Tauer PHI Une Rose de Kandahar is a perfume inspired by roses grown in Afghanistan. Being that it is a perfume containing actual roses from Kandahar, availability is rather “iffy” with this one due to the harvest and logistics of getting rose oil out of the region. Because of the name and the emphasis of the use of Kandahar rose, I expected a really rosey-rose fragrance. Phi is a rose fragrance but there is much more to it.
Phi is a spicy rose. In the beginning it’s a cinnamon and almond with a doughy rose. And there’s some sharp, bandage-oud thing going on. Geranium also adds a green, sharpness. The heart is a slightly peachy yet spicy rose. The dry-down of Phi reminds me of green tobacco leaves and powdery coumarin with musk. It’s like a “rose fougère”.
For some reason this is a “difficult” scent for me to wear. I don’t know if it’s the tenacity of it. Or the cinnamon (which is never “easy” for me) or if I honestly just feel uncomfortable wearing a fougère. I really don’t know but I do know that it’s not the rose. I love rose and the rose in this is gorgeous.
Notes listed include apricot, cinnamon, bitter almond, bergamot, rose of Kandahar, Bulgarian rose, Bourbon geranium, dried tobacco leaves, patchouli, vetiver, vanilla, tonka beans, musk and ambergris. Launched 2013. PERFUMER– Andy Tauer
Give PHI a try if you like rose or are looking for a more “masculine rose”. Or if you like Tauer’s rose perfumes, Houbigant Fougere Royale, Montale Chypre Vanille and/or Amouage Lyric for Women. PHI is unisex but for some reason I think it leans more masculine (it’s those base notes).
Projection and longevity are above average.
The 1.7 oz retails for about $145 at Tauer.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A rose fougère. Like I’ve already mentioned, this is not an “easy to wear” perfume for me. However, I think if you are looking for a more masculine rose fragrance, this is one to try.
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I wore this one last night. Completely agree on the medicinal opening (as you say “bandage oud”) and that the drydown smells like tobacco (with lots of almond/tonka). I do like the drydown but I find the opening a little uncomfortable. Overall I appreciate but don’t need it. I feel like his perfumes are getting sweeter and more dense, and I like Tauer better when he’s a little more dry and airy.
I don’t really know how to explain it but I don’t feel comfortable in this one. Like I feel like I’m wearing shoes of the wrong size or something. Yes, I appreciate it and think it’s good but I guess it isn’t for me.
Same. On my skin, I like the airy/dry Tauers.
Now every time I wear PHI (I kind of like it) I’ll think of Alain Delon 🙂
In my opinion, that’s a reason to start wearing it more 😉
I love this pic of him so much. Flowers and Alain…
From you experience how original is it?
In my opinion, it’s really original. It’s very Tauer-ish in its composition but it’s not like his other rose perfumes. I can’t really compare it to anything else that I’ve smelled or worn before.