Absolu

A beautiful, gooey benzoin after half hour..and it keeps getting more deliciously gooey and sweeter. It was supposed to be my signature scent but it is sadly discontinued. I still fantasize smelling like warm resins with an initial greenness so I've just bought 2 bottles from ebay. By the way, this smells NOTHING LIKE TOLU BY ORMONDE JAYNE. NOTHING. Can't believe 12 Fragranticans thought so. Rochas Absolu is sensuous and womanly. Tolu is amber with some initial citrus in a chalky way, to me more of a masculine chalky amber. I do not know how to appreciate Tolu, try as I might since I spent a bomb on it thinking it could replace Rochas Absolu, but I just don't and plan to sell it. Rochas Absolu, on the other hand, I will use sparingly because it is precious nectar extraordinaire. Well done, Jacques Cavallier. Edit: I have found a replacement for ABSOLU and I'm thrilled. It's YSL's CINEMA, another Jacques Cavallier creation extraordinaire. OK they don't have the same opening or mid, but the drydown is 95% similar... that same gooey sweet balsamic cloud. ABSOLU: Something botanical and green ➡️ sweet balsam/benzoin ➡️ thicker sweet balsam/benzoin CINEMA: Cola ➡️ Fizzy florals ➡️ sweet balsam/benzoin (95% similar to Absolu's drydown) ABSOLU is likely the more potent, but I'm not complaining. Hugs to you again, Jacques! Edit: Now that I'm more familiar with Cinema, I'm sorry to say that the drydown isn't that similar to Absolu after all. Bummer...I had wanted it to. But all the same, it's still a beauty. Not quite a match for Absolu, though. She will always regn as the balsamic queen.

Absolu is not really a mirror to its name, but it is a special fragrance that, thank Goodness, walks boldly away from all the over-sweet orientals available now. Instead, this is like rich dark, addictive molasses. It has a bit of sweetness to it, enough to make it warm, feminine, dark, smoky, intense, without being an obviously available (read easy to encounter on others) scent. The rich resinous smell is addictive for me - I love the smell as it says 'I'm not easy to find, I'm not everywhere, I'm not common'. I love to wear it, and seemingly so do the others around me. I bought it expecting something else, the classical vanilla--excessively sweet-drowned oriental fragrance, but am I glad it was not that - it is a tiny bit resinous and bitterish, but this is what makes it stand apart. I do like Kenzo-Jungle Elephant, D&G-The One, Dior-Dune, Chanel-Allure (to mention a few I thought this resembled according to reviews), but I far more love Absolu for its darkness, richness and distinctiveness. I am glad I have it, I enjoy it and I shall but it again and again.

The first spritz to explore a fragrance I give on my wrist; I am able to sniff close or far away and can or cannot pick notes etc. I did that with Absolu and thought: Well, quite boring. Today after work I've spritzed it on the decollete, where I usually wear perfume and this is a totally different experience: Wow, how sultry this is! Still boring in a way, but so nice, dark, sweet and a little nutty. Perfect. I am big fan of Jacques Cavallier. He has his own way of creating perfumes (for women). On paper they use to smell odd (so nobody buys), as a exploring perfume they are usually too linear (so the perfumistas dismiss them), BUT while wearing them they are so delightful, deep and make a woman smell phantastic and absolutely seductive. His creations need skin for development. I find him to be the best contemporary nose, sometimes he's a genius (Kingdom, Nu, M7), sometimes he's uninspired, but even than he creates better than average stuff. By the way: My boyfriend only reacts positively on Habanita and perfumes created by Jacques Cavallier.

