Ruth Mastenbroek Firedance (Ruth Mastenbroek) 2017 ~ New Perfume Review + “The British Are Here” Draw

Ruth Mastenbroek

Ruth Mastenbroek one of England’s finest and most celebrated independent perfumers has just alerted us to some great news; not only are her perfumes available in the USA at long last (at the launchpad of so many fantastic International brands Indigo Perfumery), but with them comes a wonderful and sexy fragrance called Firedance.

Time was (April 1775 to be exact) that the call to arms “The British are coming” would have you either reaching for your musket and powder horn or taking your family to a safe location.These days that same cry will have you grabbing your credit card and rushing down to local niche perfumery intent on discovering what new scented treasures may have arrived from the UK. One of these treasures is the exquisite perfume range from Ruth Mastenbroek.

Ruth Maestenbroek via the Guardian.com

“For the past 40 years I have worked with oils, essences, flowers and spices to create fragrances. I adore perfume and get to work with some of the most exquisitely scented materials on earth. I have loved fragrance all my life… My perfumery palette is my playground, my refuge, my source of inspiration.To follow my dream of becoming a perfumer, and armed with a degree in chemistry from Oxford, I spent time training in Grasse, France, and at Naarden International (now Givaudan) studying alongside brilliant perfumers including Olivier Cresp, and Jacques Cavallier. After my perfumery career took me to Holland, France and Japan, I returned to England where I set up my own company creating fragrances to order. I’ve created fragrances for many different brands, including Jo Malone, Kenneth Turner, Prismologie and Jigsaw, and was President of the British Society of Perfumers. Searching for freedom of expression in my work, I launched my own range of fragrances in 2010… you could say they are made up of the scents of my life’s journey – the past and present creating the future…” -Ruth Mastenbroek

Ruth Mastenbroek Firedance via screenshot of video

Ruth’s three previous Eau de Parfums (Signature, Amorosa, and Oxford) are extraordinary perfumes, masterfully blended using top-tier ingredients, and Firedance is no exception; created in celebration of those small moments in life of extreme contentment. Firedance is quite simply a revelation in rose, leather, and oudh.

Ruth Mastenbroek’s new packaging via Ruth

Ruth is also premiering all new packaging, with each perfume charmingly represented by a cut paper illustration encased in a single drop of fragrance. As Ruth explains it “Every perfume is a masterpiece. Every drop tells a story”. Masterpiece indeed.

 Rose Dancer via flickr

Firedance opens with mouthwatering and tart apple and lemon, bright and pithy with an olfactive “crunch”, the sense of biting into a perfect autumn apple, feeling the burst of flavor in your mouth and having the juices run down your chin. Almost immediately the rose appears like a Diva in a spotlight.

Kate Wormald as Carmen Photo by James Morgan 2013

 This is a perfume that is all about the rose. Fragrance friends who know me, understand that I have an addiction to rose scents, some call me a “Rose Ho’” a moniker that I proudly cherish. The rose in Firedance is a big, blousy Damask Rose, that’s fiery in the best Flamenco dance sort of way, big and bold, hot and sweaty; the rose that Carmen would wear in the tattered bodice of her blouse.

Patti Lupone in Gypsy Rose Lee  2008 Broadway Revival (photo New York Film Academy)

Or Mama Rose in the finale of “Gypsy” shouting to the universe “Here she is boys! Here she is world! Here’s Rose!” A rose of seduction. Firedance takes no prisoners. None. This is a rose that takes names (and numbers) for later. And later, she’s still there. Firedance lasts on the skin forever, surrounding one in a personal cloud of sublime rose, leather and oudh.

Notes: Apple, lemon, damask rose, leather, cashmere, oudh, patchouli

Disclosure: Thank you SO much to Indigo Perfumery for supplying my sample. The opinions are my own.

–Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor

-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

 Firedance Eau de Parfum 

Thanks to Indigo Perfumery, the exclusive US stockist and Ruth Mastenbroek we have one 50 ml. bottle of Firedance for one registered reader in either the USA or EU so be sure to register if you have not done so. There is one winner. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Robert’s review of Firedance, if you have a favorite Ruth Mastenbroek perfume and where you live. Do you LOVE Rose Perfumes?  Draw closes on 11/6/2017

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon @fragrantwanderer @indigoperfumery @ruthmastenbroek

We announce the winners only on our website and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

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27 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    Ruth has had 40 years of experience so that is a lot. Firedance has interesting notes like oud and rose. I have never tried anything from Ruth before. I am in US.

  • Alen says:

    For me this part “Firedance opens with mouthwatering and tart apple and lemon” , got all my attention :)) i would love to try this one. About the rose note i really adore the rose-oud combo. I live in the EU, thanks for the chance.

  • pants says:

    as always, i love robert’s creative writing. his cheeky, wry sense of humor comes through (& makes me smile!). i, too, am a rose ‘ho & would love to smell firedance. i haven’t had the chance to smell any of ruth’s creations & live in the US. thank you for this opportunity!

  • oldandsmelly says:

    I live in the US and I really liked how Robert let Ruth speak for herself. I also appreciated the term “Rose ho”. I do not have a favorite Ruth Mastenbroek perfume and I would say that yes, I do appreciate rose perfumes, they are timeless.

  • Diana D says:

    Lovely review! I adore rose fragrances of all kinds. Light, airy, feminine ones and deep, sensual rich ones. I’ve never tried any fragrances from Ruth Mastenbroek. I’d love for this to be my first!
    I live in the U.S.

  • mrpeeck says:

    “Here she is BOYS” and she takes no prisoners… I as a male have had to research and through time have began to appreciate the note of rose in fragrances… Sometimes the thought of rose is so wrong but yet such a beautiful scent… Juicy Apple with the contrast of sharpened lemon with the heart of rose and based with oud and leather sounds wonderful! So yes count me in the draw… I do live in the US… THANK YOU

  • Maya says:

    I certainly do love rose perfumes. A flamingo dance fire rose perfume made from “top-tier ingredients” should be grand. I love the name, Firedance. I have not tried any Ruth Mastenbroek perfumes. I live in the US.

  • Hasib says:

    NIce. Would like to try this out. I’m liking the notes in this fragrance
    Haven’t heard of this perfume house. Still looking for a favorite rose based fragrance. Thanks

  • Rae Lynn says:

    “Rose, leather, and oudh”, what more could I ask for! Finding lovely rose perfumes is a constant search for me. I am in the US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I love Robert’s admission that he’s a “Rose Ho.” Ruth Mastenbroek obviously brings a wealth of experience in the creation of this scent. It sounds vibrant and gorgeous. I have not tried any of the other scents of her line. I’m beginning to like rose scents. I grew many in my garden and never got into them in fragrance, but now I am. Many thanks for the draw. I live in the USA

  • Lean S says:

    I am a reader from the US. I have not yet tried any Ruth Mastenbroek perfumes, but I am willing to bet I will love this one as I too am a huge fan of rose scents, and have always been. I especially love all the varieties of takes on rose, and Firedance seems particularly intriguing. I love that this review praises the prevalence of the rose in the perfume, with a dash of sass in that prideful enjoyment of rose at that. Thank you!

  • Marcus says:

    I’m not aware that I am familiar with one of her creations. The bottles are beautiful, and Fireplace sounds promising. I’m in MDCI Cuir Garamante today, which is another Rose/Leather/Oud scent, probably darker though. My rose scent #1 is and wil be Frapin Nevermore: smoky, masculine and simply amazing.
    Happy to win in Germany.

  • J.H. says:

    I love rose. There are many rose and oud combo out there which tend to be similar, so I’m curious of this “crunchy” feeling! Thank you for the chance! I live in EU.

  • Marzipan says:

    II do love rose fragrances and Robert’s review has really made me want to try Firedance. The notes sound perfect for fall ! Thank you for introducing me to a new perfume line and perfumer as I am not familiar with this line. I reside in the USA.

  • Iuno Feronia says:

    I love rose perfumes as well and I am always searching for a new rose – Firedance sounds intersting with the apple and the lemon notes. I dont know any of her perfumes but I would like to try one.

    I live in the EU-thanks for this generous draw.

