The Best Rose Perfumes: Chloe Vs Paul Smith, Zara, and The Body Shop Atlas Mountain
Before I even get out of the lift at work, someone stops to have a good sniff. Later that morning, a colleague follows suit, asking: “What’s that lovely smell?” Turns out, it’s me. Even better: those compliments cost less than a tenner, and the generous bottle size means there are lots to go round. Zara Rose EDT has long had its fans – it smells very like Christian Dior’s J’Adore, and for a fraction of the price, which probably has something to do with it. But it also has serious longevity and silage, keeping going through my commute home and then into evening on a cold January day. I’m a generous sprayer of scent, but then with a big bottle for not much cash, you can afford to be.
So other people love it, and it comes on strong for ages. But I’m still not sure I’d buy Zara Rose again. To my nose, the initial spritz is pretty synthetic, and I’m not sure the drydown quite does it for me either. It’s perfectly pleasant and good for wafting, but the perfume is missing the warmer, more complex notes of a true rose perfume on my skin. If however, you’re a J’Adore fan, you should probably take a sniff.