Lipstick Rose Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle 2000

In a side by side test (on three members of my staff and my mother, all women teehee) Lipstick Rose beat Une Rose 4 to 0 :o). If I had to choose between them, Lipstick Rose would be the unfortunate loser.

'Violet pastilles', said one of my willing guinea pigs immediately. I concur ... the opening here smells strongly of violet with the vanilla adding a hefty punch of sweetness straight behind. Rather a culinary affair :o) ... i find it too sweet on my skin. The rose here is voluptuous and highly glamorous! Now, I like a jammy rose along with the best of them, but unfortunately Lipstick Rose feels like it was dumped in a vat of saccharine ... the sweet little pastry made a touch nauseating by the hefty snowfall of powdered sugar on top!
I can't say that I don't like it ... because I do! I would love to smell this on the women in my life (apparently so would they) ... but I do find myself leaning toward deeper and darker roses personally ... something a little less 'marshmallow-y'.

This one is undoubtedly a strong feminine, whereas I find Une Rose to be wonderfully unisex.

Yes, lipstick rose smells like a high end lipstick, but also like instant mood lifter, a clowns nose, the ruby red shoes you dream of, the red simple drawn heart you get from your five year old on valentines day and the feeling that anything goes... Wear it in the cold november rain and tell me it doesnt makes yoou at least a little happier, braver and even crazier... Your socks dont match, your hair is a mess, but you wear Lipstick Rose like a crazy red umbrella...

Roses so red they are fading to blue, amped up violets, creamy creamy creamy lushness and you are ready for some spansih flamenco in the middle of the street. Yeah! Not for everyday use though, overdose might causing Lipstick Rose to wear you instead of the other way around, only use when you are in the right mood. Forget about your hairbrush for a day baby!

Although judging from the smell of the sprayer, it might seems as though Frédéric Malle LIPSTICK ROSE is nothing more than a lipstick scent facsimile, it is really much more complex on the skin.

The rose is deep and creamy and slightly sweet with mingling violets and vanilla. Not too sweet though, and there is a decided waxiness to the overall composition which even becomes slightly sharp and crayon-y now and then, in undulating wafts.

The drydown becomes somewhat more sweet and a bit less waxy, but from start to finish this is a very feminine, lovely rose perfume! The sillage is medium and the longevity good--feels like a real edp.

LIPSTICK ROSE is far more glamourous and inviting than the dowager rose soliflores. Perfect for those who hate dry, green, uptight tea rose perfumes but still want to smell like a rose. To me, this creation seems very seductive.

It smells exactly like the classic "vintage" lipsticks. EXACTLY.

I get no violet at all. Just a very waxy rose. After it warms up I get more vanilla and amber, giving the waxy rose a bit of a creamy base. There is also a hint of generic "floral" in there. It has moderate sillage and pretty good longevity.

It's a really amazing work of art. I'm absolutely blown away at how well the artist captured that "vintage" lipstick scent. I just don't know if I want to go around smelling like a cosmetic I rarely wear. I can't argue though that it gets five stars for pure artistry. This man is a master of his art.

May
31
2014

One of the most abstract and fun perfumes from Edition de Parfums, a line often referred to as "cold" or "dull." Lipstick Rose is not a dull or cold perfume. It fills me with joy every time I smell it. For many reasons. For one, it does stay true to its name, accurately capturing that waxy-cosmetic texture that could relate to the make-up product. I remember being utterly fascinated the first time I tried it, never imagining that it could so vividly capture the "lipstick" accord. Then, it recalls scents that I can trace back to my grandmother, most likely her cosmetic products, therefore, it has a beautifully nostalgic impact and retro flair. Finally, it feels like a comical interpretation of a Rose perfume, like a bizarre caricature of the flower. Thoroughly fun and highly original. I believe it was the first of its genre back in 2000 when it was released. I feel Ralf Schwieger is such an underrated perfumer. I wish he signed more creations for Frederic Malle. His perfumes seem very clever, a bit peculiar, with a ubiquitous amount of laughter in them.

Lipstick Rose is first and foremost a rose perfume, with many twists and turns. If you don't like Rose perfumes, give this one a try. If you just want to try something fun, get a sample. Even though nowadays this DNA has been done to death, I still believe no one does it as well. The opening is bright and sparkling with fruity accords like pomelo and raspberry. There is a fizziness about it that makes me think of champagne. I love this introduction, and it is one of the reasons why I enjoy Lipstick Rose in the heat. It's such an invigorating kick that lasts for a good while. The mid is dominated by floral accords, where the Rose takes center stage. A pink and green, bright and fresh rose. The violet plays gently around it to imbue a slightly powdery feel and to complement the fruity accords, then later in the evolution, the iris comes to add this waxy and lipstick-like texture, which creates the overall impression of a cosmetic product. It reminds me of Dior Homme and the way the iris is used there to suggest a similar effect. The base is ambery-musky with vanilla that never cloys but wears as a Frederic Malle perfume should, elegant and poised. Therefore, I have no problem wearing it in the heat.

For many years, I enjoyed smelling this perfume but felt unsure about wearing it till I realized it is such an abstract piece of art that one cannot put a gender on it. How could you put a gender on a Picasso or a Kandinsky? I think men should look past the name and give this a try. If you have your looks down and know how to dress it up, it can make for a brilliant match.

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