Neil Morris: When a Rose is More Than a Rose is a Rose is a Rose

hs.riverdale.k12.or.us

A rose is a rose is a rose…

So stated the wondrous Gertrude Stein in her 1913 poem Sacred Emily; this image would be echoed in 1954 by Aldous Huxley in his Doors of Perception.

And so many others, besides: Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, William Carlos Williams, Bret Easton Ellis…

It’s a fairly long list.

Gertrude Stein by Pablo Picasso ( the rumpus.net)

But first came Will Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet:

“What’s in a name?

That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet “.

Ah, the Law of Identity, the Rule of Three;-)

copyblogger.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_identity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Three

Aristotle insisted: everything that exists has a specific nature, and it possesses characteristics that are a part of what it is.

In ancient mathematics- as in writing – the usage of three lends emphasis and increases the satisfaction one experiences.

Was perfumer Neil Morris aware of this when he created his parfum A Rose Is A Rose?

Three glorious roses well bedded and wedded.

Or was it felicitous happenstance, the subtext of an active subconscious at play?

I’ll leave you with that question, I think.

During this blissfully verdant season, I am filled with cravings.

I crave flowers.

City-born and bred and city-dweller, I am nonetheless a not-so-covert and impassioned naturalist, whose very heart leaps at the carillon of pre-dawn birdsong, the moist , tantalizing aroma of nascent undergrowth, the visual reminder of the Eternal Return.

ROSES.

I greedily examine all my neighbors’ yards for signs of promise…gardens are a treasured privilege in South Boston, not to be taken cavalierly

.

Roses make everything better.

Friend and perfumer Neil Morris knows and understands this longing well.

About six months ago, Neil met with many fragrance lovers, and a very dear mutual friend, Gabrielle–

An exquisite nose in her own right ;-).

When asked what she felt was ‘missing’ from the scope of perfumery, Gabrielle expressed a desire for a rose scent that was truly rose– unadulterated by competing floral notes.

Our gentle giant agonized for six months over this particular request; he loves to pleasure those he loves, AND he enjoys a good challenge.

He sent his completed parfum to Gabrielle and myself.

And now, to you, dear readers-

Before he releases it during this upcoming weekend’s Sniffapalooza.

spacesynapses.blogspot.com

Neil Morris: A Rose Is A Rose Parfum

Notes:

Peony Blossom

Aldehydes

Bulgarian Rose

Arabian Rose

Moss Rose

Myrtle Wood

Ambra Musk

Neil is a great admirer of the power of aldehydes– their ability to dazzle, diffuse, lift a scent, create space within it.

Peony and rose adore one another; coupled, they reveal a lushness, a plushness that neither alone possesses to such an extent.

Myrtle wood is another much- beloved color in Neil’s olfactory palette.

An evergreen which flourishes in the Pacific Northwest, the myrtle leaves are often substituted for bay laurel in cuisine; the wood and its resin, are referred to in Biblical texts.

There is a warm freshness here that is compatible with the rose, helping to prolong her without dramatically changing her fundamental color.

Ambra Musk: how to describe this?

I’ve sniffed it Chez Neil. It’s a deep and grounding musk with a subtle earthiness to it, meant to be used in minute quantity- which it is.

Between the myrtle and the musk, a greenness and sappy, soil-like quality is introduced-

Very quietly, mind, so as not to wake the roses.

It simply sidles up to them affectionately, to warm its feet in bed.

fineartsprintsondemand.com

And the sleeping roses?

Oh, my.

A trio of them, each lovely and unique: the buxom Bulgarian, the sultry Arabian, the shy, soft Moss rose.

I wouldn’t want to choose among them, they each so dear and unique; together, they harmonize seamlessly.

A Rose Is A Rose is charming, and manages to be gently present with long duration.

Its sillage is dependent on dosage- if you are a ‘big spritzer’, the effect is more pronounced.

[When dealing with soliflores, I personally prefer to adhere to the “less is more” maxim, myself 😉 ]

My darling, discerning, and stubborn husband is very fond.

