So I entered this small but not so tiny room with a very cozy ambiance to find myself surrounded by beautiful people and very pleasing aroma of Arabic perfume but with a touch of the western world. The environment gave an instant feel of Aoud and Bukhoor all over the place and couldn’t just take my eyes off the endless collection of perfumes displayed for all of us to try. Who doesn’t love Aabian frangrances. Don’t judge me if I felt like showering myself with everything I laid my hands on there. They were irresistible. I am not a big fan of perfumes all my life and that’s because I am allergic to too much of it. You will find me sneezing where perfumes are sprayed. But this time it was different. Not a single time a sneezed or felt my nose was bothered. There was something more with those perfumes than just some fancy bottles with ordinary aromatic fluid inside. I picked a random bottle that was displayed and sprayed on myself, it reminded me that I was on the land of The Arabs and few minutes later, I realized it wasn’t just the typical arabic smell but there was more to it but what was it? This question was answered when the Master Perfumer started speaking about his perfumes.
Roja Dove:
British Master Perfumer
Ambassador for the GREAT Britain campaign
I am fortunate to have always lived a charmed life – happy to walk the path I was born to travel along. I was exceptionally lucky with my debut into the professional world of perfumery as I was offered a role within the most prestigious of all French perfumery houses. My training was classical, studying the great masterpieces, and learning the beauty of the raw materials and how they have been used over time to create different effects. In some ways I was totally ruined, I grew up in a world full of vicuna, silk, and cashmere, rather than wool, cotton, and nylon.-Roja Dove”
My favorite quote:
I do not believe it is possible to be creative to order, it is an emotional process. My intuition alone leads me.” – Roja Dove
Roja Parfums
Redefines Luxury and Sophistication in Perfumery for the Modern Age
1. They use the finest quality materials available; from precious Rose de Mai to legendary Ambergris.
2. Roja Parfums is made without compromise.
3. Every element has Roja’s personal attention to detail.
4. They are fragrances that discretely deliver quality, luxury, and sophistication; quite simply.
5. Not just for fragrances, they also use precious natural materials for the packaging. For the bottles, caps, plaques and boxes they use crystal, gold, precious metals, and silk.
6. Each bottle is manufactured in France and made of the purest, clearest glass used in the industry
7. The gold detail is screen-printed in England onto the glass by hand in a process that takes three days to complete.
8. Each perfume cap, the symbol of Roja Parfums, requires fourteen Swarovski crystals each set by hand in a process that takes five days to finish.
The design on of the Swarovski work on the cap is inspired by the Maestro’s diamond ring. <3
9. The front of each bottle is adorned with a golden plaque applied to the glass by hand in England.
10. Each precious bottle sits within an equally precious presentation box that is hand assembled in England by award winning craftsmen who use the finest quality papers, woods, and silks, many of which are created exclusively for Roja Parfums.
Following are the details of the Parfums launched.
Roja Parfums A Goodnight Kiss-
So lying in one corner was this very beautifully presented perfume(not that the their perfumes aren’t presented well) that looked very different from the rest. The white flowers gave a very feminine feel to the perfume.
A Goodnight Kiss is a new perfume for women inspired by Roja’s mother and was created on her birthday. Though I love most of his perfumes, I know for sure that this is my favorite because its fragrance reminds me of the bond between two people; how a son captured a moment in a luxurious bottle in remembrance of his mother.
I remember vividly being about 6 years old and seeing my mother standing in the doorway of my bedroom wearing a gold lame cocktail dress, the light from the landing coming over her as if she had a corona around her. Enchanted by this vision, as my mother came and kissed me goodnight, her scent together with the smell of her face powder pervaded me. Her scent, intertwined with that image, will always stay with me.
Roja Dove Tutti Frutti
The sweet-toothed I am,this line of perfumes seriously made me hungry. The master Perfumer has for us these yummilicious perfumes that is a blend of sweetness and Aoud. Fruity, Candy and Sweetie are three irresistible perfumes that begs to be endeavored.
Surrounded by indulgence and edible guilty pleasures whilst working in the Middle East, I noticed that lovers of Aoud were craving something new – something creative – so I began playing with the idea of infusing Aoud with gourmand elements.” – Roja Dove.
Candy Aoud – Rich, Soft, Warm, Fruity, Sweet & Spicy
Top Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit
Heart Notes: Banana, Pear, Blackcurrant, Apple, Rose
A rich, leathery base of Gurjum, Amber, Frankincense, Labdanum, Birch Tar, Fir Balsam, Leather, powdery Orris, and Musk is warmed by a blend of Aoud, Sandal, Cedar, and Casmir Woods, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Amyris, and Cypriol, which mingles with an unusual note of Rhubarb, the whole enlivened by Cardamom and Saffron, whilst Rose further sweetens a fruity heart of Banana, Pear, Blackcurrant, and Apple, counterpointed by citrus Bergamot and Grapefruit.
