Ormonde Jayne • Ta'if • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* cherylf on 3/19/2012 2:28:00 PM more reviews by cherylf

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

As another reviewer said, "...definitely the rose scent for non-rose lovers." I only wear Ormonde Jayne perfumes, and this one is my favourite.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sassykzt on 10/15/2011 11:39:00 PM more reviews by sassykzt

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I'm not swayed by pretty packages but this one for the pure parfum is stunning. The stopper was monogrammed for me. It's the first bottle I saw when walking into the Bond St. store. So, here I am reviewing this after 6 yrs. of that purchase. I've kept it in a strict temp. controlled room and away from all light-- it still smells wonderful.

Top notes: Orange blossom, pink peer, saffron, dates, white peach
Heart notes: Taíif roses, freesia, lily of the valley, jasmine
Base notes: Amber, Tonka Bean, Musk, Vanilla Absolute

A ravishing combination of the headiness of the rose and other florals beautifully framed by the dryness of the saffron and broom, with a glowing amber base. The pink pepper and date beautifully top this scent to give it an exotic edge.The staying power and sillage are excellent.

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*TOP REVIEWER* amlang on 8/24/2011 1:09:00 PM more reviews by amlang

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Dry desert rose. Rose rubbed with sand. There’s nothing green or dewy or walking through the garden about Ta’if. There’s also nothing dark, goth, or melodramatic. Ta’if is a wild, exotic dance, outdoors, at night, with lightning over the mountains.

When I first wore this, a few years ago, I swooned and thought it very seductive and gypsy-ish. Now it’s more about the saffron and pepper than the rose. I love it because it’s not quite like anything else, b/c I love this line, and b/c I like having several rose perfumes to choose from. But I’m not as bold anymore about wearing it whenever I want. Lately it often feels more night-time only, and special occasion.

Comparable to Lyric, but more peppery. Medium to big sillage, pretty good longevity.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Louise on 8/11/2011 6:50:00 PM more reviews by Louise

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I am not stranger to this fragrance house, having purchased the sampler set and also Ormonde Woman, which I adored wearing fall/winter. I was in the market for a spring/summer scent and the description of Ta'if intrigued me because it featured my favorite flower-the rose. When you think of a rose scent, you might think funeral home or little old lady. This one was described as deep dark dramatic and sensual. There is the underlying rose tone, but there are other notes which are woven around it-herby, peppery. Alas, I cannot say that I loved this one. The scent did not seem to linger or marry very well with my chemistry. I think that I liked the idea of it better than the actual effect. I did have fun wearing it and have just finished the bottle but I will not be purchasing another. On the Ormonde Jayne website, it mentions something to the effect that this is a very intense fragrance and that wearers of it make quite a statement. I don't think that Ta'if worked that way for me. When I wore it, no one gave me a second sniff :(

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*TOP REVIEWER* proximitythe53rd on 4/13/2010 11:51:00 AM more reviews by proximitythe53rd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I just adore Ta'if, and though I love the whole Ormonde Jayne line, it's (so far) the only one I have a full bottle of. Ta'if wasn't the first OJ I sampled and fell in love with. Actually, I overlooked it for quite a while because I'm not that crazy about rose, and I thought it was going to be a rose soliflore. Well, soliflore it is not, what Ta'if is, is quite simply gorgeous.
Ta'if is smooth and soft, fairly light, but with definite presence. The rose is a big part of Ta'if, but unless you absolutely positively hate all rose, you should give this fragrance a try, because there is a lot more going on here. The saffron adds a wonderful creaminess to the composition, and tree resins and amber ground the fragrance, while broom adds a slightly herbal and green fragrance. There's a light touch of something almost slightly fruity, but it's just a hint in the composition. Orange blossom a bit of freesia and jasmine all round out the florals. But if you think Ta'if is just a pretty floral, you're missing so much! I've never been a huge fan of florals, but this is one that has easily captured my imagination, not to mention my wallet. Now that I have the full bottle, I find myself wearing Ta'if all the time. I just keep reaching for it.
I would note that the first 10 minutes of Ta'if aren't its best part, and I wouldn't judge based on that. When I went to Ormonde Jayne in London, Linda suggested that I spritz, and then take a little walk around the surrounding shops, and smell the fragrance as it develops, then come back and tell her what I thought. A wise suggestion, because Ta'if just gets better when it melds into your skin, and that's when it takes on its real character. I've smelled it on a couple people, and I really do think that it doesn't smell the same on everyone.
I'm utterly in love, and even if I didn't get compliments from others on this gorgeous fragrance (and I do get compliments when I wear Ta'if - lots!) it would still be a staple of my fragrance wardrobe.

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chrystelica on 3/26/2010 1:47:00 PM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Toooo sweet. It smells like a rose-flavored after dinner mint, if such a thing existed.

I'm sure it is lovely on the right person, but from start to finish, the only scent I got was sweet- incredibly sweet- candied, minted rose.

I -wish- I got a whiff of peach, or smokiness, or anything other than three notes: sugar, mint, and light rose. Very uncomplex, whipped together into some sort of uber-femme soufflé meringue. Where's the mutton? The bones? Where's the beef?

