Roja Parfums
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The first blast is almost aggressively citric—grapefruit pith and lime zest cut with artemisia's metallic bitterness, whilst rhubarb adds a peculiar sour-green note that smells like crushed stems. Lavender and thyme circle the edges, herbal and clean, with that aquatic accord lending an ozonic sparkle that suggests sea spray rather than swimming pools.
The florals arrive with surprising force, tuberose and jasmine forming a creamy, almost heady core that sits oddly against the lingering citrus brightness. Apple and blackcurrant add a fruity facet that borders on synthetic, whilst the white musks start weaving through everything, simultaneously pushing the scent outward and pulling it into softer focus.
What remains is a skin-close whisper of woods and gentle resins—cedarwood and vetiver gone pale and papery, with cypriol's earthy facets grounded by leather's dry suppleness. Vanilla and benzoin provide minimal sweetness, more texture than taste, whilst ambergris adds a salty, mineral quality that prevents the base from becoming too comfortable.
Elysium Eau Intense reads like Roja Dove's attempt to bottle the scent of a citrus grove after rainfall, then complicate matters with an almost contradictory lushness. The opening volley is bracingly tart—grapefruit and lime sharpened by artemisia's bitter greenness, with rhubarb lending an unusual vegetal acidity that stops this from becoming another generic fresh scent. What makes this iteration 'intense' isn't volume but density: beneath that crystalline citrus facade lies an incongruous white floral heart where Grasse jasmine and tuberose threaten to upend the whole aromatic apple cart. It's a peculiar structural choice, this juxtaposition of spartan freshness with opulent florals, creating a tension that never quite resolves.
The aquatic accord hovers like morning mist—present but not overbearing, more suggestion than statement. As the fragrance settles, the woods emerge: dry, almost dusty cedarwood and cypriol creating a foundation that's austere rather than creamy. The leather note adds grip without turning the composition animalic, whilst vanilla and benzoin provide just enough sweetness to soften the angular edges. This is for the person who finds traditional fresh fragrances too throwaway but considers full-blown orientals too committed. It works best in transitional weather, those crisp spring mornings or early autumn days when the air itself can't decide its character. Wear it to the office if your office has floor-to-ceiling windows and an unsettling amount of natural light.
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3.5/5 (167)