Shu Uemura’s Pricey Rose Fragrance Smells Pretty But Fades Fast
Each June, Shu Uemura releases a limited edition collection of various beauty products to commemorate the opening of their first beauty boutique in June of 1983. This year’s collection, called Hana-Bi, includes, among other things, three pricey eau de toilette fragrances. How pricey?
Are you sitting down?
Each of the scents will set you back a whopping $85 for a 1.6-oz. bottle. The company sent me one of the three, Fleur de Rose, to review for the blog. I was really looking forward to trying it out, knowing full well that it had better be good for $85.
Eau de toilettes are usually less concentrated and less expensive than regular perfumes (sometimes referred to as eau de parfums). I could see myself shelling out $85 for a truly breathtaking eau de parfum, but paying almost $100 for an eau de toilette is a lot to ask of anyone.
I’ve been wearing Fleur de Rose off and on now for a few days. It’s a very light, simple, rosy scent that reminds me of crushed rose petals and wild licorice on a crisp spring morning.
I like Fleur de Rose, but I don’t love it. The fragrance simply is what it is and doesn’t evolve or change over time. And it fades quickly, too. When I dab it on my wrists in the morning, the scent is gone by lunchtime.
Shu Uemura Fleur de Rose Eau de Toilette
Price: $85 for a 1.6-oz. bottle
Use: A light, rosy fragrance
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C
I have a special place in my heart for Shu Uemura products, especially their eyeshadows, but Fleur de Rose is simply too expensive. I haven’t tried the other two scents in the collection — Fleur de Terre, a fresh woody floral; and Fleur de Source, a spicy floral — but they’d really have to smell amazing and last far longer than Fleur de Rose does to justify the price.
I have a feeling that die-hard Shu fans and avid perfume collectors will still snap this up without hesitation. If money’s no object and you love rose scents like YSL Paris or Lancome’s Tresor, then you may like Fleur de Rose even more than I did.
Read more about Fleur de Rose, or test it out at your favorite Shu Uemura counter.
I’ve got a bit of the Sunday blues right now because I’m not ready for the weekend to end. How was your day? Maybe hearing from a friendly voice will help cheer me up. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are some of last week’s best beauty posts from the lovely ladies of The Beauty Blog Network.
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Michelle from All Lacquered Up reviews Chanel’s Fall Collection Nail Colours, including the polish that everyone’s been buzzing about, Gold Fiction.Â
Glosslizard says
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 pmYeah, I’d really have to luuuurve something to shell out that much! There was a really pricey Guerlain fragrance that I loved enough to shell out for a small decant (5 mL, it’ll actually last me a long time!) from a reputable scent site, but I still didn’t buy the whole bottle!
I’m actually pretty stoked that the weekend is over, I’ve got some fun stuff coming up in the next few weeks and 2 vacations in July! Bring it on! 🙂
Karen says
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:43 pmHi Glosslizard,
I heart Guerlain! Oh yeah, 5 mL will last you forever… I have such a hard time using up perfumes, which I guess is a good thing.
With all the talk about fall stuff lately I sorta forgot that summer’s barely started! I’m excited for your upcoming trips and will have to vicariously live through you. 🙂 Whatever you do, don’t pack at the last minute at 2:00 am the night before you leave. Trust me, it’s a BAD IDEA!
Miss QQ says
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 pmHi Karen. I tried on all three EDTs and the eye palettes too on Saturday. I have no idea of the price because when I asked, the counter lady said that these are just preview. They do not have stocks until July and hence they do not know the price yet. Firstly, on the EDTs : Fleur de Rose is the best of the 3 if I must choose. The other 2 are horrible, especially Fleur de Source. It smelt pungent to me. Well, I didn’t try them on my skin so maybe the scent is different on skin. I sprayed them on tissue because they didn’t have any test strips. I feel the bottle looks mediocre too. It definitely doesn’t justify its price tag!
There are 3 eye palettes too. The texture of the shadows are soft and I like Fleur de Rose palette best out of the 3. I can’t imagine the price though. I don’t think I will buy it.
