Rose Prick by Tom Ford

What makes Rose Prick unique is that it doesn’t use a single rose but three distinct varieties. Upon first spray it’s spicy and intense like a hit of pepper that gives it an earthy dry character with a bitter touch. In the heart as the spices fade a bouquet of opulent roses emerges: not fresh dewy blooms but deep dark and velvety. Strong patchouli and tonka round it off with a warm sweet and highly sophisticated dry down. It lasts between 8 and 10 hours with a medium-to-high sillage. It’s a fragrance that announces itself; as you walk you leave an elegant and distinctive trail.

Roses roses… but it doesn’t particularly appeal to me. I find it heavy too aggressive and cloying. Plus it has a retro scent note that doesn’t convince me. The longevity and sillage are medium.

Roses with patchouli reminds me of Angel.

It has everything needed to enchant: it’s spicy effervescent and daring. If you’re looking for the classic rose notes that are landmarks in perfumery you’ll probably be disappointed because this isn’t that. Having rose notes doesn’t limit it to floral but sustains a creative complexity not for everyone. It’s a charm to seduce with great elegance. I wear it on evening occasions and it adds so much when the scent is enveloping and sexy. Another great design piece from Flavigny with which she surprises and challenges again.

I hated it; I tried it yesterday: overwhelmingly masculine, and the roses are barely noticeable—it’s more about the spices than anything else. A resounding NO. I’ve tried several others from this house that were so poor I didn’t even bother reviewing them; I’m reviewing this one because I was about to buy the Maison Alhambra, which is heavily rose-focused, and now I’m second-guessing myself, fearing it might resemble this one.

At first, the fragrance left me in doubt: the pepper shouts its presence and the roses are very vintage, almost overwhelming. But after a few minutes, when the scent settles (though never completely), it reveals itself as a super feminine and sophisticated perfume. I spent hours sniffing my wrist. I tried it again months later and liked it much more. It’s not for blind buying; it has plenty of character and personality. It’s for making a statement, on cold nights or moments when you want to draw attention. One way or another, it leaves a mark. I still have the 50ml bottle on my wishlist and hope to get it someday. Here in Argentina, finding it at this price is difficult but not impossible. You’ll be mine, beloved TF!

One of the most overlooked gems in Tom Ford’s Private Blend collection. It’s a creamy, sweet, and well-balanced rose. Perhaps it’s not a powerhouse in terms of projection, but it has a captivating sweetness that lingers; it’s simply not for those who don’t adore florals. As with the brand as a whole, the price is heavily inflated, but I believe it might be worth it given its moderately impressive performance.

Smell: 10 Originality: 10 Versatility: 10 (nighttime) Season: autumn and winter Occasions: black-tie events Age: 60/80 Quality: 10 Price: extremely expensive Sillage: 10 Longevity: 10 Bottle design: 8 Overall rating: 10

It smells awful, too woody and spicy. Before buying blindly, I read all the English reviews and all the girls agreed it didn’t smell like roses at all, just woods and spices. Inexplicable. To me and another person who was gifted millilitres, it smells only like that, perhaps with a hint of sour, bitter rose. I bought this expecting to smell roses and didn’t get it. I ended up selling it and almost begged someone to buy it. It was my worst blind buy. I recommend against it if you’re a true rose lover. Go and smell it first to avoid the bad experience I had.

I was hoping for a special rose, but it smells far too much of strong, sweet patchouli against a bitter, spiced rose. I thought it was a good idea, but ultimately it leaves much to be desired. I expected something spectacular, but they’ve mixed Mugler’s sweet patchouli with a spiced rose, and *bam*… Rose Prick.

Well, I bought it because it was love at first sniff. This fragrance has a ‘something’ that I adore. The combination of the three roses creates a cocktail with the patchouli that is simply addictive. It seems totally unisex, nothing feminine. I wouldn’t count it among traditional rose perfumes. I insist, it has that ‘something’ that people love so much. The pepper balances with the turmeric and the tonka bean gives a creamy, exquisite effect. I know Tom Ford is expensive, but I think it was worth it. It lasts a long time on clothes, days, maybe weeks, doesn’t project more than average, but people will ask what you’re wearing. Smell: 9 Projection: 6 Sillage: 6 Longevity: 7 Originality: 8 Price: 4 (it’s very expensive; perhaps there are better proposals in this category, but if you like Tom Ford and have the money, go ahead) Versatility: 9

The new Tom Ford perfume reminds me a bit of Amouage’s Lyric but with a creamier touch. It’s also softer, with a much more velvety rose, and with a performance, as is usual with Tom Ford’s latest creations, very moderate. When I wear it, I get the more of a sensation of wearing a rose body milk than a perfume itself. Still, the scent is very rich, almost addictive. The patchouli is quite noticeable, but despite its combination with a spice like turmeric, Rose Prick has nothing to do with Noir de Noir. I think it’s a unisex scent more for everyday wear than for special events. Smell: 9 Longevity: 6.5 Sillage: 5.5 Value for money: 4 (I think it’s an exaggerated price for what it offers, superior to most Private Blends just to take advantage of the launch marketing) Versatility: 8.5 Originality: 7 Overall: 7.5