Goldfield & Banks Desert Rosewood

Desert Rosewood is Goldfield & Banks' signature woody-spicy fragrance, launched in 2016 and created by perfumer François Merle-Baudoin — inspired by Australia's Central Highlands and the scent of arid forests and sun-warmed resin. The house describes it as "liquorous & gourmand" within the spicy-amber family.

The opening brings Sicilian mandarin and ginger, sweetened by vanilla and patchouli, while spices of cardamom and benzoin add depth and warmth. At its heart, Australian desert rosewood and Buddha wood create a rich woody base that develops into patchouli and guaiacwood in the middle notes. The overall character is resinous and comforting with an almost aperitif-like quality — some reviewers note a cola-like sweetness from the interplay of dry woods, cardamom, and vanilla-benzoin.

Expect 8+ hours of longevity for this woody and ambery scent, with the scent remaining noticeable for well over 8 hours and projecting well initially before settling closer to the skin. Formulated with a minimum 20% fragrance oil concentration, the projection is designed to be "radiant" rather than "suffocating," creating a sophisticated aura around the wearer.

Community comparisons most frequently land on Yves Saint Laurent M7 — Desert Rosewood shares spicy resinousness but without the oud-laden, semi-animalic bite, pivoting instead toward something more herbal and fresh. Others note the cola scent profile reminds them of Enigma by Roja Dove but with fewer spices and less intensity. If you're drawn to warm, woody gourmands with genuine Australian botanicals and a liquorous, resinous character that works across multiple seasons, this is an exceptional introduction to the house and well worth sampling.

Scent Notes

• Top: Mandarin, Ginger
• Middle: Patchouli, Guaiacwood
• Base: Amber, Vanilla, Desert Rosewood, Buddha Wood, Cardamom, Benzoin

Best For
Fall, winter, and spring. Date nights, evening wear, special occasions. A warm, resinous woody-spicy with liquorous depth that works beautifully for those who love ambery vanillas with genuine woody character and all-day longevity.