Rose 31

The Scent Profile

Rose 31 by Fragrance World opens with a surprisingly green rose, like stems crushed underfoot in a humid greenhouse. The cumin pushes forward quickly, less the spice rack and more sweaty saddle leather. This isn’t your grandmother’s rose; it's decidedly unisex, almost challenging. The heart maintains the deconstructed rose, adding dry cedar shavings and a rooty, earthy vetiver that leans masculine. Where it veers furthest from its inspiration is in the drydown. The original's musk is replaced by something decidedly synthetic, a plasticky veil over a whisper of smoky guaiac wood. The olibanum is barely present, a fleeting impression of distant incense.

Projection Power

I get a solid 5-6 hours of wear with moderate projection. In the first hour, it projects about an arm's length, then settles closer to the skin. I wore it during a moderately active day of errands and found it held up well, though the synthetic drydown became more pronounced with heat.

Conclusion

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be a brooding, enigmatic rancher in a neo-western. He’s handsome, but with a hidden darkness, a captivating danger lurking beneath the surface. There's a captivating aura, even with the scent's later unfortunate chemical edge.