How delicious! Absolu Rochas is a balsamic masterpiece (several people call it masterpiece, so I will join in) with strong sillage and super longevity. It is hard to deconstruct, because it is so well blended that I mostly smell the benzoins. There is some sharpness (from the cedar and the pepper?) and some fruitiness (from the orange?). I get no green notes. To me it is the archetype of balsamic perfumes. Absolu is of fantastic quality. If this came out on the market now, it would probably wear a hefty price tag. I have always used Absolu in winter time, but OceanPlusEarth recommends it for summer. So I left it close at hand when I changed from winter to summer scents this year. (I rotate my collection twice a year.) Curious to see how this wears in higher temperatures. EDIT: Now I have tried Absolu in warm temperatures, and OMG, it is even more delicious! It turns gourmand, very much like fudge or toffee. Reminds me a bit of Prada Candy. I will buy a back-up bottle of this.

A lovely subtle and unique perfume. The citrusy oil smell I associate with neroli comes to me first. And then a strong and beautiful wave of creamy benzoin and tolu woodiness. It's so rare to find a woody perfume that leans heavily towards the feminine - but to me that is what this does. As it dries down a sweet beautiful spiciness comes out. Everything about it feels deep and slow and resinous. It is not overpowering, but more darkly, quietly sexy. An everyday perfume in my eyes. Safe, unobtrusive, but a little mysterious. It reminds me very much of Moschino Couture (though less sweet... not that Couture is very sweet to begin with). My only further wish for this would be to add a volume UP dial. Wish it had bigger sillage and longevity. It fades quickly on my skin, turning into a warm, but almost nonexistent skin scent in about 2 hours.

Ah this is such a nice resinous perfume. I know this was discontinued and the bottle I bought is most likely very old as I can immediately only smell the base notes, not even the mid notes. Which is fine with me, it’s still very nice and for $35 for a 2.5ml it’s a good deal. I have been wracking my brain to figure out what this perfume reminds me of and I finally got it. It reminds me of Ormonde Jayne Tolu. Both have Tolu in the notes and I get a lot of Tolu on my skin, which I love. I’d say buy this one if you can’t afford OJ Tolu, it’s the closest I’ve found to the actual Tolu. Of course Ormonde Jaynes Tolu is stronger and lasts longer. But both are very very similar in the dry down. And you can find bottles of this perfume under $50 new or used for much less.

I have to confess.I love Rochas Absolu more than Rochas Mystere. Hope no one fainted in our vintage section:p I am really going to buy flowers to my body chemistry for this ABSOLUTE lingerness and smoulderness and chic reqarding Rochas Absolu. Its perfect on me. Wearing it its like sailing – you've got the wings behind your back Rochas Absolu actually makes me better human, tolu balsam – its so smooth and soft and forgiving. Its like someone's loving hand strokes my needles, makes me kind and fluffy) Labdanum here full of ambery liquidness, resinous and placide. Nectarous fig leaf – adds hearty intelligence. Neroli gives rich aromatic oiliness to tolu – these two are meant for each other! Absolu-t-ly gorgeous baby of Jacques Cavallier.

Absolu is a deep scent, smokey, elegant and definitely for winter time. I feel it would kill me if I wore it at hot summer day. I personally do not like the first 5 minutes but after that time, it becomes so dark and seductive that I cannot resist but keep sniffing my wrist :-) I am not very much into oriental fragrances, there are very few in my collection. Absolu is a magnificent fragrance for a big night out but it could never compete with the love of my life - Alchimie. Worth trying if you like oriental fragrances with a moderate sweetness and mellow floral notes. I never thought that benzoin and pepper could be such a lovely sweet and spicy companions making Absolu a genius mixture :-)

I'm currently wearing the lovely Absolu by Rochas - I'd describe it as a velvety, rich, honeyed orange blossom with an amber, resin, balsam, tolu dry down. I wore this to bed last night and it was so deliciously cozy. The morning after, I'm smelling incense and resins. I'm wearing it today, in the heat, and it's also gorgeous. I have two sprays, projection is moderate, staying power is excellent. This is a perfume that's so enjoyable in all phases, the first few hours are honeyed floral, which I can't get enough of. I could see a man wearing this perfume and pulling it off well, in fact, it'd be quite sexy.

