ROSE WEEK 2017 – An Aquatic Rose
It’s Rose Week on EauMG! This is the annual celebration of rose-centric perfumes! This week I’m reviewing 6 fragrances that display a different aspect of rose perfumes.
Perfume World has such a need for interesting “Nouveau Aquatics”. Don’t get me wrong, there are interesting aquatics in niche (like House of Matriarch Albatross, CB I Hate Perfume At the Beach 1966, etc.); I just think there is a genre that more niche brands should explore. When I heard that D.S. & Durga had launched an aquatic rose, Rose Atlantic, I knew this was something that I had to try. How many other aquatic roses can I name? None.¹
Rose Atlantic opens like apple slices and lemons with a humid warmth. The fragrance is like sea spray and citrus. When the rose makes an appearance, it’s faded and whitewashed like a coastal cottage. The rose is sheer, breezy and heavily influenced by lime. The heart is a fresh, aquatic floral with a warmth from a slightly fruity musk and citrus sourness. It dries down to a fruity musk paired with perfumery’s interpretation of sea breeze. This base reminds me of smoothed sea glass.
Rose Atlantic is a perfume that I like but I feel like I’m in some sort of preppy drag when I wear it. It’s one of the “preppiest” scents I’ve ever worn (like what the AERIN line wishes it were). As someone that loves contrasts, I tried to make this work while wearing all black 90’s Yohji Yamamoto and chipped black nail polish. I don’t think I pulled it off. It was like tying a watermelon pink sweater around my shoulders and slapping monograms on Yojhi…this just doesn’t work.
Notes listed include bergamot, lemon, rose petals, linden blossom, salt, grass, musk, sea water and oakmoss. Launched in 2016.
Give Rose Atlantic a try if you like sheer, fresh florals or modern aquatics. Or perfumes like Heeley Sel Marin, Penhaligon’s Blasted Bloom, Acqua di Parma Acqua Nobile Rosa, CREED Cedre Blanc, Terry de Gunzburg Bleu Paradis and/or Cartier de Lune.
Projection and longevity are average. I’ve only tested this in cool weather, so I imagine it would be below average in warmer climates.
The 1.7 oz EDP retails for $175 at Beautyhabit. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Preppy, aquatic rose. It’s actually a really pretty and nicely executed perfume. As I’ve already discussed, wearing it makes me feel like someone I’m not (and not in a fun way, just in an “uncomfortable wearing too tight of pants” way).
¹Foul! I can name three but they could arguably be a stretch.
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