For Her Musc Noir Rose Narciso Rodriguez 2022

I am a big fan of "Musc Noir for her." It’s no wonder this fragrance has secured a spot on my favorites list. So, it was only natural that I had to buy "Musc Noir Rose." Or should I say, I wanted to test it first? Of course, not without watching all possible YouTube videos beforehand. After all, I wanted to know if it would be worth it. As so often, opinions on the internet ranged from "no, unnecessary" to "absolutely recommended." So, a woman has to form her own opinion.

The opportunity arose again during my summer vacation in Crete. In other reviews, I had already mentioned that before Corona, I usually indulged my perfume passion in the duty-free shops at various airports. Here, I had the chance to test many fragrances again. Perhaps "test" is too strong a word; it’s better to say I sniffed at unfamiliar scents. On the outbound flight, however, it was much too early for that. Our flight was one of the first to depart. And I was simply too tired, too sleep-deprived, and not in the right mood.

But before the return flight, I really let loose in the duty-free shop in Heraklion. I felt like I tested 100 fragrances. I had only intended to make a quick trip to the restroom. But the way there led through the perfume department. On the way there - I swear - I was still steadfast. I bravely walked through with my head down. No, that’s a lie. I cautiously peeked around, looked left and right. I noted the positions of interesting perfumes that caught my eye, the shelves with discounted perfumes - very important, in case I could strike later. Only possibly, maybe, we’ll see.

And it happened as it had to. I was weak - so weak. I forgot my waiting husband. Forgot that boarding would soon take place. I simply lost track of time and started testing. I sprayed, sprayed, and sprayed. I sprayed so many fragrances on my arms that I had trouble remembering all the spots. Just as I was about to leave, because unfortunately, I had left my money in my backpack with my husband, I discovered IT.

The perfume that had been swirling in my mind the whole time. The perfume that had awakened my secret desire. A friendly Cretan saleswoman was advising a well-to-do-looking couple. The man, significantly older than his young wife, was grateful that a competent consultant had taken care of his excited wife. The saleswoman introduced the pretty brunette to "Musc Noir Rose." Elegant, exclusive, seductive, sensual were her keywords in perfect German. How could I resist? Yes, seriously? How could I resist? I couldn’t.

The airport was extremely crowded compared to the previous year. So, I awkwardly weaved through the crowd. I waited for the right moment when the lady set the test bottle back and then snatched the tester. YAY!! Finally. But "damn it," where should I spray the fragrance next? My arms and hands were full. Somehow, I found a tiny little free spot among all the fragrance samples. Wow. I took a deep breath and took off. Quickly, as fast as I could manage, to get the money. Back to my slowly growing anxious husband. He was already waiting for me and sniffing from a distance. He knew exactly what was going on. I recognized this by his - how should I put it - "not again" look. I still hadn’t realized how late it was. Too late. No time to go back. Boarding was starting. Damn.

My hope now rested on the in-flight sales. But I was disappointed. I sat on a plane of a formerly renowned airline, had paid a lot of money for the seat, and had to find out that there was no in-flight sales. What? This couldn’t be true? I was deeply disappointed. Little did I know that this would ultimately turn out to be a stroke of luck. Because at home, I found "Musc Noir Rose" on sale for a significantly lower price on a well-known perfumery website. No, it wasn’t the turquoise one. Had I been able to indulge my perfume addiction without restraint, my purchase would have been significantly more expensive. Maybe my subconscious protected me? I left my money in my backpack for my own protection so that I wouldn’t be tempted. Yes, maybe. In fact, I just postponed my addiction and then indulged it at home.

Why did I absolutely have to buy "Musc Noir Rose"? That’s easy to answer. Of all the fragrances I tested on my arms and hands - including Weekend by Burberry, Paco and Fame by PR, Soleil by Nina Ricci, Ma Vie by Hugo Boss, L'Impératrice by D&G, and Blue Jeans by Versace - "Musc Noir Rose" stood out in the most pleasant way.

The top note starts lightly and fresh with beautiful bergamot. The red pepper adds a bit of sparkle. Followed by a dark sweet-powdery plum note. It gradually gives the top note more depth.

The heart note breaks up the deep darkness and makes it smoother and softer. The fusion of musk and rose creates a beautifully bright mélange. I hardly perceive the tuberose as a separate note. But it acts enchantingly and seductively in the background, enveloping the clear musk-rose. The dark deep plum is not completely pushed aside. In interplay with the top note, the rose does not stand out brightly but elegantly merges with the other elements.

In the dry down, the vanilla adds a hint of additional warmth and sweetness, making the composition even more sensual. Even though the fragrance is described as sweet-floral, to me, the sweetness appears rather subtle in the background.

Everything in "Musc Noir Rose" is intertwined - nothing pushes itself to the forefront. Sweet
& Powdery, Bright & Dark combined with Coolness & Warmth - in perfect harmony. As the saleswoman described it, elegant, exclusive, seductive, and sensual.

The longevity on my dry skin is unfortunately moderate. However, the sillage is quite good. After all, "Musc Noir Rose" overpowered all the other fragrances mentioned above on my skin.

By the way, my husband also likes the scent very much. I do not regret having bought it.

Do you have to own both "Musc Noir"? That’s something everyone has to decide for themselves. I love both very much and will keep both variations.

Both are suitable for everyday wear and resemble each other. Hard to believe - on the test strips, both are even more beautiful, I think. Oh, my cursed dry skin! The fine, delicate, seductive musk notes unfortunately do not come into their own as they deserve.

For me, "Musc Noir Rose" is the deeper scent and is therefore well-suited for the evening, while I like to wear "Musc Noir" during the day. It is a bit softer, probably due to the wild leather note. The rose seems a tad more reserved here. But in the evening when going out, I simply spray it with "Musc Noir Rose." They harmonize perfectly together - even on my skin.