PHI Une Rose de Kandahar

"Voluptuous, velvety and sensual... a bed of roses covered in apricots and tobacco leaves." PHI Une Rose de Kandahar is a 2013 fragrance by Tauer Perfumes, an niche perfume house by independent Andy Tauer. Tauer has become a cult icon in the perfume industry because of his background: he is self-taught in the art of perfumery and one of his earliest creations, L`Air du Desert Marocain, is considered to be one of the most iconic creations in the perfume community for being able to capture the olfactory essence of a Moroccan desert. Rather than just a perfumer, he is more of a perfume artist whose fragrances are the result of his artistic talents. Kandahar is yet another fragrance that is grabbing attention in the community. It contains a supposedly extremely rare rose extract produced only in the Afghanistan region of Nangarhar. Since the extract is very limited, the fragrance is a limited edition and may not be available at all times. Shortly put, Kandahar is a precious fragrance. On my skin, it opens with a fruity blast of apricot with tinges of peaches, and other citrus notes. It's tart, juicy and sweet, and is reminiscent of the opening of Miyako by Auphorie. At the same time, there are also notes of chilly, slightly spicy and "lemony" geranium, which gives my nose a slight tingly effect. The beautiful fruity opening serves merely as hors d'oeuvre for what is to come. The apricot/peachy accords slowly subsides and draw the curtains for the main event: the rose. Lush and unbashed, the rose takes center stage and bask in the limelight, like a female VIP in a full-on blood-red wedding gown. Unlike a lot of other rose fragrances, the rose in Kandahar isn't jammy-sweet. It's more floral than anything else, and that appeals to me since sweet-jammy rose isn't my cup of tea. What's interesting is that the rose isn't alone; it's coupled with tobacco leaves, rendering the conventionally feminine accord more unisex. Some people have claimed that Kandahar is a rose fragrance for non-rose fans, and I can see why: it's the tobacco leaves akin to that in Parfums de Marly's Herod that make it more approachable for general wearers. Perhaps the only minor letdown is that, unlike what others have said, I couldn't detect the vanilla as much as I have hoped. Then there is the closing act, which I would sum up to be a subtle performance by cinnamon, tonka bean and ambergris. It's the ambergris that's a welcoming surprise for me; I thought I would smell it earlier so to experience only in the drydown is a relief. If apricot and rose are the stars in the top and heart respectively, then ambergris is the star in the base. I'm not sure if I get vanilla in this stage because the butter-like note I get is more tonka bean than anything else. In all, this is a wonderful fragrance. Tauer is a cult icon when it comes to niche fragrances and Kandahar is perhaps my favourite in the line. I haven't tried some of his other fragrances yet, and I'm keen to try Une Rose Chypree next. I might even consider getting a full bottle soon; I just hope it's still available when the time comes. To date, this is my favourite rose fragrance and, like what others have mentioned, I do urge non-rose fans to at least try it. It's certainly one-of-a-kind fragrance that deserves more attention and, most definitely, praises.

I had liked and enjoyed fragrance before this one. But Phi is my true first love. Head over heels it knocked me off my feet, love at first sight. Tauer is a master - my boyfriend is a big Coeur fan and I've adored smelling it on him, Pthalo is one of the most purely fascinating things I've ever tried, and Incense Rose is also a cherished personal favorite - so it comes as no surprise to me that one of his works would be an arrow to my heart. Here it is, shot from Kandahar, and thank God it found me. A jammy, juicy, dripping, nectar-and-dew rose. Luscious. What a mood to it! Tender, melancholy, victorious, nostalgic, singular. Again, dripping with springtime verdance, with freshness - but with a rainy depth to it, too. The almond, apricot, and tobacco specifically meld together for me, becoming part of the same sustained note - the stiff bite of the apricot's skin, the solid wetness of the tobacco, and the bitter-almond whisper twining both together like needle and thread. The musk and vetiver are so precisely placed, little pinpoint foundations of the scent deep, deep below this. "Sculpture" is simply the correct word, I feel like I can hold this scent in my hands, turn it over like a 3D shape, changing perspective like the facets of a gemstone. Truly a treasure - especially to a rose fanatic like myself. It's wonderful to see a rose at center stage without it being the only star, framed by a work much larger than itself but which never drowns it out. A photorealistic rose note among a boudoir of admirers; elevated, honored, and enhanced. A caveat: whatever gene or tendency that makes one interpret ambroxides as ammonia, I have it really bad. Certain otherwise wonderful scents are made intolerable to me because of this quirk. And I do notice it in Phi - but for whatever reason, it isn't offensive. It doesn't turn pungent or sour like ambergris usually does for me; it seems so well blended that even I can pick up on it accurately - and it forms this sparkling, crinkling undercurrent to the scent I adore, a little thorn-prick sharpness to it, without which the scent's triumphant sweetness would have fallen flat for me. I can only praise this dramatically, but I'm not exaggerating. This will be my signature scent until the last bottle on the planet is used up.

