Aqua Allegoria Rosa Magnifica (1999)
by Guerlain

Rosa Magnifica is one of the better releases from the Aqua Allegoria line. It's a very true-to-life depiction of roses with subtle green, spicy and tea accords playing the supporting role. If this had been released a few years earlier, it would have created more waves as there are now plenty of equally good (and better) rose scents available. However, it does smell modern enough not to make you smell like your grandmother.

This is fine, but less than I would have expected from Guerlain.

At first, I was thinking "Where's the rose?" All I could smell was a burst of green. In about ten minutes the green settled down and virtually disappeared, leaving a pink or white tea rose, very young and sweet. This is what my six-year-old should wear when she wants to play dress-up; I think it's a little to young and spry for me. After a couple of hours it mellows into a silkier, more sophisticated rose fragrance but it's still definitely pink and white tea roses. Not rich enough to become a favorite of mine, but as with all the Aqua Allegorias, I enjoy the way that each "course" is served up, reveals itself and then moves gracefully aside for the next.

While I respect Rosa Magnifica as a well-made fragrance, it smells bad on me. Some of my co-workers, whom I know are rose-lovers from their fragrance choices, compliment me when I wear it. But I know the dark, ugly truth about how it smells on me, so it's relegated to the back of my perfume rack.

Rosa Magnifica starts out with very loud aldehydes & upon spraying it I got an instant soapy taste in my mouth. After about 10 minutes Rosa settles into a pretty rose soap with a faint touch of blackberry. It still holds on to a little more aldehydes than I like. Then in 20-30 minutes it turns a bit greener and the longer it is on the skin it keeps softening up. Finally, in 2-3 hours it turns to a faintly citrusy rose. After all the waiting, it conjures up images of soft pink and white roses, earl grey tea and a lovely Victorian garden. I wouldn't purchase but, will use the rest of my decant

Absolutely magnificent! I received a sample of this from a swap and have used it dry! At last, a young and exuberant rose! I love rose, but have often been afraid to wear it because many men find it old fashioned or are reminded of their mothers. Rosa Magnifica gives me no such qualms.

Guerlain's lovely creation begins with a bold freshness that sparkles in grace and defiance, brought about by bergamot and other green and uplifting notes. Peppery and spicy notes uplift and excite the senses. The rosy heart reveals itself beautifully and blends well with all the other accords.

This fragrance is perfectly suited for a day at the office or a spontaneous romantic picnic. Wonderfully exciting and quite inexpensive to boot, Aqua Allegoria Rosa Magnifica is a must try, and a subsequent must buy!