Roses have been on my mind a lot lately, and not simply in the form of rose jam and rose tea. I received a small challenge to compile a list of fruity rose perfumes for a project, and the trail behind me has been rose scented for the past two weeks. It was a challenge, because rose paired with fruit is such a common pairing that any comprehensive list means hundreds of fragrance tests. Why so? Rose essence naturally contains many nuances reminiscent of raspberries, strawberries, red currants or apples, depending on variety. Highlighting them with richer fruity notes makes for a harmonious blend.
Harmonious is fine, of course, but how do you make it distinctive? This is the question I’ve posed often when testing fruity roses, and in particular, the latest from Guerlain, Aqua Allegoria Flora Rosa. The conclusion I’ve reached is that it’s possible if the perfumer wants to go big, bold and glamorous (think Frédéric Malle Lipstick Rose with its dark raspberry) but more complicated if the aim is lightweight and pretty. Flora Rosa is all air kisses and smiles, a charming blend of red currants and pink roses.
Everything about Flora Rosa is designed to hook you, while shying away from making a statement. At first, it has a citrusy inflection reminiscent of green tea with lemon, but red currants are prominent enough to make the tea illusion vanish. When I first smelled it, I could almost taste the juicy, tart berries, including the mild green bitterness of their seeds and stems. The rose core of the fragrance is comprised of all sheer, transparent floral notes, with enough watery jasmine (hedione) to give the perfume an airy, radiant quality. Not even a dose of musk that comes up later weighs down the fizzy, sparkling effect. It reminds me of a red currant compote I make at this time of year–a medley of quickly stewed berries flavored with a splash of rosewater. Serve over ice cream, yogurt or crepes, it’s a versatile summery dessert.
Flora Rosa is likewise summery and versatile. No, it’s not the ultimate in fruity roses. If you’ve smelled enough fruity florals, with roses or other flowers as the main ingredient, you will recognize the theme. The reason I find it compelling is quality. The berries are sparkling and tart, without sharpness or aggressive acidity. The rose is sheer and bright. The white musk is soft and creamy, betraying not a hint of laundry detergent. It lasts well and makes for a lovely rose sillage. It may not be an olfactory revelation, but it’s darn pretty. And what’s wrong with pretty?
Flora Rosa is part of the duty-free offerings, and if you travel by air this summer, give it a try. It will also appear at various discounters in due course of time, so those in the market for a fresh, pretty fragrance will enjoy its frilly layers. Simple but fun.
Meanwhile, for more airy fruity roses, please see my Japanese Roses list (Japanese women have a particular affection for this genre). If you have your favorites, I, of course, would love to hear about them.
111 Comments
Vanie: It sounds lovely. I’m starting to like roses more thanks to Stella in Two Peony I snatched on Ebay. It’s pretty and sheer. July 13, 2015 at 8:09am
Victoria: Lucky you! It has been discontinued for a while, but yes, it’s a wonderful perfume. July 13, 2015 at 3:38pm
Tijana: So interesting! I have also been on a rose kick lately (previously being “rose is not for me” person), all induced by the fact that I madly fell in love with Le Labo’s Rose 31 and Jo Malone’s Velvet Rose and Oud. I have been testing various rose fragrances and what I noticed is that I do love roses after all, but with a twist. I am traveling soon so I will definitely test Flora Rosa. Thanks for the review, Victoria! July 13, 2015 at 9:23am
Karen: Isn’t Velvet Rose and Oud wonderful! July 13, 2015 at 1:54pm
Victoria: A note to self to try it. July 13, 2015 at 3:57pm
Tijana: It is truly gorgeous and so different from Jo Malone’s typical offerings! July 13, 2015 at 5:22pm
Victoria: Sounds like it, based on the reviews. July 14, 2015 at 8:40am
SilverMoon: Yes, the JM Velvet Rose and Oudh is lovely. It also comes in a perfumed oil, so one can use that on its own or as a layer under another rose based perfume (possibly JM Red Roses). This really makes the scent last. August 1, 2015 at 2:48pm
Victoria: You started with the right roses for someone who isn’t crazy about this note. After all, Rose 31 is blended with woods and balsams, and it makes it easy to fall in love with roses. My introduction to roses (or rather, the first rose I fell in love with) was Lutens’s Rose de Nuit, another not-quite-rose rose. July 13, 2015 at 3:39pm
Tijana: I haven’t had a chance to try that one. Is it still available / in production? July 13, 2015 at 5:23pm
Victoria: Yes, it is. It’s from their exclusive (bell jar) line, though. July 14, 2015 at 8:46am
limegreen: I’ve enjoyed the Aqua Allergoria line for the most part, thanks for reviewing this one!
