Le Parfum Rose Couture Elie Saab 2016

I picked up a sample of this yesterday because I loved it in store. Francis Kurkdjian really does a nice job with roses, and Rose Couture is no exception. The rose does not beat you over the head because it's intertwined with peony and some light caramel nougat. Very nicely done. Not heady, as many rose-based perfumes can be, but light, refreshing, summery. This morning I took that sample and sprayed myself around my head about six times! And that brings me to my major beef: The longevity stinks. I don't think I even got to the three hour mark. The sillage is soft and gets softer and softer until there is no trace left. Reapplication is a must!

Now for part 2: I've applied Rose Couture on my left wrist, and Nina Ricci L'Extase (another Francis Kurkdjian creation) to my right. I wanted to see if the stated similarities (in other people's reviews) are truly there. At the very top, they are extremely close. But upon drydown, the Rose Couture veers in a brighter, fresher direction and the peony/rose combo becomes prevalent. The L'Extase goes deeper and richer with a syrupy rose and caramel underlay. At the very base, the caramel/amber becomes operative on both, but still with enough of a difference to tell them apart.

Verdict: I honestly cannot decide which one is better. Rose Couture seems ideal for daytime applications such as work, church, school, etc. L'Extase seems to be made for sultry summer nights. Both are top quality and have very nice bottles (if you also buy based on the flacons, like I'm prone to doing!). L'Extase lasts longer...waaaaay longer, and that one thing gives it the edge, IMO. Plus, I already own it, so there's that.

It's not the worst perfume out there but it's not the best either. Overall, I find it rather boring. To me, this reads more "floral" than "rose." One thing came to mind the entire time I was wearing it; ladies feminine wipes. That's exactly what this smells like to me. Smells clean and pleasant enough but just not special in any way, shape or form. Just "meh." The bottle is really pretty though but unfortunately, that's what I like about it the most. This one won't be taking up valuable space in my collection.

Why did the marketing departments of the major manufacturers (P&C, L'Oréal, Beauté Prestige International, etc.) all have the same impulse in 2016? Roses, roses everywhere...
Armani is releasing this year the rose flanker to "Si" by Julie Massé, Elie Saab is doing the same. Only that Kurdijan is the perfumer for E. Saab - and he knows his craft, having much more experience than Julie Massé.
So he has created a beautiful and unobtrusive floral scent that will appeal to anyone who cannot stand extreme rose perfumes. What comes into play here in "Rose Couture" is rather a floral hint in the top note, which I would describe as "pink," not necessarily "rose" in the strict sense. It is this floral note that you often smell in contemporary products, slightly sugary, peony-like.
The heart note allows the original scent to shine through, as the orange blossom is very prominent. By the way, it is quite synthetic, but still good. The drydown is one of those modern blends of woody notes that you also smell in "La vie est belle" (or in the regular E. Saab scent). In any case, it is a very successful modern composition that I personally prefer over the rose scent from Armani "Si" or the new rose flanker from Dolce&Gabbana "Dolce Rosa Excelsa." It seems that 2016 has ushered in rosy times in perfumery. Probably an escapist reaction to the threats from politics... (think of Donald Trump, the AfD, or ISIS). Roses allow us to beautifully forget all the misery around us... - so let it rain roses, pink and red, yellow and violet... just as long as there are no brown ones.

Yesterday while shopping I forgot the butter.
So I quickly jumped into Aldi to grab what I needed.
My husband calls out to me from the car, warning: "But just the butter!"
Yes, yes, I understand.

But in the sales area, roses are displayed in all the colors of the rainbow - a feast for the eyes and nose!
And the whole splendor at a sensational price!
I can't help but take 5 in orange, pink, and red.
With a handful of roses, I hurry back to the car, where my husband awaits, shaking his head, as the garden is already bursting with roses.
I just can't get enough of this proud, elegant flower - or its scent.

And just like a handful of roses, Rose Couture is too.
Although the rose scent here is delicate and transparent, it is still quite noticeable.
The rose nectar is rather subtle than rich.
Light fruity notes blend in, sweetened by floating vanilla.

I think of my white "Snow White Rose," which exudes a subtle, slightly fruity sweet scent.
Some of its relatives have a distinctly heavier, fuller fragrance.
But I also like this airy lightness of the Snow White.
And so light and unobtrusive is Rose Couture too.

A carefree, softly elegant scent that makes every gardener's heart skip a beat.

Do not complain about the thorns on a rose bush - but rejoice in a thorn bush of roses.

I have been testing Le Parfum Rose Couture for a few months now, and it has been part of my collection for a few days. A truly beautiful, rosy summer fragrance.

Le Parfum Rose Couture starts off rosy, sweet, and slightly fruity. I like it very much right away.
The floral notes clearly dominate and do not fade away for quite some time. After a while, I begin to notice the vanilla and rose nectar more prominently. I really enjoy this combination, and at that moment, I could practically stick my nose to my wrist. From now on, Rose Couture is and remains quite close to the skin. This does not change in the base.
The patchouli and sandalwood in the base are not very intensely perceivable, but they blend in well.

I really like Rose Couture as a fragrance and find that it is a very nice scent for spring and summer. I also prefer it significantly over the Eau de Parfum.
However, I wish the longevity and sillage were better.