As a lover of rose-centered compositions, I am used to the rose and oud combo, Phi – Une Rose de Kandahar stands out as a welcome departure from the that. Here, the absence of oud is not a lack but an inspired choice that allows the rose to shine in a far more nuanced and graceful light. The result is a fragrance of striking individuality and refinement (as always with Tauer's creations, let me add). What captivates me most is the soft, powdery sweetness that envelops the central rose accord (but absolutely not into makeup-like territory), Phi has a delicate balance. Upon further reflection, I believe this effect stems from a masterful interplay between almond, tobacco, cinnamon and vanilly giving the fragrance an almost marzipan-like softness with a subtle dryness and warmth. This combination creates a comforting, gently sweet backdrop that elevates the rose without ever overshadowing it. Phi is restrained, elegant, and unmistakably imbued with Tauer’s signature touch. As with L'Air du Désert Marocain and L'Air des Alpes Suisses, I detect Andy’s olfactory fingerprint: and a sense of hand-crafted artistic integrity that permeates the entire composition. His perfumes consistently exude creative depth without ever becoming unwearable or overly avant-garde—Phi is no exception. It is striking and expressive, yet still utterly wearable and intimate. Within my collection of over a hundred perfumes, Phi has undoubtedly secured a place in my personal top five or six. Tauer’s packaging is always a pleasure to behold. Whether it’s the distinctive metal boxes or the newer cardboard designs, each presentation is thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing. A particularly charming touch is the inclusion of a hand-signed note from Andy himself in each box—a gesture that speaks to the artisanal and personal nature of his work. The bottle itself is among the most instantly recognizable in the niche world: pentagonal, sturdy, and elegant in its minimalism. The thick glass and precise angles give it a sense of permanence and quality. If I had to offer one minor critique, it would be the spray mechanism—it doesn’t deliver the most refined mist—but this is hardly a concern. The overall experience, from scent to packaging, remains deeply satisfying and memorable.

من سمپل اين عطر به دستم رسيد ابتدا اينو بگم كه اين عطر بوي شيريني داره و در دسته عطر هاي شيرين دسته بندي ميشه از اون اقا پسر ها خندوني كه دوست داري باهاشون گپ بزني و يا خانوم هايي كه بوي خيلي خوبي ميدن و دوست داري زمانكند تر بگذره ريويو را از بو عطر شروع ميكنم ساختار عطر خيلي با كيفيت هست به صورتي كه بوي عطر بوي گل رز ابتدا شروع ميشه كه البته بوي زردالو هم احساس ميشه اما بوي زردالو بعد چند دقيقه بسيار محو ميشه و بوي گل رز با كمي تلخي خودشون كاملا به نمايش ميزاره البته تلخي خيلي خيلي ملايم و كم رنگي اون را همراهي ميكنه بعد از گذر دو ساعت بوي پودري تلخي و شيريني گل رز همچنان قابل توجه است اما ماندگاري خوبي نداره و بعد ٣ الي ٤ ساعت بوي عطر به سمت نا پديد شدن ميل ميكند البته بعد از اين مدت بوي عطر مشخص هست اما نه به اون پخش بوي دو ساعت اول بالانس اين اثر خيلي خيلي خوبه و با اينكه شايد از جمله عطر هاي شيريني باشه كه در كشورمون زياد طرفدار نداشته باشه اما كيفيت و بوي خيلي لذت بخشي داره اين عطر انتخاب شخصي من نيست اما هم براي مردان و براي خانم ها مناسب هست من ترجيه ميدم اين عطر توسط خانم ها استفاده بشه تا اقايون اما خوب اين عطر در نت ابتدايي خودشو بصورتي نشون ميده كه اقايون هم ميتونن استفاده كنند اما در نت پاياني شبيه به عطر هاي شيرين و كريمي و خانه اي عطر هاي زنونه ميمونه كه به خاطر گل رز هست در مورد قيمت اكثر كارهاي اقاي تاور حدودا 135 دلار قيمت دارند ——————————- Well i got have my sample for test after several testing it on my skin this is i think what you get: To me its starting with apricot for just some minutes in openning and after that booomb the perfume show what truly it self massive rose but not that sweetness of the rose you think there is bitter and cream comes with it every second i think about the bitter smell it’s because of tobacco and almond is. After one hour i got the smell of rose very much and get why it’s unisex too some sweet and also get some vibe of vetiver and cinnamon but very little and dry down to be soapy and sweet like rose to me its nice fragrance its not that much special like 02 or lonestar rider but its nice i love it and very nice balances geat job. My point to this is : Scent : 7/10 Projection: 8/10 Long lasting: 10/10 Value of money: 5.5/10 Balances : very very professional performance 11/10 Versatile: 7/10 Buy another bottle: maybe yess

PHI - Une Rose de Kandahar is easily my favorite fragrance these days. Safe to say I'm addicted to it. I received a sample of it with another order from Tauer and PHI - Une Rose de Kandahar was love at first whiff. I ordered a bottle, and this morning I ordered a back-up bottle in case Andy runs out of stuff to make this wonderful elixir. I've been wearing it every day since I first experienced it. This is like the best thing I've ever smelled, maybe in... forever? @Sereen84, in her spot on review below, mentioned that it's like a rose version of L'Heure Bleue and she's exactly on the money with that description. L'Heure Bleue is one of my other fave things and Une Rose' is deftly crafted to sit in the same ballpark. It definitely has a vintage, I'm thinking "Classic" vibe to it. Like most of Andy's stuff it has an animalic thing to it as well; right at the start; and that's mixed with a wonderful rose that's like none other. As it dries down it gets sweeter and more powdery with kind of a gourmand cinnamon thing added to the roses. As that starts to happen I can't help but keep putting my wrist up by my nose. As I mentioned, for me it's so addicting and strange at the same time. I've never been like, "Hooked" on a fragrance before. Certainly way worse things to get hung up on! Longevity is excellent. This stuff lasts and lasts. Someone mentioned below that it may be a little too "Feminine" for a man to wear? It's a rose/floral at heart so yeah, it's leaning in that direction for sure but geez, do we have to divide ourselves up into camps? I really don't care if something's a "Masculine" or "Feminine" fragrance. If it smells great, and I like it... that's all that I care about. For me, this perfume hits all the notes; it's as close to perfection as I've experienced in a fragrance. I absolutely love it and it's definitely going to be living in the front of my fragrance closet from now on. 5/5 Stars!