Juliette Has A Gun Vengeance Extreme is all about the patchouli. Most perfumes use that as the base note but VE features it as a mid note. Of course there is the rose too - plenty of rose. What I love about it is the musky-cologney vibe, especially in the dry down. But then there's the vanilla. VE would be a tad too masculine if not for the significant vanilla presence which softens it. It is perfect for wearing out at night - preferably to a crowded dark venue to see live music. Juliette Has a Gun also makes a perfume called Lady Vengeance which is in a way similar, but think of Vengeance Extreme as being the edgier, subversive/not so popular sister. And of course the packaging is wicked cool.
Etat Libre D'Orange Rossy de Palma Eau De Protection is not something people often talk about but I love it. It is named after the famous Spanish actress Rossy De Palma and her (rose) gardens in Madrid. However this is an outrageous rose: a spicy, peppery, balsamic rose. It is thorny, it is sharp, and of course there is the patchouli and incense which define it as a dark rose. I appreciate that they used incense, not just the usual patchouli. ELDO is a quirky brand and their quirky reason for this title of "Eau De Protection" was to make it a "perfume of protection, a refuge on the battle field of love." So wear it day or night: on a hot date, or an exhilarating adventure of your own.
Clinique Beyond Rose is loved by many despite its difficulty to obtain. It's not available in stores here in the US, but hopefully someday it will come. Until then people are satisfactorily making it a online blind buy or going to Harrod's in London if they can. There is a dusky-resin quality, sophisticated yet mischievous. There are notes of pepper and a hint of floral greenness, and a very dominant amber reminiscent of the Middle East. It is lighter than most dark roses yet it retains the sex-appeal. It is a year-round rose, meant to be sprayed lavishly, and worn by vixens of any age.
Mancera Roseaoud & Musc is my favorite dark rose. Certainly it is the sexiest of all the roses I am listing here - I think it is because of the saffron and jasmine. Oh, and the oud - there is nothing not sexy about oud. It is heavy and pungent and addictive, and very much alive with all the romance of Arabia. And this is going to sound weird but when I wear it I feel like I smell like a rich person. It smells of wealth. I am transported to a dimly lit lair of wooly Persian rugs, oversized and overstuffed velvet pillows, a low wooden table laid out with platters of Turkish Delight, saffron rice balls, and other finger-food delicacies. And yes, of course, a giant urn of roses at the very peak of ripeness.
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose is being written about all over the place, and with good reason. In fact I recently blogged about it in my fantastic fall fragrances 2016 so you can get more great details about it there. An Allure Best Of Beauty Winner, it is bringing the world of dark rose to the general population. Is that a good thing? Well, why not? Nirvana Rose is luscious and delicious and lively. The geranium and vetiver are what really make this unique. It feels like "young" dark rose, sexy to it's core.
Montale Roses Musk took a while to grow on me because it was delicate and not as in-your-face as many dark roses are. Now I really appreciate its restraint and refinement. There is no grunge-factor here. I like that here is no patchouli (nice for a change), and the jasmine makes the rose sparkle. It's awfully pretty for a dark rose, but the light animalic musk base note still defines it as such. To me this is a daytime scent - great for meeting friends for lunch, shopping and trying on clothes, or even going to work. My one and only complaint about this beauty is the packaging - so unappealing!
Have you caught on to the dark rose craze yet?
all products reviewed were either bought, researched, or sampled by me. And product pictures were stolen from the link's websites. I am not financially compensated for my reviews
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