Wounded Rose 刺
Designed by perfumer Frank Voelkl, Wounded Rose by To Summer targets shoppers seeking a dry, aromatic take on florals. It replaces traditional sweetness with a green, spicy blend of fennel, geranium, and damp patchouli. This unisex formulation wears close to the skin, making it a sophisticated choice for daytime office environments and casual spring outings. If you appreciate woody, resinous finishes anchored by myrrh and vetiver, this release offers an ideal alternative to generic, mass-market floral perfumes.
Similar Suggestions
BETAFragrances with the nearest note and performance profile.
For more in-depth suggestions.
Performance Metrics
12 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Moderate longevity of four to six hours with a soft sillage that stays within arm's length. It performs best in cool, damp spring or autumn weather.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
A dry, aromatic woody-floral opening with bitter fennel, cold lavender, and pink pepper. The heart features a dusty rose and green geranium, settling into a base of dry patchouli, myrrh, and vetiver.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe aromatic and rose accords dominate the early wear, feeling green and sharp. Over time, the woody and patchouli accords emerge, bringing a dry, earthy, and resinous texture to the skin.
Community Data
39 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and summer. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Avoids the cloying sweetness of mass-market floral scents.
Features a unique green fennel opening that stands out.
Dry, resinous base of myrrh wears comfortably in close quarters.
Clean, unisex appeal that avoids traditional gender tropes.
Quiet performance makes it highly suitable for professional offices.
Earthy patchouli and vetiver add a sophisticated, modern structure.
Incorporates spicy pink pepper to elevate the aromatic profile.
Features geranium and palmarosa to enrich the rose with leafy green elements.
Utilizes a warm labdanum note to provide a soft amber texture.
Anchored by a musk and vetiver combination for a clean, grounding finish.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Moderate longevity means you may need to reapply after four hours.
The sharp, bitter fennel note in the opening can be polarizing.
Sillage is quiet, which will disappoint fans of loud fragrances.
May feel too dry or herbal for those wanting a sweet rose.
Pricing is relatively high for a moderate-performing skin scent.
Resinous myrrh base can feel slightly dense in hot, humid weather.
The pink pepper note can add an initial sneeze-inducing sharpness.
Palmarosa and geranium can skew the heart toward a grassy, herbal direction.
Labdanum can make the mid-phase feel overly dense or resinous.
Musk base might feel too clean or simple for lovers of complex woodsy scents.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“To Summer Wounded Rose: An Earthy, Thorny Take on the Queen of Flowers”
The first spray of Wounded Rose on skin is an immediate departure from the expected. Instead of a sweet, dewy petal, you are met with a dry, bracing blend of fennel and lavender. The lavender is clean and cool, while the fennel adds a distinct, slightly bitter green quality. Pink pepper gives the opening a quiet prickle of heat, keeping the herbal notes from feeling too clinical. It is a sharp, atmospheric introduction that immediately signals this is not a mainstream floral.
Within twenty minutes, the initial aromatic rush begins to settle. The rose finally appears, but it is stripped of any sugary or syrupy qualities. This is a dusty, green rose, closely tied to the lemon-tinted woodiness of palmarosa and the peppery bite of geranium. Labdanum enters the mix here, adding a subtle, resinous warmth that prevents the mid-phase from feeling too cold. The flower feels structural, almost architectural, rather than soft or romantic.
As the hours wear on, the fragrance sinks into a quiet, woody foundation on the skin. Earthy patchouli and myrrh dominate the final hours, giving the scent a shadowed, slightly smoky trail. Vetiver adds a dry, grassy quality that keeps the patchouli from turning sweet or damp. It is a drydown that clings close to the skin, relying on a clean musk to bind the remaining earthiness together. The evolution is slow and steady, moving from cold herbs to warm, dry resins.
