The rose is wrapped in amber and warm balsamic notes, but the start is fruity and bright. Although Rose Absolute has a classical rose character, it is a modern flower. The roses are rendered in vivid and rich hues. Smelling the perfume on skin, I keep craving rose jam; Rose Absolute evokes crystallized petals suspended in translucent honey. The sweetness, on the other hand, is tempered by woods and patchouli. As Rose Absolute develops, it becomes darker, earthier and warmer. It never loses its sophisticated aura, but the character is lighthearted and vivacious. Wearing it is a pleasure.
Also, Rose Absolute is plush. It is warmer and softer than classical rose themes like Stella McCartney Stella and sweeter than a niche favorite Les Parfums de Rosine Ecume de Rose. A generous dose of vanilla makes it mouthwatering, another surprising discovery later in the drydown.
Secrets d’Essences Rose Absolute is available in the Eau de Parfum and Parfum concentrations, both of which are excellent. There is also a fresh, citrusy Eau de Toilette. The tenacity is excellent, with a lovely sillage (trail left in the wake of perfume wearer), and you can be sure to smell it from morning to evening. (Updated 2015: the perfume now appears thinner and less tenacious, but it’s still an excellent budget rose.)
Yves Rocher Rose Absolute contains cinnamon, Bulgarian rose, Moroccan rose, Turkish rose, patchouli, and tonka beans. It is available from Yves Rocher UK. It should be launched on the Yves Rocher US website in the future.
19 Comments
Madelyn E: Dear Victoria,
I am now going to be on the lookout for this beautiful new “rose” parfum. While I have never worn any Yves Rocher scent – its everpresent ads have , in the past. caught my peripheral vision.
Now, based on your lovely review I will explore other Yves Rocher fragrances, while awaiting this one.
I really adore rose in fragrance . I even created my own rose garden. Every rose has its unique fragrance from the soft Chicago Peace rose (pink-yellow) to the spicy Tropicana.(orange colored).
I am forever in search of that perfect rose. maybe now I’ve found it. February 19, 2007 at 1:29am
~vanilla girl~: Hello V, I purchase many good things from Yves Rocher but I wont risk ordering this one since rose is my least fav scent..although your review sounds very lovely! 🙂
I really enjoy Néonatura cocoon,it is very comforting..have you tried it? February 19, 2007 at 7:46am
Elle: Must. Have. Since I seem to be turning into such a hard core rose fan, this sounds absolutely ideal. Thanks for the review! Off to the website.
Oh, and that photo is just stunning. February 19, 2007 at 8:37am
Christina H.: I was lucky enough to have had sampled the YR Rose Absolu and I was beyond pleasantly suprised! I actually liked it alot and found it to be surprisingly good! I can’t wait for them to carry it for U.S. customers to order. Thank you for a lovely review. February 19, 2007 at 10:15am
Christina H.: I was lucky enough to have had sampled the YR Rose Absolu and I was beyond pleasantly suprised! I actually liked it alot and found it to be surprisingly good! I can’t wait for them to carry it for U.S. customers to order. Thank you for a lovely review. February 19, 2007 at 10:15am
newproducts: As a rose lover, I must try this! It sounds like a beauty. Since it’s from Yves Rocher, it will be affordable to boot! February 19, 2007 at 11:08am
Tommasina: Dear Victoria
Thanks for the review – lovely, as always. Is it a good or a bad thing that I’ll soon be visiting my parents in the UK, I wonder? Hmm…
However, I must object (as they used to say in the House of Lords) to your comment about Gardenia’s having no relation to the flower itself. While I can’t speak for Lys, and perhaps the bushes in my garden are some odd form of the genus, to my nose YR’s is the most true-to-nature rendering of the gardenia I’ve ever smelled. It’s an absolute HG for me, in fact – and I’m not too proud to say it! Can you say why you don’t find it true?
(Now going to YR UK site while you reply!) February 19, 2007 at 11:36am
Judith: Do you know, I have yet to try any Yves Rocher scents. Well, it sounds as if this is the one I must try! Thanks so much for the review! February 19, 2007 at 1:02pm
Marina: Sometimes Rocher create something quite unexpectedly lovely, don’t they? I love how you say that it is a heavy silk. Must try! February 19, 2007 at 8:27am
Robin: Too many of the YR scents qualify as “just pleasant” — this sounds worth a trip to the boutique though! Wish they didn’t take so long to bring the new launches to the US. February 19, 2007 at 2:21pm
Jennifer: I will definately have to be on the look out for this when it comes out in the US; this sounds so lovely. February 19, 2007 at 10:28am
Karin: I used to love YR’s Ispahan. But Rose Ispahan wasn’t similar to it at all. Lovely review as always! Thanks!
Karin
http://www.savvythinker.com February 19, 2007 at 3:41pm
chayaruchama: Congratulations, dear Vika, on your award !
No surprise-
You are generous with your knowledge and lyrical in your delivery.
Enjoy your successes ! February 20, 2007 at 11:55am
BoisdeJasmin: Madelyn, I loved Rose Absolu for its richness and warm, silky quality. It was such a wonderful surprise, and I am looking forward to it coming to the US soon. February 20, 2007 at 12:48pm
BoisdeJasmin: S, I have tried Néonatura cocoon a while ago, but it struck me as a bit sweeter than what I normally enjoy. I should revisit. February 20, 2007 at 12:50pm
BoisdeJasmin: S, I have tried Néonatura cocoon a while ago, but it struck me as a bit sweeter than what I normally enjoy. I should revisit. February 20, 2007 at 12:50pm
BoisdeJasmin: Tommasina, when I got my sample, I was taken aback by its harshness. It had a strange synthetic quality that I did not remember from my last trials. Perhaps, it has been changed. Or perhaps, my own tastes have changed. Have you tried it recently? February 20, 2007 at 11:48pm
Sulin: I remember purchasing a small tin of the YR Pur Desir Gardenia solid perfume several years ago, and grinning ear to ear because it was a perfect gardenia. For me, the perfume was an exact replica of the flower, and it brought me back to my childhood home in Durban, South Africa, where we had a lovely gardenia bush with glorious white blossoms that gave off an intoxicating yet innocent scent. Every few weeks, my mom would let me snip off a few flowers, wrap the stems up with wet paper towels, and gift them to my grade 4 teacher (they were her favourite flower). I am so sad that Yves Rocher discontinued this fragrance. May 8, 2013 at 8:26pm
Hildegerd: I reached out to Yve Rocher on twitter, asking to bring us this scent back. Exciting if they answer me, now. December 12, 2013 at 12:55pm