It was too paperback novel romance for me. But, I happen to love those sometimes. Maybe a more appropriate simile is the chick flick musical score of "Dangerous Beauty." Too sweet and swoony, like Victorian women fainting. I couldn't take this... too innocent, girly- candy- mint- rose!!! I don't want to smell like a bon-bon...

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yogiboo on 1/20/2010 12:10:00 AM more reviews by yogiboo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

A very sultry and womanly fragrance. I love most all of the OJ line my favorite is Ormonde Woman. Woman I loved instantly but Ta'if needed a little more time before I fell for it. As with most of the line it needs about 15 minutes to really settle down into it's true beauty. When I first applied it I got a really strong blast of pepper. I got a bit sneezy and thought I didn't like it, but then I decided to ride it out and see how it developed. Well I'm very glad I did because the pepper mellows considerably and then you get the rose and saffron which is quite beautiful. After about 30 minutes I started to smell the dates and the amber notes which really rounds everything out and it begins to warm an pulsate on the skin. So if you need to spray it and then dash out the door this might not be the one for that ( I seriously started to laugh when Linda Pilkington said on her website that she sprayed 7 or 8 squirts of this on herself WOW! Thats intense! I think 2 is quite sufficient) Even though there are fruit and amber notes its not overtly sweet or cloying. I was surprised to see it was recommended for the cooler months as I think warmer weather will bring out the warmer notes. I will be wanting a bottle of this for summer evenings.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Mac789 on 11/21/2009 8:02:00 PM more reviews by Mac789

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

The opening notes of Ta'if give a strong impression of white peaches and white roses, each just on the verge of ripeness and full bloom. A striking similarity to Robert Piguet Visa, with its peach powder, begins and ends there.



Count me as another reviewer who was surprised by Ta'if. It is not as I thought; I expected a spicy, dark red rose and not the almost-rose fragrance Ta'if is.



Although the rose is evident at the top, it is fully matched by the peach and then it ducks under the tent of a souk and stays there amidst the sweetness of dates and the dusky, mysterious saffron spice. The fragrance turns golden in the heart, as it moves away from its pastel-powdery opening.



I had not expected the sweetness of Ta'if. This is the first, but not the biggest surprise. Ta'if is sweet, but not in a fruity way. It is exactly the sweetness of dates, but this note is not given a gourmand treatment. Peach and dates easily eclipse the rose, although the rose is there in the background, somewhere, just beyond true recognition, colored as depth rather than distinction.



The second surprise is the golden, honeyed aura of broom that appears in the base. Dior's Dune ruined a broom note for me, or so I thought until I smelled Ta'if. Blended with a sweet streak of amber, the base is luxurious but not rich. That is the magnificence of this fragrance that easily could have tipped into the syrupy. A hint of pencil shaving or lead also appears in the base and further removes Ta'if from unctuousness.



Ta'if has obviously been crafted with a gentle hand, as each layer swishes to the next, melting into it as if these disparate things--roses, dates, saffron, broom, amber--are all naturally related. It is a brilliant and unexpected fragrance and something that could easily become a signature.

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roroluca on 9/19/2009 7:48:00 PM more reviews by roroluca

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

So far, Ta'if and Ormonde Woman are the only perfumes from this line that I'm thinking of purchasing. Looking forward to making a purchase in November when OJ always has a promo code for getting 10% off the entire purchase!

Anyways, onto the perfume - I've only worn it once but it nearly lasted 12 full hours (I slept in it) and had a wonderful drydown and lingering scent .. perfect scent for when you spend a night elsewhere. I've never worn (and do not own) any rose scents before so I didn't get anything besides the smell of roses for at least 1-2 hours. Then it gradually got darker, a bit more mysterious. Had something of a déjà-vu moment and realized I must've smelt the amber before. What a special perfume.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mysterious_scent on 7/31/2009 5:25:00 AM more reviews by mysterious_scent

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

It opens with a rather strong combination of rose and saffron. There is something greenish in the first 15 minutes but it soon settles to a well-blended warm and round scent. It's only slightly spicy, which is perfect to my taste. The dry-down is lovely, with the mysterious Ormande Jayne base. It lasts forever on fabric but it fades a bit quick on my skin (3 hours).

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*TOP REVIEWER* essija on 7/23/2009 9:40:00 AM more reviews by essija

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

This smells so much better when barley applied. I had tried it the first time and didn't get this much sexy rose as I did when I only put 2 squirts on. This is a rose for non rose lovers, b/c I honestly don't like rose, but this is great! Thought Champaca was my favorite, now I must reconsider...

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*TOP REVIEWER* bellydancer on 4/22/2009 5:28:00 PM more reviews by bellydancer

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I did not get much rose in this-- only passing through in the darkest shadows. I got leather, tobacco and a bit of saffron. It was lovely-- not at all what I expected. Maybe it's my own weird chemistry.

