Rose Oud

This fragrance is quite special to me. I've always loved heavy rose fragrances, cause I've always found rose to smell dated, antique and, in a way, "gothic". So, a year ago I decided to dedicate a huge part of my collection to rose frags. This one was the first I purchased due to the extremely affordable price, and despite getting to smell and love many other roses, Rose Oud from Monotheme goes really near to what a "gothic rose" should smell like to me. Many people describe it as a "screechy" fragrance, and yes, it is indeed screechy. And I love it for that. It opens citrusy and fresh spicy, but in an almost medicinal way. Geranium and Elemi punch you in the face in a way that I can only describe as brain piercing. It's not a fresh, clean, delicious kind of citrusy opening: it just simply opens like a scream. Then you can smell the rose. It's not a fresh, realistic rose. It's a geranium rich, rosewatery, antique rose made darker and colder by the other notes. The parallel to be made here, is one that can perhaps only be understood by people who grew up catholic: it smells like the rose scented rosary crowns that grandmas used to pray with. It has that cheap geraniol rose quality that many people might despise, but it smells so old, melancholic and ecclesiastical to me. The note of oud is quite a screechy artificial one, but it smells dirty and cold, it mixes beautifully with such a dark rose, making it even darker and colder. It reminds me of old wood polished with resins. Sillage and longevity are really, really good for an EDT, considering that it costs around 10€ to 15€ (at least here in Italy). I've red other reviews of people describing this frag as oppressive, sad and screechy, but let me tell you: if you like dark things, rose oud is for you. It feels eery and screechy and melancholic. And I love it for that. It doesn't just linger on you: it covers you like a velvet funeral pall. For such an affordable price, it really is something to try out!

I bought this at the Treviso airport (Italy) and I had a hard time deciding between Black Oud and Rose Oud, both from Monotheme Black Label. I finally decided on Rose Oud because of how it developped on my skin after about 15-20 minutes of perusing through the airport Duty free shop. This perfume needs quite a bit of patience, as it develops slowly, depending on each skin ph. Very strong and pungent at first, definitely not for the faint at heart. Medicinal, earthy, but after that, surprise. You start feeling the rose while the oud and other components are still in the background. Extremely persistent, I recommend for cooler months. I was wearing it yesterday and after about 12 hours, I had the surprise to discover that the smell became sweeter and more gourmand, which never happened to me before when I was wearing this perfume. It is a fragrance full of surprises, and good value too!

Great oriental rose scent, dominant notes are elemi and rose, and a little bit soft oud. It is complex too, some here writes that it's linear, but I can't share their opinion. Starts with a little bit sweet rose, later you will every hour notice less rose but more oud. This perfume has absolutely BEST performances on my skin, my skin is dry and even the Joop or any other powerhouse don't last on me more than 3-4h, but with this one always get more than 10h. Many perfumes from category rose-oud are similar, but some of them has unreal high price, I won't name them but if you love oriental rose scents, you don't have a reason to buy them instead of this one.

it begins with a strong odor of elemi mixed with lemon.....this ago in way to leave that the rose seems a strange odor.....almost pits a good red wine. then he clears and can clearly be felt the rose. good the touch of geranium that with the lemon and elemi it doesn't fade away in hurry. the oud is not so dark and imposing...perhaps because sweetened by the amber.non in relief patchouli. sillage 10/10 longevities over 12 hours. for this price it seems to be before to a perfume of niche.I don't believe that they are synthetic ingredients.. very oriental atmosphere!!!!8/10

When it comes to good price and fine quality, Monotheme is doing great! I'm a big fan of oud-rose combo, and this one is done great! It is hardly unisex, I'm a lady and man wil not do with this, since it is tart and rosy.... Not pink rose, but mature burgundy too ripe to cut and put in vase type of flower. Amber is strong, and I can feel geranium right away as well. I personally would've added more woody notes to it, something like spruce or even birch... So, what should I layer it with now? Very happy with this blind buy!