ARMANI
ROSE D’ARABIE

2010

Rose
Oud
Patchouli
Vanille

Rose D’Arabie is and has always been viewed as a staple for rose-ouds. I don’t know how saturated the market for rose-ouds was when this came out in 2010, but in a field of way too many options today, I think Rose D’Arabie held up really well.

I find it increasingly hard to say anything of value about this scent profile, as they do tend to smell very similar to each other and I’ve encountered many over the past years. In the case of Rose D’Arabie you get a lot of rose, from the opening a bit more than in many others, but you still get a darker, denser, woodiness backing it.

It’s often compared to Xerjoff More Than Words, but that is at the same time a bit more interesting in the opening; more sparkling and brighter, but much less nicer in the drydown for me. Rose D’Arabie is a rather uneventful wear, but it’s good from start to finish, whereas some rose-ouds get harsher or have too much of a plasticy saffron vibe.

The rose here reminds me perhaps most of the rose in Matiere Premiere Radical Rose. It’s equal parts jammy and sugary, but not cloying. As it evolves it gets slightly soapy on me, but not too much.

In general, I really like this style of rose and Rose D’Arabie is up there with the best options available.