Hey All You POSSE Peeps,

Portia with you again from AustralianPerfumeJunkies. I know I know!! Many of you’ve probably tried it and own it or have moved on by now, well, I thought that seeing 2012-3 are quite a lot about roses that I should try some of the most revered. It’s a large fragrance category, that of roses, almost every brand has their own take and some of them are beyond magic. I thought it might be fun for you to come along on an initial test drive. In advance I need to warn you that Jo Malone is not a frag house that I find works for or with me. So though I have reservations, what better rose fragrance to bring you than one dedicated to the King of roses, that glorious, dipped in blood, steeped in folklore, heart breaker of a rose the

Red Roses EdC by Jo Malone 2001

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these accords in one line:
Mint, red rose, violet leaf, lemon

This incredible short list of accords looks like a JC Ellena fragrance. Well we are in for a surprise because Red roses opens photo realistic, the red rose that reed roses dream they’ll be when they grow up. A dashing, dark red and devastating blockbuster: Rose Squared. The mint, violet leaf and lemon create a fabulous cushion for the Red Rose to be placed, like a diadem. Maybe they are the setting for the ultimate stone. If you love the smell of roses and want to smell like one then this is your baby, remember Tea Rose by Perfumer’s Workshop? As real as that but more interesting, deeper facets and more mysterious. This is what I imagine Charlize Theron smelled like in Snow White & the Huntsman, there is a definite darkness and forest-ish feel to this rose, a mythical, fairy tale quality that speaks more of the evil witch than the innocent heroine. The crackle of violet leaf, which could easily be a torn rose leaf, is exquisite as the rose starts to take a back seat, now Red Roses smell like a dozen red roses delivered in a box and still it keeps pumping out the gorgeousness.

Photo Stolen finesseflorist

This is also the first Jo Malone fragrance that has lasted on my skin for more than half an hour! It has heft and sillage and for the first hour is fragrant for all before it gently quietens to a soft and luscious body scent that you must come and have a hug to smell. I want to wake Jin up and ask him to smell me! OH DEAR!! I thought I was safe from falling in love today, already there are a few rose scents in the library but Red Roses is so different to them all and so yummy. I think I definitely see a large decant of Red Roses in the VERY near future.

So next morning at 7 hours later I still have traces of Red Roses, definite smellable traces and linear, but way softer.

Further reading at Musings of a Muse
JoMalone site has 30ml/$90
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/ml
PoshPeasant has a Sampler “A Rose By Any Other Name” with 6 amazing 1.5ml sprays $38

I love to be amazed! Whenever low expectations turn out to be absolutely and utterly misplaced. Sorry Jo Malone corporation for not taking the time to find that at least one of your frags is fabulous on me. Better late than never! Has this happened to you? What frag house and fragrance? Is it now in your collection?

If you enjoyed this come on over and see what’s happening on AustralianPerfumeJunkies. We’d love to see you there too.

I hope you smell gorgeous today, till next week,
Loads of love,
Portia xx