Reviews of Incense Rosé (2008)
by Tauer

Opens with a lot of frankincense and a candied/jam-like note of rose and I’m guessing a bit of clementine. Stays pretty linear the whole time. I feel that this is far more “red” and “embery” than Tauer's Incense Extreme, which to my nose, was very ashy.

I enjoyed experiencing Incense Rose, but at the end of the day, I found myself not really crazy about it. Also, it’s not comforting, nor do I like the character. It's not like IR is annoying or not enjoyable, but it just doesn't do anything for me. Perhaps I feel this way because I'm subconsciously comparing it to Tauer's masterpiece, L'air du Desert Marocain. Either way, Incense Rose just doesn’t put me into a mind state I enjoy, like say, no. 88 or LdDM do. Although it does smell good, it's just not for me. I'd probably appreciate this more on a woman than myself.

7/10

I loved Maroc, don't care for this one. I was expecting more rose, I don't smell rose at all. I do smell cedar, and...licorice, lots of licorice, like licorice candy nesting on a bed of cedar chips with orange zest squeezed on it. Doesn't smell bad exactly, I just don't want to smell like this.

After the disappointing Incense Extreme, I had great expectations for Incense Rose.

In some respects, this has satisfied some of my expectations (i.e. its sillage and longevity is up to the usual Tauer standard). I don’t get much rose in the composition but the clementine opening is juicy, enticing and lasts throughout most of the scent’s development (which is just as pleasing as the menthol note in Incense Extreme). However, on the other hand, I got a lot of déjà vu (especially with YSL’s Opium PH EDP). There are also moments when it has an almost pot-pourri vibe about it – not a good thing, nor something you’d expect from the (now) experienced perfumer who also created the majestic L'Air du Desert Marocain.

Incense Rose lacks the degree of sensuality that I normally look for in fragrances, and I’m still not sure if it’s bottle-worthy. However, it’s definitely a significant improvement on Incense Extrême.

This fragrance is so delightful it deserves at least one review! The incense is fresh and woody and the rose discrete and natural, far from any of the soapy, powdery or potpourri-like roses common in perfume. In fact, I'd recommend this to anyone, no matter whether you appreciate rose fragrances or not! This is not a dark, murky, chilly, damp, churchlike incense (think Messe de Minuit), instead it's a natural, woody, sunny incense (closer to Avignon or Jaisalmer but even woodier and brighter) The sweetness of it is resinous without being in the least syrupy and the scent is strong without being heavy. The smoking hot and transparent feeling of it reminds me strongly of L'air du desert marocain, but Incense rosé is sweeter and not as spicy or dry. If L'air du desert marocain is (of course) a hot sunny day in the desert, then Incensé rose is a hot sunny day in a cedarwood forest with wild roses growing in it and a fleeting deja vu to Catholic mass.