The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Men in Roses was launched in 2017 by Aulentissima, with Giovanni Festa as the perfumer. The composition places Bulgarian rose and jasmine sambac at the opening, then moves into cedarwood and oud. Its name sets up a deliberately striking contrast: a floral title paired with a woody, resinous center. The rose gives the opening a bright, polished floral character, while jasmine sambac adds a dense white-floral presence. Cedarwood introduces a dry, structured quality, and oud brings darker resinous depth. Together, the notes create a composition that shifts between soft petals, dry wood, and warm spice, offering an interesting study in contrast rather than a simple floral release.
The most interesting part is the meeting point between rose and oud. Rose supplies brightness, polish, and a soft powdery edge, while oud adds resin, depth, and a darker woody character. Jasmine sambac brings a dense white-floral fullness, and cedarwood gives the composition a dry structural line. Frankincense and musk in the base make the final impression more intimate, balancing the floral opening with smoke, skin, and quiet warmth. As the fragrance develops, the floral notes gradually share the stage with the woods and resins, leaving a soft rose trace within a darker, more tactile drydown.
The evolution
The opening begins with Bulgarian rose and jasmine sambac, where the rose keeps things bright and the jasmine adds a creamy floral fullness. As the scent moves inward, cedarwood lays down a dry, polished structure while oud introduces a resinous depth that makes the rose feel less sweet and more dramatic. In the drydown, frankincense brings a cool, smoky edge, musk softens the woods, and rose returns as a lingering trace. The result is a floral composition that keeps changing temperature, moving from petals to smoke without losing its sense of elegance. On skin, the fragrance develops through its floral, woody, resinous, and musky stages, leaving a close impression against fabric and skin as the wearer moves through the day.
Cultural impact
Men in Roses sits at the meeting point of floral and woody fragrance, with Bulgarian rose and jasmine sambac set against cedarwood, oud, frankincense, and musk. It is listed for women and men, making its appeal relevant to a broad audience. The composition invites appreciation from people who enjoy the tension between polished flowers and darker materials, as the rose moves from a bright opening into resinous woods and a soft, smoky close.
The House
AulentissimaAulentissima is an independent fragrance house that emerged in the late 2010s, offering a catalogue that reads like a laboratory notebook of scent experiments. Its releases – Issimamenthae (2017), Rose and Beer (2020), O.H.V. Gutt B. (2022), Zacamutra (2020), Il Velo di Maia (2020), Spóros (2020), Jardin de Marrakesh (2017), Amande (2017), Black Woman (2017) and Men in Roses (2017) – span a range of aromatic concepts from botanical abstractions to urban narratives. The brand positions itself as a conduit for curious noses, inviting collectors to explore compositions that often juxtapose unexpected ingredients. While the label does not publish a traditional corporate history, its body of work suggests a commitment to pushing the boundaries of modern perfumery without relying on overt marketing slogans.
The Creator
Giovanni FestaIn the lab Festa favors a linear construction: a clear opening, a heart that expands, and a base that settles like stone. He often begins with a single botanical note—often a citrus or a rare rose—and builds layers of supporting accords that echo the primary scent without over…
