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Crasydogf – :
Can I call this for what it really is? A complete swindle. A very ordinary rose musk with a sky high price tag and nothing else to offer. This Floriental chypre perfume opens with notes of bergamot and lemon and moves to a heart comprised of a prominent rose surrounded by osmanthus, immortelle, ylang-ylang, and jasmine. It settles into a mossy powdery base of oakmoss, ambergris, stryrax, cumin, labdanum, and patchouli.
The main rose note is not even that nice and seems to have a synthetic vibe to it and the overall composition is shockingly pedestrian. The blending is fair, and the unisex (feminine leaning) perfume has moderate sillage and projection and fair to good longevity with the Rose note dominating throughout its stay. Only recommended to those who have $1050 lying around to just while away. Enjoy!
rezakxwave – :
Nuwa (new formulation)
Nuwa is much lighter now that the cumin dominance has been removed. It’s current note breakdown:
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Grapefruit
Heart Notes:
Rose de Mai, Orange Blossom, Jasmin de Grasse
Base Notes:
Clove, Cumin, Pepper, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Vanilla, Peru Balsam
This one grows on you. Its a lovely wear in the summer
TDMzzz – :
Got a sample of both the new formula and the vintage. The vintage is more smoky whereas the new version is more modern which I would like to associate with western perfumes. I love them both though.
Scent: 9.5/10
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 8/10
мажор – :
Reformulation is a harmless musky rose. Avoid.
3manur – :
This frag is meh at best
Arrariard – :
Oh my Goddess!! The original version is truly fit for an ancient deity! It’s not just the civet-like cumin (although it plays a bigger role than rose here), but how everything comes together to create this rich & high-class sensation. It does seem more suitable for mature women especially compared to the new one, but why’d Roja market this $1000+ exclusive fragrance for someone in their 20s is beyond my understanding. (I guess everybody wants to feel young?) Anyway, it is a completely different fragrance now; yes, more wearable, but (literally) pales in comparison, and does not hold up the price or the name it bears–It’s like putting Michael the Archangel next to a bland citrus cologne.
*Much to my surprise, the drydown reminds me of Fetish Pour Homme!!
Xeroxoahfm – :
I bought a sample of this scent for my wife. She was excited to try It. Unfortunately, it smells just like a Citronella candle.
***Get this perfume if you want to keep mosquitos away during picnics.
plk120 – :
Have the original and reformulated and, yes, they are completely different. Personally, I like the new version much better from a wearability standpoint. The original formula is laden with cumin and spice, and while I like that, it’s not something you can comfortably wear outside the house unless you wait 5 or 6 hours.
I think the new version is absolutely fantastic just don’t ask me to describe the notes because it’s unlike anything else I’ve smelled. Is it worth the price, well, that’s anyone’s decision to make but I don’t think there’s a fragrance on the planet worth that kind of money. I guess it’s just a question of how bad you want it. I get by with the 7.5 ml atomizers directly from Roja Dove. So I guess on a per ml basis I am paying the price. The things we do to smell good.
Edit: as my nose continues to develop, I find the original formulation much easier to wear, in fact it’s becoming a favorite of mine. Yes, heavy cumin but it’s surprisingly alluring in this case. Wish I could find a full bottle of the original.
hbq630speagoessenda – :
its simply similar to femme rochas, salome and far notes of l’heure bleu and mitsouko.. fin roja has nothing new in his collection
postking – :
I tried the reformulated version, which is very floral without much spice; granted it’s nice, but just not that special.. Wish I could try the original
NECROKILLER – :
I am so glad I bought the original version. Certainly amongst the top of my favourites of Roja’s creations. The version shown and described above for my nose lacks the panache of his normal style, yet fits more comfortably with the more recent fragrance releases.
I am totally in agreement with NeoXerxes regarding this should have it’s own page on Fragrantica.
Up to you of course which is better, though wise to buy the original whilst it is still available.
444raziel444 – :
This is heavy on the cumin and smells like sweat on my body. I’m so dissapointed because it masks the other notes.
If you are able to wait, this perfume has a magnificent dry down, absolutely androgynous, unusual but exceptionally beautiful and well blended florals.
If your body chemistry loves cumin, this is most definitely worth a try.
For me, although it dries down to perfection, I can’t stop smelling sweat. Such a shame.
scandie_ud – :
not bad but not worth the price tag!
6/10
svk292speagoessenda – :
*BE AWARE*: This fragrance has been significantly reformulated, though it keeps the same name. In fact, it is an entirely new composition. This and the reformulated Reckless Pour Femme are so different from the original scents (notes included) that they deserve their own Fragrantica pages.
The new Nuwa shares no similarity with the previous edition. What once was a cumin-heavy spice bomb is now a transparent, floral scent that better fits the Chinese aesthetic. It’s quite lovely actually, being extraordinarily powerful and complex for such a fresh fragrance. The jasmine is extremely prominent, but so is the rose, which gives off a refreshing effect similar to rosewater.
It really is a great scent, though one should not begin sampling expecting something as deep as Diaghilev or the previous edition of Nuwa.
