Rose Wood
Ajmal (2015)

A beautiful amber,tonka vanilla scent, the opening is peppery and floral, definitely not a rose oud perfume. The amber accord in on the same direction as Parfums de Marley Oarjan and ASAQ Safari Extreme. The dry down is a rich blend of patchouli, cinnamon,tonka, musk, and benzoin. On me, silage and projection are poor.
The presentation is in the lap of luxury with a heavy black bottle and geometrical cap with a glass Bordeaux red ruby on top, the box is made of heavy hard plastic and I wish they have used recycled paper instead. 100% recommended. All seasons fragrance and unisex.

Ajmal Rose Wood is another interesting entry, and this marks my third try after Amber Wood and Santal Wood.

Like Santal Wood, Rose Wood predictably has rose, but a much healthier helping than in Santal Wood. The rose in Rose Wood comes off sharper, brighter, and fresher, than in Santal. Santal's rose was more medium-bodied but Rose Wood's rose comes off more like rose de mai.

The note listing seems to be limited by various sources, but I mostly get a mix of the eponymous rose, sandalwood, oud, and perhaps a spicy touch of pepper. There's also a vague sweetness but overall it's the rose and the spiciness that give the fragrance its warmer color, more apt for cold weather wearing, just like Amber and Santal.

It's a nice creation, reasonably safe and agreeable for men and women alike, perhaps the most unisex of the Ajmal Wood line I've tried.

At $160 for 100ml (FragranceX), it, like Rose and Santal, is a bit generic and is not quite compelling enough for the price. It's mostly a matter of taste, as there's nothing wrong with the fragrance. Particularly with Santal, the duo is balanced and agreeable, not so sharp or offensive. Still, I'm not dazzled, and it feels like it should be a little less expensive.

7 out of 10