Part of Pierre Guillaume Paris’ Numbered Collection, 26 Isparta was named after Isparta, the city in western Turkey famous for growing Damascus roses and producing so much of the world’s rose oil that it’s called ‘Rose City.’

26 Isparta opens with a gorgeous note of rose that is fruity, thick and jammy from the type of damascones (the chemical compound that gives roses their distinctive scent) used. I smell raspberries, which amplify the fruity jamminess of the rose. As it blooms, it gets resinous from Peru balsam. Peru balsam also has vanilla and cinnamon facets, making the rose sweet and spicy.  A note of calamus strengthens the spiciness with its soft, cinnamon aspect, while vanilla-scented benzoin and sweet, earthy ambroxan sweeten it. Then patchouli and incense take 26 Isparta to the dark side. The rose is still there, but now it’s surrounded by rich, sticky resins and sweet, earthy ambroxan. At the base, agarwood gives sit a rich woodiness that balances the sweetness, while musk gives it a warm sensuality.

The drydown is rich, lush and sexy. Instead of the delicate floral aspect of summer rose, nose Pierre Guillaume has gone for the darker, preserved one – and created a perfect winter rose, so thick, rich and sticky I half expected to find a small spoon in the box it came in.

Notes: red fruits, summer rose of Isparta, Peru balsam, calamus, patchouli, incense, benzoin, agarwood , ambroxan, musk.