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Rose Barbare by Guerlain

The Fairest Rose of All



O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem 
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 
For that sweet odour which doth in it live. 
The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye 
As the perfumed tincture of the roses, 
Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly 
When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:
But, for their virtue only is their show, 
They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade, 
Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; 
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth.

Shakespeare had no knowledge of Guerlain's Rose Barbare when he wrote this sonnet. Had the Bard placed his nose upon this beautiful fragrance, he would undoubtedly have torn the page to shreds and started again!





M. Kurkdjian has in one single spray transformed my opinion of this exalted flower. When I say that I have loved Roses for some time (and those of you who read my reviews can attest to this fact) I can truly say that I have not LOVED Rose until just a few hours ago. The ethereal beauty of her intent has been captured in Rose Barbare and laid bare to the world to hold those of us that worship at her thorny throne captive ... and incapable of anything but wonder!!
Rose Barbare brings forth the memory of scent, from the tangle of wild blossoms emerging from the primordial ooze to the superbly grafted beauty of the most valuable specimen. This Rose is as subtle as a moonlit figure robed in white, and as solid as the emanation of a garden choked with multicolored blooms. A soft sheen of honey pays homage to the tiny darts of winged light in the sunshine, responsible for her propagation. 
The Aldehydes in the top make her sparkle, while the Patchouli in the base reminds of the lush soil in which she grows. A faint thread of Peach pays homage to her splendor, reminiscent of the velvet like touch of her petals.

Yes, I am consumed ... the beauty that is Rose has lifted me to a place that I could scarce imagine existed!



Comments

  1. Have you ever considered giving a final rating? For example, "I give this fragrance a 3.5 out of 5."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm ... that's an idea Stew, and I'll certainly consider it :) ... thanks for reading!!

    ReplyDelete

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