I had forgotten all about this sample that I picked up in NY last fall until I was digging through my untested samples today. I thought this would be the perfect test for the depressing gray and blah Saturday weather.
WHAT I SMELL: Rose Nacree du Desert opens with an almost berried sweetened herbacious rose. It’s juicy and yummy and although somewhat candied in it sweetness it’s not what I would consider too sweet because it doesn’t scream. Soon enough, a smooth creaminess blends with patchouli and oud and the sweetened opening burns off. At this point, the fragrance becomes more linear, but with one little last twist of the introduction of a saffroned spice. If I can compare this to anything, I find that there is a similarity to Rose Oud by Kilian, but Rose Nacree is much more subtle and subdued. I love Rose Oud, but to me this is more elegant and translucent and a bit more to my liking.
From Fragrantica: A fragrance built on lush Persian rose, the legendary blossom of the east. Creamy yet dark, rose is given a mysterious air via saffron, patchouli and a hint of agarwood (oud), fanned on rich benzoin resin.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: This is a midnight rose blossoming under the full moon with its lilting fragrant blossom enticing young couples into love and romance.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ROSE NACREE DU DESERT: dreamy, comforting, subtle
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ROSE NACREE DU DESERT: What Men Should Smell Like, Katie Chutzpah, The Scented Salamander
BOTTOM LINE: This is another exceptional perfume from Guerlain. I am tempted now to run to Saks Fifth Avenue to test out the other to fragrances in the Les Deserts d’Orient collection; Encens Mythique d’Orient and Songe d’Un Bois d’Eté. This is really lovely. In fact, I believe I need to put some more on now!
- Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Oriental Floral
- Nose: Theirry Wasser
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: I can’t find this online, but I believe it’s between $250 – $300 for 75ml EdP
The Scented Hound 
February 16, 2013 at 8:15 pm
I dream of gardens in the desert sand.
This Desert Rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this.
Sting
More indeed. This release is amazing.
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February 17, 2013 at 5:24 pm
I love that song and it fits this fragrance perfectly!
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February 16, 2013 at 9:01 pm
I got to smell this at Neiman Marcus and realized on the spot that I had to have it and simultaneously that I need to rob a bank very soon in order to get the crash one needs to feed this obsession!
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February 17, 2013 at 5:25 pm
If only our obsession was at a lower cost…but then I guess it wouldn’t be so enticing?!
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February 17, 2013 at 6:06 pm
What is it about spending too much money on colored perfumed water that is so magical?
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February 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm
You’re a bad influence, Scented Hound! I lemminged FM Portrait of a Lady and Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille from your pithy reviews. I now have easy (too easy) access to Saks and my perfume collection (and wallet) shows it. Anyway, I have to re-sniff Rose Nacree as it did not leave much of an impression; however, I came home with samples of Gourmand Coquin and Encens Mythique d’Orient. I satisfied my Gourmand Coquin love and had been snuffling the Encens Mythique d’Orient sprayer at least 3x a week for the past month…I may be a goner for this.
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February 17, 2013 at 5:26 pm
After reading your comment, I was over at the mall today and wanted to check out the other two in the collection. This Saks didn’t carry them. How come each store seems to have such different stock??!! I find that annoying.
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February 17, 2013 at 5:36 pm
So of course the Saks flagship store in NYC would have EVERYTHING, but I have an intense dislike for the SAs there and each one can only really help with their own line. I like Nordstrom and while it carries Guerlains, my local one does not…as long as it is available even online or through another Nordstrom store, I give the sale to my favorite SA.
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February 17, 2013 at 3:32 am
I’ve seen that color of the juice just at Estee Lauder’s Youth Dew. Today you don’t see that anymore. Just pinkish ones ;-P. I must soon get out of this little country to dig my nose in some of these gems selling only in selected stores.
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February 17, 2013 at 5:29 pm
When is your annual trip down to Exscense? Is that coming up soon?
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February 19, 2013 at 11:51 am
21. of March, yeah. I hope everything goes by the plan. I already have hotel reservation.
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February 19, 2013 at 6:57 pm
I can’t wait to hear all about it!
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February 23, 2013 at 1:14 pm
😉
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February 17, 2013 at 6:39 am
That sounds good mr. Hound! I wish I could sample it without a problem. Maybe someday else the chance appears
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February 17, 2013 at 5:23 pm
If only we had samples galore at our fingertips whenever we wanted them! Heaven!
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February 18, 2013 at 9:11 am
I wish for that someday! 😉
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February 17, 2013 at 3:13 pm
I love Guerlain and I love the fragrances in the Déserts d’Orient line. Go forth, dear Hound! Spritz and report back!
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February 17, 2013 at 5:29 pm
I am really having a hard time staying away from these fragrances… they are just so expensive. I think they should be more reasonable in cost…well at least just for me 🙂
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February 18, 2013 at 5:21 pm
It is very true. I don’t even want to think about how much I spend annually on fragrance!
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February 17, 2013 at 3:18 pm
The bottle is gorgeous. And the scent itself tempts me in part because it doesn’t seem to have a gourmand nature like many of the other Guerlains that I’ve tried recently. Plus, anything with saffron gets my vote for a test sniff at the very least!
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February 17, 2013 at 5:30 pm
I know how you love your saffron my dear S! This is yummy 🙂
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February 18, 2013 at 1:28 am
I would have loved this perfume if it had a little bit less agarwood. “As is” I just like it.
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February 22, 2013 at 9:50 am
I was going to post something on my own experiences with it, but felt I was leaning a bit much into Guerlain for a while. It appeared at Saks and Bergdorf, it’s $260 for the 75ml, same as the Songe D’Un Bois D’Ete. And the whole point to the Les Deserts D’Orient Collection is Guerlain’s attempt to tap into the Arabian market by capturing that essence. If Undina and others don’t like the agarwood, this is a trio of Guerlains on which they should pass — it’s not your classic Guerlainade.
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