It all started with Lucas of The Chemist in the Bottle hearing on the radio some random person pronouncing the upcoming February to be a month of roses. While he wasn’t sure what the reason for that statement was, he came up with the idea to wear rose perfumes every day of February first, and then, once he realized that he didn’t have enough rose perfumes to pull it off on his own, he invited his readers to take a part, and based on everybody’s responses Lucas created a calendar of who will be wearing which perfume and on which date.
My guess was that February got that flower designation because of the Valentine’s Day. This holiday has enthusiastic followers, reluctant participants and “conscientious objectors.” I am firmly in the first camp but I know one of the widely used reasons – a variation on “You should show your love year round – not just on Valentine’s Day!” So the idea of celebrating the whole month, without making it into a single day occasion, appealed to me even more.
I decided that I would wear rose-centric perfumes every day in February. I created my own calendar. It follows the Calendar of Lucas for those days that feature perfumes that I like and have in my collection (presented in bold), and for the rest of the days I chose alternative perfume. To get 28 perfumes that I like and do not mind wearing, I had to make an exception to my usual rule that I wear only perfumes from bottles or decants, so there will be some sample vials (including a dab ones) but I’ll try to give every perfume a proper “skin time” during the day.
I invite you to participate in this Month of Roses. Wear rose perfumes from either calendars, or come up with your own choice. Do a month of rose perfumes, a day or anything in between.
I know that you come here for the company (and pictures of Rusty) so I hope to have a regular conversation on or around the suggested topic. But if you choose to take a part in this spontaneous group project, each comment you live telling me, which rose perfume you’re wearing that day, will give you one entry into a giveaway. I’ll do the math in the end, and you could always refuse the prize, so I suggest we skip altogether the part where you tell me to enter, or not to enter (that’s not the question).
Use this post for comments about perfumes worn during the first week – February 1st – 7th.
What’s the prize? I’ll be original for a perfume blog draw and banal for Valentine’s Day offerings: chocolate. Winner gets two bars from a local artisan brand (my choice) – milk, dark or mix (winner’s choice) sent anywhere in the world (and I won’t even have to be creative on the customs form).
Are you going to join us?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Oh this sounds like so much fun :)
For the week of February 1- February 7, I will commit to wearing PHI (which is an easy feat as I love it so much!)
and I would happily accept entrance into the draw…who doesn’t love chocolate :) ????
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! PHI deserves a good company. Thank you for joining the project! Come back and report if you find anything else to wear that fits the theme.
LikeLike
Oh I already have the entire month planned out like you :)
Feb 8-15 I will wear Tocca’s Isabel (Morrocan rose and rose petals)
Feb 16-23 I will wear Chloe (2008- fresh roses)
Feb 24-28 I will wear a Jo Malone combo of Red Roses and Peony & Blush Suede.
I wanted to wear my full bottles for this project which is why I am sticking to one scent per week.
and, btw, there is nothing banal about chocolate :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your plan though for me it would have been hard to stick to one perfume for the whole week: I’m so used to switching every day that even wearing the most loved perfumes that many days would feel restrictive. But I hope it works for you.
I’ll wait for your next week’s report :)
LikeLike
I really like this idea!! Even though I’m not sure if I could pull of the whole month of roses, or any other note for that matter, not even my favourite – vanilla!
January has sort of been a month of roses for me, as I wore a lot of roses, sampling that is. Rose is a note I struggle with, and for the longest time, I couldn’t find any that would suit me or that I’d want a FB of.
Last year, when I did most of my roses sampling, I sort of concluded that it’s not for me and I should move on. But my wardrobe really needed a rose, I haven’t a single one. So this year, I started all over, with some I skipped the last time, and I had so much more luck. Either my tastes have evolved, or I have finally figured what kind of roses suit me, so I sort of did targeted sampling unlike the random/any rose one I did before. Lo and behold my first ever rose perfume bottle is on it’s way to me! And it’s February! So I guess that is quite convenient for your project here, as I’ll be wearing a lot of roses this month too, both the one I bought and some new that I’ll be getting samples of this month.
I have tried most of the roses in your calendar, but there are still a few I must try too. I love your list,and the ones you have FB’s of are truly excellent!
