Roja Dove, from Guerlain to a house of his own
Born in Sussex in 1956, Roja Dove joined Guerlain in 1981 and stayed for almost twenty years, eventually becoming the house's global ambassador. In 2004 he opened the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie at Harrods, and later launched his own collection under the name Roja Parfums.
The families in the collection
Elysium: three compositions with the same name
The Elysium name covers three different perfumes. Elysium Pour Homme Extrait de Parfum is a fresh men's scent that opens with grapefruit, citrus and aromatic herbs; Elysium Parfum is built on vetiver, ambergris and leather. Elysium Pour Femme Eau de Parfum is a separate composition, with jasmine and musk in the opening, followed by fruit and woods.
Scandal: a fougère for him, white florals for her
Scandal Pour Homme Extrait de Parfum is a fougère the house describes as fresh and dry at first, then sweet, spicy and warm. The women's Scandal Parfum instead starts with lemon and bergamot and arrives at three creamy white flowers: tuberose, gardenia and jasmine. From the same family is Scandal Eau de Parfum, which the house describes with the image of a woman on the balcony of a five-star resort, aware that she is being watched.
Isola: two different vacations
Both Isola perfumes are inspired by a vacation. Isola Blu Parfum recalls a day of luxury in the Mediterranean, between a moored yacht and a seaside villa. Isola Sol Extrait de Parfum is inspired by a golden beach on an island, at the hour when the sun is highest in the sky.
Oceania, Apex and 51
Oceania Parfum combines lemon, grapefruit and lime with a heart of geranium and jasmine. Apex Parfum is a fresh, fruity chypre, with citrus, mandarin and pineapple in the opening. Finally, 51 Pour Femme Eau de Parfum takes its name from the address of the London boutique and puts a juicy raspberry front and center, used as a contrast.
Extrait, parfum, eau de parfum: how to read the collection
Each item carries its concentration in the name, and that's the first thing to check to find your way around. The extraits de parfum are Isola Sol, Scandal Pour Homme and Elysium Pour Homme. In parfum you'll find Oceania, Isola Blu, Scandal Parfum, Elysium Parfum and Apex. Finally, the eaux de parfum are 51 Pour Femme, Scandal Eau de Parfum and Elysium Pour Femme.
Before comparing two versions, it's worth checking that they really are the same composition. Elysium Pour Homme and Elysium Pour Femme, for example, are different perfumes, and in the Scandal family too the men's and women's versions have distinct accords.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Roja Dove?
Roja Dove is the British perfumer who founded Roja Parfums. Born in Sussex in 1956, he joined Guerlain in 1981 and stayed for almost twenty years, eventually becoming its global ambassador. In 2004 he opened the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie at Harrods in London, and later created his own house.
Where is Roja Parfums based?
Roja Parfums is the British house founded by perfumer Roja Dove and is based in London. Its flagship boutique is at 51 Burlington Arcade, in the Mayfair district, and it's from this address that the 51 Pour Femme perfume takes its name.
Which Roja Parfums women's perfume should I choose?
It depends on the kind of accord you prefer. Scandal Parfum starts with lemon and bergamot and arrives at tuberose, gardenia and jasmine. Scandal Eau de Parfum is described by the house through the image of a woman on a resort balcony. 51 Pour Femme, which bears the street number of the London boutique, centers on a juicy raspberry.
Which Roja Parfums perfume should I choose if I love citrus?
If you love citrus, you can start with Oceania Parfum, which combines lemon, grapefruit and lime with a heart of geranium and jasmine. Another option is Apex Parfum, a fresh, fruity chypre with mandarin and pineapple in the opening.
What's the difference between Isola Blu and Isola Sol?
Isola Blu and Isola Sol belong to the same family but are inspired by two different vacations. Isola Blu Parfum recalls a day of luxury in the Mediterranean, between a private yacht and a seaside villa, while Isola Sol Extrait de Parfum evokes an island vacation, with the sun at its highest and a landscape in orange and blue like a watercolor.
What kind of perfume is Scandal Pour Homme?
Scandal Pour Homme Extrait de Parfum is a fougère, which the house describes as fresh and dry in the opening, then sweet, spicy, warm and sensual. The women's Scandal has a different accord instead, built on white flowers like tuberose, gardenia and jasmine.
What's the difference between the Elysium versions?
The Elysium versions are different compositions with the same name. Elysium Pour Homme Extrait de Parfum opens with grapefruit, citrus and aromatic herbs. Elysium Parfum combines vetiver, ambergris and leather. Elysium Pour Femme Eau de Parfum starts with jasmine and musk and continues with fruit and woods.
Which Roja Parfums are extrait de parfum and which are eau de parfum?
The Roja Parfums extraits de parfum in the collection are Isola Sol, Scandal Pour Homme and Elysium Pour Homme. In eau de parfum there are 51 Pour Femme, Scandal Eau de Parfum and Elysium Pour Femme, while Oceania, Isola Blu, Scandal Parfum, Elysium Parfum and Apex are parfums. The same name doesn't always mean the same composition.