Two on your Japanese roses list (Eau Rose, L’Occitane rose) had been my standard roses for a long time but supplanted by Lipstick Rose and recently Une Rose (not a fruity though).
I recently sampled Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile which was quite nice, and gave me a first impression of Eau Rose with more green, but probably no raspberry! Rosa Nobile is an EDP, too, so a different feel than Eau Rose.
Did you skip over Rosa Nobile because it wasn’t fruity? How did you manage to test so many fruity roses, how long it take between “nose breaks”? 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 9:39am
limegreen: I also recently sampled the JCE reformulated Hermes Rose Amazone and it’s a very fruity redcurrant rose, reminiscent of a lighter version of Diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’eau. July 13, 2015 at 1:54pm
Victoria: Rosa Nobile also made my list. It’s a nice perfume, but it gets bland over time. Flora Rosa doesn’t.
I can smell for several hours straight. You do develop capacity to process scents with practice, and there are some tricks to “reset the nose.” I wrote about some of them here:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2010/12/perfume-fragrance-shopping-tips.html July 13, 2015 at 3:42pm
limegreen: Great tips, thanks! I was recently told by a Malle SA that during “training” they are told to have customers drink water to reset the nose. It’s not as gimmicky as having a bowl of coffee beans nearby though. 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 5:14pm
Victoria: Coffee certainly works, but it also will tire the nose out faster. I also prefer to sip some water or just take a deep inhale through the fabric of my sleeve. July 14, 2015 at 8:40am
Bastet: I usually prefer rich dark roses, but in the heat of summer switch to something lighter. I especially like Annick Goutal’s summery roses: Ce Soir ou Jamais (light honeyed rose with pear), Quel Amour (fruity rose and peony), and Rose Spendide (green/musky/fruity rose). July 13, 2015 at 10:26am
Bastet: Also, Victoria, do you happen to know anything about the current Shalimar cologne? Its been so hot and humid in Virginia this summer that even my EDT version seems too heavy, and I would love to have a Shalimar that works well in the heat (I have been wearing the Shalimar PI l’eau but its not the same). July 13, 2015 at 10:38am
limegreen: Hi Bastet: I love the Shalimar EDC, it’s Shalimar for those like myself who have difficulty with the powerhouse of the EDP or EDT, especially in the humid heat. The EDC still seems to still have sillage and wears all day, on me at least, it’s just not as potent. For your reference, the EDT can have a burnt rubber or motor oil opening on me whereas the EDC does not. July 13, 2015 at 12:23pm
sandra: I have never seen the Shalimar cologne-is this something to try at the Guerlain counter? July 13, 2015 at 1:47pm
limegreen: I don’t know about Guerlain boutiques but no longer available at the usual places (Nordstrom, Neimans). You have to look for them at discounters now. July 13, 2015 at 1:52pm
Bastet: Limegreen, thanks for your input! I actually love the parfum, EDP and EDT versions of Shalimar, but am so glad to know that the EDC is good also, and is not weak and fleeting. I have seen it at the discounters for a very good price, so I think I’ll go for it. July 13, 2015 at 2:40pm
Aurora: Yes, the cologne is very nice too, it’s a different beast, all in all more floral than the EDT and EDP and if you like these, you will still like the EDC. July 13, 2015 at 2:51pm
Bastet: Thank you, I am looking forward to trying the EDC. July 13, 2015 at 2:55pm
limegreen: Aurora and I are happy to be enablers in this quest! 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 5:30pm
Victoria: I haven’t smelled the current one, only the old one. Is it available again? July 13, 2015 at 3:43pm
Victoria: Ah, thank you for reminding me of Quel Amour. It’s another rose+red berries combination, and it has a lot of minty, metallic geranium to keep things interesting. July 13, 2015 at 3:43pm
Elizabeth: I am taking off for Berlin today, so I will be sure to look for Flora Rosa at the Duty Free! I tend to enjoy these light, fruity roses. July 13, 2015 at 10:43am
Victoria: Have a safe trip, Elizabeth, and please let us know how you’re enjoying your German vacation and what you’re smelling/tasting/discovering. July 13, 2015 at 3:44pm
Elizabeth: Thank you, I certainly will! I just smelled Flora Rosa and it is very fruity. So fruity that the rose is hidden under a huge berry patch.
