WHAT I SMELL: This latest release from Les Parfums de Rosine opens with a rush of what reminds me of honey cough drops. It’s like rich honey dripping down into a hot cup of lemon water. The honey is thick, full-bodied and incredibly edible; so much so that I just want to lick the honey off of my wrist. After a couple of minutes a cinnamon note is added to give the honey a little kick of spice. This literally smells like I have just rolled myself up in a sticky warm honey mess and I keep thinking that I need to wash my hands off so I don’t get my keyboard all sticky. After around the ten minute mark, the honeyed aspects of the fragrance start to calm down and the beginning bloom of the rose starts to make an appearance. Due to the spice of the cinnamon and nutmeg, the rose just adds a nice light touch to the somewhat heavy spice which when sniffed fills the back of your throat with a heavy warmth. But overall at this point, Majalis is almost like a honeyed piece of hard candy as it seems more suited for enjoying in your mouth rather than on the skin. Again, the rose is there, but it’s really kind of overtaken by the spice. Thankfully after around an hour, Majalis backs off the super cinnamon aspects of the fragrance, but overall, it ends up being a pleasant and somewhat dry and woody cinnamony rose that should only be worn in cool months. I can’t imagine what would happen if you wore this in the middle of summer!
From the Les Parfums de Rosine website:
A seductive and sophisticated fragrance
The Rosa Majalis is a rose native from Asian mountains. This simple flower develops an amazing cinnamon scent. This is why we name it the Cinnamon Rose, and it is also considered as the “Love Rose” because of its soft and slightly captivating scent. This natural and exquisite rose gave birth to a new fragrance: Majalis.
Soft Oriental, Majalis offers notes of cinnamon, pink pepper and nutmeg based on a precious wood background. The rose is of course present. We have chosen a Bulgarian absolute to envelope the fragrance with its both bright and heady scent.
Top note : Bergamot, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Nutmeg, Cinnamon bark
Heart note : Cinnamon leaves, Taif Rose, Tea Rose, Rose Absolute, Jasmine, Black and red pepper, Coriander seed
Base note : Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Honeyed cinnamon ribbon candy.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE MAJALIS: deep, rich, honeyed
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MAJALIS: Perfume Shrine
BOTTOM LINE: I really liked the gourmand honey opening, but never having been a big fan of cinnamon I can’t say that this is my favorite rose. However, if you do like cinnamon and nutmeg, I would recommend giving this a try. Actually, worn next to a fire with a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter night might make for a very nice warm and fuzzy comfort moment.
- Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Oriental Floral
- Classification: Leans feminine
- Expense: 125 Euros for 100ml EdP from the Les Parfums de Rosine website
Disclosure: Product for review provided courtesy of Les Parfums de Rosine.
The Scented Hound 
November 20, 2013 at 7:16 am
WOW! I’ve never seen ribbon candy, it looks so pretty.
The scent also sounds right up my alley in the spices and cinnamon.
You write so well Steve. “The honey is thick, full-bodied and incredibly edible; so much so that I just want to lick the honey off of my wrist”
Portia xx
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November 20, 2013 at 8:34 pm
I never thought of someone not ever having seen ribbon candy. Let me give you the lowdown P. Ribbon candy is something from a bygone era that ones grandmother would have around the house during the holidays and it always never tasted right and it always seemed like it was old and dusty. LOL. I’m sure now if I tried some it wouldn’t be so bad. But it sure is pretty to look at though! For a while Majalis almost gets too cinnamony, at least for me. But when the drydown finally takes place it all becomes rather soft.
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November 20, 2013 at 9:46 pm
America has so many amazing things that I’ve yet to try.
It’s funny you should mention too much cinnamon, just before reading your post I had been in the bath, as is often the case the melange of perfumes that I’ve spritzed over the last 24 hours comes up and overcomes me in the warmth. I had made myself a cinnamon tea and it was sitting on a chair beside the bath. As I hit the water the frags all came back to life for a minute before expiring, still I could smell this incredibly gorgeous and complex cinnamon tea but had forgotten that it was in fact tea sitting next to me. I had about a 2-3 minute panic trying to figure what the magic smell was to go FB on it before I went to take a sip. So I think I like cinnamon scents more than you.
Portia xx
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November 21, 2013 at 5:27 am
LOL. I am picturing you now having yourself surrounded by big bubbles in the bathtub!!!
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November 20, 2013 at 10:28 am
sounds lovely and cosy. Will check it out when it lands in Poland
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November 20, 2013 at 8:35 pm
🙂 cozy is a good word especially for the drydown.
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November 21, 2013 at 3:55 am
I’ll try this one when I come across it but from your description I suspect I won’t like it. Still thank you for the headsup on a new release.
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November 21, 2013 at 5:18 am
U – like i keep repeating, cinnamon love is a must for liking this fragrance. Without that love, you probably won’t like it. Les Parfums de Rosine is one of those brands that just doesn’t get a lot of exposure. I really would like to try some of many rose scents that they have. Are you very familiar with the brand?
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November 21, 2013 at 1:52 pm
I have a soft spot for the brand (one day I’ll tell the story) and I tried six or seven of their perfumes but I owned one in the past and now I have a full bottle another one – Rose d’Amour (I’m wearing it today – thanks to you reminding of the brand yesterday 🙂 ).
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November 22, 2013 at 5:32 am
🙂
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November 22, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Your ribbon candy may be what we call rock? Hard stuff that hurts your teeth? Anyway, I always shy away from scents with a honey overload – and lob a handful of cinnamon into the mix and I am even more conflicted. So while I was interested to read your take on this one, it is probably not calling my name on balance, and I will stick with my beloved Rose Kashmirie.
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November 25, 2013 at 5:15 am
This was a little hard to swallow at first, but then it calmed down and became rather appealing. I’m not familiar with Rose Kashmirie, but I looked on Fragrantica and saw coriander listed as a note and I’m intrigued!
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November 22, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Houndy, I like sweet perfumes but just thinking about this one gave me a toothache. Barneys carries this line and I’ll try it the next time I’m there!
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November 25, 2013 at 5:16 am
I would love to hear your impressions Haju!
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November 26, 2013 at 10:28 pm
I had high hopes for this, but from your description, I suspect it will be waaaay too much honey for me. Sigh.
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November 27, 2013 at 5:53 am
Nat – The first hour or so can be a bit much, so if you’re not into honey and cinnamon, I wouldn’t recommend it.
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