Stella McCartney • Stella Rose Absolute • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* saphiric on 3/16/2012 6:45:00 PM more reviews by saphiric

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red, Medium   Eyes: Other    

I first received a sample of this from a sephora order and, deeming it too mainstream, did not want to like it. Yet the more I spray the sample the more I saw how special it was. It starts out very bright floral and feminine, but there is a unique underlying hint of a deep rose scent that distinguishes it from other florals I've tried. It's deep and sophisticated and simply beautiful. I caved and got the original Stella but that only lasted about 1 hour on my skin, so then I opted for this Absolute version which is basically the same to me but it lasted a little longer (~3-4 hours). The dry down is a bit disappointing however, it's like a medicinal/alcoholic clean soap smell. I wish the top and middle notes would last forever but I will now wear this layered with Narcisco Rodriguez "For Her" (see my review), which has very similar openings but dries down like Stella's younger unisex cousin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* nathaliez on 2/18/2012 6:50:00 PM more reviews by nathaliez

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

Definitely a real nice rose scent, different from what is out there, but the problem is you have to like a strong boozy rose. I find Rose Absolute to be a strong alcoholic rose, like a red wine scent, and it is too much for me!! But for lovers of rose scents it is certainly a unique one!

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trayw86 on 7/19/2011 2:30:00 AM more reviews by trayw86

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I think I've just found my new signature scent. I wanted something different from the overload of strong fruity smelling scents out there that every girl seems to be wearing lately (cross between white flowers and fruit punch bowls). I ended up deciding I wanted a perfume that smelt just like a red rose (after picking roses with the elderly at work lol) and this perfume is truly the closest thing to the scent of a rose that I've ever found (the ladies in perfume shops must hate me, whenever I spy a perfume counter I stand there sniffing and spraying cards forever then walk away buying nothing) and I've tried and purchased a LOT of perfumes over the years. It truly is a beautiful and feminine scent, and I like the idea that I won't be smelling exactly like everyone else.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bellydancer on 8/13/2010 4:44:00 PM more reviews by bellydancer

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

Very rosey-- starts off kind of fresh rosey (stems and leaves, too) and ends up just rose rosey, if that makes any sense. There is a jamminess to it that seems like berries-- sometimes that goes all wrong on me, but in SRA it works. I think it makes it seem a little more vibrant and more modern. It just makes it kind of like a jammy edible rose confection. Lasting power is very good-- this lasts all day long on me.

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kyl101 on 6/13/2010 6:20:00 PM more reviews by kyl101

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is my everyday fragrance in the winter time. Very feminine scent. It is long lasting and definitely worth the price.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bubblysteph on 3/3/2010 8:47:00 AM more reviews by bubblysteph

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

I totally adore this scent. Rosy with depth, which made it more on the sophisticated side yet still not cloying at all. Feminine and sexy. Btw, with superb staying power too.

I tried the original Stella, which gave me a headache because of too much depth - if this makes sense. The original Stella smelled like some Chinese herbal medicine on me for a long long time until the beautiful rose scent poped out. However, Rose Absolute is almost a total opposite. This has waaayyy more rose yet less that "Chinese herbal medicine like smell", which gave the perfume some depth, rather than just a blank rose scent.

Try this if Stella didn't work out for you and ofc, only if you're after a very rosy scent.

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ymantra on 2/9/2010 1:16:00 PM more reviews by ymantra

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

I got Stella as a gift I received the roll on perfume. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first however my husband complimented me on how good I smelled. I used it all up and based on the reviews I decided to purchase the rose absolute and let me tell you I love it. I don't see too much of a difference between Stella and Stella Rose Absolute other than Rose Absolute its stronger, which I like. I will keep it as a staple in my perfume collection.

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tiramisu101 on 12/14/2009 4:40:00 PM more reviews by tiramisu101

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

am IN LOVE with this product!!

i have the regular EDP, then couldn't decide and got the Absolute as well. they are honestly quite similar, but this is so much more potent.

this is a bit too strong for work though.

