WHAT I SMELL: Elixir opens with a soft, sweet, beautiful juicy raspberry and peach. It’s so edible and inviting and it’s an immediate spirit lifter. A luscious rose and a brightened jasmine come sweeping in; mixing in an intoxicating way with the fruity goodness. I always love a perfume that is full of positive energy and Elixir is the epitome of positivity. The perfume starts to take on a layer of cottony musk which adds just the right amount of clean-like sparkle. And soon enough, a light warmth begins to blend with the sweetened cotton which makes the perfume that much more comforting. Not too long in the perfume’s development, Elixir begins to quiet and soften. It’s still lightly sweet, but very demure in the most enticing way.
From the Roja Parfums website:
“Fragrance is like a magical elixir: Invisible, a single drop can transform you into a goddess. It has the power to make you feel irresistible, confident, and seductive – where anything is possible. This magical elixir exudes effortless sensuality – giving you the power to light up a room, to leave an impression, and to get what you want.” – Roja Dove.
Top Notes: Bergamot
Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, Geranium, Rose de Mai, Jasmin de Grasse, Ylang Ylang, Heliotrope, Violet, Raspberry, Peach
Base Notes: Violet Leaves, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, Casmir Wood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Orris Sur Cèdre, Orris, Ambrette, Musk
Marilyn Monroe
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Quietly pink.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ELIXIR: soft, inviting, sweetened
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ELIXIR: Ms Tantrum Blog, Fashion for Lunch, fromSandyxo
BOTTOM LINE: I have to admit that Elixir was not love at first sniff. I thought it was pretty, but after wearing it a couple of times, I found that I was craving its quiet beauty. Elixir borders on being a skin scent, because when you are wearing it, it feels as if it’s not projecting. But others around me have been left wondering where the heavenly scent is coming from. Elixir is a very personal fragrance…one that’s easy to make your own.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Oriental Floral
- Nose: Roja Dove
- Classification: Feminine
- Expense: $290 for 100 ml Essence de Parfum. Also available in parfum extrait.
For years, the start of the holiday season has included the tradition of putting paperwhite (narcissus) bulbs in a rock filled pot so that by the time Christmas is here, we’ll be greeted by the delicate flowers on sinewy stems. These white flowers, though small in size, create a wonderful and powerful aroma that fills the room. I was thrilled to see that DSH made tribute to paperwhites, the simple flowers that even in the midst of winter, their delicate blooms give hope and light to the coming spring.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Delicate paperwhites of course.
WHAT I SMELL: L’Heure Mysterieuse has a strange opening that’s full of smoke and tar as well as a heavy patchouli that is thick, chewy and rather like paste. The smoke rises off of the skin like some kind of industrial component. This is a very bizarre as I can’t see how the opening brings promise of anything beautiful or gentile….or something that represents “Cartier.” Thankfully, after a short time, the tar and heavy smoke begin to lift. A dried flatness of incense appears instead and the perfume starts to belie a more gentle persona. But don’t get me wrong, there’s a strength to the perfume in that it has a fighting energy buried beneath the smoky subdued radiance. After quite some time a light floral appears, once again softening the former intensity. To me, L’Heure Mysterieuse is a hard perfume to describe, but I can tell you that it has a classic old world heart that reminds me of fragrances from the 1970s.
The Scented Hound 