Narissa Rouge

The Scent Profile

Narissa Rouge opens with a powdery iris that leans heavily into the Bulgarian Rose, creating an initial impression reminiscent of rosewater and talcum powder. The resemblance to Rouge is perceptible, but where Narciso Rodriguez’s creation possesses a sleek, modern musk, this clone has a slightly fuzzy, less refined quality. The heart introduces tuberose and orange blossom, which are almost candied, sweetening the musk. It loses some of the original's airy sophistication. The drydown is where the divergence becomes most apparent. The tonka bean and vanilla combination presents a cloying sweetness that borders on synthetic, with a plasticky cedar note emerging that wasn't present initially.

Bottom Line

Wearing Narissa Rouge versus the original is akin to opting for a watercolor painting when the reference is an oil painting. You get the general idea, the colors are similar, but the depth and nuances are flattened. While the opening offers a decent resemblance, the synthetic edge in the drydown ultimately detracts from the overall experience. It's passable if your expectations are managed.

Performance Reality Check

I achieved around five hours of moderate longevity with Narissa Rouge. The projection extends to about an arm's length during the first two hours, then retreats closer to the skin. I wore it during a day of errands and found the sweetness became somewhat tiresome.