I won't be discouraged that easily. Even though my first attempt to find a good patch for autumn with Alyssha Ashley's Essence de Patchouli was unfortunately a flop. There are countless patch scents that are just waiting to be discovered by me. For example Patchouli N' Roses from Reminiscence, which I come across again and again during my research - until I finally order it blindly.
I admit I already like its appealing packaging - the picture of the pink-grey-purple rose petals on a white background that seem to explode. The sweeping concave flacon with the light perfume confirms that this is something refreshingly trendy.
And this time everything is completely different. As soon as I open the cellophane wrapping, a patch flows towards me that is second to none. Earthy natural, but fine, not musty, clear, but not penetrating - best quality!
I admit, the combination with rose is not new, but it convinces with an extraordinary composition. Here everything is as it should be, but not in the familiar sense, but surprisingly up-to-date. Besides, I wanted a patch en rose.
I can't wait to spray the EdP on. The Rosa Rossa of Guerlain, which I wear on this day, immediately withdraws in fright and hides until the imperceptible, for which it doesn't need much anyway thanks to its low sillage and durability.
I can feel the scent all over the room. Not overwhelming, but pleasant, inspiring.
A touch of Halloween is already there. No question about it. I am the only one who is left of us, in front of our family grave at the Vienna Central Cemetery, next to the beautiful Art Nouveau church of St. Borromeo. In Vienna of course only Luegerkirche mentioned, Karl Lueger, the then very popular mayor of Vienna, is buried in her crypt. - It's All Saints' Day. The graves are freshly decorated. Candles are flickering everywhere. It's cold. But the old rosebush still carries one last pale pink bud. It won't open again. The frost has already kissed her to death. She died beautiful. An allegory of transience. My grandmother planted the rose tree next to the gravestone after my grandfather died. That was a long time ago. It's time for the gardener to cut him back a bit before winter and protect him from the cold.
If anyone knows anything about patch, it's Reminiscence. The Parisian brand has an amazing number of patch perfumes on offer, for every taste, so to speak. Allegedly they even created the original patch that the hippies loved so much in the 70s - and still sell it.
I find it somewhat unusual that this patch really starts with a patch and that the rose only appears softly in the heart note - soft, gentle, comforting, with a delicate, melancholic sweetness. Patchouli still plays the leading role, remains omnipresent, but lovely. The well-known scent combination usually begins elsewhere with a strong rose overover.
They understand each other well, the last rose and the patch.
I'm convinced of this fragrance. This is autumn in its most beautiful form. Melancholic, restrained, warming, easy to wear, also during the day, without being too conventional. Powerful, modern, fresh and spicy, floral and earthy - and always elegant.
What makes the fragrance so special are the many ingredients beyond rose and patchouli. Fabrice Pellegrin has skilfully added centifolie, Damascus rose, pepper, iris, cedar wood, vanilla, oakmoss, vetiver and musk to the patch. These nuances make the chypre interesting and lively. So it remains exciting.
The top note begins fresh with a Provence rose that is so delicate that you hardly notice it. Only the patchouli in the heart note, together with the rich scent of a fully blooming Damascus rose, which I can literally see in its round, multi-flowered compactness, attracts attention. But there are also iris and pepper hanging around and setting interesting accents. So this EdP remains varied.
The Damascus rose now makes the fragrance powdery, giving it elegance.
Finally the cedar wood has its somewhat harsh appearance, accompanied by plenty, but never too much oakmoss, vetiver and still iris root. To prevent the autumnal walk through the woods from mutating too much into earthy, spicy, powerful masculine, vanilla and musk provide a very feminine, lovely happy ending, but one that takes a lot of time. The fragrance is very durable - especially on textiles, it seems to me. In my scarf I can feel it for days or weeks - as pleasant as an old friend, without it becoming musty.
The secret of the fragrance may be that the patch doesn't come too dark. It is earthy as it should be, but not gothic and gloomy, but rather bright, fresh and clean. White patchouli, I'd call it. Elegy with charm. A certain melancholy heaviness is already present, but she doesn't have the last word, doesn't pull you down into melancholy. The fragrance is simply too beautiful, too much rose, too sensual. Because that's absolutely him. I perceive a fine, oriental oud warmth at times, which however remains discreet.
The scent's not cheap. The price of 100 ml is between 50 and 100 Euro or even higher. But for that you also get a very carefully composed patch, which has kept a quiet mysticism without being a "gothie".
The fragrance has now been on the market for over 3 years. I'm surprised that there are no comments or photos about Patchouli N' Roses yet. In my opinion, the scent, which I would not necessarily call a "niche scent", does not deserve this stepmotherly treatment. If you know how to do something with Patch and like the soft, velvety scent of roses, you will surely love this noble, varied and refined women's fragrance, which for me is particularly suitable for autumn.
Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
