Velvet Rose & Oud
Jo Malone London (2012)

There isn't a whole lot to say about Jo Malone Cologne Intense Collection: Velvet Rose & Oud (2012), other than it provides a rather "safe for work" rose and oud experience free from potentially sharp and bitter rose or sour and animalic barnyard oud tones that some of the more authentic articles carry. Jo Molone is one of several niche houses gobbled up by Estée Lauder anyway, and as such, has shifted into higher pricing structures and more-luxurious lines like this one, putting them at odds to a degree with older fans. I don't think Velvet Rose & Oud really offends in that degree, but it really isn't something longtime Jo Malone followers would look for from the house either, although lovers of things like Montale Black Aoud (2006) could dig this.

What sets apart Velvet Rose & Oud from many competing scents is the inclusion of a praline note that blends the damask rose and oud together in what ends up as a creamy, jammy and harmless version of the iconic. The rose is carried by some bergamot in the beginning, but the praline soon creates that rose jam, which then segues into a likely synthetic oud de-skunked with clove and coumarin. The feeling is similar to Noir de Noir by Tom Ford (2007), but nowhere near as strong. Wear time is rather fleeting and sillage light for a rose oud, as this "Cologne Intense" is basically an Atelier Cologne ripoff in that you're just getting a light eau de toilette, but this is still stronger than the standard Jo Malone lines.

Fans dedicated to the genuine article ouds will shun this for not containing nearly enough of what they crave, as will fans of the typically transparent fare coming out of Jo Malone for this seemingly going against the house style, but people looking to get their feet wet on the oud craze can do worse, as there are a lot of bad Western rose and oud takes out there, with some being even more expensive than this. I am on the fence about the value of Velvet Rose & Wood, but I appreciate perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin's efforts to tame the savage beast of rose and oud without getting too far from the core values of it. A very interesting scent indeed, deceptively simple, light, and still satisfying if only as a snack compared to stuff from Middle Eastern houses or higher-end luxury/niche. Thumbs up.

It might be the best rose in my opinion, as it doesn't have this lemongrass feel that I hate. The oud is a bit too faint, and projection is poor, but I enjoy this fragrance a lot.

A basic, laid-back take on the rose and oud combination fragrance.

I need not parrot what others have already said about the number of rose and oud scents that have littered the landscape. When it comes down to it, if you don't mind a toned-down version, then Jo Malone's Velvet Rose & Oud will work for you. If you haven't already experienced oud scents generally, you'll find out that there are some LOUD varieties out there. Be it Montale, or Armani, or Tom Ford, or Zegna, or etc. etc., heavy-hitting oud combo scents are legion for the brave and brash souls.

VR&O is a softer, slightly spiced and sweetened oud combo scent. It's more "accessible" and wearable for those who only want to smell casually connected to the magical rose plus oud pairing.

Having been solidly collecting several oud scents from so many makers over the years, I can say that this one is one of the most well-mannered ones out there.

Velvet Rose & Oud is utterly brilliant. I always feel that the traditional pairing of rose with oud never goes quite far enough to modulate the underlying sourness of oud, especially if the traditional Bulgarian rose is used, because there is always that faintly tart, green-lemon edge to Bulgarian roses that inches it too close to the sourness of the oud.

But this fragrance corrects that imbalance by adding a nutty, milky praline note to the mix that “cooks” the rose down into a dark spoon-sweet accord. So what you essentially get is a sort of strawberry and rose jam over dry, smoky oud wood. It's dark, delicious, jam-sweet, and what's more utterly comfortable to wear, lacking as it is in any of the attending harsh dryness or bitterness from the oud. It is actually quite close in smell and texture to Lush's wonderful Rose Jam shower gel, but with the added mystery of oud and a true dark “flavor” missing in many fragrances that tout themselves as “noir” or “black”.

Two things might bother some people. First off, this might be too sweet for some – if you know the wonderful Oud Satin Mood by Maison Francis Kurkdijan, then be aware that it is in the same general ballpark as that, albeit a teeny tiny bit less sweet (and less complex overall). Second, once the intensity of the rose jam accord dies down, the fragrance gets a little thin and reedy, laying bare the bones of what appears to be the same synthetic oud material used in most Western oud scents, including the Montales – so if you're not a fan of that oud note or find it too synthetic, then be aware that it does come out to play towards the end.

Also, although I don't usually care about stuff like this, longevity and projection follow the Jo Malone pattern in that they drop off dramatically after the first few hours. In that sense, the complexity and texture of the extended dry down in Oud Satin Mood would indicate that the price difference between these two scents is justified. But when all is said and done, I do love this fragrance and I'd happily forget all these little quibbles for the sake of the glorious first few hours.

Eagerly awaited the arrival of this (rather large) sample of Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud. A very very pretty & easy rose & oud wear. I could see this one becoming a real hit with someone just experimenting with oud fragrances.

Overall, this is a lovely fragrance but disappointing. Not much to say. Opens with moderate oud & rose notes...some spice (clove). Remains pretty constant through dry down with oud, rose & clove. A bit creamy in the end, which I suppose is the praline.

Fell rather "flat" on my skin. Pretty but not great. Not much projection or silage, which I like in a perfume. I do not want to be over-bearing when I wear perfume; however, I want to know I have some fragrance on (especially at these prices, which are moderate actually).

Longevity is average to not great but typical based on my experiences with EDP in this price range/category. Wears close to the skin. Definitely great for someone who is a bit shy about wearing perfume, especially an oud. Delicate all the way. After 30 minutes or so, I could barely tell I had applied perfume.

A lovely perfume. Just not distinctive enough for my tastes. Do not think I'll be purchasing this one.

Rose and oud are indeed a classic combination and let me tell you, it blends amazing. If you have ever watched Sting's 'Desert Rose' videoclip, it'll remind you of that oriental, arabic-like juice of Jo Malone. It is strong and it lasts up to 16 hours on my skin and its projection is fair; up to 4 hours. I have to say it is a quite sweet and very well-balanced fragrance. If you like perfumes such as Tom Ford's Oud Wood I'd suggest you'd give this one a try as it is way sweeter than the former. If you prefer non-sweet perfumes, then you shouldn't go for it.