EX NIHILO
SUBLIME ESSENCE ROSE

2016

PERFUMER
Jordi Fernandez

Bergamot
Pink Pepper

Rose Absolute

Vetiver
Cedarwood
Musk

‘Designed like an opulent bouquet with a Parisian “allure”, the SUBLIME ESSENCE ROSE reveals spicy facets of Pink Pepper and intoxicates the senses with a sillage of Musks and Woods. It will sublimate the Peony of LUST IN PARADISE and the Rose overdoses of ROSE HUBRIS & MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.’- Ex Nihilo

I had never seen or even heard of Ex Nihilo’s Sublime Essences line, but I found this Rose on sale with 60% off (retail is a whopping €380/15ml)… so obviously I had to get it… because.

And I’m glad that I did. Now I have to say this Sublime Essence Rose is one of my favorites, but also, it smells nothing like what I’d imagined.

Ex Nihilo describes this as ‘an opulent bouquet’ with ‘spicy facets’ and ‘a sillage of musks and woods’. I did not look at the notes; but I expected a much heavier, vibrant, perhaps darker rose initially. Instead, I find the rose on the subtle side here and the most prominent note besides it is a soapy vetiver (think Roja Vetiver Parfum Cologne or Tom Ford Grey Vetiver).

The overall scent profile shifts between a rose flanker to Grey Vetiver, a sweeter tinge (not quite Oud Satin Mood territory, but looking in the same direction) and a slightly peppery wood. Especially when I smell my skin up close, I do get a darker, almost smoky element. However, in the air, it’s a thick, oily sweetened rose soap, and it’s gorgeous. After a while there’s an earthy green undertone, but it’s overpowered by the sweetness.

Definitely an interesting blind-buy for me, although I can see how people may have different expectations from a rose oil at this price. I hope to get my nose on the others in this Sublime Essence line (especially Amber and Supernatural Oud) one day.