier to name what I DON'T have, instead of what I do. JM's Rosewater and Vanilla is one of my favorites within the JM line or by other makers. RWV is VERY versatile. I tend to wear her alone and she gets a lot of exposure in the winter, especially around the holidays. But I'll wear her any time of the year, any time of day. She's not my pick for super casual, sloppy days, but for just about any other occasion, including bed time, I think she wears well. She stands out in a crowd, but not be being loud, by being different, beautiful and confident. She brings sweetness and a tad bit of something spicy. She's beautiful from application through her dry down and long after that, on clothing. She goes from bold to a whisper, but her whisper is clear and strong, definitely understood.