04/25/2024
Elysium
816 Reviews
Elysium
1
Flaming Red Like The Alfa Romeo Giulietta
After purchasing Opulent Oud, and Blue Oud, I decided it was time to tackle Opulent Red by Lattafa, a perfume often associated with Armani Privé - Rouge Malachite and Alien Eau de Parfum. To start, Opulent Red is beautifully packaged in a red and gold satin, velvet box containing a handcrafted glass bottle, crafted in the same gorgeous colours, a lacquered, metallic, intense and shimmering red. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta car I had ten years ago comes to mind. It was exactly this metallic cherry red colour. Well, the packaging is the same as Lattafa’s other Opulent items, both in the package and in the bottle. I can anticipate that this Eau de parfum is striking because of the intensity of its aroma and the fragrance that belongs to the fruity floral group. From the packaging and the bottle, the first impression could be that of something strongly fruity, sweet, sugary or gourmand. And this, perhaps, is what pushes people to refrain from purchasing it.
Opulent Red opens with a blast of aldehydes and strawberry bubblegum. I immediately perceive the dense, sweet and syrupy floral heart notes, with sambac jasmine and tuberose, which perhaps create a bubblegum effect. I can understand why other people associate this fragrance with Alien, they have too much in common in this explosive and intense opening. Yes, they are like two parallel lines, going in the same direction but never meeting. There’s a fruity undertone, not sure if it’s pear, but definitely something semi-sweet and juicy, I think, thanks to the blood orange peel and pulp. The cool spiciness of the cardamom is there, not too heavy, not overpowering, just refreshing, so it never becomes too minty or balsamic. But there is a generous touch of pink pepper, so you must like it because it is noticeable in the initial phase.
The heart is opulent. Here we are, thanks to heavy tones of jasmine, tuberose and heliotrope. The first two appear already at the opening, and jasmine is dominant compared to tuberose, while later the almond aspect of the heliotrope exudes and takes part in the scene. Even if it is not too nutty, its vanilla and almond characteristics are perceptible behind the pink woodiness of the Brazilian wood. Sometimes I even get a deep musky note from the green moss, like the moss that grows in the damp, shady forest. I think this dark musk blends very well with the sweetness, keeping Opulent Red from becoming cloying. Well, I don’t get any alcoholic accord in this or other phases, those of the Cognac which should be among the heart notes.
Finally, Opulent Red leaves a sweetish powdery trail. Oud is not used in overdose and is never medicinal, scary, or barny. A tamed patchouli balances the otherwise too-sweet base with notes of creamy sandalwood, velvety and mossy cashmeran and toasted tonka bean. If you add vanilla on top of all this, it might become cloying, but instead, it’s perfectly balanced. An oriental touch, not unpleasant, is what remains on the skin for a long time. I wanted to try the comparison with Rouge Malachite, which is very strong on the camphoraceous tuberose note. In Opulent Red, however, the jasmine note predominates.
Despite the adjective Opulent, this is not a beastly fragrance. However, it projects a lot in the first hour and lasts many hours, all day or until the next morning with nighttime application. For me, it was a blind purchase, since in Italian stores it is not available as a Middle Eastern fragrance for testing. Furthermore, the fragrance needs time to become pleasant. It took me several tries to completely love it, and now the more I spray it, the more I get the beauty out of it. I’m wearing it this cold spring and I have to say it’s perfect. But I think it’s also great in autumn, both during the day and in the evening. If you love floral, slightly sweet scents, with a strong hint of jasmine and tuberose, and an impulse towards the feminine universe, then Opulent Red could be for you.
I based my feelings on a bottle I’ve owned since April 2024.
-Elysium
Opulent Red opens with a blast of aldehydes and strawberry bubblegum. I immediately perceive the dense, sweet and syrupy floral heart notes, with sambac jasmine and tuberose, which perhaps create a bubblegum effect. I can understand why other people associate this fragrance with Alien, they have too much in common in this explosive and intense opening. Yes, they are like two parallel lines, going in the same direction but never meeting. There’s a fruity undertone, not sure if it’s pear, but definitely something semi-sweet and juicy, I think, thanks to the blood orange peel and pulp. The cool spiciness of the cardamom is there, not too heavy, not overpowering, just refreshing, so it never becomes too minty or balsamic. But there is a generous touch of pink pepper, so you must like it because it is noticeable in the initial phase.
The heart is opulent. Here we are, thanks to heavy tones of jasmine, tuberose and heliotrope. The first two appear already at the opening, and jasmine is dominant compared to tuberose, while later the almond aspect of the heliotrope exudes and takes part in the scene. Even if it is not too nutty, its vanilla and almond characteristics are perceptible behind the pink woodiness of the Brazilian wood. Sometimes I even get a deep musky note from the green moss, like the moss that grows in the damp, shady forest. I think this dark musk blends very well with the sweetness, keeping Opulent Red from becoming cloying. Well, I don’t get any alcoholic accord in this or other phases, those of the Cognac which should be among the heart notes.
Finally, Opulent Red leaves a sweetish powdery trail. Oud is not used in overdose and is never medicinal, scary, or barny. A tamed patchouli balances the otherwise too-sweet base with notes of creamy sandalwood, velvety and mossy cashmeran and toasted tonka bean. If you add vanilla on top of all this, it might become cloying, but instead, it’s perfectly balanced. An oriental touch, not unpleasant, is what remains on the skin for a long time. I wanted to try the comparison with Rouge Malachite, which is very strong on the camphoraceous tuberose note. In Opulent Red, however, the jasmine note predominates.
Despite the adjective Opulent, this is not a beastly fragrance. However, it projects a lot in the first hour and lasts many hours, all day or until the next morning with nighttime application. For me, it was a blind purchase, since in Italian stores it is not available as a Middle Eastern fragrance for testing. Furthermore, the fragrance needs time to become pleasant. It took me several tries to completely love it, and now the more I spray it, the more I get the beauty out of it. I’m wearing it this cold spring and I have to say it’s perfect. But I think it’s also great in autumn, both during the day and in the evening. If you love floral, slightly sweet scents, with a strong hint of jasmine and tuberose, and an impulse towards the feminine universe, then Opulent Red could be for you.
I based my feelings on a bottle I’ve owned since April 2024.
-Elysium
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