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amwong on 11/24/2009 6:39:00 PM more reviews by amwong

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I rarely give out 5 lippies but I have to say that this is one of my all-time favourite perfumes!


The bottle is lovely - dark, crystalline and mysterious. The scent itself is a heavy floral oriental. Floral in terms of dark ripe roses in full bloom and oriental in terms of the heady warmth you get. I personally think it's rather wonderful. It's not generic, not sweet and definitely not one of those teeny-bopper bubblegum scents that seem to be all the rage with high school girls every where. This is more of a date-night scent. Note: I HATE powdery smells and am very sensitive to anything that smells even remotely like old lady. Fortunately, for me anyways, this doesn't have any powder to it and is simply 'sophisticated' rather than 'old and mature.'


This is probably way too strong for every day work use and is one of those fragrances that give other people headaches so restraint should be shown in spraying. The lasting power is quite decent (read: 6-7 hours) and even after showering, I think I can still smell it a bit.

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yeju on 7/16/2009 4:33:00 PM more reviews by yeju

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

There was a sales event going on at a local mall and I saw this Rose Absolute Intense EDP 1.6 oz cut down to $43.50 (Canadian). Because I loved Stella Peony in Two EDT, I thought I should try this one as well. Peony EDT is really lovely but its staying power is so weak that it's heartbreaking. Rose has a deeper and spicier scent, which I love, and it staying power is satisfactory. Less heartbreak. I find it wearable in all seasons. I like the bottle too, although mine came with a loose cap which doesn't close completely. Overall, what a great perfume!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Dagney on 7/14/2009 4:49:00 PM more reviews by Dagney

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love the original Stella fragrance and Rose Absolute is a concentrated version. The RA is very close to the Stella parfum that I have but cheaper. I'm not a huge fan of Rose frags but I do love Stella. A rose that's dark and fresh at the same time. Lovely.

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mynonA on 5/26/2009 1:17:00 PM more reviews by mynonA

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Absolutely lovely! I like the original Stella as well, but it's too pale compared to the Rose Absolute and it has no staying power whatsoever. In this version the roses are more intense and darker, the amber is fuller which makes it truly rich and feminine and someone said that it's almost fruity. Unlike the original Stella which focuses more on the citrus note, the Rose Absolute makes me think of ripe plums instead and just a tad citrus. With good staying power as well, this makes it one of my top perfumes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* boogiedisease on 6/22/2008 12:28:00 AM more reviews by boogiedisease

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Green    

I was really disappointed with this fragrance. I had one heck of a lemming for it, after smelling it on a tester strip in a duty free shop. There had seemed to be a lack of rose fragrances, as if they had fallen out of favour/popularity.

A true rose scent (or at least close to one) is what I had been craving.

I finally broke down and bought a bottle. I was looking for a fresh, vibrant rose (not something cloying and powdery-- think cheap, old-fashioned scent). This WAS it, but it's the dry-down that I don't care for. It definitely loses what little complexity it has. It smells mellow, powdery and amberish at this state. The complete opposite of what I wanted.

The staying power isn't great, either. I think this is the biggest let down of all.

I recently came across Paul Smith Rose, and this is what I wanted Rose Absolute to be. The scent stays true and consistent, and the staying power is magnificent. Seven hours after one spray, I was receiving compliments on my fragrance.

In turn, I let my mom have this fragrance, as she had run out of her usual stuff. She's enjoying it more than I was.

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shellie on 2/27/2008 9:49:00 PM more reviews by shellie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Love love love this perfume. Has anyone tried the parfum version yet? It's available at the sephora website for $100 and comes in a gorgeous bottle. But anyway, I love rose absolute. not old grandma at all...it's clean yet deep enough to be interesting. it's resinous but not in a dirty way at all. It reminds me of church incense a little, but in a good way. It reminds me of a cool, smoky, overcast day in fall. It's not "perfumey" it just smells good. It's very mysterious, I think. It has lasting power and is very tasteful and not too girly or so womanly that it's too old for me (I'm almost 27). I don't feel ridiculous wearing it like I do with most scents, like I'm trying to be someone I'm not. This is perfect. And...as I am conscientious consumer, this is not the product of animal testing (because stella is the daughter of paul McCartney) so I feel good about supporting her. No guilt! yay!