I bought it in december last year, and I forgot it in my wardrobe with the intention to test it in a typical italian autumn day. Yesterday I wore it. Love at first sight, thing not so frequent with me even if I love the world of fragrances. This is what I call a real perfume. It reminds me Eclix of La Perla, I don't know why, the notes are completely different. But a woman who wears it doesn' t get away unnoticed. Warm, elegant and sensual. The Tolu balsam is prominent and I love it. Very good projection and it lasts all day long. Thumbs up. Obviously all these positive things led to discontinuation.

Rochas “Absolu” is gorgeous - on my skin. This is a YMMV fragrance that changes an unusual amount not just on different skin but on the same person at different ages. I used to get more powder but now the delicately sweet vanillic/tolu balsam aspects dominate. It is orange blossom, tolu balsam, powder on my skin. Richly beautiful, soft side of sumptuous, elegant, comforting. This and Ormonde Jayne’s Tolu are not only smellalikes but near twins. Tolu is a little drier, more resinous in my memory, but if they weren’t in a side by side I’m not sure I could tell the difference.

Absolu Rochas. Oh, it's simply stunning in the summer! ☀️ It transforms into a sweet, balmy caramel bomb that’s just divine. Seriously underrated! It’s a shame so many amazing powerhouse perfumes get discontinued while weak, synthetic fragrances take over the ‘buy now before you realise how crap they really are’ chemist counters. 🙄 Lucky for me, I’ve stocked up on a few bottles of this beauty. Cheers to real fragrances that stand the test of time! Wear what you want. No labels needed.

Absolue is my all time favourite. I personally find it simply perfect. First you can smell the fig leaves, they're very fresh, crisp, but it is not a green fragrance. Orange note brings some fruity complexion into it, followed by floral notes and then comes the drydown, a powdery and resinous miracle. I've never smelt anything similar before, the most beautiful drydown I can say. I find Absolue cosy, smooth but sexy at the same time. It is not sweet at all.

A beautiful warm and soft cocoon. Sits close to you with its resinous comfort and just tickles you a bit with a very moderate and natural freshness of non-acerbic citruses. Think kumquat here... I really love it and even my perfume hating partner tolerates it. The perfume doesn't overpower and keeps up the game of giving the wearer a special allure. The development is very straight and not very advanced - WYSIWYG. Sadly - discontinued.

I love the way the mandarin and lily notes balance the pepper in this fragrance, and the resinous, woody base is just gorgeous! I tested this fragrance months after first trying Moschino Couture, and I am realizing now that Couture seems to be very much in the style of Rochas Absolu, but lighter, and with a base of vanilla, rather than resins. This feels like the big sister fragrance to Couture. Two thumbs up!!!

Just bought it a while ago. First, 30ml. When I tried it for the second time I fell in love with it and ordered 75ml. It is a nice, elegant, warm & rich scent that can be used during the day or for the evening. Good staying power. More like for special occassions kind of scent, however I think that we should not keep things for special occassions as life is too short!

WONDERFUL!!! I sprayed from a tester today and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of stock at my local drugstore Fine Fragrance counter. This is going strong after 6 hours ... a fabulous woodsy/rosy/resinous perfume that is easy on the pocket and delivers in spades!! This little gem is quite neglected ... get it while you can :).

Dark, smokey, rich, balmy and resinous, with moderate sweetness and unparalleled longevity. I wear it all year round and I can never have too much of it. So beautiful, so comforting. I pile new unopened bottles of Absolu for fear that it can get discontinued one day. Loss of no other fragrance would hurt me more.

Delicious, warm, nutty sexy! I love this!!! Peppery but not with an overly strong bite. It is smooth and sensual. It makes you want to cuddle up next to a fireplace with a glass of wine and watch the snow fly outside. Just a beautiful scent. A fall and winter must have for sure!!!!!

I don't know why I smell a lot of gardenia in this, but I do. And I love it! it is a warm floral fragrance with a slight kick (possibly from the pepper and fig leaf.) it smells like: black dress, high heels, elegant night out. not like: sequin & glitter, wild makeup, clubbing drunk.