Dolce Rosa Excelsa by Dolce & Gabbana

I recently found a box of old samples that I had purchased and never got around to reviewing. Most of them were women’s perfumes, including this 2016 entry from Dolce & Gabbana, Dolce Rosa Excelsa. By now, it’s probably not getting much attention, but I figured that I’d give it a go anyhow. How does it smell? Perform? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

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What does Rosa Excelsa Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, Turkish rose, neroli, musk, water lily, sandalwood, papaya flower, cashmere wood

Click here to try: Dolce Rosa Excelsa

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My Full Review

Upon first spraying I can pick up the rose, lily, and musk right away. The lily is fairly strong at first, when compared to the other notes in the composition. Beyond that, there is a very faint neroli, that doesn’t seem to stick around for all that long.

Rosa Excelsa is a light rose blend, with a definite watery quality provided by the lily, which I actually enjoy a fair bit.

There is neroli here to. On my skin, it is mostly relegated to the opening and the transition into a soapier sort of scent. During the dry down, it’s pretty much gone. It does provide a nice citrus touch and some sweetness.

As it moves along, this begins to take on more of a soapy rose aroma. The musk and wood notes, peak through more so than they had been and Rosa Excelsa, feels cleaner and a tad crisp. It has a very light spice and a hint of creaminess for a time.

The only real changes to my nose for the rest of the wear are the increased musk, a bit more wood, and less floral notes outside of the roses. The watery aroma of the lily and musk combo hangs around, just less pronounced.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of this perfume is light and it hovers close to the skin, for the entirety of the wear. Very sheer. I can spray it multiple times, in the same spot, and it isn’t going fill up a room or venture far.

If you don’t want a powerhouse, this can be a plus. The projection ability just isn’t there, nor does it really need to be with this D&G scent.

The longevity is okay, not even good. It lasted in the 5-6 hour range, on my skin. The latter half of which, is when this is quite a musky mix with those light woods in the background.

It sort of reminds me of Lovely by SJP, with a stronger rose presence and not as heavy of a musk note. Not a bold scent, not sillage bomb, and not one that’s going to last and last. Pretty mediocre to standard across the board.

Seasonally, it strikes me as a warmer weather wear. More springtime, than summer. Although, it could be worn during the colder months, as it really doesn’t project itself all that much.

That light lily and rose blend just fits so much better when the sun is shining and there is some warmth to the air.

It is somewhat versatile, in that it can be a casual daily wear or office type of scent. Rosa Excelsa is very low key and isn’t prone to be offensive, for the most part.

Not really a sexy kind of perfume, somewhat pretty, but mostly just pleasant. It wouldn’t be the fragrance that you’d likely be reaching for, going out to the bars or even going on a date.

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Overall Impressions of Dolce Rosa Excelsa

Do I like this perfume? Eh, it’s not bad. However, it also doesn’t grab my attention. I feel like I’ve smelled this before with so many other perfumes and it doesn’t break any new ground. The rose is decent, but by no means amazing.

I do like the water lily note and musky dry down period. Those were the highlights, but not enough for a full endorsement…outside of getting a really cheap bottle.

The main drags are the performance and the overall smell. The former is subpar and the latter is pretty middle of the road. Definitely not one of Dolce & Gabbana’s best fragrances, though, not atrocious either.

It’s got a good bit of sweetness, a somewhat uplifting aroma, and a real simplicity to the composition. On the whole, it’s forgettable. Though, I certainly do not hate the way that it smells.