OCTAVIA MORGAN LOS ANGELES DARK ROSE Eau de Parfum

Most Helpful Critical Review

Where is the rose in this rose fragrance?

I was stoked to try the Dark Rose fragrance from Octavia Morgan LA. This introduction with Dark Rose is my first impression of the brand. I love bold, sexy, you know I was in the room kind of fragrances, with projection and sillage. According to Octavia, this is one of her boldest and sexiest fragra...nces in the line. I had high hopes for this bouquet of pink pepper, plum, black rose, vanilla, and labdanum. I was hoping to bypass the vanilla note in this fragrance, but I can't, after the jammy, plum fruit opening. Unfortunately, the vanilla is very pronounced on my skin. It creates a creaminess and a sweetness that overpowers the rose in this. I adore rose fragrances but I'm not smelling the rose here!!! The pink pepper adds spice, and while showcased on the box, there is also patchouli, which I love, but it's not strong. I wish the vanilla was swapped out for more patchouli. In terms of projection, this is not a bold fragrance that lingers in the air as a trail, in my opinion. However, this is a sophisticated fragrance that is neither particular to a season, nor would I say it's only suitable for certain times of day. It's classy, wearable, and safe. Despite the name, and that it's a gender neutral fragrance, this is feminine, but it's just not dark and not rosey enough for me. If you're looking for a rose fragrance—full on rose forward—this is not it. The rose here is faint, like at the very end of the flower's life when the petals are no longer fresh and velvety, but they're beginning to dry and they've lost that airy quality. If you're looking for a fragrance that has rose in it, coupled with vanilla and a fruitiness, this is for you. This product was provided for promotional purposes in exchange for my honest review