Rosa Novella
Santa Maria Novella (2020)

This did not work for me, I realised as I wore it through the day. First, I must say that it’s sold as eau de cologne but has pretty good staying power and projection. It held up well over a few hours. Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the scent.

SMN describes it as floral-spicy. The listed notes are: Top - Lemon, Petitgrain. Middle: Centifolia Rose, Jasmine, Gardenia. Base – Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Musk. I’m not good at analysing fragrance notes, but for me there was not much rose in evidence. What I got was mainly dry, medicinal spices, some faint florals and a bit of a woody base. Sandalwood? If you say so but it didn’t smell like sandalwood to me. It reminded me also a bit of Melograno – another scratchy-cpiry one that I’m not a great fan of. Rosa Novella read on my skin like a sour take on Melograno. Rosa Novella was pretty linear on me after the initial citrusy opening settled. Funnily enough, I thought it was also rosy in the opening but then the rose went into hiding. I haven't had much luck with Santa Maria Novella perfumes, so probably something in their house style doesn't suit me.

I was really looking for a pure rose parfum or edt, and saw this on the SMN website and bought on a whim.

Lovely bright clean fragrance with, I am afraid to say, very little rose coming through on me, but delightful none the less.

It reminds me of a lighter version of a Bella Bellisima fragrance in a red bottle. Can’t remember the exact name, but probably something to do with ‘Ruby’s’.

Anyway, a delightful daytime SMN fragrance that again hits the spot and makes me feel elegant and expensive. Love it!!!

Kicks off like sparkling strawberry lemonade, quickly joined by rose and currant. Given time, a nice, classic-smelling cold cream smell, rich and creamy, with elements of oiled suede and light soap comes in under the rose and really elevates this from a simple pretty rose perfume into something beautifully complex.

That seems to be the focus for most of the day: Rich suede with fruity rose.

The well-crafted top and heart notes had me hoping for a proper chypre base or something similar, but alas this is an eau de cologne, so it's content to just smell good for a few hours and fade away.

Even without a great base, this definitely deserves a thumbs up, especially because leathery rose perfumes that aren't saffron bombs are rare these days.