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03/27/2013
Coutureguru
223 Reviews
Coutureguru
Helpful Review
5
1001 Nights and Roses
I procured a bottle of this recently from a fellow fragrance lover who was 'spring cleaning' her collection at an extremely reasonable price. Had I paid full retail for it I would undoubtedly have been disappointed ... while Glistening is very nice I could never justify the money it retails for.
As a Taif Rose soliflore, Glistening is pretty much exactly where it is supposed to be. This rose from the mountains of Saudi Arabia is quite legendary and carries with it a certain mystical allure. After all, who would expect Roses to actually grow in the desert?
Taif Roses carry a certain 'ooziness' in their smell, akin to plump little blobs of Turkish Delight, not quite gourmand but definitely reminiscent of delicacy. A little research into the history of these flowers and the unlikely place they grow in lends credence to their ancient mystery, with Sultans and Sheiks perfuming everything from themselves to their camels with their essence.
Taif Roses also have a 'mushroomy' quality, quite apparent in this simplistic version by Boadicea. I have smelled the same fungal quality in Rose fragrances by Frederic Malle and a few other niche brands and to be quite honest, this is what attracts me to Taif Rose so much. The thing is, I work for Arabs ... so I have been in the position of sampling the highest quality Taif Rose oil in Taif whilst visiting there. It is obviously diluted here in Glistening ... but nonetheless quite genuine smelling.
The Rose here is intensely rosy (I can see why Sherapop calls it high pitched) ... but I have become accustomed to this particular type of Rose and I really adore it. This is not an English country garden Rose ... rather, it has a bright quality about it ... like the blade of a curved scimitar whistling through the air.
I have a bottle of Taif Rose by Al Haramain in my collection, bought for a pittance at £20. The smell is identical to that of Glistening! It's not necessary to spend the ridiculous Boadicea asking price for a fancy bottle and sliding cardboard box.
As a Taif Rose soliflore, Glistening is pretty much exactly where it is supposed to be. This rose from the mountains of Saudi Arabia is quite legendary and carries with it a certain mystical allure. After all, who would expect Roses to actually grow in the desert?
Taif Roses carry a certain 'ooziness' in their smell, akin to plump little blobs of Turkish Delight, not quite gourmand but definitely reminiscent of delicacy. A little research into the history of these flowers and the unlikely place they grow in lends credence to their ancient mystery, with Sultans and Sheiks perfuming everything from themselves to their camels with their essence.
Taif Roses also have a 'mushroomy' quality, quite apparent in this simplistic version by Boadicea. I have smelled the same fungal quality in Rose fragrances by Frederic Malle and a few other niche brands and to be quite honest, this is what attracts me to Taif Rose so much. The thing is, I work for Arabs ... so I have been in the position of sampling the highest quality Taif Rose oil in Taif whilst visiting there. It is obviously diluted here in Glistening ... but nonetheless quite genuine smelling.
The Rose here is intensely rosy (I can see why Sherapop calls it high pitched) ... but I have become accustomed to this particular type of Rose and I really adore it. This is not an English country garden Rose ... rather, it has a bright quality about it ... like the blade of a curved scimitar whistling through the air.
I have a bottle of Taif Rose by Al Haramain in my collection, bought for a pittance at £20. The smell is identical to that of Glistening! It's not necessary to spend the ridiculous Boadicea asking price for a fancy bottle and sliding cardboard box.
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