Apex

To begin, the packaging in itself is an experience. Very good quality, a beautiful presentation, you can tell a ton of thought went into it. For people who like packaging, you'll appreciate Apex. It's a step under some Xerjoff packaging, on par with others. I would rather have some overall savings rather than the nice packaging, I think it would also lend to the fragrances popularity if there was less "sticker shock" (this goes for anything, though). This starts off with very nice, smooth citruses and a very sharp cypress. The cypress isn't so sharp or overwhelming that it bothers me, and is actually quite nice. In comparison to something like the new formulations of Polo Cologne which seriously irritates my nose/throat, this is extremely rounded. After about 30 minutes the sharp cypress wears off and this fragrance blossoms into a truly fantastic experience. For anyone who doesn't love the opening, give it a bit of time on the skin and it will impress. Projection is strong here going out well past arm length. Once into the dry down Apex truly impressed me, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites for this winter. I could see it extending into year-round wear, though. The oakmoss begins to surface through the sharp cypress along with faint hints of leather, tobacco, juniper, musk, woods, patchouli, and amber. It has a very earthy/woodsy feel to it and is everything I want in a fragrance with those forest vibes such as the much sought-after original formula of Polo and of Italian Cypress. I think it blows them both out of the water. Projection here dials back to about arms length, which is where I like it. There is even something somewhat nostolgic about this as my father used to wear the original Polo, and while I cannot remember it exactly, it does remind me of something I smelled as a child. As time passes the oakmoss remains but starts to blend into the other base notes much more, the musks are given room to come through, you keep the amber and woods, the leather continues to add to the depth but from the background - only barely noticeable, small hints of the benzoin gives it a sweet feel while not actually being a sweet fragrance of any sort, the elemi and patchouli continue to give it a slightly warm spicy feel, and you begin to get small hints of the tobacco. After many hours this will give a smaller scent bubble with minimal projection, but if someone comes into arms length, they will smell you. There are so many notes coming through with this fragrance and it is so complex it's actually quite impressive. It's extremely well blended, you can pick out the different notes very clearly while they aren't necessarily separated from each other - It's almost difficult to explain. I was clearly smelling Apex well after 10 hours, I would consider it one of those borderline eternal fragrances. I haven't gone over 3 sprays with this, 1 neck and 1 each wrist, it might get too strong if I do. You can tell Roja uses extremely high quality ingredients and there is not a single thing that is synthetic about it. Leans extreme masculine. Great winter/spring fragrance. Would doo well in spring. I wouldn't hesitate to wear it in the summer, but would avoid high heat. Good for day or night. May not be appropriate for extremely formal suit and tie occasions, but you can certainly dress this up or go extremely casual with it, so quite versatile overall. I would consider this a decent value at discounter prices, I think it's perfectly fair considering longevity/performance at 3 sprays for an entire day, the versatility, and the abundance of obviously natural ingredients. I would not pay retail pricing for this despite how much I enjoy it. I think many people have an immediate dislike for this based on whatever perception they have of the brand, the higher price tag, etc., but it's definitely worth every penny if you can get it at lower pricing for a tester or on sale days like Black Friday. Price aside - easily 10/10.

I got a sample of this months ago but only now came to revisit it. When I first tried it I liked it but it didn't capture my heart. Now, on the second attempt (when my taste has gotten a bit more complex) I love it. This is natural but without being photorealistic - extremely well balanced and blended, and addictive. Notes don't feel distinct: the citruses and middle notes seamlessly mesh with the woody base, and it's just musky / earthy / ambery / spicy enough without feeling overdone or overcomplicated. there is very little bitterness , and it leans toward sweetness (but not syrupy/gourmand, more like fruity). I wish I understood the notes better and could identify what's the source of that sweetness --- but it's so wonderful (and what makes this addictive). I suspect it's the Benzoin/Labdanum? Maybe the rum contributes somewhat? Because it *does* feel ever so slightly - cocktail-like. Come to think of it, this is like a green version of Roja Enigma. Unlike enigma, it's cola-adjacent (rather than cola-proper) - a very faint hint of similarity - like walking through the forest and tasting a bit of tree sap and it's a bit sweet. After smelling it more and more and inspecting the dry-down too, i think I also detect similarity to other Roja chypres - like Diaghilev. There might be an important role for the oakmoss in this that I am not trained enough to properly distinguish properly yet. to me this feels masculine. I could see why some would consider it a more mature fragrance: it doesn't have the loud metrosexual city youth vibe to it, it's more vintage, 1980's , cruising on your yacht drinking rum, after being well-accomplished - type of vibe. I'd say it's sensuous but not sensual. some reviewers here mentioned Sauvage EDT (?!) - i happen to have a bottle and it smells nothing like this. Sauvage EDT is *blue* - it feels chemical and shower-gel like and sharp with zero sweetness - while Apex smells more mellow, rounded, natural with a definite sweetness. I think the only reason people compare the two is because in the first five seconds, whatever ambroxan the Apex contains seems to hit the nose first, which reminds people of Sauvage... I'm trying to figure out if there is a cheaper alternative to this, because it costs $350 here, which is pretty insane for what in the end is a relatively straightforward profile (albeit very good). While Polo Green is *reminiscent* of this, it's not really close. Polo green is overflowing with tobacco, whereas here the tobacco is buried so deep in the scent layers it's imperceptible.