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kelly32 on 4/20/2009 3:53:00 PM more reviews by kelly32

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I should preface this review by noting that I usually abhor rose as a note in fragrances. A lovely MUA'er sent me a sample of this and I was sure I wouldn't like it. OH my, this had me at hello even before it touched my skin. This is definitely the rose scent for non-rose lovers. This is such a lovely spiced rose with fairly good longevity on my skin. The top notes are stronger with spiced rose and a citrus burst. The drydown is a slightly powdery (not heavy as I also hate powdery scents), modern rose that is just swoon worthy. I've tried OJ woman and Champaca as well and while both were pleasant, they didn't resonate with me the way this one does. Well crafted, though rather expensive.

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Barnbabe01 on 2/6/2009 2:26:00 PM more reviews by Barnbabe01

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Another OJ masterpiece. I normally can not do scents such as this (it smells rose-y on me) but it is heaven. Very good for spring/summer (IMO). I would recommend! Pricey, but, as my husband would say, "Expensive, but worth it!".

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sarahee on 9/18/2008 6:03:00 AM more reviews by sarahee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Red   Eyes: Violet    

When I first tried this I was a little skeptical and saw two other ladies in the shop panting over it and I wondered why! I prefered the lighter cheerful Osmanthus at first, but the sample I was given at the shop was used up and then I understodd the two ladies in the shop! Now it is seriously addictive

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Spiriel on 8/15/2008 4:49:00 AM more reviews by Spiriel

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Ta'if is a lovely gentle scent, which on my skin becomes a sweet, fruity rose with a distinctly soft edge of spices. Its very feminine without being girly. The best comparison I can make is that it is a slightly more grown up version of Cacheral's Amor Amor.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lfrueh on 7/25/2008 4:19:00 PM more reviews by lfrueh

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I purchased this unsniffed in a split and am glad I did. White Aoud has been my favorite rose scent, cozy and delicious for winter. This is a much spicier scent, very sophisticated. If you waft by with this on, people will think 'woman', not 'girl'.

It's really great (though not quite as great as White Aoud), I recommend it highly and will enjoy rotating it with Whip & White Aoud. Ta'if is better for summer, I think.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ParisTroika on 6/26/2008 4:31:00 PM more reviews by ParisTroika

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This one is one that I've been waiting to try. It is spicy at first...very complex and dynamic right away. You can tell there are many layers to this, not flat like some of the others. Very alluring. Within a few minutes I could smell a powdery element...but not in any way bad or "heachache-y." Very elegant and sophisticated and very very unique, unlike anything I've experienced. The powdery element gives it kind of a innocent, almost girlish accent...I could smell the vanilla mixing with the musk. This is very different from Champaca, but you can't really compare the two. This is sensual, mature yet playful. It was a rainy, dreary (great day actually) and this made my day brighter.
Wow...over 12 hours later I could still smell it (not super strong but still impressive!) I kept smelling myself all day...the most dominate notes for me were the rose, vanilla, and musk. This is very sensual, almost feel it should only be worn at night...it's too special to wear every day. For this reason, I'm not sure I would make it my first purchase...but this is something I definitely want a bottle of for going out on fancy dinners. It's so elegant...wonderful! Again, going on my list of wants.

Website description: A damask rose from Arabia.
Ta´if, a town rising 5000 ft above the shores of The Red Sea and overlooking the Arabian desert, is renowned for its plantations of Ta´if rose.

Ta´if by Ormonde Jayne is an intoxicating and audacious rose scent. This perfume dislikes daylight preferring dusk, the night, parties, promises and assignations. It is an opulent composition which makes a bold entrance and is confident enough to sweep everyone else to one side - a real belle of the ball. Ta´if is flamboyant but also sophisticated, a torrid blend of saffron, pink pepper, rose, dark sappy tree resins and broom - it is dynamic, daring and madly in love with life.

- Top: Pink pepper, saffron and dates
- Heart: Rose oil, freesia, orange flower absolute and jasmine
- Base: Broom and amber

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*TOP REVIEWER* verolyn on 12/23/2007 7:23:00 PM more reviews by verolyn

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I would not have originally guessed this was a rose scent. On my friend, I thought it might be spicy iris. But once I knew it was rose, I ALWAYS smelled rose. On me, it went on as a dark rose, with a hint of cumin and powder. It dries down with an earthy, sweet fruit scent like dried dates, and possibly amber. The cumin note gives way to light peppery powder. It's a nice take on a rose scent - feminine, but not all floral and delicate. Spicy and earthy, but never heavy. A very original sweet and spicy rose, but just not for me. That slight medicinal note never settled with me. Worth a try, though, for rose lovers and haters alike.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gracious_Lady on 10/15/2007 8:09:00 PM more reviews by Gracious_Lady

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I am so thrilled to have found a niche perfume house (Ormonde Jayne) that has so many perfumes that resonate with me. Ormonde Jayne's Ta'if ("A Damascas Rose from Arabia") is quite pretty, but does not have the depth I look for in a Rose scent. I definitely smell the rose, but it is nothing special imo. Advertised Notes; TOP: Orange Flower Absolute, White Peach, Saffron and Dates, HEART: Rose Oil, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, and Jasmine, BASE: Amber, Tonka Bean, Musk and Vanilla Absolute.

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