[unpaid/sample/ad/affiliate] If you like your rose sweet, fruity and powdery, look no further than the new launch from L’Occitane, Rose Calisson, which is both. Calisson? An almond paste candy that you’d know on sight even if the name isn’t familiar. They’re those almond shaped sweets like petit fours that are made with ground almonds and candied fruit. Given the inspiration, Rose Calisson isn’t as crazily sweet as you might expect.
In truth, I was expecting a vanilla rose explosion but it’s quite subtle given the calisson influence. There’s definitely fruit in the mix – nectarine and mandarin although I’m not sure you’d pick the fruit notes out as such exactly .. while I’m writing this and wearing it I’m starting to wonder if I can smell nectarine!
Rose predominates – Centifolia and Damascena – and there is cedar at the base that holds it all together and prevents it being a fully gourmande fragrance. I like its warmth and the immediate rose hit although for personal preference I’m fruit OR flowers and not rarely both together. I don’t pick up a lot of almond – it’s really just a trace.
It’s a happy, more-ish kind of a fragrance – if you smelled it drifting down the street you’d want to find the source. To my nose, it’s quite gentle and far from my expectations (in a good way). I love the box print – calissons of course – it’s splashy and bright and I rather wish the bottle was the same, or at least the cap. It’s £49 HERE, non affiliate HERE. The better value bet is the set that includes the fragrance, a mini hand-cream and a shower gel for £59 as it has an £82 value HERE.
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.