Ta'If by Ormonde Jayne, 2004

Linda Pilkington has a way with pepper that is just right. She uses pink pepper frequently and it is always a gentle sprinkling, completely integral to the composition. No unfortunate associations of the spice rack. Here it provides effervescence to the zingy saffron opening, behind which a soft rose sweetened by the slightest touch of dates emerges. The dates note is a stroke of genius, holding the composition as it were, through to its fading moments. This one was love at first sniff for me, but it is discreet you know what to expect when the sales assistant says, You wear the perfume, the perfume doesnt wear you. So, not the huge floodlit floral that Turin claims it is. I can see it being a party time scent as the OJ website announces especially if its one of those kiss-kiss soirees and you want to make a quiet impact rather than be sillage queen. And would definitely work if one were in the mood for lurrrve. But for me it is a comfort scent, a bit of calming bliss that I can wear anytime I like and feel instantly centred. Also one of the few, that upon returning to it after a long break strikes me as both familiar and new. To say nothing of slightly hypnotic.

Taif is one of my favorite rose-saffron combinations. It is a full-bodied, spiced fragrance, featuring a purple, rather than pink or bright red rose at its heart. Some reviewers have commented on the peppery opening, but on me, the pepper dissipates quickly. It is also a fruity rose. The voice of the soft, ripe peach merges with the sweet murmur of the dates in a beautiful duet. I usually dont like peach notes, but here, I find them tastefully balanced with the spices. In fact, everythingfrom the spicy saffron to the sweetness of the fruitfeels harmonious. Taif is not for those who want to disappear in a crowd. There is something exotic in its dark-colored petals. It is not for those who are looking for a soliflore, either, as this is not rosewater, but a multi-faceted scent. (To address another reviewer's question, I have tried and, in fact, really like Creed Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare, but I think the two are very different. The latter, in its current version at least because I have not tried the vintage, is a gentle, pink, almost aquatic rose, lacking the spice and sweetness of Ta'if.) Ta'if would be, however, a must-sniff for lovers of oriental rose-based fragrances. It lasts for approximately 6 hours on my skin.