In terms of performance, it behaves like a classic daytime scent. It projects moderately for the first hour, letting those nearby catch a hint of the green opening. After that, it settles into a quiet skin scent that lasts around five hours. It is an ideal companion for a day spent in close quarters, like a library or a modern office, where loud, beast-mode fragrances are inappropriate.
This perfume is a great fit for someone who appreciates the structure of niche perfumery but wants something wearable. The dry, unisex profile makes it easy to wear for anyone who usually avoids traditional florals. It feels especially right on cool, rainy spring days when you want a fragrance that matches the quiet, damp weather outside.
For those tired of the endless parade of sweet, jammy rose perfumes, Wounded Rose offers a welcome path. The green, fennel-heavy opening and resinous myrrh base give it a distinct personality. It may not last all day, but the journey from sharp herbs to quiet resins is worth the experience.
FAQs
What does Wounded Rose smell like initially?+
The scent opens with a crisp, slightly bitter combination of green fennel and lavender, seasoned by a fast prickle of pink pepper. It avoids the traditional sweet, jammy fruitiness of most designer rose scents, opting instead for a cool, aromatic entry.
How does the fragrance evolve on skin over time?+
After the initial herbal bite fades, the rose becomes prominent but stays dry, supported by palmarosa and leafy geranium. In the final hours, it shifts into a warm, resinous base of myrrh, earth-stained patchouli, and soft musk.
How long does Wounded Rose last on skin?+
You can expect moderate longevity, lasting around four to six hours on skin before becoming a soft whisper. It clings slightly longer to fabric, making it a reliable companion for a quiet afternoon at the office.
What is the sillage and projection of this scent?+
This perfume projects moderately during its first hour, extending about arm's length. It quickly pulls back to create a personal bubble, meaning you will not overwhelm coworkers in a small meeting room or during dinner.
Which season is best suited for Wounded Rose?+
The fragrance performs best during spring and fall, when cool air allows the delicate balance of earthy patchouli and dry rose to breathe without getting heavy or cloying in high summer heat.
For what occasions should I wear this perfume?+
It fits quiet, daytime settings, casual weekends, and professional gallery openings. Its dry, aromatic texture goes perfectly with a crisp linen shirt or a light wool trench coat on rainy days.
Is Wounded Rose truly a unisex fragrance?+
Yes, it sits right in the middle because the sweet floral notes are tempered by dry vetiver, bitter fennel, and smoky myrrh, making it comfortable for anyone who dislikes sugary feminine scents.
Who is the ideal audience for this perfume?+
It suits fragrance enthusiasts who find traditional, jammy roses boring and want a green, woody alternative. If you enjoy quiet, meditative scents with a distinct herbal character, this is for you.
Can Wounded Rose be layered with other fragrances?+
It layers beautifully under clean musk oils or woody cedar scents, which amplify the quiet, earthy patchouli and myrrh base notes without clashing with the bright lavender and fennel opening.
How does it compare to other famous rose perfumes?+
Unlike sweet, heavy damask rose blockbusters, this focuses on a thorny, dry rose. The addition of labdanum and myrrh gives it an earthy, resinous quality that feels closer to a damp forest floor than a flower shop.
Rankings
Full rankingsWear Diary
0 COMMUNITY WEAR LOGSKeep sprays, longevity, weather, and compliments in one practical log.
Sign in to keep private wear notes.
Compliment Signal
FROM WEAR LOGSReviews
1 TOTALNo owner review yet. You can be the first.
Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORENo dupes submitted yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Consider Le Labo Rose 31 for a similarly dry rose with more cedarwood and cumin spice, or Etat Libre d'Orange Eau de Protection if you want a metallic, peppery rose with more projection.
Live questions about Wounded Rose 刺
Ask one quick question and let the community weigh in while it is live.
No live pulse yet.
Trusted Sellers
Community-submitted stores that regular buyers trust, by country.
No trusted sellers added for this fragrance yet.
Where to Sample
Discovery sets, official samples, and trusted decants.
No sample or decant options shared for this fragrance yet.