Hey there Perfume Posse, today I am talking vintage again. Vintage Audace EdP by Rochas. I’ve had a large decant of it for some time now and wore it a few times when it arrived but as is so often the case other things arrived and it sat neglected in the background and as I’ve just noticed it has been leaking its beauty to the world and now there are only about 2ml of viscous amber liquid left in my decant bottle. AAAAARRGGHHH! Better wear the shit out of it for the next couple of days.

Audace by Marcel Rochas for Rochas 1936

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Iris, jasmine, bergamot, violet
Heart: Carnation, rose
Base: Patchouli, oak moss, galbanum, amber, juniper, pine

I think the evaporation in by decant has made the juice left into ultra extrait. What I remember from my previous wears is thicker, richer, more luscious and altogether more interesting than my memory. That being said I am much further down the frag worm hole than back then, maybe my sniffer is becoming better able to enjoy stuff.

Great, gorgeous, perfumey opening that is like all the bergamot has been dried out and earthed by the iris. The crispness of carnation is already present in the opening as isa the galbanum. Even though Audace is now thick and rich it’s not overpowering in a size way but it definitely changes the air in the room. I sprayed myself and then went out to get a cuppa, on my return the room was delightfully scented and when I walked back in I could smell narcissus and jasmine clearly above the other ingredients; interesting.

Flickr

My mate Scott has a name for rose fragrances with a load of interestingly earthy backing pieces, he calls them the Skanky Roses and I think that Audace definitely falls into this category through the heart. It’s a crisp, dry rose with the scent of cut stems and torn leaf all bundled up with delightful resins. Is there a hit of aldehydes too? I get the familiar oily sweetness but I could be dreaming. Also I feel like there’s a tobacco and honey wash which could be a sweeter, old fashioned patchouli/amber combo. Sheeesh, it smells good.

For all its vintage splendour Audace is really pretty and I could imagine it being totally considered a soft option in days gone by for someone who wasn’t really into statement frags. Today it is bolder by comparison to modern perfumery but still a very wearable and lovely.

Fragrantica