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So this opens as expected a deep rose smell which runs the full spectrum of plummy jammy, then slightly darker and floral to musky then powdered in the matter of a few minutes as it settles down. That opening is not the most pleasant and does seem a little off to me. The rose is spiced pretty heavily too with saffron and resin but really starts to come into it's own as the drydown progresses with the patchouli coming into play. I have to say the progression of this fragrance is excellent, like many Montale's I simply don't like the rosy synthetic first hour or two then some sublime woody notes of oud/sandalwood and in this case patchouli come out to play and make this fragrance appeal to me. I loved the drydown of this and liked the progressive differences I got from it and the longevity was superb. Rose lovers, check it out you might just fall for it.
Dark Rose - not as dark as you would think. This fragrance opens with a very bright and feminine rose, may chang and lily - soft and smooth florals which compliment each other well, with not much detection of anything darker than this. In the heart you are greeted with a sour sharpness from the musk and cedar wood, however this combination with the florals results in a slightly synthetic outcome. As it dries down, a sweet saffron and earthy patchouli present themselves and mix with the florals. Unfortunately to me this seems to create something very reminiscent of a bathroom cleaner, very soapy and slightly sharp. With the sample I have here, I cannot detect any oud or even oud accord which is disappointing. Overall this is a pleasant soapy floral autumn scent for women, however it does not live up to the price tag attached.