MAISON TAHITE
ARABICAN ROSE
2024
PERFUMER
Marie Duchene
rose essential
raspberry
almond
coffee beans
rose
coffee
patchouli
vanilla
sandalwood
Arabican Rose is an interesting mix. It was not instantly of my favorites from this generally good coffee line-up by the brand (my favorite being Coffee Bomb), but I was intrigued (and a little confused by it), so I gave it another wear before writing down my thoughts. And I think I really like it.
Coffee Bomb already had a stellar mix of coffee and rose in this collection, so I was curious to see what direction this would take. While there seems to be a small overlap in the sort of metallic quality that I get from both, the overall scent profile of Arabican Rose is different and quite mature.
Some fruitiness is there from the start, but it’s not that prominent or vibrant; it’s like the fruitiness in a bitter dark chocolate. In general, the scent here is deep and less ‘cozy’ than I was expecting. Yet, it has an almost soapy side hidden in it as well. I figured that vetiver would be one of the main culprits, but it’s not listed as a note.
It is definitely a tad greener and much spicier in a way than Coffee Bomb. Less of the vibrant ‘traditionally floral’ red rose, more emphasis on a full-bodied, earthier rose-patchouli that grows grainy and spicy over time. After wearing it twice, I’m not so sure if anything that I’m smelling registers as coffee that much, but it feels ‘coffee adjacent’ overall.
I have to say, I’m quite conflicted about what I’m smelling in Arabican Rose (which is a good thing, as I like some abstraction in a fragrance). One moment it feels much more floral, with that rose, some soapiness, some fruitiness and what I perceive to be a fresher vetiver. The next moment it almost feels like a coffee-related spiced biscuit. Like a cookie, with roasted qualities, vanilla, almond. It never goes gourmand on my skin mind you, but there are moments where it veers in that direction, when in general I feel like this is heavy on the floral side.
I was expecting a rose-coffee scent and it is, but less of a clear-cut combination than it was in Coffee Bomb (which smells like an upgraded Montale Intense Cafe). For Arabican Rose, I don’t recall a good comparison, although I believe I’ve smelled similar fragrances; I have a feeling they weren’t coffee fragrances though and I’m not making the connection. Either way, this is one that has grown on me already and would likely grow on me further.