WG1810

TL;DR: Isola Snow surprises positively. A cool-fruity pear opening meets a refined, powdery-floral heart phase. The synthetic note is clearly perceptible, but well integrated. The woody drydown makes the fragrance suitable for everyday wear and gives it more character than its predecessors.

With a mix of optimism and a hint of doubt, I spray the new Isola Snow on my wrist - and I am pleasantly surprised! The fragrance has a strong, synthetic opening that, unlike the previous release "Elysium Noir | Roja Parfums," smells significantly better. The pear adds a cool, slightly fruity undertone, while a floral powderiness gently rounds out the scent in the background. Isola Snow feels clean and exudes a certain coldness, reminiscent of "Pegasus | Parfums de Marly." The fragrance has a distinct synthetic note, which this time is more carefully woven into the rest of the composition.

In the first thirty minutes, the synthetics continue to diminish, while the floral-powdery heart notes become more pronounced. It is precisely this powdery note that gives the fragrance its warm effect. One can imagine it like a cozy fur coat in the cold winter air. In the background, the rose also makes its presence known, providing a certain sweet aroma.

Isola Snow becomes softer and more floral as it develops, while the pear sometimes breaks through more strongly. Although the synthetic aspect is clearly noticeable, I do not find it off-putting or overwhelming, but merely unusual. In the drydown, the woody base notes come into play, providing a warm, almost creamy finish.

Overall, Isola Snow is not a typical Roja fragrance and not a groundbreaking creation either. In my opinion, it is still an interesting and pleasant scent that has more depth and character than its predecessors. It evokes the end of winter when spring slowly arrives and feels like a relaxed, everyday fragrance that gains a special nuance once the heart notes emerge.

TL;DR: No. 25 clearly reminds of A Midsummer Dream, but offers a spicy-citrus, slightly soapy-powdery character through richer heart and base notes that makes it unique. It is ideal for men and perfect for warm weather from May to September.

Anyone familiar with A Midsummer Dream will definitely recognize the DNA of No. 25. A comparison of the two fragrance pyramids confirms that the two scents share a large part of their ingredients. However, No. 25 is characterized by a richer heart and base note, which includes aromas such as immortelle, davana, ginger, cedar needles, and a few others. And it is precisely these seemingly small differences that give No. 25 its own character and make it an interesting and worthy scent to test, despite its similarity to A Midsummer Dream.

The opening of No. 25 is distinctly citrusy and gains a noble, soapy quality from the aldehydes in the top note. In the background, a slightly green nuance unfolds with woody undertones reminiscent of a coniferous forest. A whisper-thin powdery note can also be perceived, giving the fragrance a balsamic, warm effect.

In direct comparison, A Midsummer Dream is clearly softer, more floral, and fresher at the beginning than No. 25. It is precisely this combination of citrus-woody notes that distinguishes No. 25 from A Midsummer Dream.

As is typical for fragrances from Roja, multiple layers can be perceived sequentially when smelling the scent. Initially, the intense citrus note stands out, which quickly develops into a soapy-floral and finally into a woody, fir-like note. All these ingredients together create the pleasant, balsamic effect.

As the fragrance progresses, the citrus top notes diminish somewhat, and the scent is rounded off by a bitter, floral powderiness. The fragrance feels smoother and still reminds one of a noble soap with citrus fruits. At the same time, the wood slowly unfolds in the background, adding warmth to the scent. In the drydown of No. 25, quiet citrus and woody notes ultimately dominate.

In my opinion, No. 25 is a rather masculine scent due to its spicy-citrus note, which directly evokes a feeling of summer. Therefore, it is particularly well-suited for nice weather from early May to late September.

If one now has to choose between No. 25 and A Midsummer Dream, I would recommend No. 25 if one prefers more bitter, citrusy scents. If one prefers softer, floral fragrances, A Midsummer Dream is a good choice. Another essential aspect is the fact that No. 25 does not offer a drastic increase in fragrance experience and quality at more than double the price. Whether the steep price is justified is something everyone must decide for themselves.

Overall, No. 25 is a beautiful fragrance that should definitely be tested if interested. Personally, I prefer A Midsummer Dream a bit more for its floral softness and freshness.

