Etro Rajasthan is one of those perfumes that messes with my mind because the marketing doesn’t really match with the actual fragrance. Some folks can look past that. I can; it just depends if I’m in a very forgiving mood. You can go to Etro and read the copy. It’s something about Maharajaha and dueling feminine spirits. The bottle stands out from the rest of the line with its vivid Kashmiri textile print. But, the fragrance…
Rajasthan opens with rose and lemon Turkish delights. It’s powdery, sweet and fruity reminding me very much of lokum. When the citrus fades away, I’m left with something that smells like French face powder. It’s like a powdery rose and violet that reminds me of my Caron face powder smells like on my skin. Rajasthan completely changes within the first hour. It becomes this doughy benzoin with almond cookies and cool spices. This stage reminds me of these Christmas cookies a Swedish friend would make. They were like sugar cookies but with almond paste and cardamom. I can’t remember their name but I do remember that they were delicious.
Rajasthan goes from Turkish delights to French face powder to Swedish Christmas cookies. Rajasthan reminds me of many things but none of these things really say “Maharjaha” to me. Now if I forget the inspiration, I like Rajasthan as an gourmand. It’s sweet but balanced by floral waters and cool spices over a “cookie dough” amber. I’ve also yet to find a lokum perfume that I actually want to wear. Rajasthan is about as close as I’ll get to Turkish delight in perfume.
Notes listed include lemon, Damascus rose, mimosa, almond, pink pepper, amber, labdanum and musk. Launched in 2013.
Give Rajasthan a try if you like sweeter perfumes with a sheerness. Or if you like perfumes like Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises, The Different Company Pure eVe, Serge Lutens Rahat Loukoum, L’Artisan Parfumeur Drôle de Rose and/or Les Parfums de Rosine Rose Kashmirie.
Projection and longevity are below average. It wears closely to the skin. For me, I actually find the sheerness of this sweet, powdery gourmand refreshing.
The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $190 at Barneys. Sometimes it can be found at discounters like FragranceX.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Sweet and powdery almond and rose that reminds me of everything…everything it wasn’t intended to remind me of. It’s a gourmand without being cloying. I like that.
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*Sample obtained by me. Product pic from Fragrantica. Ossie Clark design from whatgoesaroundNYC.com. FragranceX contains an affiliate link.
Sounds wonderful! I just love your description of it. Love Turkish delights, sweet violet and the smell of Christmas…so this must be magical.
It’s not what I expected but that’s not a bad thing.
This sounds pretty and delicious 🙂
See the price? I wish I didn’t like it 😉
I think the bottle alone could sell Rajasthan. Lucky for me, I keep my perfumes in their boxes. I’ve heard that Shal Nur by this brand is lovely but haven’t tried any of their scents.
For real. I bet most of their sales are for the bottle alone, which does fit with Etro’s aesthetic.
Haven’t tried Shal Nur yet but have heard good things about it. I have bottles of Heliotrope, Messe de Minuit and Patchouly. Their style is “sheer” but I’m fine with that. I’d wear them in work environments, etc.