Best wishes dear Undina and lot’s of love in February and beyond! ;)
xxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roses are so different in perfumes! There are perfumes that just do not work for me. And I do not mean in a way “nice but don’t need this one” but actually disliking them and not being able to wear at all. For example, as much as I like Jo Malone brand (I’m a huge fan), Red Roses is just wrong on me. So unless you dislike the smell of real roses in general, you should be able to find “your rose.”
I’m curious to hear what perfume you’ve got once you actually get it and start wearing. Please come back and tell more about what roses you test or wear.
P.S. Not all of the perfumes on the “bold” list are FBs – many of those are travel bottles, decants and even samples. The principle of matching them to Lucas’ list was that I liked them. As samples I have at least several more from his calendar, but even for the project I wouldn’t wear those that I don’t like ;)
LikeLike
Dear Undina,
I have sampled roses pretty randomly, as in – anything rose dominant. I like the smell of roses in nature, it’s not my favourite smell of all, but I do like it. But for some reason, I had no luck with perfumes. Or it’s too powdery, too sour, fruity, fresh, retro smelling (vintage and classics don’t work for me) etc. But I had a pretty clear image in my head on what I’d want that rose perfume to be.
So, the rose I got is Rose Oud By Kilian. Haven’t started wearing yet because I have a horrible virus infection and can’t smell anything. It is not exactly the rose I had in mind, closer to my image would be Rose d’Arabie and I hope to have that one too, at some point. But this one sort of snuck (sneaked? -I’m not a native english speaker) up on me and it’s so beautiful, like no other rose I’ve smelled. So here it is, finally!
I’ve learnt that I love darker roses, paired with oud,where oud is polished and not barnyard-y. I love them slightly gourmand,like dipped in honey etc. Something rich, deep and sweet. And without geranium, if I smell even a drop of geranium in there, the deal is off.
As for Jo Malone, I haven’t had much luck so far, as my skin eats perfume and these generally have poorer longevity so there’s an issue I couldn’t surpass. But I’m interested in Velvet Roses&Oud and the latest, Myrrh&Tonka.
Allright dear, this got lenghty so I’ll wrap it up here!
Best wishes
LikeLiked by 1 person
I plan to wear Rose Oud from the sample that I have. I like it but probably not enough to go for a bottle.
In general, I have complae relationship with agarwood: I do not like it in most perfumes (though By Kilian Amber Oud is one of my favorites). If you haven’t tried it yet, you should try Velvet Rose & Oud – both the perfume and the body oil.
LikeLike
Oh what fun! It doesn’t take much to encourage me to join in such a venture, for rose is probably my favourite floral note, just as vanilla is my favourite base ingredient. I could add PG Brulure de Rose to the pot, though I have something on today already. I have also worn Rose Kashmirie by Les Parfums de Rosine a few times lately, so can wheel that out again. Feels very apt for winer. My Snow Rose bottle went off, so can’t include that. Thanks for giving us a rosy kick start!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got me worried: the sample of the Snow Rose that I planned to wear since I liked it when I sampled it before, came from you. If your bottle is off, I’m out of one day wear and will need to figure out an alternative.
I liked PG’s rose and drained my sample completely. Too bad it’s not available somewhere in a store close by: I would have ended up with a 30 ml bottle.
Come back and tell more about perfumes you end up wearing.
LikeLike
I am sorry about Snow Rose if you have the same experience. It’s discontinued too. If I had fewer bottles overall I would rebuy Brulure, but I can’t justify any FB purchases when I have so much that will also turn if I don’t get to it in time. So far I have worn Parfum Sacre, Divine Spirituelle, and Aftelier Wild Roses. Parfum Sacre is a beaut. Wish I had more than a few ml left.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know yet – I was reluctant to find out :)
I know what you mean about bottles turning. I’m trying to use my favorites as much as I can (and share some too). But I have the following “rational”: I do my best trying to buy the smallest official bottles available and I store them properly – so the spoiled perfumes are on their manufacturers’ conscience.
LikeLike
I really enjoy challenges like this as it inspires me to wear some oft-neglected scents.
Today, I am wearing Dior’s Miss Dior Cherie EDP (200?) from a coffret of minis that I bought at duty free in Paris on my very 1st European jaunt ( 2010).
