Jovana Rikalo for Stocksy United
This winter I have been trying to choose a sampling of my favorite rose perfumes to send to a friend who lives in a beautiful house she likes to call her "Rose Cottage". No matter what other roses I choose for her perfumed care package, I know I must include M. Micallef Rose Extrême. Have you ever wanted to bathe in rose petals? If you can't gather enough rosebuds for that experience, why not waft a single spritz of M. Micallef Rose Extrême (2013), the ultimate in relaxing, opulent rose perfumes. M. Micallef Rose Extrême features Bulgarian rose petals (absolute and oil) floating in a steamy bath of amber, peach, sandalwood and vanilla. Opening moist and balmy, Rose Extrême soothes body and spirit with the transparent luster of fragrant peach-toned rose, suffused and surrounded with the intimate touch and feel of more juicy peach, gilded with golden amber and swimming in rich sweet osmanthus. I luxuriate in this elixir of flowers for eight hours and more before M. Micallef Rose Extrême slowly vanishes into a mist of sandalwood and musk. Gail Gross – Senior Editor
Collage by Robert H
Every day is Valentine’s Day at our house. Having both come out of less than wonderful relationships, my spouse and I decided 23 years ago to never forget to notice and appreciate each other with gifts, flowers, cards, and lots of “I love you’s.” When the REAL valentine Day rolls around it’s just a chance to make “THE GRAND GESTURE”, whatever that may be! For me it’s time to pull out the big-guns of Rose-centric perfumes. Here are the two under consideration…. Created in 2008 by nose Daniel Visentin under the creative direction of Christopher Chong, Amouage Lyric Man remains one of the top tier rose scents in my collection. Masterfully blended, Lyric Man successfully melds together both classic French and Middle-Eastern styles of perfumery with results that are flat-out astonishing. Deep, complex, and multi-layered, Lyric Man dials back the smoky incense vibe of Lyric Woman in favor of a deep forest pine note tinged with spices reminiscent of a Middle Eastern Souk. The result is an uber-rose that is at the top of its game and should be in everyone’s collection. Magnificent. One of my favorite rose scents of all time is Stephane Humbert Lucas 777’s 2013 release Rose De Petra. I’ve written about it so many times I’m sure everyone’s tired of hearing about it. However a rose this good simply will not be ignored! A rich jammy rose spiced up and laying on a suede blanket, Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Rose De Petra is flat out bottled sex, and one of the few scents that always prompts my spouse to nibble my neck while inhaling deeply, and that my friends is a win-win in my book. Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor
Atheneum perfume of roses by Charles CourtneyCurran
Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur Extrait (2014/ Neela Vermeire with Bertrand Duchaufour): For those who know me, I am not a rose perfume fan. I don’t really love the flower itself. Deputy editor Tama Blough (who passed in 2015) would post photos of peonies, daisies…anything but roses on my Facebook wall. In the 80s, I owned Guerlain Nahema Extrait, with its peachy voluptuous sensuality. Then it was gone. There are echoes of Nahema in Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur Extrait, not in its composition but in its brilliance. Look past the obvious inspiration of melding East and Western sensibilities; its greatness and absolute perfection stands on its own. The true Queen of Flowers is crowned in spice, then bathed in benzoin and rich amber. Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur Extrait is the voice of someone I loved and the plaintiff echoes of a melody that I can’t get out of my head. Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur Extrait is similar to Neela’s original Mohur, but deeper, richer and absolutely unforgettable. I don’t think of it as rose perfume, but as a religious experience. If you are like me and shy away when you read that a fragrance has notes of rose and oud…. Mohur Extrait will change your mind. Notes: cardamom, coriander, ambrette, carrot, black pepper, elemi, Turkish rose oil, jasmine, hawthorn, almond milk accord, leather, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, oudh Palao from Laos, benzoin, vanilla, and tonka bean – Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
With Gratitude to Parfums M. Micallef for a 50 ml (495 EU) flacon of Rose Extreme for a registered reader worldwide
Mohur Extrait
Merci tres chere Neela for a 50 ml ($445) flacon of Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur Extrait to a registered reader EU, US and Canada
For our Valentine’s Day Tournament finale, please leave a comment on which Rose perfumes from today’s Tournament appeal to you based on Gail’s, Robert’s and Michelyn’s reviews: where you live and which you would like to win from what is being offered. You must be a registered reader to enter or your comment will not count. Draw closes February 4, 2019
Follow us on Instagram @Cafleurebon @Fragrantwander @azarsmith7 @neelavermeirecreations @parfumsmicallef
Enter our Roses for Valentine’s Day Tournament #1 (Marianne Butler and Lauryn Beer) here
Enter our Roses for Valentine’s Day Tournament # 2 (Danu Seith Fyr and Ermano Picco) here
Enter our Roses for Valentine’s Day Tournament #3 (Despina Veneti and Sebastian Jara) here
Enter our Roses for Valentine’s Day Tournament # 4 (Ida Meister and The Silver Fox) here
We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.