The ship of Captain Alexandre J, the "Zafeer," has been anchored for many months. The last journey took a toll on her, as she has already traveled almost all the world's oceans. Imposing, majestic, and proud, she gently sways in front of the harbor city. The numerous carpenters, painters, and other craftsmen, who are either standing, lying, or hanging around her to take care of repairs, appear like busy ants compared to the mighty structure of the merchant ship.
Just now, Alexandre J has returned from his last journey, which he undertook with a significantly smaller ship. He is not a man who stays on land for long.
Like a little boy waiting for his returning father, the king eagerly anticipates the arrival of his world traveler. The stories and goods that Captain Alexandre J usually brings him are too exciting. At least he didn't have to wait as long this time, as the last journey was much shorter than he is used to.
Today, the men will be among themselves as they examine the goods brought back and indulge in tales about the here and now or reminisce about old times. Alexandre J himself had asked the monarch for this meeting without the usual invited guests shortly before his departure.
Even though he has always enjoyed the attention and even admiration of the men and women of the nobility and all the children, he has become calmer.
The strains of many journeys, illnesses on board, exotic food, and an unfillable emptiness in his heart after ever greater treasures and the search for true love have aged the sailor.
Nevertheless, he will likely sail the seas until a breeze carries his last breath away over the waves.
The time at court and with the king has already progressed far that evening.
Alexandre J has presented new fruits, fabrics, oils, hides, and furs, as well as wines and spices, with his usual elaborate words to an attentively listening ruler. Laughter, astonishment, and drinking occur repeatedly in between.
When the last item is set aside, the king leans past Alexandre J to see if he might be hiding something behind his back.
When he finds nothing, he moves closer to him and whispers, "Did you not find what I sent you for?"
Before the sailor can respond, both ensure that the queen has not entered the throne room unnoticed.
Then they lean their heads together again. With a sweeping hand gesture, Alexandre J produces a small box covered in dark red velvet and embroidered with gemstones from an inner pocket of his cloak, which immediately excites the monarch.
He had asked the captain before his departure to bring him a unique treasure that he could gift to his wife as a sign of his affection.
Since she loves flowers, scented oils, and perfumed waters above all, it must be something very special.
Impatiently, the king pushes aside the small latch on the box, which then allows the lid to spring open slightly. But that is enough for both men to already catch a whiff of a pleasant scent emanating from it.
He curiously lifts the lid, and before him lies a small red carafe wrapped in gold with a richly decorated stopper. As he pulls out the cork, the contents instantly release their magic.
The scent of roses, spiced with pepper, tickles the king's nostrils as he inhales the escaping vapors, completely captivated. An oily substance drips from the glass tube attached to the cork onto his hand, enhancing the fragrance with its emanating warmth.
“Rose. Pepper. There must be wood in there,” the king notes, nodding in agreement as he now immerses his entire face in the floating vapors. “A lot of wood,” he adds as he takes a deep breath, “and, as if the scent is trapped in the wood, it carries their shared notes into the air.” Indeed, the fragrant veil increasingly settles into the atmosphere of the hall, captivating, hypnotizing, and intoxicating.
Satisfied and confident to hold the right gift for his wife, the king exuberantly thanks Alexandre J, who knows better than anyone how to bring various delights in carafes, jugs, or boxes to him.
Later, in his chamber in the palace, Alexandre J rummages out another nearly identical box from another inner pocket of his cloak. He was so taken by the pleasant scent at the merchant that he also acquired a specimen for himself. This in case he might fall for another love besides the sea. A woman who can conquer his heart must be as special as the scent in the little red carafe.
He pulls out the cork and awaits the emerging aromas. Leaning back against the pillow of his bed, he enjoys once more the rose, the tickling pepper, and the abundant wood that had caught the king's attention. But his nose perceives even more. A fruity hint mingles with the vapors of the oil. He is sure it is either a ripe but not overripe peach or a plum, perhaps both.
Intoxicated by the spreading, intoxicating clouds in the walls of the chamber, he just closes the bottle before surrendering to the pleasant scent and his dreams that night.
From today's perspective, "Rose Alba" is certainly a fragrance that can be described as unisex. Depending on the projection of one's own body scent, it can become woodier, more floral, or fruitier. The pepper note will nonetheless contribute its sparkling spicy note and carry and guide the fragrance. I do not perceive vanilla in its otherwise known form here. It seems to act on the edge or amidst the fruits, where it holds back significantly and does not stand out through sweetness. Simply a rounding accompaniment that adds a balancing warmth to this composition without interfering with the other components in their actions.
"Rose Alba" is for me a harmonious and balanced creation with, as I perceive, a hint and really only a little of "Amouage Epic Woman" vibes in it. Indeed, in the pyramids of both, pepper, rose, sandalwood, and other woods, vanilla, and musk are listed.
This creates a kind of muted version of the green fragrance gem from Amouage in this "The Collector" edition.
So, for those who find the original too strong or who are bothered by cumin or find it irritating to the nose but otherwise find the fragrance direction appealing, they could give this scent in red and gold a try. The whole comes across less forcefully, and the fragrance notes glide more smoothly in the transitions. Epic Woman shows more splitting of the individual aromas and clearer, distinct projections.
Meanwhile, Captain Alexandre J has long arrived in his dreams.
Firmly in his hand... the little red carafe.
Top Notes 
Bergamot
Peach skin
Pepper
Plum
Heart Notes 
Rose
Base Notes 
Australian sandalwood
Vanilla
White musk
Woody notes
Scylla