  • d3m0lici0n says:

    I’m a guy and i love rose perfumes, i always look for a good rose fragrance.
    What sounds good about it? Big and bold , hot and sweaty rose plus add the leather and oud and it just simply sounds awesome.
    I don’t know any of her fragrances so i can’t tell a favorite.
    I live in the US.
    Thanks

  • Debra Ellen says:

    Thank you for the offer and the lovely review. I did not know of Ruth’s work until this. I was struck by the idea of her perfumes as a journey – merging past and present and future. I love rose as well and am on a constant search for rose perfumes that truly honor and celebrate this flower. Rose ho’s unite! I live in Los Angeles. Thanks again for the generosity.

  • kaitracid says:

    I like rose scents quite a bit and this review left me wanting to try Firedance, especially when it’s paired with leather and oud. I am not familiar with the line, but I like the new packaging.
    Thanks for the draw. EU

  • Raee says:

    I didn’t used to love rose, but I am slowly getting to appreciate rose.
    The Firedance seems fascinating as it is rose mixing with leather. I have smelled rose and oud but not this other combo with leather.

    The new presentation also looks nice.

    In US.

  • cyndih says:

    Flamenco Dance Rose??? Yes Please! I am obsessed with Rose, especially the kind in which Robert has described here – big. bold, wild and arresting. And with Oud (one of my favorite notes) in the mix, this sounds captivating! I have never tried any of the perfumers offerings before – and I live in Maryland, USA – thanks!

  • Timea says:

    This review was very enjoyable. Robert is really good at describing scents. And Firedance sounds like something fabulous. I very like the notes of this perfume. All of the notes sounds wonderfully. I have never had a chance to try any of Ruth Mastenbroek perfume. Thank you for the draw. I live in the EU.

  • Vahagn says:

    I love rose very much. But I have so many girles which do not like rose in fragrances, even rose-lovers woman in my friend are so rare. I am surprised who can woman do not like such a feminine, elegant smell such a rose smell.
    I liked Robert’s review and mosly liked how could describe rose scent as Carmen and her dress!!! So wonderful !!!
    I’ve never tested Ruth Mastenbroek perfume.
    USA, DE

  • Roxana says:

    I like perfumes and those that have rose in them make no exception. I am curious about “Firedance” because, from the review, it appears to be only about the rose. And a sweaty one too, which must be the leather or the oud note (at least this is how these two notes behave on my skin). It also have patchouli, which I love, so now am I really intrigued.
    Until this article, I haven’t heard about Ruth Mastenbroek. Reading about her professional training, I can only imagine that she knows how to make good fragrances.
    I live in the E.U. Thank you.

  • Cynthia says:

    I think this article is the best marriage of copy and photos you’ve done. I love the line, “Almost immediately the rose appears like a Diva in a spotlight.” And then scrolling down you immediately see the performer with the huge red fan tail that looks like a huge rose petal, seeimgly saying TaDa! Firedance sounds very interesting to me. A different sort of rose. Thanks for the review.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    I adore the packaging!! I have recently been intrigued by British fragrance houses, fortunately my local store started carrying a few more, but unfortunately not this one. I would love to try this. I know the British love their roses, so this is probably fantastic. I love that every drop tells a story. I only have 4 rose fragrances in my collection, I recently purchased Andy Tauer’s Rose Oil to “bump up” the rose and have been trying it with my rose fragrances. This one sounds like it would not need an extra rose “bump”. Thanks for the article.

  • doveskylark says:

    I love the reference to “Gypsy” and I love the word blousy. I am always on the lookout for perfumes that last forever and a day–my skin soaks everything to smithereens. Rose fragrance are the ones that seem to last longest on my skin.Today I’m wearing Bond no. 9 West Side mixed with a little chocolate body oil, and it is sublime.
    I live in the USA.

  • Tom Schroeder says:

    I like Robert’s description of the Rose, Leather, and Oud, and how it is bold, hot, and sweaty. Nice description! I am a huge rose lover, as that is my favorite note of all time. I haven’t yet sampled Rush Mastenbroek perfume, but will look out for it now. I live in San Jose, California, USA.