Rose Opulente

Opulent since the very beginning. An invasion of flower notes joined to those of spices to underline its royalty - just in case the overwhelming rose alone couldn't be enough! This is a 'quite' fresh, reliable, happy to exist rose! That's why - I think - it is so contagious. I detect a note of orange peel even though it's not declared in the above pyramid unless it were a trick of my skin or of my delirating nose... Like it or not but the good quality of the ingredients here employed is as usual -while talking of M.g.e.P. - relevant and consequently undeniable. Really lasting (my skin confirms!), great sillage but keep the quantity you spray under controll....... Lovely opulent rose indeed!

Edit written October 2, 2024: I reviewed this perfume on March 17, 2019 and have since then been questioned about which type of bottle I was reviewing. I no longer have the box, but my bottle says eau de toilette on the bottom and I suspect I bought it early in 2000 or 2001. I haven't smelled any newer versions, anything they've made since the French regulations came into effect, etc. I see they're making an eau de parfum, but I haven't smelled that either. And there is even less of this brand in US stores now than there was in 2019 or even 2000. Six hours after putting on Bvlgari Rose Essentielle, being disappointed again with it and writing a review of it this time, I decided to put on a decent rose perfume from my collection/hoard. Rose Opulente by Maître Parfumeur won out, and since there are relatively few reviews of it here I want to write something positive. It's a fresh and moist scent; I imagine roses with dew on the petals and leaves (that magically dries out and doesn't leave mold and rust; I grow roses too). Most other rose scents don't evoke moisture and dew drops. The top notes almost seem like a traditional rose fragrance like a Crabtree & Evelyn or any number of scents with rose in their name. I say that's to bring in the novices. But within a minute or so, the light spices and the ylang-ylang take over and convince everyone right away that this is no ordinary rose scent. The drydown is heaven, with lots of sandalwood. An overabundance of musk ruins a lot of scents for me, but Rose Opulente's musk is controlled. It lasts over 8 hours on my skin. I'm surprised it was introduced as early as 1988. I got my bottle around 2001, I think, somewhere in Chicago: Barney's? Full retail; way before the era of decants on eBay. In trying to analyze why Rose Opulente doesn't command the attention it deserves, I've decided the main reason is few selling locations and just too much competition. Within Maître Parfumeur itself; at the time even then there were at least 8 different scents, all in identical bottles and many of them fabulous. It was hard to keep track of what I was smelling just from that brand. I think they have even more now. The higher price was against it too. In 2001, you could still buy 1.7 oz bottles of decent perfume for $65 or so, and I'm sure this was at least $110. And Maître Parfumeur sold in very few stores, and seldom online, except at full retail. Rose Opulente was also in competition with movie star perfume driven advertising, and at that time the popularity of non-rose scents. I think then it was ocean scents, freesia scents, gardenia/magnolia/tuberose scents. and white flower bombs in general. I tried to find the "best perfumes of 2018 article Fragrantica published last month, but could not. I'm fairly certain Rose Opulente didn't make the best rose fragrances list. Maybe next year.....

There is no real way of confirming this, but what I get here is real rose absolute. I had received a small vial of rose absolute with a dab stick from a relative that went to Bulgaria for a business trip and I vividly remember how the whole hallway had smelled like rose when I opened it for a few seconds. Recently I bought a small bottle of Rose Opulente as a gift for a loved one, and when she sprayed it on my brain immediately thought 'rose absolute'. Essentially a deep dewy rose petal/water smell, a refreshing slightly fruity, peachy sweet aspect a small amount of green notes (not too sharp but clearly there) and a touch of tart citrus facets. That is pretty much what you get for the first few hours here. I realize a lot of people are only familiar with rose accords, so they may be put off by the fact that this doesn't have intense jammy, powdery, or soapy qualities (which I personally dislike). On the other hand, gardeners/hobbyists that grow rose bushes will immediately fall in love with this one. Very refreshing and delicate for a rose fragrance. Clearly feminine leaning, very classy. I can't decide if Rose Opulent or Heeley Hippie Rose are my favorite rose fragrances, but this one is definitely closer to the real thing.

The opening of MPG ROSE OPULENTE is perhaps the best of any rose fragrance I have smelled in recent history. Something about the clean green notes moderates the rose while still allowing it to retain its beautiful identity. After a few minutes, I detect a certain darkness--not sure what the notes are--which tempers the rose in the opposite direction. The drydown is my least favorite part of the development, as the fruits begin to have a slight wilting effect on the petals. But still the rose manages to persevere with some integrity. Although I am not really shopping for a new rose perfume (I already have a big bottle of Guerlain AA ROSA MAGNIFICA), I do so love to test them! I would say that ROSE OPULENTE is one of the most wearable that I have found. It is very much a rose-centered perfume, but somehow it does not seem old fashioned, grandmotherly, or better suited for a lingerie drawer. I like this particular rose fragrance a lot and might even feel comfortable wearing it beyond the perimeters of my home. (-:

Wow. Another surprise from MPG. I didn't think I was a fan of straight-up rose, but this might convert me. It's honestly how you wish rosewater would smell on skin, but it never does. It's fresh, green, ever so slightly earthy, and just very, very realistic. I can't see myself wearing this regularly, but it feels like the perfect thing for an outdoor event or a wedding. Let's see how often I use the sample...