Fruity Aoud – Rich, Soft, Warm, Fruity & Sweet.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Artemisia
Heart Notes: Blackcurrant, Rose, Raspberry, Strawberry, Violet, Orange Blossom
A fresh burst of Grapefruit, Bergamot and aromatic Artemeisa opens this creation, made ultra-fruity by a medley of Blackcurrant, Raspberry, and Strawberry, further sweetened by Orange Blossom, Rose and Violet, underscored by an earthy blend of Patchouli, Cypriol, Amyris, and Oakmoss, further warmed by Aoud, Sandal, Cedar, Casmir, and Guaiac Woods, the whole nestling on a soft, sensual base of Vanilla, Orris, Frankincense, Labdanum, Birch, Tar, Gurjum, and Leather Notes, with whispers of Musk.
Sweetie Aoud – Rich, Soft, Gourmand, Warm & Sweet
Top Notes: Bergamot, Artemisia
Heart Notes: Rose, Patisserie Accord
Bergamot mingles with Artemisa to create a fresh foil for a note of cool Rose at the heart of this creation, further sweetened by a Patisserie Accord, warmed by a blend of Cedar, Guaiac, Cade, and Aoud Woods, with sandalwood-like-Amyris, where exotic notes of Gurjum, Cypriol, and Patchouli are enlivened by Cumin and Cardamom, nestling on a leathery base of Frankincense, Cistus, and Labdanum.
Cost: AED 2370 each 50ml at Paris Gallery
Roja Parfums De La Nuit
Surrender to the Spell of the Night
When I hear palettes, makeup comes in mind. Contour/highlight palette, lipstick palette, blush palette and eyeshadow palette. But Roja Dove introduces us all to a perfume palette with three alluring elixirs that weave their own magical spells, as night falls. The palette represents the three characters one can find in the darkness of the night. This part of the event made me wander through my wildest imagination as each and every scent was perfectly explained taking you to a whole different place with different scenarios.
The rich, oriental fragrances inspired by the after-dark feature a plethora of luxurious ingredients that demand attention
No.1
Provocative and rich, this fragrant exhibitionist instantly announces its presence. Mesmerizing any who fall into its path, it is the most alluring of perfumes.
Oriental: Rich, Soft, Very Warm, Sweet, Spicy, Leathery & Very Sensual.
Top Notes: Bergamot
Base Notes: Guaiac Wood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Papyrus, Clove, Cedarwood, Saffron, Cistus, Labdanum, Tolu Balsam, Styrax, Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Civet, Castoreum.
Bergamot wraps around a warm blend of Guaiac and Cedar Woods, Patchouli, Papyrus, and Vetiver, enlivened by Clove and costly Saffron, the whole held captive in a soft, balsamic base of Cistus, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tolu Balsam, Styrax, Vanilla, and Tonka Bean, made sensual by Civet and Castoreum.
No.2
Soft, warm and tantalizing, this fragrance revels in the power of attraction. The warmth of a touch, the excitement of a quick glance, No. 2 is the master of magnetism.
Oriental: Rich, Soft, Fresh, Sweet, Warm, Sensual, & Leathery
Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange, Lemon
Heart Notes: Rum, Cocoa
Base Notes: Guaiac Wood, Papyrus, Vetiver, Patchouli, Cistus, Civet, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tolu Balsam, Tonka Bean, Castoreum.
A Rum Accord blends with Cocoa at the heart of this creation, which is counterpointed by the freshness of citrus Bergamot, Lemon, and Orange, warmed by papyrus, Patchouli, Vetiver, and Guaiac Wood, the whole sublimated by a soft, sensual base of Cistus, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tolu Balsam, Tonka Bean, Civet and Castoreum
No.3
Exotic, mysterious, and enticing, this fragrance invites you to experience the allure of the unknown.
Oriental: Rich, Soft, Sweet, Warm, Spicy, Very Dry, Leathery & Very Sensual
Top Notes: Bergamot
Heart Notes: Rose, Artemisia
Base Notes: Juniper Wood, Patchouli, Cypriol, Sandalwood, Cumin, Cedarwood, Guaiac Wood, Saffron, Cardamom, Amyrus, Amber, Incense, Cistus, Labdanum, Benzoin, Styrax, Gurjum, Leather.
