Taif Rose is in Illuminum’s Haute Perfume line. This is the “high-end branch” of the line that is more directed to luxury customers and more “serious” sniffers. It’s not available in the U.S. at this moment but I imagine that it will be someday. Taif Rose is named after Ta’if, a city in Saudi Arabia known for their roses. And if you’ve been in the perfume game long enough, you’ll notice there are a few perfumes named after this region.
Illuminum Taif Rose opens as a minty-lemony-rose. It’s dipped in citronella candle wax. You’ll immediately get rose with this one if you are a novice or an expert. It’s a huge rose. And you’ll continue to get rose with this one. Every rose imaginable is in this. You’ll get that minty aspect of rose, that citrus aspect of rose, that fruity aspect of rose and that rose aspect of rose. Eventually with the dry down, you’ll get more of an attar. It’s a mix of sandalwood and rose oil.
Taif Rose is a rose soliflore. Don’t expect a broody patchouli or a delicate whisper of violets in this blend. Taif Rose is what the name implies, which is very rare in the Illuminum Haute line. (I find that most of the Illuminum Haute perfumes are “deceptively” named). This is a literal rose that smells likes roses. And yes, it’s expensive.
Notes listed include otto rose absolute, Egyptian geranium, Taif rose, Bulgarian white rose, and sandalwood.
Give Taif Rose a try if you are looking for a rose soliflore or you like perfumes as powerful as those by Montale. Try it if you like perfumes like Juliette Has a Gun Miss Charming, Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose, Montale Aoud Damascus, Serge Lutens Sa Majest la Rose, and/or Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose. Taif Rose is a BIG rose. It’s not sheer or vapid. It wears like a Montale. I find it too predictable as a women’s fragrance and better suited for a man. That’s my opinion.
Projection and longevity are above average.
You can find more info on Taif Rose Haute perfume on Illuminum’s website.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Rose. A big rose that isn’t for me. I would rather smell it on a man.
I don’t think I would like a rose soliflore (or any other soliflore to that matter) and especially after you mentioned Perfumer’s Workshop’s creation – I’m still trying to get over my testing it 😉 So thank you for the warning.
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It’s just that big. A high quality Perfumer’s Workshop but has that same “feel”.
I do not like the rose geranium – in this but it seems like it would keep the mosquitoes away.
Of the Illuminum fragrances you’ve experiences – what is your favorite so far?
It shouldn’t surprise you – Black Musk.