Tabac Rose

I was introduced to this beauty a few years back thanks to the sample sent by my friend. I wasn't sure how I felt about it when first trying it. The tobacco note is very strong in the opening, definitely not the fresh leaf type, but more like cigarette smoke. It's not ashy, but harsh and smoky. Rose is in the background, Chocolate is less detectable unless I sniff closer. I felt something missing in the blend. I get why it can immediately turn people off. Slowly, the tobacco transitions to the supporting note and becomes less sharp. Rose turns to the star of the show. In the end, the scent gets sweeter, rose forward, brighter, cleaner and more welcomed. I wouldn't say this fragrance is juicy, but plum gives a fruity twist, spiced up by cinnamon, brining an exotic experience, which makes this fragrance so unique and seductive. Tabac Rose is neither a gourmand rose, nor another oud rose. It doesn’t resemble any rose fragrance I've tried. The more I wear, the more it captivates me. It's a mature scent, leaning towards the darker side, but has translucent quality to it. This is definitely one of the best BDK offerings I've experienced, along with Gris Charnel. I personally enjoy Julien Rasquinet's creations, and a lot of them are solid keepers!

Nice mellow potent Rose in the opening, quite sweet and jammy because of the plum and chocolate. Definitely goes to the gourmand side but the overall aroma is very subtle. Great scent for the wintertime but it's not suffocating even in summertime. Tobacco is just a hint here. The main reasons why I don’t need a full bottle of this is that the mind-blowing Rose disappears really quickly after the opening like Plum as well and after 15 minutes this is just a skin scent for me and I smell just vanilla with a little hint of sweet chocolate. If you want a long lasting version from this scent profile I think PENHALIGON’S CAIRO or MATIERE PREMIER’S RADICAL ROSE are better choices - plum/chocolate/rose is delicious anyway in Tabac Rose. Leathery undertones can be found in Radical Rose and in Tabac Rose. I have been testing many this kind of scents and in Vanilla Rose category I choose CAIRO and without Vanilla Radical Rose. Dusita’s Rosarine is amazing as well (with Vanilla).

A very smoky rose with a very faint anise/citric note that vanishes almost immediately. As it dries down, it evolves with prominent pepper, tobacco, and wood notes—this is where the rose finds its best balance. I also detect vanilla and cinnamon in the base. Overall, I really like it; it’s a fragrance I’d wear every day. I had imagined it being more intense, strong, and smoky, but it develops into something very balanced and elegant. After a while, I detect too much vanilla and cinnamon for my taste.

This one really took me by surprise. It changes a lot during the weartime, initially you mainly get the plum and rose that are tart, sweet and jammy. As it dries down the cinnamon and chocolate notes become more prominent, giving a cozy and warm feel. Very high quality and sophisticated smelling scent. Personally, I don't get any tabacco whatsoever. I hesitate calling this a gourmand, I'd say it's gourmand-ish but not straight up edible smelling. Overall absolutely beautiful and one of a kind.

This is quite sweet and addictive, I'm a bit temped to buy a 10ml (definitely not a full bottle worthy for me for the price), but as a rose fragrance lover I am aware that Tabac Rose is very synthetic. When people call a fragrance "a rose for people who don't like rose" they mean this: a synthetic, bubble gummy kind, the kind of reminds you of the sweetness of the rose without its fresh and green personality. It's very inoffensive but also less airy or interesting for me personally.