Fresh Bergamot, Amyris, and Artemesia counterpoint a note of cool Rose in the heart of this creation, where a lively blend of Cardamom, Cumin, and Saffron is warmed by Cedar, Sandal, Guaiac, and Juniper Woods, made earthy by Cypriol, Gurjum, and Patchouli, underscored by a rich base of Incense, Styrax, Benzoin, Amber, Cistus, leather-like Labdanum, and other Leather Notes.
Cost: Aed5700 each 100ml , exclusively available at Paris Gallery – The Dubai Mall.
Roja Risqué Parfum Pour Homme
“Risqué Parfum Pour Homme is a sensory exploration of how society tells us to behave, think and act, so I created a perfume that represents a deviation from propriety. A scent that seems disciplined but reveals itself to be darker and more complex over time.
The scent appears to be gentlemanly and refined, but with each breath it subtly reveals something more carnal. Risqué Parfum Pour Homme – something that should be kept behind closed doors.” – Roja Dove, Master Perfumer
Chypre: Warm, Dry, Fresh, Soft & Sweet
Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Litsea Cubeba, Lavender
Heart Notes: Carrot Seed, Geranium, Jasmine, Peach
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Cardamom, Pink Pepper, Frankincense, Labdanum, Myrrh, Tonka Bean
The warmth of Cedarwood, Vetiver, and Oakmoss is enlivened by Pink Pepper and Cardamom, held captive in a soft base of Frankincense, Myrrh, Labdanum, and Tonka Bean, where a heart of Geranium and Jasmine mingle with an unusual note of Carrot Seed, further sweetened by Peach, the whole freshened by Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender, and Litsea Cubeba.
Roja Dove’s Risqué Parfum Pour Homme will be available at Paris Gallery starting September 2015
Cost: AED 2050 for 50ml.
Roja Parfums “Beguiled”
When Nothing Is What It Seems
That day , I recalled a word I have read only in romantic novels I read during my teenage life; Beguile… As creative and artistic as Roja is, I wasn’t at all surprised that one of his perfumes is named Beguiled. He knows what he does, understands a woman and observes her from head to toe. A woman is someone who can be who and what she wants. She wears an invisible veil so people can only see what she wants to show at the same time she hides what is not meant for the world to see.
Roja Parfums says:
Behind its floral innocence, Beguiled reveals a darker side; nothing is what it seems as natural aphrodisiacs weave their powerful magic, creating a seduction that is so addictive it begs to be smelt again and again.
The woman who wears Beguiled casts a fragrant spell – captivating all who encounter her. With each breath they are helpless, enchanted by its potent hypnotism. And so the perfume’s power to beguile begins…
Floral: Sweet, Fresh, Powdery & Soft
Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin
Heart Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang
Base Notes: Raspberry Leaf, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Pepper, Pink Pepper, Orris
A burst of Bergamot, Lemon and Mandarin opens this creation which is sweetened by a bouquet of Rose, Jasmine, and creamy Ylang Ylang, where an unusual note of Raspberry Leaf is enlivened by Pink Pepper and Pepper, nestling on a warm base of Oakmoss, Patchouli, Sandalwood and powdery Orris.
Cost: AED 2050 for 50ml at Paris Gallery
My Thoughts:
If you have been following my blog, you’d know by now that I am not into high end brands that much because I find them to be over priced for no good reason. Specially with makeup, you can find the exact dupe of high-end stuff from the drugstore. So , I really had all the good reasons to stay away from them but this event by Paris Gallery changed my perspective with regards to high end brands. I am really impressed by the tremendous effort placed while making each perfume. From ingredients to the packaging. The concept behind each fragrance was so deep and really got me thinking. This I would say is so worth every penny. I would suggest you all to study each and every fragrance if you plan to buy one because it will help you choose which scent you really want and prefer. I was in abaya when I sprayed the perfume on and it’s been 4 days already and my room smells so “Beguiled” ( this was what I splashed on myself at the event) 😀 A Goodnight Kiss is definitely in my wishlist. <3
I m jux so happy u shared everything abt roja perfume I m gonna buy it fr myself un future Insha-Allah ur lucky u met him da person who owns it wowww
You did a great review plus introduction. And yes I also believe that drug store brands are equally good.
I love how you reviewed about this brand. I’m loving every detail and drooling over to get my hands on one of Roja’s perfume. I rate this post 10/10.
Candy Aloud sounds divine I love sweet yet spicy perfumes and am eager to try his range out. How lovely that he created a perfume to recapture his bond with his mother x
What an exciting time this must have been. I really like your writing i really enjoyed the review