Rosa Turca

The Verdict

Nishane Rosa Turca is a bold declaration of Turkish rose in perfume form. Created by perfumer Jorge Lee and released in 2014, this oriental floral from Turkey's first niche fragrance house celebrates the rose-growing tradition of Isparta, the homeland of Turkish roses. It is a fragrance that demands respect, generates strong reactions, and leaves very little middle ground between adoration and aversion.

The community is deeply split on Rosa Turca. Admirers describe it as a beautiful, dense, naturalistic rose that keeps the flower real and authentic, comparing it favorably to Frederic Malle's Une Rose and calling it an almost absolute rose for true lovers of this note. Detractors, however, find the indolic quality overwhelming, with the strong jasmine and animalic undertones crossing the line from natural into unpleasant territory. One critical reviewer went so far as to compare certain aspects unfavorably to notoriously challenging niche fragrances.

As a discontinued offering from the early days of Nishane's catalog, Rosa Turca now exists as a collector's piece that represents the house's rose-heritage roots before its later commercial successes with fragrances like Hacivat and Ani.

What It Smells Like

Rosa Turca opens with rose and ylang-ylang, establishing its floral identity immediately and powerfully. This is not a gentle, powdery rose or a fresh, dewy one. Basenotes reviewers describe it as an amaranth red rose, dark, dense, and natural, that is neither jammy nor crisp but somewhere in between. The ylang-ylang adds a creamy, exotic richness that reinforces the oriental character.

The heart deepens into jasmine and Egyptian jasmine, which is where the fragrance becomes most polarizing. The jasmine brings a strong indolic quality, a natural characteristic of jasmine flowers that can smell lush and intoxicating to some noses but animalic and challenging to others. One reviewer described it as resembling fresh roses on a hillside with chopped green stems and leaves, while another found it reminiscent of ordinary toilet soap dominated by clean musk.

The base returns to rose with supporting musk, creating a circular composition where rose is the alpha and omega. The overall effect is of a mammoth rose, dense and uncompromising, that fills a room and lingers on fabric for hours.

When to Wear It

Rosa Turca's enormous projection makes it best suited for environments where a bold scent presence is appropriate. Evening events, formal dinners, cultural outings, and special occasions in cooler weather provide ideal contexts. The fragrance has enough complexity and depth to reward extended wearing, revealing different facets over its long lifespan.

The first hour's intrusive projection means this is not a fragrance for enclosed spaces or intimate gatherings unless applied sparingly. Open-air settings and larger venues allow the projection to bloom without overwhelming nearby people.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is one area where Rosa Turca excels without controversy. The Basenotes review describes huge projection for the first 2+ hours, with the first hour being potentially intrusive in its reach. After the initial blast, the fragrance settles into a more moderate projection that still commands attention. Total longevity is reported at 10-12 hours on skin, which is exceptional by any standard.

This is a fragrance where a single spray may be sufficient for an entire evening. Those accustomed to applying multiple sprays of lighter fragrances should exercise restraint with Rosa Turca.

The Community Says

Fragrantica reviewers present the full spectrum of opinion on Rosa Turca. The positive camp describes a lovely, fat, juicy rose that is delicious to the point of almost being edible. One enthusiast found it reminiscent of Frederic Malle's Une Rose but even better. The rose is praised as the undeniable star of the fragrance, kept real and fresh yet warm in a way that makes it unique and lovely.

The negative camp finds too little rose beneath too much soapy jasmine and clean musk, or conversely, too much indolic intensity that crosses into unpleasant territory. The polarization is genuine and pronounced, making blind purchase inadvisable. Parfumo reviewers offer a more consistently positive view, with one describing the scent as fresh roses with green, chopped tones of rose stems and leaves.

Who Should Buy This

Rosa Turca is essential sampling for anyone who considers themselves a rose fragrance enthusiast. Its uncompromising, naturalistic approach to Turkish rose sets it apart from the many polished, prettified rose fragrances on the market. Nishane collectors will value it as an early expression of the house's identity. Bold fragrance wearers who enjoy making a statement will find its projection and character rewarding.

Those who prefer their roses fresh, clean, or subtle should stay away. If indolic florals or animalic undertones make you uncomfortable, Rosa Turca will likely be an unpleasant experience. The discontinued status means sampling may be difficult, adding further risk to any purchase.

The Bottom Line

Nishane Rosa Turca is a powerful, polarizing Turkish rose soliflore that delivers exceptional longevity and bold projection for devoted rose lovers, while its strong indolic character makes it a fragrance best sampled before committing.