The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Reves Roses is built around a floral-fruity composition in which green notes, pear, and pink grapefruit establish an airy first impression. Blackcurrant brings the fruit a deeper pulse, while Iris Pallida, May rose, peony, pink pepper, suede, and ylang-ylang gather the scent into a richer floral center. The rose accord is never shown alone. It appears alongside the freshness of foliage, the translucent character of pear, and the bitter brightness of grapefruit, with iris adding a cool, powdery texture. May rose and peony give the flowers petal and volume, while pink pepper introduces a subtle flare of heat. Suede contributes a soft, tactile quality, and ylang-ylang deepens the floral air.
Its most compelling detail is the handoff between materials that usually play different roles. Green notes and pear bring a crisp, almost watery clarity. Grapefruit adds bitter brightness, while blackcurrant brings fruit with more pulse. Then the floral heart arrives, but not as a neat bouquet. Iris Pallida gives it a cool, powdery texture. May rose and peony add petal and volume. Pink pepper introduces heat, suede introduces tactility, and ylang-ylang deepens the floral air.
The evolution
The opening starts with a clean, brisk edge: green notes, pear, and pink grapefruit pull the scent into focus before warmth can settle in. That brightness softens into fruit and petals. Blackcurrant gives the middle a juicy pulse, while iris, May rose, and peony create a floral texture with cool edges. Pink pepper keeps the bloom from feeling overly sweet, and suede adds a low, tactile warmth that makes the composition feel dressed rather than displayed. As the flowers recede, ambergris, rosewood, elemi resin, and musk form a quieter base. The resin lends a dry, polished edge. Rosewood adds depth without becoming heavy, while musk leaves a soft trail against skin. Over time, the final impression becomes warmer and more intimate, with the green and citrus facets giving way gradually to rose, suede, rosewood, resin, ambergris, and musk.
Cultural impact
Reves Roses can be understood through its composition rather than a house mythology. Green notes, pear, and pink grapefruit introduce a lively floral-fruity register, while blackcurrant adds depth to the fruit. Iris Pallida gives the central flowers a cool, powdery character, and May rose and peony contribute fuller petal volume. Pink pepper and suede introduce contrasting textures, with ylang-ylang lending the floral heart greater depth. In the drydown, ambergris, rosewood, elemi resin, and musk create a warmer base, shifting the fragrance from crisp brightness toward a softer trail against skin.
The House
Esquisse ParfumEsquisse Parfum is a niche fragrance house defined by its singular creative vision. Every composition carries the name of Marina Volkova, the house's sole perfumer since its first release in 2017. The brand takes its name from the French word for sketch, reflecting an approach to perfumery that treats each fragrance as a preliminary study capturing a fleeting sensory impression rather than a finished statement. The catalog spans roughly a dozen releases across florals, orientals, and fresh green compositions, with names ranging from the contemplative (La Lune, Reves Roses, Narciss) to the direct (Mandarine et Herbs, Fraise Sauvage). Esquisse Parfum occupies a distinctive position within the niche segment by maintaining a consistent authorial voice across its collection rather than collaborating with external perfumers. The brand operates with deliberate restraint, releasing new work infrequently and allowing each fragrance to stand as an independent exploration rather than part of a broader seasonal narrative.
The Creator
Marina VolkovaHer signature leans toward clean, fresh constructions with a quiet sophistication. Volkova demonstrates particular skill with bright citrus articulations and transparent floral accents, building compositions that feel airy without becoming insubstantial.
