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This is an exemplary fragrance and restores faith in creative perfumery. I'm not overstating that, I think this is one of the most unique prospects of the renaissance collection which to be fair are all very interesting and faceted in their own way. So just to make it clear I wrote a separate review to this on Instagram before I'd read any notes but naturally I've been informed by the Fragrantica ones that there's So this has a spicy opening but it's somehow blunted (in a good way) and I'm someone who loves pink pepper in top notes, I go mad for it and it's certainly complimentary with rose. However, I can't say it's instant piquant nature comes across to me, this almost feels a little like licquorice but not licorice, It's very difficult to describe the opening of this fragrance, I struggle and I like that. This is a dry, volcanic, ashy, but not parched feel, it's kinda like an aerated volcanic rock, of a thing but becoming much sweeter with rose. I received compliments ranging from 'that's sweet I like that!' to 'you smell a bit like cola cubes' both of which I'll take. I think the rose starts to have a purplish hue as the day wears on and a definitive smack of damascones!!! Its a rounded rose accord complete with the velvety, lightly decayed feel of Bulgarian absolute. It's not a jammy or boring cliched rose, this has a subtle character. Musks chime in beautifully after several hours, giving a really warm, cosy, gorgeousness to this fragrance. That ambretteolde/Romandolide/musk ketone humming warmth. That's two modern roses in the space of a year or so that I think have completely flipped the script on modern roses, just when you think you'd seen all the perfumers trickery. Lovely stuff from Amouage and Bertier! Bravo!!!
I don't get the negativity. For those who laud Fate Woman, this is a close cousin, maybe even a sibling. Creamy cinammon and rose, it's really delectable, slightly easier to wear than Fate Woman. It's less incensey and doesn't have the chili, so it's not quite as wacky and bold, but then we have to accept that those days are "Chong" behind us (badaboom). Lots of people bemoan a woody amber base in Crimson Rocks, and I'm usually hyper sensitive to that, but I'm not getting it from this at all. Love it. Update: oh the oaky drydown, didn't see it coming. I was expecting the harsh woody base to come through and bother me, but what I have instead is a lovely strong, noble oak, totally unique and photorealistic. The honey also creeps up after the first hour or so and it very realistic too. Update: I can't get enough of this, it's my new favourite rose. P0AL left me cold, but this gives me what others seem to get from that one. It lingers on clothes but not in a obnoxious way. It's such a delicious rich jammy rose and spicy cinnamon treat, and as the days draw in and the chill begins I'm finding this is a new signature for me. It's s a shame the new style packaging is so bland, so anodyne, but I can forgive that. This fragrance is currently flying under the radar but trust and believe, if (when) it gets discontinued people will be desperate to get hold of it.