Rrose Ellis Brooklyn 2016

I'm a dewy fresh rose lover, I used to love this Etude House rose perfume called Romantic, I love Diptyques Eau Rose EDT, and Maison Crivelli Rose Saltifolia. I also like a lot of the rose perfumes by Nest.

This rose is unique from the ones listed as it is far stronger in a clean– powder detergent– way, and opens with a blast of lemon which can kind of knock you out if you're not prepared. Don't scrub it yet!

The longevity of this perfume is amazing (at least on my skin), I get complimented on it at the END of my day after 5 to even 8 hours

It doesn't develop too much after the initial lemon wears off, it's a fresh rose that is punchy rather than soft and powdery. Like a rose with big pink petals that you can smell from a metre away.

It's my go to, especially in the Australian Summer when perfumes get defeated by the heat and all you want to do is smell CLEAN.

Second day without moral qualms, during which the precious time between packing boxes is used for a mood-lifting perfume test. After all, we are well on schedule, and towards the end, it always gets stressful, no matter how well you prepared for the move.

Rrose grabs my fingers, and I am completely unburdened in terms of brand when it comes to Ellis Brooklyn. However, based on the double Rs at the beginning, I suspect a particularly cheeky, confident rose that hits you full force and rolls the R playfully and aggressively.

The opening is pleasing: A fresh, clear, slightly sweet, lightly fruity rose settles on my skin, equally confident as expected, by no means too loud, yet cuddly, with a small touch of fabric softener that comes across here as more than pleasant and not too clean or even sharp.

In the meantime, I read a bit more: Lemon is included, which I expected due to the fruitiness. Black currants blend in well, appearing neither cat-like nor dominant. The pear provides the necessary creaminess and a hint of sweetness. Lotus and peony support my favorite rose, the centifolia or Grasse rose, in its floral character. Musk adds a portion of cleanliness. I can't detect anything from cashmere wood and vanilla orchid yet, maybe later.

As I sniff and enjoy, I reflect on my search for the perfect rose scent. It all started with a small sample from Kiehl’s that I couldn't get out of my head for years and that I categorized as the forever unattainable, perfect rose. There are some don’ts to consider with rose scents: they must not be too sweet, nor too fresh, so that you immediately think of cleaning products. Woods often make them too straw-floral, bergamot creates dill aromas in combination with rose in my nose. I don't want to smell any of that, but rather a natural, slightly citrus-fruity rose scent upfront, with a subtly earthy-sweet aroma at the back.

Moving on to the brand Ellis: This was founded three years ago in Brooklyn by New York Times columnist and perfume lover Bee Shapiro, with the mission of creating eco-friendly, fresh, and modern fragrances. So far, so sustainable.

Back to the scent: After a while, the rose weakens. The fresh and woody notes come through, forming a worthy conclusion to this Rrrrrose appearance. And even the next morning, a small, pleasant hint of the rose scent greets me from the sleeve of my sweater.

It’s not quite my perfect rose, as it lacks depth in the base, but Rrose is certainly a fresh and successful addition to my current rose parade.