Voleur de Roses L'Artisan Parfumeur 1993

"Voleur de Roses" by L'Artisan Parfumeur has been on the market since 1993 and represents for me, along with "Portrait of a Lady," one of the ancestors (or rather, ancestresses? ;-) ) of the still widely popular rose-patchouli fragrances.

The opening is now known thanks to "Black Oud" as the classic "Montale opening" - watery-oily strong rose notes with citrus (and here additionally slightly plum-like) overtones - but the execution plays in a completely different league. This is an intense, very multifaceted, extensive, voluminous, layered rose scent that is finely differentiated and feels very natural (the image of a rose garden in full bloom right after a summer rain is often cited, and I find it very apt), paired with plenty of patchouli of the moist-earthy-woody variety. Very fine and rounded, not too sweet but often simply "beautiful" and very appealing and pleasant.

A wonderfully composed and balanced fragrance that conveys an impression of high quality and craftsmanship. For me, as a self-proclaimed patchouli rejecter, it is not wearable, but I greatly appreciate this high-quality scent for what it is and how it presents itself, now for almost 20 years.