Other smelling notes: How did anyone ever consider L’eau d’Issey to be a pure, light, watery fragrance? It is intensely floral and not a little artificial. July 13, 2015 at 4:02pm
Victoria: Wow, that was fast! 🙂 It becomes more floral, but yes, the rose is sheer, not a classical honeyed and rich variety.
I also had the same impression about L’Eau d’Issey. Do you notice a big rose (natural rose even!) note in it, by the way? July 13, 2015 at 4:07pm
Elizabeth: Now that you mention it, yes, there is! Right there in the heart. Time to give it another chance. July 13, 2015 at 4:29pm
Tammy: I am only worried that rose-berry genre can occasionally appear too obviously synthetic and plastic and generic – appealing to the shopgirl variety.
That said, it is stargoing that I am currently sampling the very same genre! My list:
1. Lancôme tresor midnight rose
2. Serge lutens la fille de Berlin
3. YSL majestic rose (about which I have been vehemently forewarned by kafkaesque but nevertheless…)
4. Diptyque l ombre dans l eau
Now I must give lipstick rose also a try.
Ciao! Tschuss! Too-da-loo! July 13, 2015 at 10:44am
Tammy: It is startling (damn the ai on computers) July 13, 2015 at 10:45am
Karen: I kind of liked the image of going to the stars! La Fille is one of my most complimented fragrances, and if you like it also try Guerlain’s Rose Nacree du Desert – Lipstick Rose is a really beautiful fragrance, hope you can try it and enjoy it! July 14, 2015 at 7:17am
Victoria: Not sure, Tammy. It didn’t smell plastic and synthetic to me at all, but I imagine some people might find it generic. I don’t mind simple and pretty, though, and I need such perfumes in my wardrobe.
You have a great collection of roses on hand! July 13, 2015 at 3:45pm
Tammy: Please please compose a list on rose gourmand. July 14, 2015 at 9:26am
Victoria: I will make a note to do it. That’s another fun category. July 14, 2015 at 10:26am
Cornelia Blimber: What a timely review, as I am looking for a gay, bright and soft rose, for using as my ”good morning spritz”. I went through a full bottle of Un Zest de Rose, want now something else (but I think I can hardly find a better one).
I sampled Cartier Goutte de Rose and Rose Splendide (on my skin, the pear is too dominant), and Chloe Rose (too shrill to my nose).
