Firedance

What an extraordinary and wonderful fragrance. I have dreamt of finding a scent that encapsulates the intensity of burning a beautifully fragranced rose. The rose in this is stunning and yes oud, patch and leather are present but it's the fiery rose that really holds court. There is fire yet it is kept cool by the patch. A fragrance of contradictions. The oud is dry backdrop that is pretty low key. This is a top quality scent which is proven by how wonderful the rose is in this. No adding rose geranium to bump up the rose in this creation. I do detect a little apple adding a touch of sweetness and the lemon a zing. There is an almost smokey, leathery intensity that seems to increase along the timeline. The rose even seems to get stronger with ones body heat. If there is an animalic element then it is very low key. Im definitely not one for animalic notes. Its not too sweet and bang on unisex. If you love the rose note this is one not to miss. If you loved Diors discontinued Midnight Poison then I think this beauty is well worth trying. It's quite an experience. I do hope this wins an award as it surely deserves one.

This perfume is fascinating... In the opening there is an overpowering smokiness; smoke from a bonfire rather than a fireplace - burning woods and Autumn leaves. After a while the smoke slowly fades away and I'm left with a blend of rich red rose and leather. Later on, the rose becomes creamy and musky and this beautiful creaminess lasts till the deep dry-down on my skin. I love this part the most. I'm intoxicated by this scent. A true masterpiece.

This is the first time I feel a fragrance deserves the term "witchy". Firedance is a fitting name as this fragrance evokes smoky bonfires and ancient ritual. It smells like a sacrificial altar or ancient tradition. It would suit a folk costume or fetish outfit equally. I can also confidently label this "goth". It is the perfect finisher to the dark, mysterious outfit of a person who dries flowers and grinds their own spices. In the bottle: A syrupy, smoky rose. More incense than BBQ. Patchouli and amber are prominent. Resiny wood. Medium leather scent. Cashmere wood adds subtle softness. Apple and Lemon provide the barest hint of fruit note to keep it from being musty. On me: The rose is sweet and very burnt. I get charred wood and incense. Almost a pot pourri scent. The amber is stronger than the patchouli. I get more apple and lemon than cashmere wood. The oud and leather are stronger on my skin. While the rose varies in the bottle and on the skin, it is reminiscent of a heady rose-water. This is not an English Rose or garden rose. It is closer to Turkish delight. And the leather is also very different from the suede commonly used in perfumes. Another reviewer was very right to point that out. It feels higher quality. As it wears, the rose becomes a bigger player and overshadows many of the other notes. But it has major longevity. I am deeply impressed by the vibe I get from Firedance. This is what I wanted Nirvana Rose to smell like. I am sad this is so expensive, however, and Will be nursing my sample for a while. Such is the world of perfume!

Aw, yes there is Oud, but this one is sooo goood. (For those who don’t know me: I am not an oud lover.) It opens with dry oud. Now, I wouldn’t call myself an expert in this wood (see above, it doesn’t belong to my favourite notes), but I have sampled a few oud fragrances over time and never come across a dry oud note before. It’s unusual to me, but I don’t need any time to get used to it, I like it (not love, but like). After about half an hour it gets richer, that’s when the apple and leather kick in. From the 2nd hour onwards I can see why people make reference to burnt roses. I didn’t get it on the first day of wearing it, but now it’s crystal clear and the name Firedance makes perfect sense. Later on the Cashmere Wood steps up slowly and the oud makes room for it without a fight. At the end of the day I’m left with a gorgeous skin scent with all notes blended to perfection. It’s during this time that I regret the most that again I haven’t been brave enough for a more generous application in the morning. But with an oud-heavy opening, dry or moist doesn’t matter, I’m afraid I’m just not the type. Maybe tomorrow...

Wow, this is a heady one! I don't get any of the top notes and I go straight to a bewitching rose, stunning, dazzling, royal rose. A few seconds in, smoke takes the centre stage. Then in a few minutes leather begins peeking through, and finally oud. This is not for the faint-hearted, it will easily suit a queen!