This version is heavy on the rose, oakmoss and patchouli, and reminds me of my Mother, as that trip was to scatter her ashes in Paris – she never got to make the trip, so I took her after her passing
Thank you for the contest
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing (and for joining the challenge). Perfumes might have a very strong bond to some things in our memory – and it’s great when those memories are sweet – even if that is bitter-sweet.
LikeLike
This is a wonderful idea. I don’t have enough in the way of rose perfumes to participate for a whole month, but I’d like to participate a little bit — the 4 days up to/incl. Valentine’s is about all I can manage. It’ll be Balenciaga Rosabotanica, Lush Imogen Rose, Crabtree & Evelyn Rose Pineapple, and Miu Miu L’eau Bleue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Four days will work perfectly! When you wear those, please come and tell more: I’m not familiar with any of the perfumes you plan to wear. If you happen to publish a review for any of them on your blog, I always encourage linking.
LikeLike
This is a lovely idea! And yes, it feels very appropriate for Valentine’s Day. I don’t own enough rose-centric perfumes to fully follow along, but maybe this will inspire me to take a closer look at some of the rose scents we carry at work. Nirvana Rose from Elizabeth & James has been popular lately, so perhaps I’ll start with that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! You do not need to follow along – any participation is great!
Maybe you could do a parallel project “how many rose perfumes I can find “(but not necessarily wear – I’m not that cruel ;) ). Or “the best rose perfume in the store” (or the most popular this month – subjectively, of course). Do you need more ideas for the possible topics for your post? ;)
Anyway, either come back as you go through the perfumes and tell or share a link if you do a post.
LikeLike
What a lovely idea. I don’t have 28 rose perfumes but will happily rotate.. Today Ce Soir ou Jamais!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rotation works as well! Thank you for joining us!
I don’t know how it happened but I’ve never tried Ce Soir ou Jamais – even though I like Annick Goutal. I blame local stores that stopped carrying the brand!
LikeLike
Day 2 – Fiile de Berlin! I smell great!!! Unfortunately I have drained my Mohur sample so that cannot feature this month of roses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Mohur sample is almost done as well. But it served its purpose: I enjoyed wearing it, and now I’ll need to think if I want that bottle.
I like your choice for today and will also be wearing FdB – tomorrow.
(If you run out of nested comments, just start a new thread).
LikeLike
Woo hoo! I am joining you and Lucas for a Month of Roses! Today was NVC Mohur Extrait!
LikeLike
Beautiful perfume (and such an attractive bottle – I might just give in and buy it once my sample is gone).
I’m glad we’re doing that. We could have come up with some more elaborate project but I’m glad it did happen – even if that spontaneously.
LikeLike
I love roses :) I will join as much as I can! Does wearing a swipe or two of Tauer Rose Oil every day count? Today, I discovered that the rose body oil layers very nicely with Lonesome Rider. Also, you smell amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nemo.
I’m glad you’re joining! Rose oil counts! I haven’t tried it myself but I heard it was getting a lot of love. So even if you do it every day (and write about it), it counts! :)
LikeLike
I’m in! Lovely idea and it’s cheering me up already.
Missed yesterday as I’d already applied Cuir de Lancome but today I’m wearing Tobacco Rose. I think I’ll wear it until the 7th but if that changes I’ll check back in. I’m going to go through my samples/decants this weekend to see what roses I can dig up.
Well done on your awesome calendar of 28 roses.
Loved the artisan chocolate you’ve sent me in the past so I will not be refusing if I’m lucky enough to win :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought that if anybody, you should join this project! :)
Tobacco Rose that I also plan to wear this month is a sample that, I think, I got from you.
It was harder than I thought to come up with 28 perfumes because I didn’t want to stretch what perfumes to consider suitable for the project. But I managed to do that (I hope – if I find a replacement for the possibly spoiled Snow Rose :) ).
LikeLike
Great idea, Undina. To test and use up samples and decants as well. I am in! As you probably know I am quite fond of Rose centered fragrances. I was a little too late yesterday but managed to apply Le Labo Rose 31 body lotion in the evening. Saw on your list you have Rose 31 as a fragrance and own a full bottle. On my skin it is quite masculine but I Have used the body products the fragrance might be different. Have you tried the body products of Rose 31? What do you think of Rose 31?
