The precious rose oil used in this Ormonde Jayne fragrance hails from a town called Ta'if, 5000 ft above the Red Sea and overlooking the Arabic desert. The Damask roses grown there are famous all over the world for the rich, spicy, sweet attar obtained through steam distillation and the perfume "Ta'if" has it in abundance. The rose has to hustle to survive in a hostile growing environment, high up on the plains this rocky region in Saudi Arabia. Mirroring its harsh environment, the Ta'if rose yields oil that is almost as extreme in its greenness and peppery spiciness.

To complement its stubborn and proud character, the perfumer chose to surround the rose with an array of exciting Arabian flavours, saffron and dates; the saffron adds a mysterious touch of leather and the dates adds a juicy sweetness that gives the texture toffee-like feel.

The Ta'if perfume is mesmerising. With sharp and spicy peppery opening, the rose note soon emerges in all its exotic beauty, like a Ta'if rose itself erupting through the rocky, dry soil of the Mecca plains. Later the bitter saffron emerges and softens with dewy freesia, the rose relaxes into a peachy tone that is as unexpected and joyful.

Orange blossom and dates add fudgy and honeyed Arabian delights to the perfume. Ta'if is not in any way sweet due to the wafts of bush-like broom that cuts through the ambered base and lifts it to another dimension.

Ta'if Eau de Parfum is a pleasure to wear, a gust of authentic desert air.

50ml