Jo Malone describes this as: 'Darkest Damask Rose. Rich and textural, wrapped with smoky oud wood. Spiked with clove, decadent with praline. Magnetic.'
Velvet Rose & Oud opens on my skin with creamy caramel notes; I don't get any nuttiness, so it isn't quite praline on my skin. This then settles into the rose heart, with the caramel settling down to a whisper of sweetness with almost a salty note to it. There is a dry oud in the base notes, but it's quite subtle and not too heavy. The woodiness comes forward as the fragrance fades over a few hours, but it's still floral and pretty, in a grown up kind of way.
The clove note stops it being too heady/sweet, and I'm sure I sniff a bit of orange blossom that lifts the fragrance from veering into heavy/heady territory too.
Velvet Rose & Oud is how I'd expect Nigella Lawson to smell; slightly foody, voluptuous, vampy but in a wholesome way. This is a Rose/Oud combination that works for day/office wear and I prefer this to Rosewater & Vanilla, which is just too sweet for me. It's not as intense as Dark Amber & Gingerlily, and I find it easier to wear than the Dark Amber & G, which turns a little oily on my skin. My skin holds fragrance well so I still have quite good scent from it after 6-7 hours, although it hasn't got a Tauer-esque nuclear half-life.
Rose & Oud is a popular combination for a good reason; they work well together. This is a very pretty and wearable interpretation, and I think it'll do well for Jo Malone. This is a limited edition in the Cologne Intense range, so it is £95 for 100ml.
For fragrance combining, this works well with Orange Blossom and I think it'd work well with Blue Agava & Cacao too. Grapefruit or Red Roses would be safe choices to combine with it too.
Disclosure: PR sample
Posts
It sounds wonderful! Love the packaging too.
ReplyDeleteHi Gio - I like the black bottles too. The Jo Malone packaging is spot-on - unfussy but distinctive and elegant.
DeleteAnything with Rose in it is always good with me. And the combination here sounds fun while remaining true to the Jo Malone look
ReplyDeleteGoing to look this one up I think
I reckon you'd like this one. Worth having a sniff if you can.
Delete"Velvet Rose & Oud is how I'd expect Nigella Lawson to smell; slightly foody, voluptuous, vampy but in a wholesome way."
ReplyDeleteWhat a great line! And a perfect description--I now totally understand what this fragrance is about. Thanks for the review!
Thank you! :)
DeleteOh, I've been anticipating this release. Your review makes me even more interested. I'm very excited for it to show up in the stores here.
ReplyDeleteI hope they make it permanent, it really is lovely.
DeleteI have this perfume and I LOVE IT. My husband brought it back from London, and when he said it was Rose--I immediatly thought of my Tea Rose perfume I hadnt touched in years. However, upon spritzing it on my arm, the dry down was intoxicating. This is not a rosey perfume, but a sensual woody rose sexed up for special occasions or anytime for headturning compliments.
ReplyDeleteHello - what a very good husband! This is definitely a grown-up rose. It's beautiful.
DeleteOooh I will have to find this one here in the states....just purchased my first Jo Malone--Nectarine Blossom & Honey. But I am crazy for rose scents! Thanks for a great review!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, I love your description of this scent and I have a weakness for top quality rose scents. Thank you :)
ReplyDelete