The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Tag Archives: Roja Parfums


by 2 Comments

Roja Parfums APEX

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.


by 2 Comments

My Perfumed Christmas List 2022

In the past I’ve created holiday shopping suggestions for perfume, perfume related items and just some other fun random things thrown into the mix.  And every year, coming up with gift suggestions becomes harder, partly because of living in Mexico and being away from shopping in person.  But mostly as I get older I don’t actively seek out the new and exciting because I’m not the target market and because at this stage in my life getting a lot of presents just doesn’t matter.  OK, so now I’m sounding like Scrooge.  Far from it.  I do have wishes and wants, but they are fewer and farther in between.  So this year, my suggestions are comprised of a listing of perfumes that I think are amazing and of which I obsess over because they are what my perfumes dreams are made of.  Some are in my collection and some I hope to be in my collection in the near future.  So here we go…

Click on each title for the full review.

Hera by Papillon Perfumes

Hera is a perfume that I have completely obsessed about since first sniff.  It’s a new fragrance with the soul of a vintage perfume and it’s absolute perfection.

No. 12 by Puredistance Perfumes

Puredistance can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned.  Their collection of 12 perfumes consists of modern classics that deliver incredible beauty to the wearer.  To me, their crowning glory was the introduction of No. 12 which is so absolutely breathtaking that it’s the one perfume that I reach for every time I need something special and spectacular to wear.

Shalini by Shalini Parfums

Once again, the house of Shalini along with Maurice Roucel has created a collection of perfumes that stand out above the rest.  However, the original Shalini to me is the best of the lot.  It’s quiet beauty makes my heart sing every time I wear it.  To me, it’s absolutely unique and absolutely beautiful.

Chanel Boy

When I first wore Boy, I really liked it.  But as time wore on, I found it to be a wonderfully easy fougere to love.  It’s lavender heart isn’t too bold which makes this a perfect perfume to wear on any occasion.  Boy has fallen into my “I don’t know what to wear today, so I’ll wear something that is a perfect fit every time” group of perfumes.  To me, Chanel makes some of the best clean and fresh scents that are excellent for every day wear.

Enslaved by Roja Parfums

Unfortunately, I found out that Enslaved has been discontinued by Roja Parfums.  This modern take on Molinard’s Habinita is big, bold, thick and heady and completely rapturous.  I do believe there are still bottles to be found out there and if I was not living in Mexico I would buy myself another since I have just a few drops left in my bottle.

And for those of you who love vintage perfumes (you can find them all on eBay and Etsy and the current formulations can be found via other sources)…

Caron Narcisse Blanc

I have had this perfume in my collection for years, but for some reason it has once again become an obsession and I wear it constantly.  It’s thick, creamy and completely joyous and you can’t help but love it.  Narcisse Blanc seems to fall to the wayside of it’s more famous sister Narcisse Noir, but this brighter narcissus fragrance is to me, a much easier wear.

Ysatis by Givenchy

The 1980s are alive and well in this over-the-top beauty.  You can’t help not be noticed when you’re wearing it.  I don’t really wear it out, but sometimes when I’m sitting around the house it transports me back to a time when big perfume, big hair and big shoulders were the norm.  This is one time that bigger is indeed better.

Magie Noire by Lancome

Rich, creamy, big and unique, Magie Noire is a special perfume in a category all by itself.  It’s a haunting perfume that is pure magic.

Happy Holidays to you all.  May all your perfume dreams come true!


by Leave a comment

Roja Parfums Burlington 1819

With the Queen’s Jubilee celebration this past weekend and with Father’s Day in a couple of weeks, I thought that this would be a perfect time to head to England…and who better to represent these grand and intimate affairs, but Roja Dove!

WHAT I SMELL:  Burlington 1819 opens with a bright and juicy combination of grapefruit and lime that’s quickly met with a minty freshness making it light with a subdued brilliance.  Soon after, a ginger note enters along with touch of rum making the perfume slightly soured and it’s here that the perfume begins to flatten and anchor itself to a more woody persona as it stays rather close to the skin making it more of a whisper than a shout.  As it continues to develop, the mint seems to make a return along with a lightly sweetened tobacco which helps to dissipate any remnants of the earlier sourness.  After some time, Burlington 1819 begins to take on an ambered warmth and this is where it unfolds and radiates.  An added patchouli brightens the tobacco and makes for a beautiful finish.  Burlington 1819 is a wonderfully muted perfume that creates for an easy masculinity.

From the Roja Parfums website:

“1819 celebrates 5 years of London’s Burlington Arcade being home to the flagship Roja Parfums boutique. An iconic British institution for over 200 years, the Burlington Arcade is an unparalleled destination for the discovery of opulence. Every step down the Arcade is a chance to discover something new. 1819 – the year it opened to the public – pays homage The Burlington Arcade being the perfect home for our award-winning perfumery, where the finest fragrances in the world wait to be discovered.” – ROJA DOVE.

KEY INGREDIENTS: Grapefruit, Lime, Mint, Ginger, Saffron, Oakmoss, Rum, Tobacco, Casmir Wood, Benzoin

Burlington Arcade linking Piccadilly with Bond Street showing fashionable society about to sample the delights of the arcade’s shops. Date: 1828.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  I won’t argue with Roja Dove’s inspiration as I can imagine the sights and sounds of the Burlington Arcade from days gone by.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE BURLINGTON 1819:  inviting, warm, quietly-confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BURLINGTON 1819:  No written reviews found.

BOTTOM LINE:  Burlington 1819 is a masculine perfume that is subtle and classic and very easy to wear and I love that it’s rather quiet and unassuming.  And as a Father’s Day gift, you can’t go wrong.  A couple of sprays and dad will smell like a million bucks.  Oh, and that bottle…fantastic!

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Amber
  • Nose:  Roja Dove
  • Classification: Masculine
  • Expense:  $380 for 100 ml eau de parfum