*EDIT: The new version should really have its own Fragrantica page. The notes are very different from those pictured here.
akqqqq354 – :
I could have sworn this was a classic vintage perfume, the richness and quality of scents. The cumin and pepper are upfront, but the mossy and floral are there quickly. I think I am in love. This has gone to my top shelf love!
OK, you all must know this is a sample, ’cause I just looked up the bottle price and this can never be a signature scent for me. I am heartbroken. And feeling like the poor country cousin. Sigh…how much is 750 pounds British anyways??
kalyujnyi-ii – :
My review is for Nuwa of 2014.
I guess cumin presents a challange to any
perfumer in creating a scent as this could
turn an over all good scent dirty. But here
cumin has been used perfectly to create the
combined effect of all the spices together.
OPUS 4, I believe has cumin too, used in a
very good way so as not resemble sweat.
OPUS 4 is of course entirely different from
Nuwa.
But in NUWA I get Cumin in the opening only
and its overpowered at once with pepper and
cloves. This is a very rich scent and
reminds me of the opulence of Diaghilev.
This has a very rich opulent distinct spicy spin.
This one also carries the typical Roja Dove
stamp of quality ingredients and rich, exhilar-
ting scent. But probably this one as part of
the Imperial Collection sits under the
shadow of big brother Diaghilev. I don’t
recommend a blind buy but certainly would
recommend buying a sample or visiting the
Roja Dove scents at Paris gallary, Dubai mall.
Edit- After using it more I find this to be a gorgeous,
rich, spicy scent. As the scent progresses on
my skin I find attention has been paid to small
details. Stanley Kubrick arguably the best director
paid attention to the smallest details in his films.
That seems to be the mantra of Mr Roja Dove too.
And this certainly is full bottle worthy for me.
STALKER4 – :
EN. This is a general review for all 7 men’s fragrances by Dove Roja, which I received from his boutique in Harrods (London) as 2ml pure perfume samples. Well, what can I say about… I’m sorry I wasted $210 just to satisfy my curiosity.
So, in order of things:
1 First of all, the most famous and most publicized Dove Roja’s perfume – Diaghilev doesn’t smell like, Mitsouko, or like a mixture any the other Guerlain’s fragrances, as can often be found in the various review here, however, in its initial notes it slightly reminiscences the opening of Vol de Nuit (pure perfume edition), Diaghilev, as to me, is weaker and with some strange bitterness, which fortunately disappears after about an hour. Well, in general is not bad, but I would not wear it, as I would not wear the other 5 of 7 men’s fragrances from Roja that I have received, the exception would be Roja’s Scandal pour homme.
2 Nüwa, as I expected from the list of ingredients, smells hard of cumin and frankly is just unbearable. It ‘a kind of suffocating stench of sweaty men in a concentrated mixture of almonds.
3 Fetish and Reckless are good anyway, but then, as often happens with Roja’s perfume, Fetish to me smells like a twin of Interlude Man by Amouage, while Interlude doesn’t cost $600, but much less. I mean that Fetish and Reckless are good and high quality perfumes, but, I would say, that they are a pure example of what does “too much” means. I believe, that this is the reason why wealthy Russian consumers love them, because they have to show off the money.
4. About Enigma and Danger I wouldn’t even talk – they are just 2 boring woody fragrances.
If I need to describe in one sentence the style of perfumes by Roja I would call the Rococo genre: they are very intense, everything is always created in strict accordance with the laws of luxury perfumery, every detail is taken into consideration, but it’s too much, it’s not in the right place and in general you wasted your money just for the name and authority of Dove Roja. However, if one day, despite this review, someone would decide to give me a perfume by Roja, I would certainly prefer Scandal by Roja. This one, at least, is the most original and, at the same time, more stable perfume of the whole male line. Diaghilev, for example, in its new configuration evaporates too soon.
While I was writing this review, all 7 fragrances are arrived to their olfactory pyramid base and I decided to add in the conclusion that all of them, except Scandal have completed their transformation to a very regular woody note, as happens to the most men’s fragrances that cost from $50 to $90 for a bottle of 100 ml. Therefore, I hope that the time you find to read this my review was spent much useful than mine, wasted to discover Dove Roja’s perfumery art.
incionggbg – :
IT. Si tratta di una recensione unica per tutti i 7 profumi da uomo di Dove Roja, che ho ricevuto da una boutique di Roja in Inghilterra in qualità dei campioni di 2ml di puro profumo. Beh, cosa posso dire… non mi dispiace di aver sprecato €162 per soddisfare la mia curiosità.
Quindi, in ordine:
1. Prima di tutto, il più famoso e pubblicizzato profumo di Roja – Diaghilev non assomiglia comunque, a Mitsouko, o a una miscela degli altri profumi di Guerlain, come spesso può essere trovato nei vari recensioni, però, nelle sue note iniziali è leggermente ricorda l’apertura di Vol de Nuit (sotto una forma del profumo puro), solo che Diaghilev, secondo me, sia più debole e con qualche strana amarezza che per fortuna scompare dopo circa un’ora. Anche se in generale non è male, ma non vorrei indossarlo, come non vorrei indossare gli altri 5 di 7 profumi da uomo di Roja che io abbia ricevuto, l’eccezione sarebbe Roja Scandalo pour homme.
