CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
FETICHE – LA ROSE

2025

PERFUMER
Quentin Bisch

black cherry
ginger
pink pepper
rose
amber
patchouli

‘The rose reinvented, with the liquor-like cherry. Provocative and alluring, the ultra-liquorous black cherry accord meets the velvety allure of the rose, reinterpreting the irresistible seduction of the iconic Christian Louboutin Stiletto. Daring touches of ginger and pink pepper add unexpected richness. The cherry’s dripping depth evokes the glossy intensity of the black vinyl Stiletto, while the velvety rose pays tribute to the red signature sole.’ – Louboutin

This is more of a impression than most of my reviews. I did wear Fetiche La Rose on skin, but it was after a day of sniffing a fragrances and I was on the move, so I didn’t get the full picture as clearly as I would with more intentional sampling. That being said, La Rose was my favorite of the Fetiche collection when I first sniffed them inside the Louboutin boutique and I think definitely the most eccentric/interesting one.

On skin; I think the opening speaks to me most. Quite different for a rose, with paprika/bell pepper like tinges. The Fetiche collection seemed a lot more common or straightforward than I expected, with La Rose instantly smelling a bit more ‘out there’. It has a fruity cherry and spicy tinge, but more vegetal somehow than most others. Also a bit darker and less juvenile for lack of a better word, than most fruity roses.

That said, where I was a fan of the opening, the drydown goes quite far in the same direction of Bisch recent rose-revelation (although not for me), Amouage Guidance; probably closer to the more mature Guidance 46. That sweeter, smoother, mineralic rose. Definitely more to my taste here, than in the Guidance line-up, but it does remind me of it constantly and I’m surprised I don’t hear about this overlap more often amidst all the La Rose hype.

Overall, a pretty great fragrance though.