First, the price... Yes of course it is expensive, this is Roja. If you want a legit bottle as well as a good price, go to Jomashop and get it for $214.99. That is the price I paid, obviously if you pay retail you are going to feel scammed.
This is a beautifully constructed and blended parfum. I see a lot of people on here complaining about this being average as far as silage/projection and just the overall profile. This fragrance is very heavy on the raw materials so of course it is not going to project very well, with raw materials like sandalwood and rose absolute you're just not going to get "insane" projection/silage. If you want something like that please look into Dior Sauvage or some Versace cologne, they go very heavy on the aroma chemicals.
So, with that being said let's talk about this fragrance... At the top I'm getting a really nice litsea cubeba with slight bergamot which gives it that Roja sparkle. This litsea cubeba lasts about 2 hours and carries really nice into the hearts notes where you will find massive amounts of lily-of-the-valley florals which smell of complete elegance and intrinsically blend with the soon to come vetiver. Heart notes last about another 1.5ish hours until we get the base note dry down.
The base is where this fragrance really makes its mark (Wait about 3.5-4 hours) ... transitioning from the heart of florals blooms a light, airy and clean vetiver. This vetiver is draped in loads of dry woods and leather like ingredients. This may be why some complain because the vetiver is so delicately added and wrapped in many different notes. I get an almost aquatic like vetiver which to me smells absolutely brilliant.
This fragrance has ruined other "fresh" fragrances from other brands just because of how greatly constructed it is so, beware lol.
So, is this an amazing fragrance? 100% this is peak perfumery. Are you going to fill a room with everyone's head turning and people bowing before you? No, but I have a feeling the man that wants this fragrance would in no way want to do that.
