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L'Artisan Drole de Rose

Olivia Giacobetti strikes again with this 1996 demure rendition of rose. I'm very happy smelling this because I continue sampling this house and have had a very difficult time finding L'Artisan's that work for me.

Mind you, I couldn't pull this one off since it's extremely feminine, but it truly smells terrific. It's understated but satisfying. LS has the notes listed as :
Rose, Aniseed, Orange Blossom, White Iris, Violet, Almond, Honey and Leather.

On my skin, Drole de Rose is a semi sweet combination of rose and violet. A bit dusty at first, then transitioning into a powdery accord of rose, subtle violet and a lipstick like note. The Orange Blossom dissipates very quickly and is only tangible the first minute on me. The iris pairs well with the violet note and together they contribute a powder-like texture framing the star of the show.

A very subtle honey slowly augments Drole de Rose with a perfect touch of sweetness. If the notes were not listed, I would have attributed this characteristic to amber and wonder if a smidgeon isn't actually in the base. The drydown affords an extremely shy anise contribution and it too is a terrific addition.

Drole de Rose is a well behaved, feminine floral that I can imagine smelling on women of all ages. It's uncomplicated, polite and wearing its best attire. Big thumbs up from Aromi for Gicobetti's handiwork.

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