Roxana Illuminated Perfume Chiaroscuro is a perfume based on contrasts. It’s an interpretation of olfactory “tonal” contrasts like that seen in visual art.
Note that this perfume is available in solid or liquid form. I have a photo of the solid perfume featured but I’m reviewing the liquid.
Chiaroscuro opens with a shocking amount of indoles. I put it on and the dogs start sniffing. It really caught their attention. The indoles become more subdued. There is a lemon verbena with fresh ginger now mixing with the indoles. This is the “light” in the fragrance. With wear, Chiaroscuro becomes darker. It’s an indolic jasmine with a rich, dusty oud. And it becomes even darker with time with an addition of an almost raw cocoa bean-patchouli. It’s a perfume of “highs” and “lows”.
Honestly, I was scared of Chiaroscuro at first. I felt it was too indolic for me (and this is coming from a person that loves LUSH Flying Fox shower gel). I’m happy I stuck with it. It turns into this ginger-oud and that is an unexpected combo. Now if you are worried about the no-holding-back indolic opening, try the solid perfume. It’s more “tame” but still captures the lightness/darkness of this fragrance.
Notes listed include jasmine sambac, lemon myrtle, citron, pepper, gingergrass, ginger, patchouli, spikenard and oud. Launched 2012. PERFUMER – Roxana Villa.
Give Chiaroscuro a try if you like skanky scents. Or if you like perfumes like Phoenicia RealOud, Aftelier Oud Luban, Ayala Moriel Song of Songs and/or DSH Perfumes Verveine. Chiaroscuro is unisex. It is an all-natural perfume and I do think with this one, because the notes are so “true”, that one should like natural jasmines, ouds, etc. to like this one.
I find projection and longevity average in the liquid form.
The solids retail from $30-$61 at Roxana Illuminated Perfumes.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Fresh ginger, jasmine and oud. If you like skanky scents and authentic oud, try this one. It’s a little “too much” for me but I can see it working on those that can pull off the dirty stuff.
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I hadn’t heard of this brand before so I’m happy to check it out. The little lockets as packaging are pretty cool.
Also, fyi: I went to Lush today and when they asked if I wanted a free sample of anything my mind went totally blank. Of course I didn’t want to pass up an offer for a free sample so I tried to think …then I remembered reading this and ended up blurting out “Flying fox!” like some looney.
Those lockets are really nice even in person. I have found that the solids in this line wear for just as long as the EDPs.
I feel like LUSH employees appreciate looney 😉 That Flying Fox is stroonnng stuff but still, I like it. It’s skank-a-lank. Like many LUSH products, it’s polarizing. But, I do urge people to try it just because I have never tried something so indolic and skanky in my life. When newbies ask me what indoles are, I’m like “Go try LUSH Flying Fox” and then they totally “get it”.
You are right on both counts! The Lush ladies and I were talking about our insect themed jewelry (scarab earrings for me and bee necklace on her) so I’m guessing they appreciate things out of the ordinary. I didn’t know what indolic meant so after I read this I looked it up and took a shower using my sample and yup. Flying fox is it!
I collect scarab jewelry!
Off topic, but I saw the prettiest honeycomb print blouse the other day and regret not buying it.
🙂