Rosendo Mateu No 5 Floral, Amber, Sensual Musk

Rosendo Mateu No.5 — Alexandria II’s Clean-Freak Cousin So here’s the deal: If Xerjoff Alexandria II is the refined Middle Eastern prince who smells expensive but not overwhelmingly oud-y then Rosendo Mateu No.5 is his Western cousin who moved to Barcelona, drinks cortado, irons his shirts daily... but spill some tea on him, and he loses his mind. The resemblance? Sure there’s familiar DNA: a musky vanilla-amber base, a bit of spice, a hint of florals. But while Alexandria II wears its oud like a silk robe “elegant, discreet, mature” No.5 glides in polished loafers and opens with a note that straight up smells like burnt rubber on some skins. Not in a bold, smoky leather jacket way. More like: “Did someone burnout in a Tesla outside?” The Opening Spices and saffron show up, but they’re not screaming “Hey, I’m Middle Eastern!” It’s more like: “I first tried saffron in a risotto... in Milan.” Then lily of the valley crashes the scene yelling “Laundry day!” Heart Notes Carnation arrives but chill, it doesn’t smell like a funeral bouquet. More like “lightly spiced deodorant.” So don’t expect Alexandria’s depth — this is Vanilla Club House for Clean Boys. And Then the Base Hits: Amber. Vanilla. White musk. Tonka. And yes — strawberry. It sneaks in like a cheeky milkshake note. Not really sugary. Not really sexy. More like: “Oops, I spilled my girlfriend’s strawberry body lotion on the hotel sheets.” — Alexandria II vs. No.5 Alexandria II might not be the full-on oud bomb some expect, but it still walks in with presence and low-key royalty. No.5? He knocks on the door wearing a crisp white shirt, strawberry lip balm, politely adjusts the carpet corner, and asks if there’s sparkling water. •Alexandria II says: “I’m a king. My hands are washed in petrol.” •No.5 replies: “I studied design in Barcelona and wear linen pants without wrinkles.” 🔚 Bottom Line: Interesting? Yes. Wearable? Absolutely. But that opening? An acquired taste. 8.5/10. It’s Alexandria II after moving to Europe, joining a yoga class and switching to oat milk.

This is indeed a unique perfume with an intoxicating scent profile. Many have referenced a rubbery smell. I get hints of that, and in a somewhat odd way...it adds to the allure of this perfume. Rosendo Mateu No. 5 is that kind of perfume and scent profile that is kind of polarizing. I feel for it to be appreciated, ones nose would have to be mature or experienced to an extent as it does not smell regular...or better put it is not mass appealing, but appealing nonetheless. From my wearing and testing experience, this perfume, is best smelled in the air and not close up on skin. This is where I feel the rubber-like note is experienced. In the air, I get a tamed but intoxicating scent trail, it had me goshing over the whiffs I got all day. One could be tempted to overspary thos perfume as like I mentioned above, it feels tamed. But, this perfume holds its own having very decent longevity. I got 9hrs longevity off 8 sprays. It would have givem me more, but I had my habitual night shower. Its sillage I feel is equally decent. Many fragrance influencers refer to Rosendo Mateu No. 5 as a date night fragrance, I can't disagree. However, I wore mine to the office and it did not feel out of place. Considering I just got the bottle, I intend to try it out in different sceanarios and pick out its best use-case, but I dare to say it is versatile and can be dressed up or used in some casual situations. Do I like Rosendo Mateu No. 5? Absolutely, it is intoxicatingly unique and sensual, with a tamed sweetness and muskiness with no animalic hints from my wearing experience. It is not blind buy safe and IMO won't be appreciated by regular perfume users (no offence intended). It does not shout but will be etched in the memories of those who catch your scent trail. An 8/10 for me ❤️

Bought my bottle back in 2023 and remember that, despite the strong initial rubber smell, I enjoyed the drydown quite a bit. All I had to do is wait for the rubber twang to dissipate. Later on discovered that, being such a strong fragrance, using just a couple of spritzes from further away than normal would somehow tame the strong initial rubber smell, straight into a beautiful, seductive vanilla fragrance. That seemed to help it get to its glorious drydown more easily. At the time I wrote a note here on Fragrantica about my experience with this beast and, a few months later, sort of forgot about my bottle and stopped using it, for no particular reason other than being distracted by other fragrances. Today I was testing Prada Luna Rossa Black at home and for some reason it reminded me a lot of RM5. Not saying they smell the same, but some facets of it reminded me of RM5, maybe the type of sweetness or the similar DNA, don’t know. But I had to compare them both and, to my surprise, after almost 2 years of no use the initial rubber smell has completely disappeared to give way to a deep, rich musky-vanilla scent which is so good, nuanced and powerful that I am very excited for this one to go back into my regular rotation. The juice has also darkened substantially, probably a sign that there has been some change through maturation. I have other fragrances that I enjoy just as much but this is different, almost on another level, to the extent that RM5 could even become one of my favourite fragrances and can’t believe that I almost forgot about this stunning creation. The initial rubber smell is no longer there and appreciate the new, deeper version now more than ever. What a ride.

I also label this as a masterpiece and it is definitely one of the most appealing fragrances I have come across in my long fragrance journey. There is nothing overhyped about this fragrance in my world, this is top notch magician level blend. There is something genius about No5. It is daring and bold as you can see based on the amount of reactions related to the burned rubber vibe, yet for me No5 has a strange case of creating a confidence in pulling the trigger to wear this. And in doing so, it creates this beautiful sensual and balanced aroma that fades out rubber vibes and that is what makes it very wearable to me. Masculine leaning, but can imagine women pulling this off as well. Big fan of the 'rubber' opening, even a bigger fan of the dry down. Usually this type of polarising fragrance would be out of my league, yet it has taken over the number 1 spot for the colder days. When I glance over my collection for the pick of the day, this is the one that screams at me. To me, this is definitely amber over florals instead of the otherway around, but the florals are needed for the right balance. When taking a deep sniff, the florals round it up in such a perfect manner that you can't wait for the next sniffing round. It is immensly addicting. It feels like a love / hate type of of fragrance, therefore I would recommend sampling if you get the chance and try to get past the initial blast to see if it intoxicates you like it did others and myself. This is one of those fragrances that has the potential to create a milestone in your fragrance journey if you're in the love camp. One of the best wearable winter niche fragrances for me! 10/10

Rosendo Mateu 5 is an olfactory enigma. It defies categorization, leaving me speechless as I attempt to describe its captivating power. Unlike the romanticism often associated with fragrances, RM5 strikes a different chord. It's darker, bolder, a scent that demands attention. Imagine the raw intensity of Massive Attack, the hypnotic pull of Portishead's "Humming," or the edgy sensuality of Angel. Rosendo Mateu 5 captures that same enigmatic essence, a potent blend that ignites your senses. It's a bassline that reverberates through your core, a forbidden whisper that compels you to surrender. . It's not a fragrance for careful deliberation or patient exploration. It's an awakening, a primal surge that washes over you, demanding your complete immersion. It's a scent that transcends mere olfactory experience, a full-bodied sensation that ignites your inner fire. Rosendo Mateu 5 is a taste of freedom, a liberation of the senses. It's a reminder of your raw, untamed nature, a whisper urging you to embrace your desires. It leaves no room for hesitation; it's an invitation to indulge, to shed inhibitions and fully embrace the moment. While best suited for nighttime escapades, RM5 serves as a powerful daytime reminder. It's a secret weapon, a constant whisper of your inner strength and untamed desires. It's a fragrance you'll crave time and again, a seductive echo of your primal essence.