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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Effulgent- Tauer Perfumes Incense Rosé (and a giveaway!)


Part of my process when writing a perfume review is finding an image that captures it. Sometimes it's an art work, other times it's a scene from a movie (an old classic, because that's where my heart is). Unless I have a very specific idea right from the start, I google ideas, feelings, keywords until I find just the right one. Preparing to write about Incense Rosé, I didn't have to do any of that. The kaleidoscopic arabesque that's on the flyer that accompanies the bottle is perfectly evocative of this lovely scent.

Oh yes, if there was any doubt: I love Incense Rosé. A lot.

Just as much as Incense Extreme is a stark, serious with the cleanest lines and notes, Rosé is joyous and exuberant. Clementine and bergamot are not necessarily notes one would expect to find in an Andy Tauer creation. But what they do here is lend a sweet, radiating quality to the Tauerade base. They open rich and almost boozy and don't fully leave until very late into the dry-down, when the very pretty and streamlined rose takes their place, filling and illuminating the gaps between the darker, incensy parts.

As the scent develops, the familiar labdanum and ambergris that form the dry Tauerade emerge. They are spiced and prettified, making the perfume just a bit more feminine than what we're used to, though not girly or predictably femme. It's just lighter, full of joy.

The big surprise for me was deep and late into the dry-down. After the incense, labdanum, orris, cedar and ambergris calm down, I'm left with one of the most gorgeous myrrh notes I've smelled this side of Diptyque L'Eau Trois. And it lasts forever. Both in the air after I spray it and on my skin. It's still faintly there after a shower and demands serious scrubbing to make it go away.

Incense Rosé will be available at Scent Bar in L.A. and their online store Luckyscent starting March 29th. On that Saturday, Andy Tauer himself will make an appearance at the store (click the link to RSVP), to talk about his work and demonstrate some of the ingredients that go into the bottle. I met him last year at the launch of Reverie au Jardin, and can't recommend enough that if you're anywhere in the Los Angeles area, try to make it to the event. It's a rare opportunity to meet such an artist, and a lot of fun because Andy in person is as charming as he is on his blog.

I'm often asked about the best way to try and learn about niche and artisan fragrances. My advice is to start with something extra wonderful that would change the way you think about perfume. This is definitely a great place to begin.

I have a couple of samples to give away. Please leave a comment if you're interested.
Bonus entry if you can guess the reason behind the title of this post, Effulgent (obscure pop culture reference, nothing to do with perfume).

The sample I've been using, as well as the ones for the giveaway were sent to me by Andy. Samples and bottles of Incense Rosé and the entire Tauer line are available in the US from Luckyscent ($90-$100). For European distributors, please see Tauer Perfumes website.

Image: Deszö Bödi for Tauer Perfumes. To read more about the artist and this creation
click here.

29 comments:

  1. Ooo...would love a sample. Thanks!

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  2. I would so love a sample of Incense Rose. Andy's L' Air Du Desert Marocain is Holy Grail worthy!

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  3. mmm. Have been wanting to try this! please enter me in the drawing. then maybe i can feel radiant.

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  4. i would love a sample! please count me in.

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  5. C'mon... over time I'm ready to expect just about any combination of notes in Andy's perfumes. That's one of the reasons (apart from their overall gorgeousness) I love them so much: you never know what to expect. They're Tauers, yes, but each one is completely different from the others, completely unexpected. And that makes me yearn for the next surprise. Andy's scents are like people: they have unexpected secrets (like the impeccably groomed, shy and refined old lady who types addresses into the office database one day a week and turns out to have been a burlesque dancer in her youth), personalities, quirks, uniqueness.

    Incense Rose is breathtakingly beautiful - I don't need to be in the drawing, as I have a full bottle on my shopping list for the end of the month....

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  6. I know this is a shameless time to come out from behind the lurking curtain but that perfume sounds so wonderful I just had to let you know I'm reading your blog!

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  7. I have discovered some great scents this past year and am always on the lookout for another one. Today I am wearing Tea for Two from L'Artisan. Incense Rose sounds like another great find. I think Effulgent means radiating and that is what the picture seemed to be doing.

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  8. I'm going to de-lurk here--the prospect of trying this is too big a lure to resist. This postings title has nothing to do w/ Pungent Effulgent, right? wild stab there...

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  9. effulgent - anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I found references to a couple of episodes...shrug... :)

    But in any case, I would love to be entered in the drawing. While I have appreciated all of Tauer's scents, they seem to be just a bit dry on my skin. So slightly feminine but not quite girly sounds perfect. And I loooovvve myrrhe (sp?)!

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  10. I haven't tried anything by Andy yet, the incense rose sounds amazing. Are you referring to the album by Ozrics Pungent Effulgent??
    Please enter me in the drawing, thanks so much.

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  11. Very tempting post, thanks! I've been anxiously awaiting this one, so please do enter me in the draw. I agree that the image on that bottle is just lovely. Like I need more lemmings...

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  12. Incense Extreme was too austere for me. I have high hopes for Incense Rose. Please enter me in the drawing.

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  13. Sounds wonderful! Please enter me in the drawing.

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  14. I've been thinking about this all day....Didn't Spike write a poem titled 'Effulgent'?

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  16. (Hmm, let's try that again...yeah computer glitches!)

    Hi Gaia,

    I'd love to try a sample of Incense Rose after your review. L'Air du Desert Marocain didn't work for me, so I'd love to try a more feminine Tauer. I also simply adore myrrh lately!

    As for the Effulgent, I agree with Maddie on the pop-culture reference : Spike, or rather, William (I think in his pre "the Bloody" vampire days) wrote a love poem to a girl he fancied entitled "Effulgent."

    ...and now I feel like watching BtVS ;-)

    Thanks for the great blog post and giveaway,
    Sue

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  17. I would love a sample as well!
    allie

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  18. Count me in on the scent give-away! I love scent and would nothing more than to try something new.

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  19. Would love to be entered in the drawing! Yes, I think it's a Buffy reference to Spike/Williams' wretched poem for Cecily...referenced first in Buffy and then read at greater length in Angel.

    Wow, I'm a nerd.

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  20. This sounds lovely. Please enter me in the drawing.

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  21. Ohhhh, please enter me in the draw - and I love myrrh SO much ,this has got to be at least as good as L'Air du Desert Marocain! Anything Andy does is fine by me. :-)

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  22. I would love to sniff it! I am still waiting for any Tauer to impress me, hope this is it!
    Please, enter me in the drawing, thanks!

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  23. i would love a sample. I have heard only good things about A.T's frags.

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  24. Would love a sample, thanks!

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  25. Hi, I love your blog!

    I was wondering if you could insert my link on your site?

    http://merrygoland6.blogspot.com/

    Thanks!!!
    merrygoland6

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  26. There's not a single Tauer I don't like, in different moods and weather.
    He's a magician as far as I'm concerned:) Would love to try Incense Rose, I just can't wait till the 29th. And I'm just as curious to find out what that Effulgent thing is all about, as I don't really have a clue....does it have to do with a movie?
    bellablue

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  27. I'd love to be entered for a sample. Thank you.

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  28. Thank you all for commenting and entering the giveaway. I'll announce the winners tomorrow, Tuesday March 18th, around noon (East Coast time).

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  29. I am smitten. i just received my first bottle of Incense Rose. I am now a full blown fan of Tauer perfumes. I will never be the same and nothing else compares.

    Michelle

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