I certainly will try Rose 4Reines and probably will buy Flora Rosa ( I love Guerlain). July 13, 2015 at 11:05am
Neva: Hi Cornelia, I have not tried many of the mentioned rose perfumes, but Un Zest de Rose is lovely! I can imagine buying a full bottle one day. Last year my mother sampled Rosa Nobile and I found it also very good, so if you don’t know it, you should give it a try. July 13, 2015 at 11:53am
Cornelia Blimber: Thank you, Neva! I love Iris Nobile and Colonia Intensa, so Rosa Nobile could be the one! July 13, 2015 at 2:47pm
Victoria: Cartier’s Goutte de Rose was another pretty rose, and I loved wearing my sample. Fresh and long lasting. July 13, 2015 at 3:46pm
Aisha: I just love those Aqua Allegoria bottles! This one sounds pretty, but there are so many other roses that I prefer: Chloe, L’eau de Chloe, Paris and Marni. My latest obsession, however, is Stella. It was beautiful on skin when I wore it this past spring, but it seems to be more stunning on skin now during the summer.
I’ve never tried Lipstick Rose, but I hope to one day. 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 11:32am
Aisha: I almost forgot about another rose favorite: Rose Anonyme. It, unfortunately, doesn’t last on my skin longer than five hours. But I still do enjoy it from time to time. July 13, 2015 at 12:10pm
Victoria: Another great sheer rose! July 13, 2015 at 3:54pm
Victoria: They thankfully changed the sprayer, so it no longer gets stuck. I also love the bottles with the lacy metal overlay.
Stella is always a favorite! July 13, 2015 at 3:47pm
Austenfan: This sounds delish. My favourite fruity rose so far is Balkis. But that one isn’t dewy at all. I haven’t worn it in a while so I’m going to get my bottle out of it’s hiding place and wear it this week.
I only tried Lipstick Rose once and wasn’t wholeheartedly smitten. I need to get a sample of it, as I love the genre. July 13, 2015 at 12:26pm
Austenfan: Oh, and I want to try this AA. July 13, 2015 at 1:05pm
Victoria: It’s utterly charming. I enjoy the initial fleeting green tea impression. It makes the rose and berries less sweet. July 13, 2015 at 3:55pm
Victoria: Balkis has a nice currant note, but a black variety, which also fits roses well. And how could I forget the best rose + black currant combo–Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau. July 13, 2015 at 3:55pm
Austenfan: That’s a great perfume for sure. July 13, 2015 at 4:50pm
Jillie: It does indeed look very pretty, and I feel like uncomplicated soft and pretty rose scents right now. In fact I found that Bien-Etre had a rose cologne which intrigues me – but I think I discovered this too late and it is already discontinued. I think a rose cologne would be perfect.
When I am too lazy to make compotes, I pour a slug of rose cordial over Greek yoghurt and fling some raspberries into the bowl! July 13, 2015 at 1:32pm
Victoria: Bien-Etre is one of the best affordable perfume lines. It’s almost hard to believe that something this good is available for so little money. I need to replace my bottle, since cologne baths are perfect for the summer.
Do you make rose cordial yourself? July 13, 2015 at 3:56pm
Austenfan: I found Bien-Etre in a supermarket in France. They were sold as lots of 2 for 8€’s. As with roses; one cannot have too many colognes. July 13, 2015 at 4:53pm
Victoria: They also sell it widely around here, for similarly low prices. But I have never seen the rose version. July 14, 2015 at 8:39am
Jillie: Hi Austen Fan! I wish I lived in France … I either have to order Bien-Etre online or beg visitors to get me a bottle. There are so many in that line and I would like each and every one. July 14, 2015 at 9:30am
Austenfan: I’m a 2 hr drive away from France which makes it very tempting! I always stock up on lots of things when I’m there. Not least cosmetics. July 14, 2015 at 12:05pm
Jillie: You recommended cologne baths before, and since then, whenever it is hot, I pour 4711 into my bath!
No, sadly I don’t make my own cordial as I don’t have any roses. July 14, 2015 at 9:28am
Victoria: It’s instantly uplifting! July 14, 2015 at 10:27am
sandra: I am a La Fille de Berlin kind of rose perfume girl..
Great article though!