Would one of you like to like to discover this for yourself?

I will make a lovely decant of the pure perfume for a dear reader.

Please share with us your particular fondness for the rose, or its perfumer….

Or why you love the Spring as we at CFB do;-) Draw closes April 29.

If you can't be at Sniffapalooza to see Neil in person this is the next best thing.

A Song of Springtime by John William Waterhouse (johnwilliamwaterhouse.com)

And a lovely, nourishing scented Spring to all!

-Ida Meister, Senior Editor

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


25 comments

  • There's nothing more beautiful than a bouquet of fresh dewy roses of any color, be it dark red, yellow or pale pink. I experienced the best rose perfume in Nahema by Guerlain. It's a masterpiece, rich fruity heavy gourmand rose scent. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.

  • Nahema and Dsh American beauty so I am really exceed to see Neil at sniffa first for a hug then a sniff my favorite Neil Morris fragrance is a tie afire and burnt amber

  • Une Rose is a favourite because it reminds me of the earthy smell in my small rose garden after rain. I adore roses ,the colours are cheering ,the fragrant ones relaxing ,uplifting and beautiful. I imagine Angels could only smell of them , jasmine or frankincense .

  • I love the scent of fresh, dewy roses, with a touch of green scent. I love taking photos of flowers and some of my favorite are photos of roses. I love the perfection of their shapes. It's beautiful.
    I enjoy wearing Écume the Rose by Perfums de Rosine, but there is a mainstream rose that I like a lot too: Paul Smith la Rose Summer Edition (last year edition, in a yellow packaging). My mother smells great when she wears it.
    I love spring because days get warmer but not too hot, and I enjoy having so many hours of sun.
    Thanks Ida for this wonderful draw!

  • I will be at Snifa but if I don't participate in a draw I get withdrawals. Rose and I have had a complicated affair. I remember finding myself near a rose gorden a few hours after the end of a summer rain, the scent was diffusing everywhere, and I don't remember the smell but I do remember the feeling I had, surprised at the beauty, comfy, plush well, maybe I could call it divine since I can't find a better word. It may be perhaps my earliest recollection of the rose as a scent. Yet so ubiquitous, it's difficult not to snort at it at times, particularly when the rendition is soapy, cheap, painfully indifferent to roses' actual beauty.

  • Darling Ida – How can I thank you for taking the time and care to write such a lovely review of A Rose Is A Rose? Your very descriptions are fragrant! It was a challenge to create a rose perfume that didn't smell like one that already exists so I spent time in the rose garden at the Fenway with my eyes closed, inhaling the nectar of the glorious Queen of Flowers.
    BTW, we would be happy to offer a 1 oz. bottle to one of your readers so you don't have to use your personal stock.
    Fragrant Dreams & Happy Spring to all!!!

    Neil

  • I just received a dozen roses completely unexpectedly a couple of days ago…never underestimate the power of flowers! My mood instantly changed 100%…and the scent- my kitchen was immediately filled with it…I'm also a lover of the rose in perfume…when done properly, the fragrance is truly intoxicating…thank God Spring is finally here…flowers blooming, the pale green of the leaves on the trees…"And frosts are slain and flowers begotten, And in green underwood and cover Blossom by blossom the spring begins…" (A. Swinburne)…

  • Ida-
    Thank you for the incredible review of A Rose Is A Rose.  I marvel at the way you weave literature, art, and perfumery together in your writing.  Looking forward to seeing you at Sniffa!
    XO
    dg 

  • Ida, thank you for the wonderful review! One of my favorite fresh roses is Annick Goutal Ce Soir Ou Jamais. My favorite sexy rose is Agent Provacateur. And i am really enjoying using Duchess Marsden's rose scented face wash these days.!