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PiedPiper on 2/27/2008 3:46:00 AM more reviews by PiedPiper

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

As someone who originally never gave a lick about perfume, this one *completely* changed my mind. I was flipping through a Sephora catalog and smelled the tester. I was completely blown away- so much so, that I ran out and bought a bottle of it the very next day. It has a gorgeous, sensuous scent -rosy and deep. I've had compliments on it from both men and women, and my husband never fails to comment on how sexy it smells. I'll never go without a bottle of it now.

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alaena88 on 12/24/2007 11:46:00 PM more reviews by alaena88

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I had a sample of this from Sephora and used every last mini spray I could get out of it. At first, I didn't like the scent and waved it off for old ladys because of its obvious rose OVERtone, but I fell in love with it when I put it on before the gym one day and could not stop sniffing my wrist. Turned me into a public-sniffing fool. The comment from my boyfriend "It's kind of weird, but I love it." and then he attacked me. It's SO sultry and womanly. I wanted to buy the large bottle, but I had just bought a new perfume and am going to finish it first. Unique and beautiful.

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Aneesa on 11/27/2007 3:38:00 AM more reviews by Aneesa

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I am constantly on the lookout for the perfect rose fragrance. While the composition of this perfume allows the rose notes to come through, my biggest gripe is that this perfume just fades into nothingness. Other reviewers have done a fine job of describing the fragrance in detail, and I concur with them. I just wish that the fragrance would linger as one would expect of a designer frangrance. I think some drugstore brands might have more staying power. Like the scent, hate the staying power. Will not repurchase.

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susielhelton on 11/4/2007 1:59:00 AM more reviews by susielhelton

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I was able to get through Sephoria a travel set which contained 2 spray minis of each scent (the Rose Absolute and original Stilla) as well as a "holder" which has a cap to protect the glass vile in your bag. : I have to say of the two the Rose Absolute I think is nicer. I am a big fan of rosines and this rose is nice and bright, not powdery and "old" as some rosines can be. I think that this is a sophisticated scent, but still is something I can see wearing most anywhere without offending people. If you are interested in something with a less pronounced rose note the original Stilla is nice, but it does not have the same Ooomph that the rose absolute has. If you are interested in trying these I would suggest that travel set as it has lasted me quite a long time and is really handy for your purse.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CecileCecile on 10/26/2007 5:09:00 PM more reviews by CecileCecile

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I have been looking for rose scents that are not overly synthetic (like those at Crabtree & Evelyn) and that actually last (unlike Rock 'n' Rose). I had high hopes for this scent, and it turned out to be a rose scent that I actually like. Unfortunately, two hearty spritzes on my wrist just faded away to almost nothing. I suppose if I doused myself with this, it would then give me the effect I was looking for - but why should I have to? I'll keep looking. No sale.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MissMelissa on 10/19/2007 4:56:00 PM more reviews by MissMelissa

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

I'm not skilled at describing fragrances, but I will my best:) I ordered this after falling in love with the original Stella, in the hopes that this would last longer. (I also have the Body Milk and the roll-on) I've never smelled this version before. I showered late last night, used no fragrance or lotion on my arms. There's no scent to interfere where I'm testing. I sprayed it on my wrist and inner elbow. First Whiff is alcohol and not the rubbing kind, like some kind of liquor! lol! Ewwwww. Second whiff: here comes the roses!!! Mmmmmmm!!! Third whiff: I'm still smelling roses and not much amber, or anything else for that matter. I have to say, I do like this scent, but I think I like the Stella EDP better (I received a sample of it) I think this will layer nicely with the rest of the Stella products I have. I'm also thinking about layering some of B&BW Sensual Amber body products, with this scent, to change it a bit. Make it more of my own, personal scent; more ME:) Will I repurchase? I put "yes", because I do like it, but I'll have to wait and see. As always, you will be the first to know!

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