Your summer office that you posted a photo of a bit back looks pink and could pass as a Japanese bedroom that you mentioned in your Japanese article 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 1:48pm
Victoria: If you overlook the spiders, webs and dust, yes, it would. I prefer it the way it is, though. 🙂 July 13, 2015 at 3:57pm
SilverMoon: Rose is among my favourite perfume notes, and they can be so very different! I just bought La Fille De Berlin today. So far, my favourite rose perfumes are F Malle’s Une Rose and Paestum Rose. I also really like Lipstick Rose among those mentioned here. I agree with Victoria that the Aqua de Parma Rosa Nobile is rather bland (i really wanted to like it). August 1, 2015 at 3:08pm
Karen: Roses, roses and more roses! At times I worry that I will suddenly get tired of rose perfumes, but there are so many beautiful ones yet still to try! This sounds wonderful, but I’m afraid my perfume funds are running a * bit* low, thanks to Rose Nacree du Desert – but what a way to deplete my account! July 13, 2015 at 1:59pm
Victoria: Every time I think I’ve sampled enough roses, I find something else to enjoy. No, one can never have too many roses. July 13, 2015 at 3:58pm
Karen: Just found it at a price that was really doable, so did a blind buy (I know, I know) as my perfumes definitely are lacking the sparkling, air kiss representatives and I am excited to give this a try! Plus, it’s supposed to arrive on my birthday! July 14, 2015 at 7:23am
Victoria: Keeping fingers crossed that you like it. I imagine it might also make a good rose cologne bath (adding a couple of spritz into the water before you’re ready to get in). At that price, it’s not too much of an indulgence. July 14, 2015 at 8:50am
Karen: It was under $30.00, so I figured if it doesn’t work at all – either as a perfume or bath – then I can pass it on to someone else! Since it sounds like a very “user friendly” fragrance, I’m not too worried. July 14, 2015 at 2:45pm
Victoria: Wow, that’s a great price. I’d be tempted by such a bargain too. July 14, 2015 at 3:27pm
Karen: Reporting back as my bottle arrived yesterday! It’s a wonderful fragrance – the tartness is a perfect balance to the light rose, and the musk dry down is warm and soft. Later in the day I put on Rose Nacree and it wore just fine over it.
The bottle is so pretty and I’m very happy to have a lighter rose in my collection! Very, very pretty fragrance – a welcome addition as temperatures are around 100′ with humidity absurdly high! July 21, 2015 at 7:00am
Victoria: Phew! I’m so happy to hear this. Yes, it’s like a sip of icy drink on a hot day. You have to like fruity notes and tart scents, but I also liked that Flora Rosa wasn’t sharp or sour. It’s hard to do a tart but not sour red berry. July 21, 2015 at 12:05pm
Karen: Perfect description! And I was very happy to put it on my perfume tray, such a lovely lovely pale pink color in a lovely bottle! July 21, 2015 at 2:39pm
Aurora: You make Flora Rosa sound quite delightful, Victoria, when I travel at the end of August I will look out for it. Not a rose but another in the Aqua Allegoria series I find well done is Nerolia Bianca, I enjoy it so much this summer, like Flora Rosa it’s very much the equilibrium between sweet – the neroli – and tart – the citrus – in this fragrance which makes distinctive and I find I like it more even than Eau d’Hadrien, discovered through the traveling box, and that I’ve liked ever since. I applaud also that when the demand is there Guerlain will sometimes make the fragrance permanent. I still find Lys Soleia (so well reviewed by you) as well as Herba Fresca, Pampelune… and hope they continue to spoil us with worthwhile releases, the price point is also attractive. July 13, 2015 at 3:49pm
Victoria: The price point (53 euros) is attractive, and the quality is good for the price. I spotted Herba Fresca at Ici Paris XL today, and I couldn’t resist from spraying it on liberally. It’s always a delight.
