Rose Ishtar

I’m part way into my Rania J Discovery sample kit and I have fallen head over heals for Rose Ishtar. I thought my next Rania J purchase was going to be Ambre Loup, and it’s indeed on my “buy list” but Rose Ishtar is going to be next. On my second wearing and I can’t beleive the scent that is coming out of my spray vial. The notes listed here surely can’t be complete. There’s something dusty and spicy in the mix. Deliciousness. Eyes rolling back into my head. This has to be one of the most unusual Rose-musk scents I’ve ever worn. My husband is my sounding board, poor guy, because he’s not a frag head like me. Without any prompts, he came home and asked if I was wearing a new perfume. I had sprayed it twice 3 hours earlier, and Rose Ishtar was still projecting. He then said, “this one really stands out”. (For the past year, I sample and write, on average, one review per day). So for him to comment this way is notable, and I have to agree. It’s not like any other rose perfume I own. And that’s no small feat, to create something original when there are literally thousands of perfumes in the world featuring rose notes. Kudos to the genius behind this scent. She has my utmost respect. Anyway, I’m not sure what else is in this composition, but it’s magic and I love it.

This has become my favourite Eastern Rose! On spraying, you might think, mm-hm, another arabian rose musk like Yves Rocher's Rose Oud, bit of smokiness, yawn, BUT a couple hours later you have something delicious. This is about the drydown, in the same unexpected way as French Cancan; and the drydown is beautiful. It's slightly powdery, smoky, vanilla, heliotrope, still with the rose note but airy, lovely and still projecting (it is a warm summer day). I'm calmed and soothed by it, it's a pleasure to wear. It lasts all night until the next day, and that's because I do 2-3 sprays. Really pleased and glad I checked this page before I bought, because a tiny sample doesn't give you enough to play with. This is good stuff. Bravo from me xx

Rose Ishtar by Rania J - wow, absolutely wonderful!! Such a lovely rose, and every other note that's in it. It actually makes me cry, this perfume. I so adore it. It's unbelievable. I feel so sort of touched by it. I don't know.......it's just sublime!!!! It's the most sublime, spicy, smoky, delicious rose, with a gorgeous patchouli, so earthy and gentle and green and rich and smooth, and the heliotrope!! Oh my god it's heavenly!!! I love love love Rose Ishtar!! It is so soothing and (as sistermoon rightly says!) meditative. So perfectly balanced and rich and gentle this beautiful creation is!!! Simply tremendous!!!!!

Absolutely gorgeous fruity, slightly candied, powdery rose. Refined and elegant but not stuffy. The edges feel fuzzy, and it's cozy and sweet. One of my pet peeves with rose/patchouli scents is when they dry down sharp, but this stays beautifully blended throughout, eventually drying down to a slightly powdery cotton candy. But it still doesn't feel cloying or overly sweet and my pillowcase smells amazing for days after wearing it to bed. I definitely detect some overlap with Delina, VCA Rose Rouge, and LO Rosamunda (and to a lesser degree, EP Rose Magnetic) which I also have in my collection.

Starts up with an explosion of red rose. The rose note is slightly greenish and underneath lingers a shimmer of citrus. The impression of the rose, I think, is depened and darkened by cassia and patchouli. I imagine putting my nose among the petals of a grand deep-red rose. After half an hour the rose becomes more spicy and less pronounced. The surroundings of the rose comes into the foreground. There is more greenness (Cassis?), and a to me unfamiliar presence (Heliotrope?). With Rose Ishtar Rania J has created a very natural and beatiful rose centered fragrance.