Cooee APJers,
I ordered this decant a while ago and then must have put it in the samples box I just rediscovered. HOORAY that I found it. Does this ever happen to you? Decants lost among the most enormous number of other samples/decants? One day I will take the time to really organise my shit, till then surprise finds will be a part of my life…..
A La Rose by Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2014
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, orange, lemon
Heart: Turkish red rose, Damask rose, violets
Base: Cedar
Maison Francis Kurkdjian gives these featured accords in one line:
Damascena Rose from Bulgaria – Bergamot from Calabria – Orange from California – Violet – Magnolia blossom – Cedar wood – Musk – Centifolia Rose from Grasse
Before we talk fragrance can I just put it out there that I think Francis Kurkdjian looks like a very nice man. There is something engaging about him, every time I see a photo or video my mind thinks that he would be a lovely friend to have. Do any of you think the same?
So on to A La Rose. I like the sweet citrus, slightly pithy opening. There are no white flowers mentioned but I get a distinct hint, maybe the magnolia? Magnolia kind of fits, especially with the citrus; and musk, white musk, lashings in the opening or is it some resin that’s making my mouth go quietly fuzzy. A La Rose wears more as a wash than a fragrance on me. Subtle, airy, loads of space between the notes. Free and clean, it’s like Francis Kurkdjian has captured a spring breeze in a rose garden, or standing among the roses at the end of the row of a citrus orchard.
Photo P.D.I.
When we get to the roses they are sheer, luxe and sadly for me a bit boring. To be fair though I can see this being exactly how many people would want to smell. It’s a lovely soft focus rose with a lightly citrus fizz and a small crackle of green behind it all. It does smell expensive and gives a very rich feel but if this was the kind of scent I was hoping to wear I would probably choose the MUCH cheaper, louder and less nuanced brashness of 1977s Tea Rose by Perfumer`s Workshop.
A La Rose hums along nicely for a while and very slightly woodies up before fading from my skin completely. Really I think that my skin has not married well with this particular scent and I urge you to try it yourself, you wear will hopefully be completely different. What a shame.
Photo Stolen Pixabay
Further reading: Now Smell This and Candy Perfume Boy
LuckyScent has $245/70ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $5.25/.5ml
Have you tried A La Rose? What are your impressions?
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Haven’t tried it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I had the same experience. I certainly did with Apom pour Femme, which IbeGerly anticipated as a rich orange blossom but which, on me, was a soft breeze that might, at some earlier point in its career, have blown past orange blossoms. There are MFKs that I adore and some that miss by a mile on me…no in-between.
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Hiya feralJasmine,
APLS is one of my faves of all time and I think I’ve really liked two others. Maybe I need to spend some more time with the house?
Portia x
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I agree, he does seem like a nice fellow.
I haven’t tried A La Rose yet, but I do have a sample AND I know where it is! I thought maybe I’d tried it already, but then realized it was Margiela’s Lazy Sunday Morning which gave me the same impression as A La Rose has for you. Meh.
I also realized that I should keep track of what I have sampled. I thought a yes, a no and a maybe pile would suffice. Whoops! I could completely forget I’ve ever sampled things and end up buying stuff all over again. Dufus 😉
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Holly,
What a great idea. Yes, No, Maybe piles. I think I will steal it in the new house. It will give me loads of stuff to give away and another lot to retry till they find a pile. COOLIO!
Portia xx
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Have not tried this Rose, and am not rushing to sample. Most MFKs are a miss on my skin, they turn very thin and wan. But I looove Cologne pour le Soir and bought the vat it comes in, 200mls or something ridiculous!
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Hi there JackieB,
That Cologne PLS is gorgeous but its the Absolue that’s stolen my heart. Such a deep growl.
Portia xx
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Hi Portia! I like this one quite a lot but find it a bit pricey. I love Amyris pour Femme and his cologne. I also like his work for other houses. Have a great weekend. Xo
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Sandra,
I’m so glad someone who likes A La Rose has chimed in. What do you like particularly?
Portia xx
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As a confirmed rose ‘ho I was REALLY gnashing my teeth waiting for this to release! Sadly I found it to be kind of “meh”. Especially given the price and the hype. It lasted about two hours on me, and despite being a very PRETTY rose, it didn’t sweep me off my feet. C’est la vie. There are plenty of rose frags to choose from!
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Hey RobertH
Yes, we had a similar experience. It’s a shame brcause I LOVE the cool colours on the bottle and really wanted it in my collection.
Portia xx
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Ooh, I haven’t tried this one but now that my dusty pink rose bushes are blooming I’m aching for a rose perfume to love. The only one I have right now is San Francisco Rose but unfortunately it doesn’t work for me at all. 😦 Perhaps I’ll come across a sample of this one soon!
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Hi there Sun Mi,
For soliflor I go to Tea Rose, Ce Soir Ou Jamais Annick Goutal or Sa Majeste la Rose Serge Lutens. For the big guns Mohur by Neela Vermeire, Rosa sur Reuse by SOIVOHLE or Ballets Rouges by Olympic orchids.
Portia x
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