Aurum
Al Kimiya (2016)

This one throws my nose in a few strange directions...starts out with an extremely short blast of citrus...flower petals and rosewater...i think it might be an effect of the heliotrope, but i get short quick glimpses of a powdery dryness and a barbershop effect...weird...otherwise its rich and juicy to the point of being somewhat cloying...deep dark citrus accented goth rose with faint resin...i do detect a hint of chocolate throughout...this hovers on the edge of being somewhat gourmand...bottom line is that this is another entry into the world of oriental roses...to me , a better alternative would be Xerjoff More than Words or TT Gold Rose Oud...

Often the secret of making a good sauce is when to stop reducing it – otherwise you end up with an unpleasant overcooked mess lacking all subtlety. Aurum's opening makes that mistake, by being such an over concentrated syrupy sweet rose that my initial reaction was that it was ruined. When the thing begins to settle the rose quietens and the backing of dry woods, moss and patchouli brings a relaxing wine cellar quality to the proceedings. Still it belongs with the middling Montales of the rose and woods category not the thrilling ones. The late stages are candy unlimited.