Rosamunda Laboratorio Olfattivo 2012

Rose, saffron, and oud have become a popular combination of notes in the last couple of years. Lots of niche perfume houses have launched their version of what is without question a pleasing conjunction of notes. Laboratorio Olfattivo ROSAMUNDA is one of the more recent examples. Because ROSAMUNDA throws some patchouli into the mix, this composition lies at the intersection of the rose-saffron-oud and the rose-patchouli perfumes familiar to me, including Juliette Has A Gun VENGEANCE EXTREME, which may be the most extreme combination of rose and patchouli around. Well, it's certainly loud!

The first time that I applied ROSAMUNDA, I thought immediately of Bond no 9 NEW YORK OUD, which to my nose is more of a saffron-rose than an oud-rose. So I decided to do a side-by-side test and discovered that I prefer the Bond precisely because the oud is lower key and the rose is amped up. For that same reason, those who were disappointed with NEW YORK OUD may prefer ROSAMUNDA, as the oud is quite a bit more marked than either the rose or the saffron. I also detect a significant dose of ambroxan in this composition, which some people really dig (although I do not...).

These are all fine shades of difference, however. The rose-oud-saffron (plus or minus patchouli) perfumes abound, so choosing the best one has got to involve a skin test. ROSAMUNDA is not my favorite of either the trendy triad or the rose-patchouli perfumes currently available, but I'm sure that others may fall in love with it, depending on their idiosyncratic tastes.

Here’s another winner from this fairly underrated and totally respectable brand. Nothing groundbreaking, but a solid, rich, unpretentious yet absolutely well-made rose-patchouli-oud scent. Rosamunda smells of genuine, simple, lively and dense rose with initially a bright frame rich in alluring, warm nuances: patchouli, woods, something spicy (cumin, I think), perhaps carnation and something ambery-resinous providing a super cozy and utterly pleasant feel of warmth. As minutes pass it becomes then darker as the oud note emerges; it’s a synthetic a uninteresting kind of oud, but it works here, as it seems basically meant to provide just a dry-smoky shade on the base. So, basically an Oriental ambery rose-patchouli-oud scent; dark yet warm and “friendly”, also thanks to the sweet touch of sandalwood. That’s it: it may sound generic, but it isn’t. It’s simple but so nicely blended that it ends up it being quite distinctive, terribly pleasant to wear, much elegant, as much unpretentious as memorable. And well made to any extent in my opinion. Given the fair price, can’t go wrong with this. The only flaw may be the persistence, which isn’t great, but apart from that, another solid offering from this solid Italian brand (far more solid than most of others here, if you ask me).

7,5/10

I don’t like rose scents and I of course did not like this either lol. It opens with a blast of rose and a slightly sweet, slightly spicy saffron.

Then you get even more rose with a spiced, herbal patchouli. It’s a lush rose garden with loads of patchouli bushes. The roses here are definitely sweet at the very least.

The dry down has some fresh and woody oud with some remnants of rose and the herbal patchouli. You get some warm ambery musk too. This one is just not for me at all, and I just didn’t like it but I’m sure a rose lover would.

Not long ago, I would have vehemently denied it; me and rose fragrances just don’t go together. But then, some time ago, I received a sample of Rosamunda with my fragrance mail, and after the first spray, I was converted.
This rose scent is rosy, no question about it, but it’s not overwhelmingly floral; instead, it’s intertwined with all the ingredients listed in the pyramid.
I don’t know how to express it; I’m not good at that. It is simply rose-spicy-woody from beginning to end. I don’t find it sweet, and it’s definitely worth trying for gentlemen who don’t reject rose fragrances.
For me, it’s once again proof that LO absolutely has fantastic scents in store for us. By the way, the small sample has already turned into a full-sized bottle.

What a delicate masculine being!

I love rose scents - for many different reasons! But the most obvious and beautiful reason for me is the romantic and very classic atmosphere when a man wears a rosy fragrance. Rosamunda is also such a delicate scent that dances between the genders, leaving me once again with no choice but to tip my olfactory hat to LO.

Pale pink, saffron, feelings, love, dates, romance, a sea of roses from all countries, even more love, a slightly spicy side, an Arabic-dark core, woody shores, imaginative, inspiring, honest, passion, tenderness. So delicate, so impressively good!

Bottle: currently rated a bit too high?!
Sillage: a true romantic - very sensitive, very good manners.
Longevity: very emotional 6-7 hours.

The most delicate temptation since the existence of rose fragrances?