Rosendo Mateu No 7 Patchouli, Oud, Vanilla

If you like blue fragrance, bubblegum sweet, mass appealing fragrances.... Just move on, please. No.7 is a classic fragrance. It’s elegant, opulent, distinctive. It has a retro vibe, decadency, a scent from another times. Rosendo Mateu (RIP) was one of the old guard perfumers that mastered the skill to perfection. He gets accoladed with master perfumers such as Jean Claude-Ellena, Demachy, Ropion. They know their stuff. The fragrance starts sweet with a hint of rose and flowers. I am talking the classic style of flowers, more to the 1970s style. Well rounded. The mid is where the patchouli kicks in, which is not dirty at all. It feels a bit dusty, and that’s when the vanilla comes to play. It’s not overly sweet because it gets balanced by the oud. It’s a like a tag war to see which one dominates the composition, but they complement each other. It has a nice projection during the first 1.5-2 hours, then pulls back slowly, and stays in a personal bubble for 5-6 more hours before it gets closer to the skin. On clothes, you will smell it on the shirt you wore days before, when you do the laundry. An absolute adventure, a pleasure, an experience. This fragrance is for the person who is confident, that has to distinguish from the rest by being modest, humble, quiet , but not shy. It’s more of a cold weather scent. There are other fragrances for hot weather, and more casual wearing. This is for a nice dinner with friends, a date, night outs, a gala. Casual: wearing a white shirt under a black sweater or a sport jacket, and dark jeans or casual dark pair of pants. Formal: suit and tie, tuxedo.

I did not know what to expect as I tend to shy away from oud, especially a big dose (two types here) but this is so expertly blended it isn't overpowering, but rather provides a richness to the overall composition. I have both Psychedelique and Coromandel, as well as Musc Ravageur and I can see where one would draw the comparison - these all have a similarly strong profile. It's everything I had hoped Molinard Vanille Patchouli would be but wasn't. It's also definitely unisex but easily worn by anyone who isn't afraid of a statement fragrance. I get the rose up top right away, but then we quickly delve into the spiced patchouli that bypasses its rustic aspect by virtue of the added sweet notes. But the base is where the enchantment lies....the vanilla is present and combined with the oud it is not sweet but it is mesmerizing. The addition of benzoin keeps it grounded. If you are familiar with Mateu, then No. 7 will not disappoint. If you've not yet tried this house but like scents such as Coromandel or Psychedelique, you will enjoy this. And while sillage is limited that seems appropriate - it has plenty to say to those closest to you. Recommend

This fragrance turned my hate for patchouli into love. Amazing amazing perfume. It is a complex scent that requires quite a few wearings to understand. I was not too fond of it when I first sprayed it on my wrists, it reminded me of J&J baby shampoo (the one with the no-tears formula), I gave it a few more wearings, and then tossed it into my closet. 2 months later when I was selling some of my perfumes, I wanted to try No 7 again, and thank God, I did. I fell in love with it. Is it sweet? Yes, it is, but not so sweet that it causes you to vomit. Do you feel the oud? Now I would call myself an oud lover (albeit an immature one), but I could not detect any, I think this speaks volumes of the blending skills of the late Rosendo Mateu, all of the notes are harmoniously blended and it is pretty difficult to pinpoint most of them. This has very good performance, It stays on my skin for 30+ hours and projects a lot in the first 5 hours (temp 10-30 celsius). All rosendo mateu fragrances have similar performances but this one is the most dominant one. Thanks for reading my review guys, I am still a very immature reviewer

I'm so on-the-fence about this, but purely on whether I like it on my skin. It's a beautiful scent, exudes class unambiguously, and the (typical for the Mateu brand) understated presentation really does suit the perfume itself. I have to say though, (sorry Blacktundras ;) ) I am one of those who get that "elderly lady" vibe from it, although that is just an initial impression. Once it starts to dry down, the oud-y patchouli base slides into place, complementing that initial floral / powdery beginning, making it a lot more useable for me, personally. It is undoubtedly a top-quality scent, with very impressive performance. A definite "keeper". Edit : I have to admit my initial impressions of this fragrance were somewhat skewed, or at least inaccurate. I have since decided that this is, as I described later in my review, an absolutely gorgeous scent. It is without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful, classy and balanced fragrances that I've ever known. I have a comprehensive collection of over 50, primarily niche fragrances, but this stands head and shoulders above the vast majority. Incredible.

My first Rosendo Mateu, bought for my love of patchouli. Worn only at home after a shower in cooler indoor settings. Waiting for colder weather or a winter trip to wear it out properly. The opening is fresh and slightly minty, giving off this luxurious spa vibe, think herbal oils and warm stones. There’s a soft floral touch from the rose and jasmine, but it’s smooth and calming rather than sharp. Then the patchouli comes in. Earthy, clean, with a hint of spice and sweetness. It sits in this powdery cloud that’s present from start to finish. Powdery in a textured, comforting way, not light or dusty, but with a bit of depth. The base is where it really settles beautifully. The oud is smooth and elegant, not smoky or animalic. Blended with vanilla and benzoin, it gives the drydown a warm, resinous feel that lasts for hours. I can easily picture wearing this in colder cities like Vienna or Paris for a night out. It’s masculine, refined, and feels like something to enjoy slowly in cooler air.