Elysium Eau Intense Roja Parfums 2023

I’ve always been a big admirer of Roja’s original Elysium, so when Elysium Eau Intense was released, I didn’t hesitate to blind buy a bottle.

My expectations were simple: I hoped for everything I loved about the original, only better.

Perhaps a more refined composition, improved performance, or something that would justify having both versions in my collection.

Unfortunately, after spending an entire month properly testing Eau Intense, I came to a rather disappointing conclusion.

For me, it wasn’t an upgrade at all.

Performance was no better than what I experienced with the original Elysium, and when it came to the scent itself, I actually preferred the original.

That was the most surprising part.

I had purchased Eau Intense expecting it to improve upon a fragrance I already loved, only to discover that I enjoyed the familiar version more.

And while I don’t consider Eau Intense a bad fragrance, I simply couldn’t find a convincing reason to keep both bottles.

After a month of comparisons and repeated wearings, I decided to sell Eau Intense and keep the original.

Sometimes a new interpretation offers something genuinely different.

Other times, it simply reminds you why you loved the original in the first place.

And that’s exactly what Eau Intense did for me.

I heard everybody saying it has nothing to do with elysium. I disagree.

Upon first spray you can immediatly recognize the elysium adn but with rhubarb which quickly fades into a wonderful grapefruit note, and some fruity nuances amped up.

After 20 minutes becomes a bit more floral, but it always keeps the elysium core. I can definitely tell that it’s an Elysium flanker, not a stand alone one.

I think this is lovely, probably superflous if you already own Elysium, but if i had to buy a bottle i wouldn’t know which one of the 2, cause they’re similar but with its own nuances.

In any case, gorgeous, as expected, with very great performance as the Parfum Cologne.

There is something so incredibly fraudulent about aspirational luxury houses such a Roja Dove. The fact that 100ml of this can be sold for 365 US is such a breathtaking act of cynicism, as it smells so exceptionally crass. The top notes are horrifically functional smelling, reminiscent of Windex and 2000 Flushes tablets. It really is full on freshly cleaned bathroom. What fresh Hell is this?

It's blue all right—as in blue toilet bowl water, and when it eases on the torture, it is a preposterously pungent, dry, woody fiasco. This was made with a market of late-stage-capitalist goblins in mind, and Dove is loving every minute of it. Those who praise this must be living in some alternate, parallel reality, because I cannot squeeze a drop of merit out of it.

Roja Dove Elysium Intense is a soft and deep aromatic fougere. Although it has a classic fougere structure, it smells quite modern/different to me.

It's a well blended complex perfume where I find it difficult to isolate notes. Overall it is a green, clean, musky, floral, woody and leathery scent with a tart rhubarb note that makes it quite different and not off-putting to me.

It has a decent longevity compared to Elysium, 6-8 hours depending on the amount applied, but far from "intense" IMHO.

Yes, it's overpriced, but it's pleasant and distinctive.

Elysium eau intense starts with a big explosion of a soapy detergent smell. First i thought it was the bergamot, but it is actually white musk. Very synthetic and very strong. It is there to stay as long as the fragrance lives on! It burned my nose, wet my eyes.

You get some hints of floral, aromatic and woody accords but none of them will triumph over the white musk. You see a complex notes pyramid but you barely get ghosts of the notes. Rhubarb tries to make itself shown but that detergent smell blocks it. I can dig a nice juniper accord but it is covered by that musk note.

This has been the worst experience of my infatuation with fragrances for the last 25 years.