I also like Nerolia Bianca a lot. Speaking of orange blossom, it’s another note I can’t get enough of. July 13, 2015 at 4:01pm
orsetta: i now feel convinced to try it 🙂
i skipped it last time at the airport in favour of Teazzurra.
your Japanese list reminded me about Balenciaga Rose flanker – it is indeed great for summer
i like a lot of roses mentioned by previous commenters but something i bought recently because it was on 80% clearance was ‘Jeanne Lanvin La Rose’ and it’s actually really good – yes, it’s a fruity rose and it doesn’t want to make a statement or be dramatic – it simply envelops me in a light, lovely cloud of prettiness 🙂 and, as you write, it’s actually not that easy for a perfume to achieve! July 13, 2015 at 5:37pm
Victoria: That was a bargain! La Rose is also popular in Japan and Korea, and if I’m not mistaken, it was developed specifically to appeal to the Asian market. It’s modern and bright, but it certainly doesn’t smell rough and synthetic. I don’t mind synthetic roses, but I prefer fragrances that give an illusion of something natural (even if they aren’t). July 14, 2015 at 8:43am
JoDee Molina: A jammy rose that I have sampled and keep returning to is Keiko Mecheri’s Attar de Rose. Some of the ingredients, I am surprised to learn, are musk and leather. Either Lucky Scent mixed up the sample or Keiko Mecheri is just joking about the leather/musk base. What I smell is a fruity, delectable, nearly gourmand rose. It doesn’t strike me as musky or leathery at all. I enjoy it quite a bit. July 13, 2015 at 6:53pm
Victoria: I haven’t tried it, but it also sounds very good. July 14, 2015 at 8:43am
Vishishta: I also love Keiko’s Attar de Rose. And I can see the leather musk. It is like a grounding. This is my go to rose–works summer or winter. July 14, 2015 at 9:45am
Karen: It is such a pretty perfume! I put stars on my (now empty) sample on it to remind me that it worth getting a FB. July 14, 2015 at 5:45pm
Petunia: Flora Rosa sounds lovely. Does it compare at all to Rose de Siwa by MDCI? I love RDS but the price. Would FR be a good alternative? July 13, 2015 at 8:00pm
Victoria: Perhaps, someone else can comment. I don’t remember what Rose de Siwa smells like. I recall it vaguely as a heavier, warmer rose. July 14, 2015 at 8:44am
Alicia: This week I had two misadventures with roses. Since my grand mother used Creed Fleurs de Bulgarie I bought a sample (thank goodness!! not a bottle) of Fleur de The Rose Bulgare, and indeed I got roses, and after a little while very familiar roses: on me it smelled exactly as the Tea Rose with which I sprinkle my pillow every night. Then I tried AG Ce soir or jamais. Lovely up until the dry down, when it turned quite sour on me. Besides I bought Misia, because of my long love for the House of Chanel. I like it, of course. It reminded you, Victoria, of Lipstick Rose. I also smell the similarity, but it reminds me even more of YSL vintage Paris, although milder. I will finish this bottle, but will not return to Misia: Paris forever. July 13, 2015 at 8:52pm
Victoria: The more I wear Misia, the more I feel like it’s a great-grandchild of Paris. Lovely, but I’m not sure if I will need a full bottle once my large decant is finished. I’d rather save up for Jersey parfum. July 14, 2015 at 8:44am
Awfulknitter: Don’t mention Jersey! I’ve been trying to ignore the sample I have and the massive coup de foudre I had when I first tried it. I’m hopeless at saving up for things… July 16, 2015 at 7:42am
Victoria: I didn’t like the EDT when I first tried it, but when I smelled the parfum, it was an instant love. I now even like the EDT, but I hope to save up for the parfum. July 16, 2015 at 3:19pm
Austenfan: Yes Paris forever! July 14, 2015 at 12:27pm
Hamamelis: Thank you for the post! So far it seems rose, and especially fruity rose, turns sour on me. I love the scent of roses, and smell them often in my garden, but in perfume no luck so far, at least not the soliflores or the real rosy kind of roses. Rose with cedar or sandalwood, or jasmin, or incense or leather is o.k. fortunately!
I used to wear both Tresor and Paris in the pre perfumista days, so I have hope.