2. Nüwa, come si aspettava dalla lista degli ingredienti, puzza francamente di cumino ed è proprio insopportabile. E ‘una sorta di soffocante fetore di uomini sudati in una concentrata miscela dell’odore di mandorle.
3. Fetish e Reckless sono buoni comunque, ma poi, come spesso succede coi profumi di Roja, Fetish, secondo me, assomiglia come un gemello a Interlude Man di Amouage, mentre Interlude non costa € 500, ma molto meno. Insomma, Fetish e Reckless sono buoni profumi, ma, come dirlo, sono un puro esempio di “troppo”. Sono un sacco di cose di troppo. Per questo, credo, che i ricchi consumatori russi li adorano.
4. Di Enigma e Danger non vorrei nemmeno parlare – sono 2 noiose fragranze legnose.
In una parola può descrivere l’arte dei profumi di Roja come le opere nel genere Rococò: sono molto intensi, tutto sempre viene creato in stretta conformità con le leggi della profumeria di lusso, ogni dettaglio è preso in considerazione, ma… è troppo, non è nel posto giusto e in generale sono i soldi sprecati solo per il nome di Roja. Comunque, se un giorno, nonostante questa mia recensione, qualcuno deciderebbe di regalarmi qualche profumo di Dove Roja, allora certamente preferirei Roja Scandal. Quest’ultimo almeno, il più originale e, al tempo stesso, più stabile profumo di tutta la linea maschile. Diaghilev, per esempio, nella sua nuova configurazione si evapora abbastanza presto.
Mentre stavo scrivendo questa recensione, i 7 profumi messi in prova sono arrivati alla base della loro piramide olfattiva e ho deciso di aggiungere alla conclusione che tutti loro, tranne Scandal hanno completato la loro trasformazione ad un di tutto normale nota legnosa, come succederebbe anche nel caso della maggior parte degli fragranze maschili ad un prezzo di € 50 per una bottiglia da 100 ml. Perciò, spero che il tempo dedicato a leggere questa mia recensione vi sia passato in modo molto più utile del mio, sprecato per conoscere i lavori di Dove Roja.
mel15091989 – :
Cleo Cupcake-[“I have seen this series up close and they are so tacky – it reminds me of a Britney bottle.”]
Hmm,… thanks for that insight. I was more interested in the contents when I visited the counter. But each to their own I suppose. (I have to profess to rating Katy Perry’s Purr as a fragrance despite the understandably kitsch bottle).
Any bottle is just the final flourish to a fragrance, just a container… it is up to the creator with artistic control whether they choose to house a simple fragrance in an elaborate/complex bottle or an elaborate/complex fragrance in a simple bottle. You don’t wear the bottle in public.
martyha – :
Way too much cumin. It you don’t label the bottle, most people will guess this was a vintage Femme. Hard to justify the price tag.
vladimirkholm – :
There is waaay to much cumin in here for me to enjoy wearing this. For the first 10 minutes it is as if I rubbed curry paste on my arm, along with some lime pickle. Thereafter it develops into a well blended, classic chypre-oriental perfume that reminds me a little of the approach used in Jubilation 25. The floral, slightly fruity sillage is rich and beautiful, but up close there is still too much cumin for me to want to wear this.
Gausasmathsop – :
Nuwa smells good, no doubts about that. It’s a hyper-traditional dry and rich chyprey oriental thing a-la Mitsouko. We all know that Roja has a penchant for classic Guerlain and, more in general, classic french perfumery and while Nuwa surely speaks of quality, I find it pretty pointless to splurge such big tickets when with just a little effort one can still have access to almost every formulation of Mitsouko from basically every period. Good but in the end pointless.
Quick note on the bottle / packaging: tacky – tacky – tacky.
Rating: 7/10
nmeshkov – :
I doubt that I shall be reviewing this soon – the price tag on a bottle on Ebay is $1,550.00 or best offer (HA!)
Дракула – :
Goddess Nuwa in Chinese folk tales is Creator of Human.
9375365510 – :
I did receive a sample of Nuwa today and applied it to my arm. The first note that I immediately recognized was cumin. Normally cumin is off putting for me unless it is blended to perfection, such as Guerlain Songe D’Un Bois D’Ete, and this fragrance does not disappoint. It is a peppery and slightly spiced fragrance and although citrus is present, I find it lingering in the background. This has to be one of the smoothest and most well blended jasmine and cumin I’ve ever smelled. The rose is upfront but not heavy or taking over the fragrance and I also notice a dab of patchouli but nothing anyone would recognize as over powering. The fragrance isn’t sharp or pungent. After a good shower, the fragrance remained on my arm for two hours. I wish I could afford this gem, I would absolutely make it a part of my collection. Approximate cost is $1236 US Dollars for 100ml Parfum.
Scaba2007 – :
I have seen this series up close and they are so tacky – it reminds me of a Britney bottle. I like a beautiful or stylish bottle as much as the next person but glass ‘jewels’ stuck on a cap does not fit with the astronomical price of this stuff.