Enslaved

I remember going up to Roja Dove's Haute Parfumerie in 2007 or 2008, close when these first perfumes had been released. It was (and perhaps still is) a magical place, with enormous antique bottles of vintage Caron sparkling in the lamplight, shining little bottles of Xerjoff, and I remember a jewel-encrusted Baccarat "Les Larmes Sacrees de Thebes" sitting on a shelf by itself, £6000 an ounce. Roja Dove himself was there, walking around, silk shirt stylishly half open. I had no idea who he was, but he introduced himself and was so friendly. He asked me what my favourite perfumes were, and he said "ah! You admire a chypre oriental. You might like this," he handed me a bottle of Jean Patou "1000" to try, and then, "or perhaps this..." and he spritzed Enslaved onto a slip of card and wafted it under my nose. It was instant love. It's discontinuation is a crime. The opening is something akin to spicy carnation crossed with burnt birthday candle - smoky, powdery, sweet. Jasmine, ylang ylang, and carnation are the leaders here from the middle of the pyramid, but Enslaved is definitely an oriental. As the scent unfolds the well-balanced patchouli, oakmoss, labdanum, and amber weave a dark spell giving the flowers a smoky quality, although they never lose their sweetness. Amber and musk take over after the first half hour, although spicy carnation and that "birthday candle" note stick around. I'm not sure I would call this a powder bomb, but it does have a vintage, powdered quality for sure. There's nothing dated about it, though. It's addictive, comforting, and sexy. It's candlelight in a dark and opulent castle, surrounded by books and tapestries and vases full of carnations. It's a velvet blanket underneath the stars. It's dancing cheek to cheek with your beloved as a violin plays softly in the background. It's still my favourite Roja Dove - and I have tried many since. ps. I've never tried Habanita, but I do hope it smells like this because I own over 500 bottles of perfume and I haven't smelled anything else like Enslaved. And I can't live without it. I have one bottle left and it's getting down to the end. Maybe Roja will be kind and bring it back.

Enslaved (Parfum concentration) is an "unconventional Oriental". Oriental? Yes, but an head almost Chypre, whitout being a Chypre. There is a strange complexity, fascinating, which whisks you way; but it's smooth and dense like a balm. Enslaved refers to the mind many masterpieces of the past, touches them, but goes beyond. A smooth geranium in top with hints of carnation (after the radiant light of the citrus)that could be L'Origan by Coty. A leathery heart with Jasmine of Grasse which is warmed by Cedarwood with its waxy-milky hand in place of the cloying Sandalwood. A rich Heliotropian-Vetiver with nuances of Vanilla and Ambregris that suggest an Habanita with reflection of Shalimar and Heure Blue. For me, an enigmatic masterpiece, certainly controversial... but that reverses the Oriental concept in a mix of dissonances that make it sparkling.

Enslaved is the epitome of oriental Chypre, I’m gutted this magnificent beauty is no longer with us, but I understand its discontinuation, as this is a composition from a bygone era. It’s undeniably old school, classical French perfumery at its best. Warming and vintage in the most comforting way possible. Carnation is the star here - it’s dense and warming with its clove-like spiciness, thickened by a smooth base of leathery labdanum and oakmoss. I pick up a prominent rose and salty geranium combination in the background, alongside powdery florals and soft citruses. This is an utter masterpiece, it smells like travelling back in time 70 years, to the golden age of perfume. I managed to find an old paper label, plastic cap 30ml bottle and I will treasure it until I can find another. A must have!

Enslaved. It fit me like a fine leather glove. Some reviewers claim Habanita as an inspiration. Meh..somewhat. It isnt that cut and dried. I have the vintage Habanita extrait and edt and this, if I had to say its relation to it is a fine tuned habanita or animalic chypre. I got a big rose backed up by classic geranium with a growly sweet animalic powdery musk.Theres a sweet orange blossom leather from the labdanum that reminds me of Cuir Mauresque. Im in heaven. Completely underrated in the line and Roja fine tunes older ideas..usually for the better. I have to give him credit where its due. Super and I need a full bottle pronto.