To begin, I must express my disdain for Roja fragrances. Of the ones I have tested, I have consistently perceived them as imitations of renowned designer fragrances promoted by YouTubers. Elysium, both the edp and Parfum, appeared to be a fruitier direct copy of BDC DNA. Oligarch, on the other hand, was a blatant ripoff of TDH. Enigma, in my opinion, was a fragrance I would never choose to wear. The only two that I genuinely enjoyed wearing were Scandal Cologne and Apex EDP. Regarding Apex, I see it as an interpretation or inspiration of Sauvage Elixir. While the aforementioned fragrances merely appeared to be copies, Apex, in my view, possesses a unique identity and deserves recognition for its merits. Although it may vaguely evoke the scent of Elixir, it falls within the same genre and does not constitute a direct replication of Elixir. In my opinion, the cacophony of notes mentioned does not accurately represent the fragrance. Apex is essentially a modern fougere, characterized by its freshness and greenery, which are notably absent in SE. It begins with a subtle fruity note, gradually transitioning to a prominent green scent. While it develops a mature and green aura, this is achieved in a manner that appeals to a broader demographic, even when compared to Sauvage Elixir. This demonstrates that Apex EDP possesses more designer sensibilities than even a so-called designer fragrance. Apex does not undergo significant changes or evolution, which allows it to appeal to a wide range of individuals, from teenagers to older adults. It is also a versatile fragrance that can be worn throughout the year. While its projection is moderate, it leaves a pleasant silage. My bottle bears the batch number 4523/1349 B. It is also noteworthy that Apex boasts an intriguing packaging design. The box is enclosed within a high-quality cardboard box that slides out of another box. This box features a topographic map-like design embossed on its surface, and its finish exudes a sense of premium quality. Additionally, it is accompanied by a small booklet that provides detailed information about various animals and their symbolic meanings. The booklet is further enhanced by a trading card-like item featuring an animal. Overall, the packaging is meticulously crafted and stands out in comparison to other fragrances. In conclusion, I would give it 8.5 out of 10.

Wow, I need to speak out about this one. Look, I'm not a fan of the man. Plain and simple. Then there's this whole ghost perfumer debacle and to add to this, my previous experiences with the brand (Oceania and Sweetie Aoud) were underwhelming at best. So when I saw a good deal for this, a good friend of mine went "Apex EDP for 200?? jump on it man, it's like a mix of Sauvage and Polo green but with a brighter opening and a greener drydown". I'm quoting him because his description here is pretty much spot on. That's exactly what I got. I can already see some people roll their eyes and turn on their niche snob attitude. Sure, that was my initial attitude with it since I'm mostly a niche guy myself but I do delve into designers at times so this didn't surprise me so much in scent. The quality however, is undeniable. It's a very layered, complex wear yet very sophisticated and classy. Apex begins with citrus, very bright, uplifting and transitions to a soft dry and slightly animalic (fleeting) floral phase and dries down to a smoky, resinous and coniferous finish. Like the man or not, this is a fantastic scent suitable for mostly all seasons except in high humid heat. Being the "cologne" version (actually EDP), it doesn't last as long as the parfum obviously but still has a very decent performance (4-6 hrs with good projection) and according to what I've read a lot of people seem to prefer the EDP to the parfum because it projects better and the parfum is much denser and woodier. In the end, I'm very surprised by Apex. Several people at work commented on it as well. I have a feeling this might creep up into favorites and be a "dumb reach" kind of fragrance. I'll need to explore the brand some more, clearly there's something there.

So I got a sample set of all of Rojas Fresh Fragrances and this came accompanying it.I was a skeptic for a long time predominantly due to the price I still somewhat am.The scents are all quality and smell well blended but performance in terms of projection is conservative. However some like Elysium despite this are far too close to scents like Cedrat Boise/Bleu De Chanel to be worth the price at full retail despite them all being quality fragrances. This scent however in my opinion is almost flawless this projects nicely and has good longevity considering this is a sample.I personally think while being expensive it's worth the price. This is because it's fresh juicy brisk green woody yet warm resinious smokey and sweet.It is truly a year round masterpiece that I think overthrown Aventus as the so called King.This is a one and done scent for any man 25 plus grown man swagger.Another masterpiece is midsummer dream which is another unique creation and pushes the boundaries of what a fresh fragrance can be. So my rating for this is a 10/10 it works in all seasons and is both unique as well as mass appealing.Which has to be given credit in a often oversaturated market.Many have down marked this due to the price and the lack of appreciation for timeless scent DNAs just my two scents.