TL;DR: Elysium Noir is a deeply disappointing, synthetic fragrance that reminds one of cheap aftershaves and quickly loses its sillage.

First, the few positive points: Elysium Noir is indeed a "dark" and masculine scent that would suit the broad, uninformed masses. However, those who appreciate the complex and unique compositions of Roja Dove will unfortunately encounter an unpleasant, blunt synthetic note that irritates the brain. There is sadly nothing here of the fine and noble ingredients for which Roja is known.

Elysium Noir opens with a strong, synthetic note that immediately recalls cheap aftershave from the drugstore. The fragrance has nothing in common with its predecessor "Elysium pour Homme (Eau de Parfum) | Roja Parfums." Despite the piercing opening, Elysium Noir quickly loses its sillage and comes closer to the skin. In addition to the synthetic note, which, as noted by other users, resembles scents like "Invictus (Eau de Toilette) | Rabanne," a slight leather note can be detected.

Even after an hour, Elysium Noir is still synthetic and not particularly spectacular. In fact, at this point, it seems a little bit more rounded and even somewhat pleasant, perhaps because the nose has gotten used to it. The rose note occasionally peeks through very lightly until the fragrance becomes barely perceptible on the skin after about an hour and a half.

It is completely understandable that we, as paying customers, feel deeply mocked and disappointed by this release. To put it mildly, we are paying an above-average price for an indescribably below-average fragrance with "Elysium Noir | Roja Parfums."

Even though the last three fragrances from the new perfumer have left much room for improvement, I do not want to criticize him further but rather shed light on another side. It takes a lot of courage to step into the footsteps of someone like Roja Dove, and it is certainly not easy to imitate his unique style. I like to believe that Roja Dove sees something that we do not yet see and that we can expect more beautiful fragrances soon.

Without wanting to further justify this weak release, I hope that Elysium Noir is merely a small misstep at the beginning of the new perfumer's career. All in all, this fragrance is shocking under the good name of Roja Dove and is worth neither a decant nor a full bottle. Let’s hope for better things in the future - after all, hope dies last!

TL;DR: NüWa (2015) is an extremely complex rose fragrance that unfolds a harmonious and graceful effect through its contrasts and features sweet-spicy facets. The price is indeed outrageous, but it is a masterpiece that one must smell at least once.

NüWa (2015) rightly belongs to the "Art Collection" in my opinion: it is a masterfully complex and unique interpretation of Chinese mythology. This fragrance fills an entire room with its strong sillage without being overwhelming. It perfectly embodies the captivating presence of a stunning, divine figure. Although NüWa (2015) leans slightly more feminine in my assessment, it is by no means reserved solely for women. The people I introduced this fragrance to were momentarily breathless. I felt the same when I first smelled it from the "Women’s Discovery Set".

What makes NüWa (2015) so rich in contrasts, in my opinion? It is unobtrusive yet captivating. The individual notes compete with each other, creating a delightfully harmonious scent profile. Roja Dove himself describes it as "powerful yet delicate, just like the goddess of protection." The fragrance is easy to understand at first impression, but capturing its depth in words is difficult. You simply have to smell it yourself.

NüWa (2015) opens with a strong May rose and sweet-spicy notes, complemented by the clear, citrus-fruity undertone of grapefruit. A mysterious, spicy sweetness emerges that immediately captivates and makes you want to keep smelling it. Within the first thirty minutes, NüWa (2015) becomes more intense, warmer, and sweeter. The combination of Grasse jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla unfolds a pleasant creaminess in the background that gently rounds off the fragrance.

Over time, individual facets become more pronounced. The rose scent sometimes appears more floral, sometimes spicier. It’s as if these two sides are wrestling with each other. And when the focus is on the activities of daily life, a hint occasionally comes out of nowhere, making your pupils metaphorically widen. It immediately draws attention and captivates you completely for a few moments.

After about an hour and a half, the sweetness resembles fine confectionery without being overly sticky or gourmand. The May rose remains distinctly perceptible, enveloped in the gentle, spicy sweetness.

