Rubj Eau de Parfum

Ahhh. Rubj is a Big Damn Orange Blossom in a grand, old-fashioned style, with plenty of tart citrus and passionfruit singing backup. I love its glamour, its swagger, its spikiness. It disappears into green-black oakmossy depths like a classic chypre should. A lot of reviewers find the cumin note overwhelming, too much like sweat or curry, but for me it’s just a touch of skin-like muskiness that keeps Rubj grounded. Perfume for people, not angels. What I do get a lot of is tart, almost green passionfruit. It’s an unusual note in perfumery because it’s tangy but much more long-lasting than citrus. So you can get that fruity-chypre effect, that black-outlined stained-glass glow, as it sinks into the oakmoss, but unlike peach- or plum-based chypres it’s not sweet but zingy-tart. Still a lustful femme fatale, but high-energy and full of verve, not languorous. An hour or two in, the passionfruit quiets down to just a hint of juiciness, and what we’ve got is a hazy aura of orange blossom amid warm muskiness. Rubj is my kind of fun. Sultry, vivid, swanky; enough to stand up to a strong personality. Literally every one of Vero Kern’s perfumes is a winner. They’re all very different from each other – but they’re all bold, distinctive, and grand in scale. Kiki is a light-and-sweet lavender, Onda a dank, rainy vetiver, Naja the world’s sunniest floral tobacco; Mito’s a cool and ladylike green floral, Rozy’s a mellow, tender, mossy rose chypre, and finally Rubj is the “sexy one”, the musky orange blossom. I can’t really pick a “favorite” but wearing Rubj definitely feels like coming home.

Unbelievable discovery, perfection in the perfume world. I don't know how to attract people to use it or at least try. But believe me it is worth big attention and big money as well. One of the sexiest and most evolving perfume that I know. It starts dirty full of cumin and delicate flowers which are difficult to recognize separately - I don't smell tuberose or jasmine, rather slightly sweet flowers directly from the field, full of colors , may be sweet pea, lilacs, dandelions... such beautiful experience. Flowers love the swimming in the passion fruit pulp that is sour and sweet at the same time. Than Rubj evolves into airy, full of hesperides, aldehydes and musky nuances that make you breath easier and deeper. This is very different than I got from any perfume bottle before. It takes all the best elements from fragrances I love mostly, animal but still vegetal notes from Eau d'Hermes or L'Autre by Diptyque, airy and fresh notes as in the beginning of Chanel No.5 or some Parfum de Nicolai, slightly sweet and woody as in tonka based perfumes. In my opinion aldehydes in Rubj make this fragrance perfect, just perfect for summer, the spices give you wonderful experience for Christmas time but flowers remind you happy spring. Rubj is my my new perfection that I enjoy mostly in my collection.

Im really into this so far. however. People around me have said things that i will translate as 'death by flowers'. I think its the tuberose as it seems people don't always react well to that smell. I find it creamy and cozy. Also refreshing, intimate and a little bit tart (the passionfruit again). I have a big thing with passionfruits. They were hard to find/get growing up in upstate New York where i would do anything to get my parents to take me far and wide so that i could eat them. Anyway, the smell of them has always and will probably always make me a little weak in the knees. The Neroli, orange blossom and basil mingle well together as if a fresh breeze in sunned air with citrus. Over the course of its evolution the floral elements calm down a lot after around the second hour and the slightly dirty (cumin) musk enter the scene. I like this part also and it doesnt smell overly dirty or gross at all to me, more sensual. This would be so nice for spring :)

It took time but, oh, I'm smitten... Found a sample that I rejected in winter and obviously something changed since then with me (or the juice;-), find it extremely attractive..the cumin in the beginning might be something that not everybody likes (give it a chance!), but it definately has to be there, for later, to add its fading spice to the orange blossom middle part. Maybe it was used to de-romantizise the flower-combo a bit.. Especially the development and drydown are really beautiful...like a luscious, summery watercolor picture in pink and peach...love edit oct.: it really works better in warm temperature, unfolds more beautifully and seems less "big" (overdressed) than in cold weather... edit 2 2015: I still wear my sample. OH I want a full bottle so badly...simply makes me happy...

Exquisite, simply, exquisite. When first applied, the oak, musk and basil predominates, but only for a few minutes. Then the the orange blossom and tuberose unfold. The scent I experience next must be the passion fruit. It is also present in Onda. It is truly wonderful. The development is complex, every note seems of the highest quality. I received this in a scent sample and am very happy to have done so. Rubj lasts for 9 or 10 hours, which on me, is a miracle. The only problem is that it lies so close to the skin, and there is little or no sillage. Also, unfortunately, it costs a small fortune so after my tester is finished, it will just be a lovely memory-----