A few weeks ago, I wrote short reviews about six fragrances from the Tigerlily Perfumery Deluxe Rose Sample Set. I love the smell of roses, and many of my very favorite perfumes are rose-forward. I was thrilled to find that all of the samples in the set were new to me, and all of them presented rose in a different way. I enjoyed trying all of them, and found a few new favorites.
A DOZEN ROSES
As you may recall, one of the seven vials that came with the sample set was empty. This gave me an excellent excuse to try even more rose fragrances from Tigerlily Perfumery. I am loving life right now.
When I emailed Tigerlily about the empty vial, they immediately sent me two different fragrances as a replacement. Since I had promised an update when they arrived, I figured the best thing to do would be to choose four more rose fragrances from Tigerlily, to make a total of a dozen rose reviews. Because roses come by the dozen, right? Also, Mother’s Day is coming up, and I can’t think of a better gift for a mom than a lovely rose fragrance. (Especially if you happen to be shopping for me….)
CATERINA dé MEDICI by I PROFUMI di FIRENZE
This is a simple, lovely floral fragrance. Rose is listed as its first note, but I don’t smell much rose in it. Most of what I smell is muguet and hyacinth, with a little bit of powdery iris. Rose may be part of the bouquet, but it’s not the star. Caterina dé Medici smells like the most gorgeous and expensive, creamy little bar of hand soap that you can imagine. It smells very clean, fresh, and feminine. If it were a hand soap or lotion, I would definitely buy it and use it. It is delicate and uplifting, and the projection and longevity were pretty surprising for something of this “clean floral” character.
Caterina dé Medici would be a good choice for someone who likes light, clean florals. It would be a great everyday scent for people who work in close contact with others, and need a perfume that is pleasant but unassuming. It is a very pretty perfume that smells classy and expensive. If you came here looking for big roses though, you’ll want to keep reading. The rose in Caterina dé Medici is just an accent in the bouquet.
UNE ROSE CHYPRÉE by TAUER PERFUMES
This is an introverted, intellectual rose. The scent opens with bitter, terpenic bay laurel, and a powdery-tart bergamot. The rose itself is a gorgeous Bulgarian, round and deep, but it’s always peeking out from under a sprinkling of cinnamon. There is a brightness from lemon peel, a dryness from vetiver in the first hour, followed by powdery labdanum and earthy patchouli. It’s not exactly a gourmand, but it does give a strong nod in that direction. In fact, it reminds me of the cinnamon apple tarts that are made to look like roses in bloom. As it wears, it gets more and more powdery, after a few hours it smells like a vintage rose dusting powder, with just a hint of cinnamon.
Une Rose Chyprée would be a good choice for someone who is looking for a classic rose perfume with a modern twist. Its rose is ever-present but never dominant, and it is gourmand-ish, but not sweet. It is technically a chypre, with the citrus, labdanum, and oakmoss, but it feels more current, like an updated take on that classic style.
TRANCE by J.F. SCHWARZLOSE
Trance is a big, deep blood-red rose. It smells intoxicating, like wine. It has the terpenic aroma of an Australian Shiraz, especially in the opening. It hints of grape must, sage, and eucalyptus. As it dries down, it stays dark. A particularly leathery cistus accord joins the rose, as well as bitter, anisic absinthe. The rose in Trance is decadent and dangerous.
Someone who enjoys dark, modern gothic rose fragrances would enjoy wearing Trance.
COUP de FOUDRE by PARFUMS DEL RAE
Coup de Foudre is a bright, sunny rose. It opens with a blast of juicy pink grapefruit against the sweet, heady rose. The grapefruit is zesty and provides a freshness without any “soapy” feel. As the grapefruit subsides a bit, a fluffy peony scent emerges. The rose in Coup de Foudre is Rose de Mai, which is very sweet and smooth, with a certain lightness to it, as though carried on a summer breeze. Although there are some other supporting florals, the sweet rose is front-and-center in this fragrance, uplifted by the brightness of the grapefruit.
Coup de Foudre is a great fragrance for someone who loves the smell of roses, but wants something fresh and youthful. It smells summery and bright, and while it is a “big” rose fragrance, it is never heavy. If you are looking for an alternative to powdery roses, Coup de Foudre might be your new favorite rose.
RUBIS ROSÉ by DSH PERFUMES
Oh my goodness, this one is a stunner. I want to smell like this every day. You know those people who look “effortlessly sexy?” That is how I would describe this rose. It is dense — you’re not just smelling a single stem, this is a whole armful of roses, like a fantasy. This fragrance contains Bulgarian rose, rose de mai, tea rose, and gallica rose. It smells sublime, sophisticated, and yet romantic. The opening is bright, with baie rose and just a touch of red raspberry. The heart is lush, full of all those gorgeous roses, with just enough greenery to be a proper bouquet, and clean ambergris and resins for depth.
Rubis Rosé smells like the bouquet that a princess would receive in a fairy tale. A big pile of luminous, exquisitely fragrant roses, all at their peak.
UNE ROSE VERMEILLE by TAUER PERFUMES
This is a gourmand rose, like a rose-flavored candy. It opens with a bit hit of lavender and citrus, and just a hint of powdery rose. Soon it sweetens to the smell of raspberry creme candy, thick with vanilla, topped with candied rose petals. The raspberry is concentrated like a thick jam, sweet and chewy. Both vanilla and tonka are perceptible, along with a slight saltiness from ambergris. At times I can also smell candied violets. This smells like a white chocolate rose bon bon, with a dense raspberry filling.
Une Rose Vermeille is a true rose gourmand for rose lovers with a sweet tooth. It smells like sweet candy scented with rose essence.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Once again, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling six very unique and diverse rose fragrances. Each is special in its own way, and offers something different from the others. In this dozen roses, there is truly something for everyone.
As someone who loves big, bold fragrances, romantic florals, and the intoxicating aroma of lush, velvety roses, I have several favorites from this bunch of roses. My favorites from this group are Coup de Foudre for its playful freshness, and Rubis Rosé, for it’s fantasy rose bouquet scent. My favorites from the first review are Thornfield by Mirus Fine Fragrance, the smell of a rose garden, and Monk by Luvandus, the exquisite perfect specimen of an old-world, romantic rose.
I don’t work for or have any affiliation with Tigerlily Perfumery, and I purchased all of the samples for these reviews myself. I don’t receive any sort of compensation for purchases or “links.” I just enjoyed their wonderfully curated rose sampler so much that I wanted to write about it and share it. If you are looking for a rose fragrance (or another rose fragrance to add to your collection), this is the perfect way to find it.
You can find the Deluxe Rose Sample Set from the first review, and all of the fragrances from both reviews, at the Tigerlily boutique in San Francisco, or online at tigerlilyperfumery.com.
