Smyrna

This underrated French niche house has some true gems in their collection. I own two, Tinhare and Smyrna and I have tested two other last fall during a trip in the South of Europe. All amazing quality, stunning smelling perfumes and very, very affordable for the quality and intensity of the scents. Smyrna is the rose centred perfume from their catalog. It’s such a balanced blend of deep, dark red roses with bright, fresh citruses, soft cardamom, smooth, clean vetiver and a light mix of woody notes. Nothing sticks out or feels out of balance in Smyrna. Smoothness is the best adjective to describe the flawless blend of notes Smyrna. I love how beautifully the citruses notes are paired with the Turkish rose. Goes hand in hand perfectly and creates such an elegant, uplifting scent. Performance is on par with the rest of Le Couvent collection, nothing beastly but having a decent intensity and sillage. For the price, Smyrna is a great choice for anyone looking for a fresh, spicy and sweet in the same time rose scent. In general, you can’t go wrong with Le Couvent fragrances in my opinion! From what I’ve tested or own so far they are the French equivalent of Laboratorio Olfattivo.

Santorini in a bottle for me. As a few people have mentioned, it’s basically Greek loukoum/ Turkish delight, which I consumed excessively while on holiday in Santorini much to my husbands disgust lol. Not like the fragrance is super sweet or anything. I think its the rose oil they use in the dessert. So delicate and fresh but somehow mouthwatering. It’s not a jammy rose scent, but more of a simple fresh classy rose.As a rose fragrance lover, this is simplicity at its best if you ask me. I had Rose 31 and I can see the similarities but wouldn’t say they are the same.

While it lacks the sharpness of a real rose, it delivers an authentic feel in a brilliant way. Well-blended with respect to each ingredient and delivering a wonderful combination that serves to highlight the rose. Is it realistic? Almost. Is it a turkish delight like some people have said in the comments? Absolutely not. If looking for a scent that provides comfort and a unique approach to an authentic and wonderful rose, this one's it. It's not sweet nor spreading all around you like most rose perfumes I've tried. Instead it's a pleasant and wholesome experience.

I can detect the cardamom and the cedar (woody notes)… but where is the rose?? I tried layering it with a rose centered fragrance but even then the strong dry woodiness of Smyrna overpowered the rose to my nose.

This smells just like the Le Labo Rose 31 toiletries you get at some hotels. I say this, because I first smelled those toiletries on vacation in a hotel and fell in love. I assumed I must love Rose 31, right? Well, not such luck. I got a sample and found the actual perfume not nearly as satisfying. It has more of a cumin funk and less of the beautiful spiced soapy rose I fell for. So I went on a mission to find a fragrance that actually smells like those toiletries I fell in love with - I tried Rosa Arcana (not close at all!) and Smyrna. Smyrna hit the nail right on the head. It's so satisfying. Not too rosy, not too spicy (perfect balance), not funky at all, and a touch of soapy drydown (which I love!). I will say that while Rose 31 is more unisex, this leans a touch more feminine. Long story short: if you love Rose 31 scented soap, you will love this.