Eileen says
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 pmhmmm $85…eau de toilette…
no thanks
they tend to fade really fast and if I’m dishing out $85 it beter stay on me till I go to sleep!
PS I totally agree! I so forgot that it’s definitely beginning of summer. I caught myself talking about fall classes with a friend…umm no thanks
xoxo
Eileen
Eileens last blog post..WTF?!?!?
Amanda says
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 amas much as i love makeup, shower gel, lotion, I really don’t get into perfume that much. So these hardly cause me any pause. the eyeshadows palettes however….oh boy, I’m drooling over these!
Dao says
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 amAh, Japanese perfumes! I read somewhere, probably NY Times, that Japanese people like base note very much so their perfumes are basically base notes. In other words, Japanese perfumes smell like water, like L’eau D’Issey 😀 Hanae Mori probably is a little bit better but still not that complicated. French perfumes on the other hand is very interesting if they’re done right.
Glosslizard says
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 amHee hee! Hubby would never let me get away with putting off packing for that long! He’s a bit of a preparation fiend, which really works in my favor… especially since I have to pack for the kidlets too! He always makes a packing list and the only thing he leaves entirely to me is an item he lists as “girly stuff I can’t understand”! 😀
the Muse says
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 amGreat review Karen.
I really want to try at least one but I can’t help but wonder if I need an EDP that costs $85 bucks 😉
I can’t justify the cost at all but I imagine my shu fan girl status definately understands the price.
ugh the life of a junkie!
the Muses last blog post..Beauty on a Budget Week
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 amHi Eileen,
It’s definitely one of those scents that you really have to love.
Ha! I was just thinking that in less than a few weeks the back to school push is going to start in the stores. I’m *not* ready for fall. What are you studying?
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 amHi Amanda,
I agree – the palettes are drool worthy. Shu always, always, always gets me with their eyeshadows, but, you already knew that!;)
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 amHi Dao,
That’s really interesting, because this scent really felt like one big base note. Have you smelled Kenzo perfumes? To me, they are quite watery as well.
I’m a bigger fan of the French and the Italian perfumers! I love Chanel, Guerlain and D&G!
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 amHi Glosslizard,
Ahh… gotta love a boy that’s super organized. As much as I love lists, they just seem to escape me when it comes to packing. I feel like I can’t confine my life into one small bag, ya know? (LOL, I bet there’s a world of symbolism in that statement.) Does your hubby offer packing consultant services? J/K!!!
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 amHi Musey,
Right? $85 bucks better last a long time AND take me to previously unexplored EDT fragrance heights!
I am way addicted to Shu, too. Gimme, gimme, more Shu eyeshadows is like, my mantra. 🙂
the Muse says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 amhey karen!
$85 dollars breaks the bank when it comes to EDT! I wouldn’t mind if it was parfum 😛
LOL I concur! $85 bucks should put me into scent overload! It doesn’t surprise me they are sheer though! 🙁 But of course I’m still tempted which is why I haven’t stopped by the counter b/c I could do oh so much more with nearly $100!
Oh yea baby! Gimme Shu shadows 😉 They have ’em for dirt cheap at an outlet shop here! But of course I stocked up just in case Shu somehow runs out of eyeshadows one day!
Cheers!
Happy Monday lovie!
the Muses last blog post..MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator Review
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 pmHeya Muse,
OMG! I can’t imagine the damage I’d do at an outlet store with some dirt cheap Shu shadows. 😉 Think of all the palettes I could fill! *wipes drool*
Dao says
June 24th, 2008 at 10:05 amRoommie’s oldest sister has a bottle of Kenzo flower and it does smell like water. Too bad the bottle is very pretty! I love the new Guerlain perfume, it’s very feminine. Btw, YSL Elle smells like Baby Phat Golden Goddess to me.
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:56 pmHi Dao,
Yeah, my best friend loves it because it’s very subtle. Oh! I haven’t smelled the new Guerlain… I’m ON IT!
I smelled Elle and thought I would like it because of the hot pink bottle, but I think it’s too sweet for me.
I really am very obsessed with Private Collection right now, though!