After about four hours, a slight powderiness becomes noticeable in the background of the fragrance. NüWa (2015) holds strong and begins to come closer to the skin after about five to six hours. Sometimes you can still faintly smell it the next day where you previously sprayed it. In the drydown, a clear vanilla note is noticeable, giving the fragrance its beautiful sweetness.

From my perspective, there is only one downside to this creation: the price. With a retail price of €1,050 for 100 ml, NüWa (2015) is not exactly an affordable product and probably not suitable for everyday use. However, those who are fascinated by the scent and have a generous income or simply lack a sense of money - or perhaps both - will have no problem with the price. Moreover, NüWa (2015) can often be found for much less for those who know where to look.

I can only recommend that everyone smell this fragrance at least once and form their own opinion on whether it justifies the proud price. For me, NüWa (2015) is an absolute masterpiece and a long-awaited addition to my collection. If you want to smell "divine," you have to dig deep into your pockets.

TL;DR: Elixir Eau de Parfum is a delicate, feminine spring and summer fragrance with floral and fruity notes. It starts fresh and develops into a fine bouquet of flowers. It lasts about four hours and is less complex than other fragrances by Roja Dove.

Elixir Eau de Parfum was one of the scents from the official “Women’s Discovery Set” that was previously unknown to me and impressed me. Even though it is not a masterpiece, the fragrance continually drew me back to the sprayer to sniff it.

To echo BelleRuth's statement here: I believe that “Feminine without the need for seduction” hits the nail on the head. Elixir Eau de Parfum is an unmistakably feminine fragrance that brings delicate, fruity, and above all fresh, floral notes. Similar to "Sakura | Acqua di Parma," which is also a rather feminine, fresh-floral scent, I think this fragrance could be worn by a well-groomed man. However, that would undoubtedly be unusual, perhaps even a bit extravagant.

At the beginning, the fragrance unfolds wonderfully fresh with distinct floral and sweet-fruity notes. It is accompanied by a pleasant creaminess that somewhat resembles face cream. A soft, velvety scent emerges, artfully reminiscent of the delicate texture of tulip petals.

After thirty minutes, the creaminess diminishes and the floral notes gain strength. An interesting, barely noticeable green note is added, which harmonizes beautifully with the flowers. It can be described as the entirety of a flower: from the gently scented petal to the plant-like aroma of the stem. At this point, Elixir Eau de Parfum smells like a fine bouquet of flowers with a fruity undertone derived from raspberry and peach. A pleasantly fresh-floral cloud lingers in the air, evoking the image of a blooming spring.

In the first hour, Elixir Eau de Parfum remains unchanged, with individual facets of the fragrance repeatedly becoming more prominent. Even after an hour and a half, the scent is still beautifully floral, although the freshness and fruitiness gradually decline. Additionally, there is an extremely light hint of wood.

After two and a half hours, Elixir Eau de Parfum is still floral, but only perceivable close to the skin. The base notes slowly open up, giving the fragrance a certain warmth. Compared to the fresh opening, the scent now seems somewhat “dull.”

In the fourth and fifth hours, the fragrance is finally very close to the skin and resembles a few days old bouquet of flowers (read: less fresh and fruity). The flowers bid farewell but are still perceptible. A light sweetness from the vanilla emerges, while the wood becomes more pronounced. In the drydown, Elixir Eau de Parfum is by no means a woody or typical vanilla scent.

In my opinion, a longevity of about four hours is acceptable for a fresh fragrance. On hot spring and summer days, for which Elixir Eau de Parfum is perfectly suited, one would likely want to wear a lighter scent anyway.

Compared to other works by Roja Dove, this fragrance seems less complex and progresses more linearly. Those looking for a truly beautiful, crowd-pleasing, yet still unique floral fragrance and are willing to pay the price will not go wrong with "Elixir (Eau de Parfum) | Roja Parfums."

By the way, for anyone considering trying other fragrances from the “Women’s Discovery Set” by Roja Dove, I can recommend the following: If you enjoy the light creaminess of "Elixir (Eau de Parfum) | Roja Parfums," you should definitely test "Isola Sol | Roja Parfums." This fragrance evokes fresh vacation days in summer and the gentle breeze of sunscreen. If you prefer something a bit more complex and opulent, you should definitely try the sweet-spicy rose in NüWa (2015) - one of my absolute favorites.