I hope you will climatise in Brussels (if I am correct you are back home)! July 14, 2015 at 4:02am
Victoria: Many people comment that fruity florals, especially blends with tart berries, turn sour on their skin. So, yes, I’d say be careful with Flora Rosa. It doesn’t smell sour on me unlike some other red currant dominated blends, but I can see how it might be too much for some people. July 14, 2015 at 8:49am
Teeny: I am in love with Jo Malone’s Velvet Rose & Oud! I also like Happ & Stahns Rosa Alba. I look forward to trying some of the others mentioned! July 14, 2015 at 11:27am
Victoria: There are so many good rose perfumes available. 🙂 Hard to narrow down the choices. July 14, 2015 at 3:20pm
The Scented Salon: You will probably agree that Flora Rosa smells a lot like Russian kisel. July 14, 2015 at 12:46pm
Victoria: Kisel wasn’t something we cooked at home, it’s not such a common dish in our parts. I do remember the school cafeteria version, which was a revolving slippery mess made out of dried apples.
On the other hand, in Sicily I tried a related dish made out of watermelon juice and thickened with wheat starch. Unlike potato or corn starch, wheat starch doesn’t give the slippery texture, and the resulting jelly has a wonderful texture. You’ve reminded me that I should make it again this summer. July 14, 2015 at 3:25pm
mj: I tried it at Madrid airport past Saturday. I was killing time with my children, two small perfumistas in the making, smelling everything around. My youngest didn’t want to try it because “it was pink, for girls”. So he tried Aquazurra (sp?) instead, he wasn’t very impressed… He liked Chanel Bleu, though.
For me the Flora Rosa is too fruity, nice but not my cup of tea. July 14, 2015 at 5:45pm
Victoria: You have a perfumista in the making. 🙂 Did you try Teazzura (not sure, but I think that’s how it’s called) too? July 15, 2015 at 2:06pm
mj: yes! that was the name… Teazurra. hahaha, as it’s blue, I came out with Aquazurra (blue water in Italian?)
Also, my eldest (he’s 12) is a big fan of Dior Homme. Everytime we go to Sephora, he someway gets tiny vials from the SA. Maybe I should buy him a bottle… July 17, 2015 at 2:39am
Victoria: He has a great taste! Maybe, we should do a thread on what perfumes our children and significant others like. July 17, 2015 at 11:16am
Meredith: I’m so happy to see your review of this! I picked it up in Duty Free 1.5 years ago and really enjoy it in the summer. It isn’t terribly complex, but it does its job so well! I hope you’ll share with us more of your fruity rose discoveries 🙂 July 14, 2015 at 6:37pm
Victoria: I will do! I have so many, and I will have a chance to narrow down the list to my favorites once I’m finished with this project. July 15, 2015 at 2:06pm
Figuier: Thanks for this review, it’s always nice to hear your take on recent releases – I really trust your taste! And I’m going on holiday on Friday (*very* excited about this, hence the boasting) so I’ll have to try this one in duty free.
Rose is something I love smelling in the air, but haven’t quite got into as a perfume. I own and love Rose Oud, and there’s a distinct rose note in Traversee du Bosphore, another favourite. But the last time I really fell for a sheer rose was back in 1999 or whenever it was that Lancome first released Mille et une Roses. I always regretted not getting a bottle! I should test out Goutal’s Rose Splendide and Diptyque’s Eau de Rose, though – I use rosewater and glycerin on my face now and have got to really like the fresh floralcy of it. July 15, 2015 at 4:12am
Victoria: Have a wonderful holiday! 🙂 I’m back from mine, and I’m looking forward to enjoying Brussels in its half-closed mode (ok, it’s a bit inconvenient when all of my favorite good stores are closed for a whole month). The city has this languorous, lazy air, which I love.