I'm surprised that vanilla is not listed as a note, because it seems quite vanilla-ey...Very powdery, spicy vanilla and flowers. I can see how this would smell too mature for some peoples' tastes. Very potent. A small dab will definitely be noticed. I like it, but I'm not convinced it's worth the hefty price. Update: Still can't shell out for the big bottle, but felt it necessary to at least invest in a 5ml decant. Such a small amount lasts so long that I felt justified :)

I really love this smell. It's addictive. If gold had an aroma, that would be it. Warm, bright, citrusy, a bit sour. Lovely

This stuff is raw, animal sex in a bottle. Musk, musk and more musk. For lovers of Salome, you would enjoy this one.

This is opulent, haughty and spicy and it reminds me a little bit of first-generation Opium by YSL. After an initial lime and bergamot blast I can only really smell a powerful combination of a proper dose oakmoss, labdanum resin and amber, everything else is a distant floral crowd humming in unison in the background. It climbs down to basenotes quickly on me. I do not smell any patchouli or musk at all. I would like this as a smell on someone else, but on myself I only really love Chanel Coco pure parfum where oriental fragrances are concerned (or aforementioned original Opium which has long since been discontinued). I saw today that Roja Dove currently has a promo on its UK website for a 50ml bottle of the parfum of this fragrance for half price, so if you love this, get it at a good price while you can.

Not bad, I feel like this is a good alternative for people who don't like the old classics such as No 5 or Shalimar but want to, as this reflects and mirrors many old classic techniques without the bold headiness that turns many people away. The powder is muted, the musk is muted, everything just seems to be well tamed about it. Guest_Colin Maillard below pretty much hits it on the head with this one, although I think this is actually a viable alternative for people who don't enjoy the brash quality of classics. It's not really my cup of tea, too mild, too conventional, and too costly. 6/10 for me.

Yesyes very vintage, tho in my opinion, this does not scream higher quality compared to a vintage YSL Opium which Enslaved even reminds me of, maybe a bit smoother but for me I really did not love Enslaved. Warm spicy carnation. I would have liked something to smooth it out. Not something I need a full bottle of. Not worth the Roja price when compared to vintage designer.

Found a sample of this perfume. What an interesting one! Definitely the most vintage vibe of all the Rojas I've tired. The kind of perfume so vintage-y in character, your instinct is to quickly reach out and save it like an extremely old woman midway in the process of falling, slow motion and all, down that tragic "watch-your-step" curb that has broken the hips of its fair share of poor old souls. The opening is chalky yet fresh, juicy, sour/sweet, but silky and smooth, like a nice sweet beverage you might drink on a hot summer day. It is very warm, with the citrus almost having this spicy factor that is very brisk. Here you experience a resemblance to other Rojas, with their very lively, bright floral aspects. As it dries down, you get a more soft, fluffy, chalky, dry powderiness, and something glassy and mirrored, as well ass a little bit of the "crunch" that we get with Diaghilev. I don't find that it is so very mossy or resinous, but more resembles some more vintage L'Origan or Apres l'Ondee-type qualities, especially with the warm, dry chalky feeling. But it certainly feels like a powdery chypre in the drydown! I think this is actually a wonderful stand in for all those vintage perfumes you might want to have, but which have been reformulated or spoiled by time. There just seem to be so many references happening at the same time, but the freshness and juiciness and warmth of it are so balanced that it feels quite nice in a way that I don't think Roja's other early releases (unspoken, which feels a little too simple and incomplete; Diaghilev, which feels overworked and frustrating) managed to locate. I think there is a very fine multifaceted brightness here that reminds me of vetiver or some very warm spicy treatment. The color of the juice is also spectacular, with the most interesting solid golden hue. I'm not sure if I would buy this, just because it's so feminine (think pinks and purples limned with off-white yellow lace borders, plus the chalky floral texture of the dry down is maybe just a little bit too old fashioned haha) and like I said, definitely the most old fashioned recent perfume release I've smelled in a long time. This is the perfume equivalent of a metallic-pinkish, silky point shoes that ballerinas wear. As a man, it is impossible to wear, unless you're ready to go full drag. It literally reminds me of my grandma. But not in an awkward way. In an extremely endearing way. It's like Toujours Moi (my late grandma's perfume) I suppose, although it feels stronger, more weighted, less cheerful. Enslaved feels like it could do just that: hold you in place with its structural solidity and uncompromising strength (although I might have chosen a less provocative name, maybe I would have called this something like "Dauntless" because that is just how it feels to me). In conclusion, this is exactly what I was expecting, and what I will continue to expect from Roja's studio: really classical stuff!!! I think it takes some real balls to make something like this and sell it. For that reason, I say, "hell yes!" What a satisfying thing!

