Relativamente Rosso
Bois 1920 (2013)

Relativamente Rosso feels to my nose like marron glacé gilded with rose damascones. "What, pray tell, are damascones?" you might ask. Damascones belong to a family of chemical compounds known as rose ketones, which also include damascenones and ionones. There is alpha, beta, and delta. I am not going to pretend to know exactly which, if any, are actually here, but I have a hunch. Damascones are known for being quite potent and vibrant, a glistening treble of wine, mids that are tobacco-like, with tints of apple, plum, blackcurrant, and shades of woods. Here, they are that delectable high frequency that give the illusion of a deep rose, where it may or may not even be truly present (but who knows, there may be a bit of rose absolute here, too).

With that detail aside, what moors this is a lightly sugared immortelle, buttery, warm, and enveloping, a swirl and a swoop, an incense ambience in its heart, fueled by the oil of an ambergris accord (I opt not to deconstruct it). Its also worth noting that I detect something that reminds me of davana oil (a favorite material!), cognac-boozy and intoxicating. There was one point in the development that reminded me of the aroma of a glass of Sazerac. A parenthetical note: Japan's "Ghosts" just started playing as I write this, and it just seemed like a perfect accompaniment. This feels so layered, with no friction, nothing that "ouches" the nose (what a relief after some of the stonkers I've subjected myself to). The base is a sweetly incensed woods, still expressive hours in, haunting and somewhat moody. This is one I put in the "dazzler" category.

As a person with a sweet tooth, I can confidently say that this is waaaay too sugary. Sickly sweet and even weird at times, like it turned bad, and this is on paper AND on skin of several people. No bueno.

Animalic. Sleazy florals. Salty, old wood smell. Skanky, sweet, urine-like base. Beauty and the beast. Every note meshes into a hardcore elixir of filthy sex. I absolutely love this. You may not. Delicate wallflowers or mild-mannered men, need not bother with R. Rosso...

Just received this in the mail and it is a wonderful fragrance!! I get the sweetness from the Sugar followed by some Frankincense. Relativamente Rosso gives off a nice Sandalwood, Woodsy, Smokey mixture that's really really nice. In the end this all comes together with the Vanilla and Vetiver that reminds me of Real Patchouli just with a bit more sweet/smokiness. Overall, this is a great fragrance to having in your wardrobe.

Just what I don't need, a gourmand incense floral. It says sugar as the top note and they ain't kidding! Whew! Much more than I can stand. The gourmand vanilla in the dry-down doesn't appeal to me either.