  • I love real roses on the bush, there is nothing like their scent.  It is a difficult one to reproduce in fragrance, though.  Sometimes rose scents are too harsh or cloying (as I've found with Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose, or Eternity).  It seems to work better when blended with another flower, as in YSL Paris (love those roses & violets!).  Dawn Spencer Hurwitz captured a light, fresh rose in her American Beauty.  Hope springs eternal, and I'm sure there must be other rose perfumes out there that evoke the real thing.  I'd love to try A Rose is a Rose!

  • My godmother had a beautiful rose garden with various types and colors.  As a child I loved going into the garden especially after a rainstorm when they seemed to smell the best.  I would love to try this scent.  Thank you.

  • In the fold of roses exists a quiet poetry as one experiences the visual beauty and then is drawn by the scent to a dream like, other worldly, romantic plateau that is most pleasing.  As ever be well

  • This piece just gave me a reminder of the poem I wrote about roses when I was in the seventh grade! So thanks you for putting that smile on my face! I agree with another of your commentators that Annick Goutal Rose Absolue, would be a favorite of mine as well (favorite however being Gardenia Passion). Wearing  a rose scent reminds me of the backyard of my neighbor in Ozone Park, NY where I grew up. My neighbor, Rose, from Italy made pastina for me and had a wonderful rose garden that I was always tempted by but forbidden to touch. The smell was always heavy on windy days when she was tending to them. Our driveways had less than 12 feet between them so it was a lovely first memory to have of the flower.
      In the matter of scents and body chemistry,I have a torrid affair with rose scents in that I adore them, and think they smell delicious but my spouse thinks I smell like I belong at the dollar store scented soap aisle! Rose is difficult to produce authentically  (correctly), in that it is quite easy to duplicate a generic sweet layerless rose scent ultimately the result of that smells cheap. So, to get a Rose fix, I use drops of Rose Petal Water that my mom gets for me at Whole Foods.
    My fondest memory of roses is the feel of the chilled petals on my pillow in a valentines day surprise I awoke to once in my single days.

  • What a lovely article, dear Ida! I am loving to pieces my sample of A Rose. Instant lemming.

  • I don't think I have yet sniffed a rose that I didn't like!  No, make that LOVE!  There is nothing more beautiful than a dewy, fragrant rose.  I have sniffed Neil's fragrances and would love to try any new creations, especially if they include a rose note!!

  • My signature perfume is Roses Musk by Montale
    This was the beginning of an endless love affair between roses et moi…
    Roses represent the fragility of woman’s romantic soul.. the thirst to be explored by someone who will value their enchanting different aromas…
    BUT! Be aware men…. every true rose has it’s thorn… even if it can’t be seen.

  • I've sniffed this.  It is beautiful.  I also love Neil's Vanille Rose.  A lovely fragrance, that fills one with a sense of wistful nostalgia.

  • SO sad to miss SNIFFA….But maybe more of my flowers will be in bloom…I'm a huge fan of Neil's scents…The dark ones and the florals…They all amaze mE….

  • Wish i could be at Sniffa, maybe next time. But i do love Rose fragrances, one of my favorites is the DSH American Beauty…such a stunning scent, followed by Serge Lutens Rose de Nuit and Caron Rose. To this favorite list i will be happy to add Neils newest creation. I was fortunate to test a sample i received with my last purchase and must say i was smitten, its a straight up beautiful Rose fragrance. Lovely and very easy to wear. There are so many wonderful Rose fragrances out there and they are all beautiful in their own realm. Depending on what type of Rose you like, i think A Rose is a Rose would be a wonderful Rose fragrance to have in your collection.

  • Oh good – I'm not too late! I would love to find a new rose to love, and this one sounds special. I am in awe of Neil Morris and his range of beautiful fragrances. His Hologram is one of my favorite perfumes. Thank you for the generous draw!

  • Haunani why don’t use rss feature our draws will be changed next month to lead time of 2 days during the week before closing and we are only posting on cafleurebon Mark Behnke and my wall unless it’s cafleurebon behind the bottle a new fb page we will do one tweet a day

    Everything else will be shared by readers