The war of the two roses.

Trivia: The War of the Roses was a 30 year long and bloody battle, which began in 1455( as the First battle of St. Albans), fought between the House of York (whose symbol was the white rose) and the House of Lancaster (symbol was the red rose), a battle that ousted the incumbent, mentally unstable Henry VI and established the House of York on the throne of England. 

On to a more pleasant battle of two roses, between Ambergris Taifi and Ispahan Black, from Agarscents Bazaar, perfumer Sharif LaRoche. I've worn both perfume oils separately but today I am wearing both together, well on different arms, to compare and decide if I need Ispahan Black in my life. On a side note, I smell like a blooming rose garden with animals running all over the place, everyone seems attracted to me today. 

Notes listed for Ambergris Taifi: Ambergris, Ambra, Ambre Gris.

Notes listed for Ispahan Black: Opium, Deer Musk, Rose Otto, Spices.

Comparing side by side, Ambergris Taifi seems more uplifting and sweeter, the rose a very delicate pink, almost just a blush. Comparatively, the scent is much fresher and lightly spiced greens. For some reason, I'm smelling rosewater and vanilla? A creamy mildly sweet vanilla and the combination of both rose and vanilla is making me think of desserts. The animalic musk is there but isn't overdone, sort of like a Beauty and the Beast relationship with the pink rose. 

Mini Raw Strawberry Rose Ice Cream Cakes with Chocolate

In contrast, Ispahan Black has become even darker and mysterious next to its fair companion. The rose is a smoking, spiced musky rose, sophisticated, possessing a unique élan and whose idea of dessert is "une clope et une cafe". 

Both perfume oils last a ridiculously long time and have a presence you won't miss. I have decided in the end that yes, I want Ispahan Black in my life too.

Ispahan Black Sharif LaRoche

I'm in trouble. The more I sample from Agarscents Bazaar, the more I want and Ispahan Black is not proving otherwise. Etsy is a treasure trove for indie perfumers and Sharif LaRoche is one of the treasures. 

The Etsy store lists the notes for Ispahan Black as: Opium, Deer Musk, Rose Otto, Spices.

The rose of Ispahan,also known as Pompon des Princes or simply Ispahan, is an old world Damask rose that is light pink with a heady fragrance and which blooms only once but which lasts for about six weeks, one of the longest blooming periods among the old world roses.  Rose d'Ispahan has been seen growing wild on the hills between Shiraz and Isfahan, a city renowned for its gardens and roses and after which the rose is named.

Rose Absolute and Rose Otto, what's the difference? Rose Absolute is extracted through a solvent process and can contain chemicals whereas Rose Otto is considered an essential oil as it is extracted through steam distillation.

So back to Ispahan Black the perfume oil.

Rosy sweet, gorgeous, lush blooms that swell up from a tiny drop of the oil on my forearm. Used with a very light hand, the spices add to the intoxicating composition and do not detract from the roses. Likewise, the salty dark musk doesn't overshadow its rose companion but together they create such a passionate, vitalizing and stimulating scent.

True to its namesake, the rose keeps its bloom throughout the scent, never fading nor turning powdery, like some roses do. The musk despite being animalic, doesn't turn the lady into a tramp, but instead the fragility of the  pale pink rose petals is enhanced by the contrasting shadowy musk.

So seriously, do get a sample. And also a sample of his Ambergris Taifi, which I promise to properly review soon, once I can formulate actual sentences instead of nonsensical rapturous babble upon smelling it.