Rose Splendide smells very much like rosewater, and Eau de Rose is too (but more fleeting and sharper in its drydown). Both are lovely. July 15, 2015 at 2:11pm
Figuier: Thanks Victoria! It’s nice that you enjoy the late-summer feel of European cities – it’s quite special, especially when all the parks are empty. July 16, 2015 at 3:58am
Victoria: Then you really feel like the whole city belongs to you only. Brussels is a laidback town on the busiest of months, but with all of the EU folk gone home and the rest of the town denizens crowding the coast, it feels especially wonderful and serene. July 16, 2015 at 3:16pm
Awfulknitter: Ooo, recurrant compote with rosewater, that sounds delicious! I have been wondering what to make with all the fruit my bushes have produced. So far I have only made shrub, a liqueur with the currants accompanied by orange zest and nutmeg.
Now, any suggestions for blackcurrants other than jam? 😉 July 15, 2015 at 6:08am
Victoria: I just returned from the market with a bag full of blackcurrants. It’s one of my favorite berries, and I can write a tome on all of the uses for it. For starters, I love the Cumberland sauce with black instead of red currants. Do you have a recipe? If not, I can look mine up.
The simplest way to enjoy them is stewed with sugar to taste, then chilled and served with whipped cream or bitter chocolate mousse. Black currant is a natural pairing with chocolate, so you can even try them in a chocolate tart–chocolate tart pastry, black currants and chocolate cream on top. Or chocolate almond frangipani. Or just mixed into the brownie batter.
Crumbles are made for black currants. Meringue pies.
It also pairs well with savory dishes. I stew berries with salt and a touch of sugar and serve this sauce with grilled chicken or lamb. Lamb is especially good with fruit.
If you like salted fish, this recipe for black currant cured salmon is delicious. This is what I’m planning to make. I tried it already (there is a photo of it on my Facebook page), and we really liked it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/8704064/Blackcurrant-cured-salmon-with-fennel-and-blackcurrant-relish-recipe.html July 15, 2015 at 2:16pm
Awfulknitter: Thanks! That salmon recipe looks delicious – I’m a big fan of Diana Henry’s, her recipes are so unfussy and yet utterly delicious. Happily I have some of last year’s DIY creme de cassis that I can use, too.
I’ll probably try the blackcurrant Cumberland sauce as well – I’m sure I have a recipe for regular Cumberland sauce somewhere.
Part of the issue I find with blackcurrants is that they’re almost too intense. After picking them for a while the scent isn’t fruity anymore, more like a burnt tyre! It puts me off eating them as is, or even using them in a clafoutis. But then, I found the same with redcurrants, which started to smell foxy – my husband did tell me I was imagining things, though! July 16, 2015 at 7:33am
Victoria: When I was buying black currants from the farmers market in NYC, the farmer would cringe and say, “seriously, I don’t know how you can eat this stuff.” Not the best way to advertise his produce, but yes, it’s an acquired taste. I can just eat them plain, or better, yet directly from the shrub. Tonight I simply stewed them with raspberries and gooseberries for a simple compote. July 16, 2015 at 3:18pm
Julie: I may have to sample this one at Nordstrom this
weekend. It sounds lovely, especially since you mentioned berries. Thank you the beautiful review Victoria. I was wearing Lys Soleia (Guerlain) just yesterday. The bottle is so pretty too! 🙂 July 15, 2015 at 8:47am
Victoria: Lys Soleia is so such a nice summer fragrance. Or any time fragrance, for that matter. July 15, 2015 at 2:22pm
Jane: I bought this in a slight hurry on the boat going to France in the summer and worried that I hadn’t given it enough time when testing, but it really has grown on me and has been my constant spray since. It obviously doesn’t last as long as other Guerlain scents but it is a delightful daytime companion and surrenders graciously to Nahema for any evening excursions. September 18, 2015 at 9:08am
Victoria: I agree, Jane. It’s not too demanding, but it’s still interesting and enjoyable from top to drydown. I like your idea of layering Nahema over whatever remains of Flora Rosa. September 18, 2015 at 1:55pm
Jones mukami: I just love flora Rosa perfume.which shop can I get it in Nairobi. June 18, 2016 at 4:59am