Despite the fact that I adore roses, I would never have considered wearing a rose perfume. Or so, I thought. The very idea of it seems cliche and worse still--old ladyish. But this...this is different. And I like different. In fact, this fragrance is unisex, a concept I find quite interesting--the ability to please both sexes without being engendered by either. It works because the floral aspect is completely tempered by a dark velvetiness. Before I bought this for the shop, I had reservations. Perfume is a risky proposition that can be hit or miss. But I had read the wonderful reviews and was intrigued. In fact, I read lots of reviews and couldn't find a single negative. When it arrived, I was more than pleasantly surprised. My first instinct was to call it sexy. But no, that is much too garish. This fragrance is more like a slow reveal. A better description would be hauntingly seductive. A scent of longing for your lover but not quite knowing why. Eau d'Italie's Paestum Rose starts off on the skin as woody, almost like bark or perhaps tobacco and then develops into a smoky, musky layer. Then gradually, the rose unfolds with a whisper, an echo, the mere memory of what a beautiful rose should smell like. This perfume is elegant, refined and practically screams old money without the pretentiousness. It somehow manages to be both utterly classic and yet strangely contemporary at the same time. It is intellectual, complicated and textured like the woman (or man) who would choose to wear it. I'm in love with it (can you tell?) and quite honestly considered hoarding it all for myself. But that just wouldn't be fair.
Whirling notes of davana, cinnamon, amber, black and pink pepper, coriander, myrrh, patchouli, white musk and exotic woods surrounding the deeply velvet scent of Turkish rose. A warm and sensual fragrance that wears beautifully on both men and women. (100 ml/$125 and worth every last penny!) Hurry, purchase it now at Palazzo.
