Incense Rose (Tauer Perfumes)


By Thomas

Anyone who sat through Wagner’s Ring cycle or dated someone bipolar would agree that you CAN have too much drama. High drama is best in small doses, which I can accept as a reasonable explanation for why Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree is sold in such a small bottle.

For the rest of the time (i.e.: NOT full moons), we have Incense Rose, which is quite similar to Une Rose Chypree, but dialed back a bit. Incense Rose is a good bit leaner and drier, which is a welcome respite. I realize that Incense Rose came before Une Rose Chypree, but this is my first in-depth exposure to it, so the yardstick is already in place.

Rose Incense opens with a strong, tart, dry rose, which is a harbinger of the development. It’s not far from Une Rose Chypree, but without the lush fullness that defines the latter. Along with the rose is dry smoky incense, which gives it an ‘old fireplace’ aura – smoky, sooty, and dry.

Development isn’t really the right word for this – not much else goes on – the rose shimmers in and out of focus but the development doesn’t really go much further. The frankincense, cedar and burnt oak notes start to grab the reins and lead this slightly towards Yatagan (drydown) territory, or maybe Durbano’s Black Tourmaline.

Longevity is excellent and it has significant throw, not so much to make you wish you wore something else, but definitely noticeable throughout the day. Good choice for year-round wear, enough presence to sit through a Ring cycle, but fortunately not nearly as tiresome.

Year:
Perfumer: Andy Tauer
Notes: Clementine, Bergamot, Rose, Castor, Orris, Frankincense, Cedar Wood, Myrrh, Patchouli, Vetiver, Labdanum, Ambrein
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3 comments:

  1. Totally know what you mean about drama, in perfume and in life.

    Now I have to go back and re-try each of these...ironically, as I recall it, Une Rose Chypree is the one I can handle as a regular in my life, while Incense Rose is the grand aunt who is fun to visit once a year but gives me a headache in large doses. Hmmm.
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  2. I'm wearing my sample of Incense Rose for the first time today! I wasn't keen on the citrus in the opening, but I love the dry incense that takes over.

    I've been looking for an incense fragrance, and this might be it.
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  3. ScentScelf, Interesting that we would rank the two rose scents differently, or maybe not. The incense was dry, and I found it easier to deal with in our damp heat. Maybe if I was up north my perceptions would be reversed.

    Krista, I really liked the incense and found it a slightly drier take than Shaal Nur, which I quite like. If you want something even more dry, seek out Durbano's Black Tourmaline. Ought to be reviewing that one soon, now that I think of it.
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