Today I sampled Amouage Lyric for men and woman both of them. Lyric Woman is confusing for me as I really like the drydown but I do not like the way it smells in the beginning. Loved Lyric men in the beginning but not the drydown. I have tried Lyric Woman many times but do not think I will buy a bottle, will use up the decant first. This evening I will probably spray Paul Smith Rose lavishly ;-) Nice choices for this months on your list! Quite inspired to dig up some neglected rose scents as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Correction: Rose 31 that I have is a decant, not a bottle – though with Le Labo’s bottles it doesn’t really matter: they aren’t that nice to start with ;)
I rarely use scented body lotions: not because I do not like them but mostly because I rarely wear the same perfume even twice a month – so it’s completely impractical to have matching body lotions. Perfume doesn’t smell masculine to my nose but it is supposed to be a masculine rose – so your impression might be more precise than mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wearing Chanel No. 5 Body Oil today. This No. 5 version has no aldehydes, so the rose and the jasmine both shine through.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chanel No 5 perfume doesn’t work for me but now I’m curious: maybe in that version it might? If I do not find a substitute to the perfume that I might have to replace, maybe I should consider giving myself another chance with No 5?
LikeLike
The Cookie Queen is nuts about the No. 5 Body Oil and says it lasts and lasts. It might be a limited edition but not sure.
SoTD Tobacco Rose again :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, cool. Last spring/early summer I did wear a lot of roses, and for some reason found the experience very comforting and healing (something I was desperately in need of at the time). I can’t start until I get home from this trip late Saturday, but I will jump in and commit to spend 21 days of February in rose scents. Deal?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure!!! I know, it shows my age – both in blogging and human years – but I miss “good ol’ days” of joint blogging events.
I love my perfumes and enjoy wearing them spontaneously, but for a change it feels really nice to have an additional “purpose.”
Please join once you’re back (and travel safely!)
LikeLike
February 4th is also my date in calendar so I will be your scent twin wearing Phi today
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucas, as we proved many times, you are my scent twin (well, triplet) whether we wear the same perfume on a particular day or not :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this comment 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Triplet love here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this idea! I wish I had enough varying Rose perfume to indulge. Maybe next year – a goal! Wonderful selection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doreen, you don’t have to do 28 days/different perfumes. Do it once a week or couple times during the month. Participation is the goal, not the quantity.
LikeLike
Lancome Mille et Une Roses! A beautiful blue (!!!) rose courtesy of our swaps! I wore 3 sprays and it lasted about 6 hours. I’m pretty sure I can up it by 2 more spritzes and not be asphyxiated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
With all these talks about Mille et Une Roses I can hardly wait to wear it! (and absolutely no peaches! – though I answered to this claim in the NST’s SOTD thread :) )
LikeLike
Pingback: A Month of Roses: Week 1 – Undina's Looking Glass
Hi all: I saw your post, Undina, about Rose Ta’if by Ormonde Jayne. I dug out my sample, tried it and LOVED it. Wow. So different from a Mai rose and in a good way. Ta’if Rose smells a bit metallic on me, again in a good way. I love the saffron and amber. This is a winner and I need a full bottle of this beauty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked it! It’s such a beautiful rose!
I recommend subscribing to OJ’s newsletter: at least 2-3 times a year they have short (1-2 day) sales when they offer 15-20% off their perfumes. And their travel sprays (set of 4 x 10 ml) are not much more expensive than the 50 ml full bottle.
LikeLike
Thanks for the recommendation. I am on the OJ newsletter list and i got Frangipani when Ormonde Jayne had a great offer earlier in 2016. For the next sale or free shipping worldwide offer I’ll be getting the Ta’if Rose. I had considered the smaller travel size bottles. Those are great! Also, your kitty is beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your kitty (it is yours, right?) is funny :)
LikeLike
Hey Undina,
Only 6 matches. Feb 1/7/9/20/21/28
What a fabulous array you have.
Portia xx
LikeLike
6 is a good start! <3 With thousands of perfumes out there even 6 is an impressive number :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: A Month of Roses: Week 3 – Undina's Looking Glass
Pingback: February: A Month of Roses | A Bottled Rose
Pingback: My Blog’s Rainbow Anniversary – Undina's Looking Glass
Pingback: Perfume Roulette – Undina's Looking Glass