51 pour Homme Roja Parfums 2017 Parfum

I started exploring the fragrances from the house of Roja over a year ago - hooked by the ranking list and many reviews from competent perfume enthusiasts, I extensively engaged with Enigma, Reckless, Danger, H-pH, Elysium (all in the pour Homme variant) & some unisex staples like Midsummer Dream, Ti Amo, Amber Aoud, and a few other Rojas, and I even managed to snag a few at a bargain from eBay... Interestingly, I haven't commented on any Roja so far, probably because there are already countless competent reviews and comments on most Rojas, and I didn't want to add my two cents to the mix :-) However, the 51 pH has hardly any comments, so I’ll jump in here and try my hand at a new comment on it :-)

Roja is simply outrageously expensive, and even €150 to €200 less per bottle would still be a hefty price, but it seems that exclusivity is generated through a perverted pricing policy - so be it, everyone should decide for themselves what a perfume is worth to them or how much money they are willing to spend on a scent...

My latest find is the Roja 51 pH in the parfum variant; I “blind bought” it after hearing and reading a lot of good things about it & the fragrance pyramid appealed to me greatly... I eagerly awaited the package, and when it finally arrived, I could hardly wait and had to start a test immediately.

In its newer versions, Roja celebrates the themes of luxury & exclusivity, so both the packaging and even more so the handmade bottles with their very noble and elaborately designed labels and closures are a real feast for the eyes and make me a little bit happy every time I apply the perfumes from the bottle - it truly is a celebration for me each time, which I curiously practice less often with other perfumes - the outer packaging of the perfume has a significant effect on me and is, in my eyes, part of a really successful overall package - emotions are not only triggered by the scent itself but even beforehand when the wearer unpacks and applies the perfume - for me, it is always a special moment that I look forward to again and again :-)

I first experienced this effect when I received and unpacked the Black Cube from Molvizar the year before last, especially since Molvizar, with its elegant wooden box, the hand-signed and numbered card, and the platinum glitter in the perfume itself, also radiates a lot of luxury - back then, I was completely captivated by it and enjoyed this wonderful presentation for a long time - and even today, I still really like this type of packaging - it is a truly harmonious overall package, and the same goes for the Rojas - some call it decadence, I call it magic ;-)

How does the 51 pH come across to me? I also don’t know the EdP, so I can’t derive any direct comparisons here; at first, I perceive a very distinct oud note, which I have not experienced in this intensity with the Rojas so far. Accompanying this is a very pleasant leather timbre; unlike Yatagan, I do perceive a top and subsequent heart note, which settles on my skin after about 1.5 hours. Various spices join in, which I can hardly distinguish, so tightly are they woven together; the perfume becomes noticeably warmer and radiates more, the sillage develops only over time - for me, there are clear parallels in the heart note to Roja's Enigma pH, at least the scent accord feels that way for a while, without, however, containing an overly strong cognac note - it remains very dense, spicy, refined, and very, very noble - after another 4 hours, the 51 approaches the base, which comes across as woody aromatic and quite masculine - although it is no longer considered “politically correct” these days to categorize perfumes by gender, I perceive Roja 51 pH as a pure men's fragrance and can hardly imagine it on a woman (by the way: just as little can I imagine the unisex scent “Ti Amo” on a man...)

The perfume has a very long-lasting presence and is still very noticeable after 15 hours - a blessing, as some Roja perfumes last far less on my skin than the EdP variants; however, this one really clings remarkably well and truly has wingman qualities (thanks to Maggy4u for this term, which fits this perfume perfectly :-) )

For me, the Roja 51 pH is a direct brother to Enigma, but without its cognac intensity; I feel very comfortable with this scent and wear it both in a suit at work and for more upscale occasions like opera, theater, or similar - it is not a perfume for every day but rather to set special accents with a truly special perfume when worn consciously - worn too often, the 51 pH could certainly start to annoy over time, so I only wear it sporadically in the office and for the aforementioned occasions - contrary to Maggy4u's perception, I do not find the 51 to be a playful boy - but rather a distinguished and serious scent with elegance and spirit, quite mature and noble - in my opinion, more suited for men aged 35+, not for twentysomethings or boys ;-) - since for me, one spray on the chest and neck is quite enough to be well-scented all day long, the 50 ml version will surely outlast me, so my grandchildren - if they can wait until they are 35+ - will still have some of it left ;-)

Is the Roja 51 pH worth its money?!? Well, certainly not at the original price of €450, but I can definitely agree with a price according to my above calculation formula, as it is surely worth that. The bottle will last me at least 175 years in quantity ;-)