Rosewood (2006)
by Banana Republic

Cover the name up, then the scent does wonders. A powdery woodsy sweet tea fragrance and I find it excellent. Of the others in The Discovery Collection, I'd prefer to smell this one a girl than Malachite or Alabaster (they were too harsh and I must point out that those two don't have their names as notes in their fragrances either). Rosewood is linear, and to the point but not in your face about it (unless you actually spray it in your face!). No rose but unlike the saying, this one smells sweeter than actual roses.

13rd November, 2009.

I like the scent, but what about the badly designed bottle? I bought the spray, and was unable to use at least a fourth of the bottle, because the bottom is domed and the tube doesn't reach into the corners! I liked the scent but B-R needs to redesign this bottle!

19th January, 2009.

This is *NOT* rosewood. Please, Dear perfumers at BR, do not name a fragrance after a note that's not even in it!
The reason I tried this on me (and what a grave mistake that was...) was that I thought it would be a mature, feminine scent just like rosewood is. It was not to be.
Alas, I was hit with a wave of sweetness straight after application that just kept intensifying into this cloud of cheap, cloying candy.
Now, I have no problem with sweetness, if it comes in a digestable form - Dior's Hypnotic Poision is a good example of a good kind of sweet.
But this one... No thanks!

3rd August, 2008.

Smells just like my nootka rose bushes watered on a hot summer's evening. Delightful. I would love a more masculine rendition.

25th April, 2008.

Initially, this is the 2006 Banana Republic fragrance that attracted me
the most. Furthermore, the initial notes are the most attractive. The bergamot top note is lovely and (sadly) the only note remniscent of rosewood. After it makes its exit, the rest is all sweetness. The tea and amber merge to create an almost white chocolate blend. (Angel pioneered this sweet + earthy accord that you can smell in so many perfumes nowadays. Here it is again, minus the mint and patchouli.) As for the champagne note, I think I imagine somthing fizzy and sour near the end, but only because I'm impressionable. If you seek real rosewood, try Tam Dao.

6th February, 2007.

Interesting that this frag would be called Rosewood as the official notes (according to bananarepublic.com) are champagne bergamot, white amber, and white tea.

Rosewood does have a distinctly rosey scent, and a woody one as well, however, it's rather linear and not that exciting. Opens and stays floral for the majority of the frag's lifecycle, until it dries down into white tea with what I'd guess is patchouli anchoring it. It reminds me a bit of tea rose, and the heady, thick tea rose of Perfumer's Workshop. The scent is not unpleasant, but it's no jaw-dropper either.

16th January, 2007.