Naivasha Rose

I learned about Naivasha Rose (NR) on Facebook and LOVE this fragrance. It has a true rose note that smells like a red rose garden after it's rained. It's sophisticated, warm, and perfect for cooler weather, though I've been wearing it this summer. Some may wear NR year-round, but I see myself mostly wearing it during the winter, or for a night out once this pandemic ends. It will be the cozy, pick-up scent that I need to get through the cold months. When I found out that Jakki Kerubo is a novice niche perfumer, I decided to contact her directly to request more information about her perfumes. I bought the sample vials following our conversation. NR is the reason I've fallen completely in love with the rose note, which I previously hated. Every perfume I smelled in the past that had the rose note either smelled like cheap toilet air-freshener, cough syrup, or mosquito repellant. Many rose perfumes also have monstrous sillage and longevity, which can be awful for the wearer and those around them. Given that it's a niche, rose perfume, NR has a strong opening but doesn't take long to settle. The notes that stand out the most are: 1. Bergamot, tangerine, and pink pepper (top/opening) 2. Rose Bulgaria absolute, jasmine, ylang-ylang, geranium, and star anise (heart/middle) 3. Labdanum, oakmoss, vetiver, and cedar (base) I was stunned by the price of the sample vial, which runs at $25. The other sample niche perfume vials I've received cost between $6 and $10, but are about half the size of NR. So NR's price-point makes sense. I've had this vial for close to two months and with daily use, I'm barely halfway done with the vial, so I'm getting my money's worth and still have plenty of perfume left. Longevity and sillage are moderate. The first spray lasts a little over 5 hours before I respray. I focus on my inner elbows, neck/décolletage, and the back of my knees. Spraying my wrists is a waste of time given regular hand-washing. This fragrance performs better on clothing. I ended up purchasing the full bottle and look forward to using it during the winter months when everything is cold, bleak, and gloomy. Given the cost, I do not recommend buying a full-size bottle before trying the sample (since this will be a blind-buy), because niche perfumes are not for everyone, especially if you are not a rose note fan. I own Paul Smith's "Rose" and Yardley's "English Rose". I layer them with NR, which enhances the smell of the rose note but also extends the life of the more expensive NR flanker. Per the perfumer, NR is not unisex, but I've smelled this fragrance on a male friend. I also sprayed it on my husband's wrist, and I have to say-- they both wore the scent well. This will be a repurchase for me.

Naivasha Rose took me by surprise, and has become my newest obsession. While I love the smell of fresh roses, I have never been particularly fond of rose oil, thus I tend to avoid anything that has the word rose in it. Naivasha Rose was a surprising exception. I just love it and cannot get enough of it. There is something about it that makes me keep sticking my nose in my shirt to catch another whiff. It is floral yet fresh. Wearing it for a full day is a whole new experience; I catch different notes throughout the day. At first sniff it is floral and sharp then as it warms on the skin it feels warm, glowy and sensual.....think date night on a warm summer evening. It is hard to describe each scent note but they all have that special ‘something’ that has me sticking my nose in my shirt to see what new note I will catch. I just can’t get enough. I have even taken to spritzing some on my bed sheets right before bedtime.