WHAT I SMELL: APEX opens with a combination of muted bergamot and citrus…it’s fresh and not sweet and it’s as if it’s wrapped in a pineapple and amber cocoon of warmth. After this wonderful introduction, this masculine leaning perfume moves quickly to the sensual with a mix of amber tinged green notes. There’s no way to distinguish one note from another and instead the perfume invokes more of a sense of feeling and being. The greenish amber feels secure and with the addition of some incense creates for a sensation of being centered and right with the world. As APEX settles further, you are met with a vetivered sandalwood as the perfume becomes ever so slightly soapy. But in the end, APEX is less about the notes and instead is like an aura that surrounds you with a warmed leather-lite amber that seems to mix with your own persona to create a one-of-a kind perfume that’s just for you.
From the Roja Parfums website:
“Harnessing the infinite power of nature, Apex connects us to Earth and its spiritual energies, unleashing instincts and abilities that lay dormant within each of us. Grounded in inspiration from the world’s Apex animals, this creation was designed to unearth your connection to nature’s most powerful creatures, pushing you to challenge your limits and open your eyes to new opportunities. Only when we embrace our connection to nature and our innermost instincts can we reach the Apex of our potential, becoming the best version of ourselves.” – Roja Dove.
Top Notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Red Mandarin, Orange
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Cistus, Pineapple
Base Notes: Galbanum, Elemi, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Rum, Tobacco, Cypress, Fir Balsam, Juniper Berry, Casmir Wood, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Amber, Frankincense, Labdanum, Leather, Ambergris, Musk
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: meditation
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE APEX: contented, introspective, confident
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT APEX: I Fragrance, CaFleureBon, Fashion for Lunch
BOTTOM LINE: APEX is gorgeous with a small application which makes it beautifully warm and masculine in a very personal way. However, too much of a good thing is really true here. With a heavy hand, APEX can take the meditative to a sledgehammered scream.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Chypre
- Nose: Roja Dove
- Classification: Masculine
- Expense: $345 for 100 ml eau de parfum
Review based on the eau de parfum version. Also available in parfum extrait.
WHAT I SMELL: 1000 opens with warm peachy aldehydes that quickly meld into a blend of violets and rose. The combination of the osmanthus and the florals make for a heady, overly ripened, thickened and metallic perfumed football helmet. Once the helmet’s on, there’s also a buzzing layer of sandalwood that provides an aura of hair spray. But not to worry as a little more passing time reveals a softer side with a more creamy rose taking center stage. 1000 is big, actually bigger than big. Its florals are magnified with an intensity that doesn’t allow you to look away. At the heart of the perfume, tucked underneath is the muted shadow of Patou Joy. Joy tends to be remote and aloof, but 1000 is easily the the more outgoing and gregarious cousin. But the DNA is unmistakable. After some time, 1000 begins to lose some of her exuberance and the metallics and sharpened edges fall away and it makes 1000 more elegant and more wearable. In the end, 1000 leaves us with a big and warmed floral heart.
Winter here in the Yucatan of Mexico is heaven. Low humidity, moderate temperatures and lots of sun make for perfect indoor/outdoor living. For some reason, this year, the weather is acting a bit strange just as it seems to be for others around the world. Today, albeit cool, it’s rainy and overcast and just a bit gloomy. So I thought why not “think spring” and review a perfume that sounds perfect for the upcoming season. Let’s see if it does the trick to lighten the mood of the day…
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: 
The Scented Hound 