Enslaved by ROJA - a deep carnation heavy amber with a vintagesque quality. ✨ If you ask me which Rojas remind me of vintage creations, I would definitely say either Karenina or Enslaved - and in a sense both of them remind me of each other. Enslaved is a mix between Karenina and a Goodnight Kiss - the top is bright with citrus and a soft aromatic touch, but then ylang and carnation is so dominant; with amber and labdanum in the base. It has a mossy and patchouli base so I would definitely say this is a glorious floral chypre, but the definitive chypre notes are in the background and only support the floral structure in an ever so subtle way. After its drydown, it is beautifully musky and powdery, hence the comparison with a Goodnight Kiss, which also has a beautiful powdery afterlife. - and I love that! I find Enslaved beautiful. I adore Carnation, it is the strangest of florals because I find it just as dry and sticky and sour, even a bit animalic, as it is sweet - it has a mesmerizing depth to it and offers a distinctive experience - and with the right materials, that carnation can be turned into a magical, sweet yet powdery glory which definitely reminds you of a time that has already passed. A memento of a long forgotten world, where only memories rise asunder. Memories that keep us alive. “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream (...)”

The reviewers before me have already summed this up pretty well. A definite Habanita rip off with a large dollop of L'Heure Bleue. So of course, the problem becomes the price. This is nice enough, very wearable and there are definitely high quality ingredients used, but when it smells almost exactly the same as two perfumes that cost a fraction of the price, I just don't feel it can be justified. The top notes are an interesting mix and the citrus is very pleasant and sparkling. However, the lavender is almost sour which is a little off putting. There's an attempt at "Guerlainade" here. Powdery vanilla mostly. It's sort of well done - although not to Guerlain standards - but if you're going to imitate, at least don't pick something so iconic and instantly recognisable. There's a civet-esque animalic sort of scent running through this. Now, that kind of note is not to my taste at all, but that's purely subjective. Objectively, it is well done and I can see it appealing to people who like that animal vibe from their fragrances. As others have noted, this is kind of weak. I was expecting raw, sensual and shameless. I got feminine, slightly sensual and very shy. There's an oomph that should be there but isn't. Subjectively, this isn't my cup of tea. Objectively, it's a perfectly nice floriental (that seems more chypre than oriental). It's definitely high quality. But unfortunately, it's been done before at least twice and those two times have been better and cheaper than this one.

This is the first and only Roja Dove I have tested so far. Spicy carnation at first, then a giant powder bomb detonates. I really like this - smells very vintage. I think vintage would be less pricey, though! It also smells so familiar...but I can't place it. Maybe Teint de neige in the drydown? I don't know - maybe someone else could chime in so I could stop racking my brain? Also, I think this is the wrong name for this fume, too. Enslaved made me think it should dark, brooding, seductive and mysterious. Carnation scented powder is none of those things, IMHO. I would use a small decant of this, for sure, but I don't think I could ever spend $500 on this when it reminds me of something else so much. (Now if only I could figure out what that is....) A lovely work of art, but out of my price range. If you have lots of money, and adore vintage scents, this is for you.

This is a scent in case of which it really is worth waiting for the drydown. The first spray is very opulent, baroque, with multiple notes making a loud entry, and made me think that might not really get on with it, not being a massive fan of big, vintage florals. Roja Dove clearly looked for inspiration in these. However, as it dries down, the citrus sharpness fades away and some delicious sweetness appears. It remains a big scent, but a lot easier to wear. It becomes more rounded, pleasant. It brings to my mind images of glamorous actresses in silent movies and cosy velvet on the walls of their boudoirs. Subtle scent of powder. If you're not mad about it after the first 5 minutes, give it some time, it really becomes something pretty special after a while.

I've been Enslaved. Such deep, rich, intense wonderment in the Eau De Parfum bottle that I have, transports you to a place filled with stars that encompasses you with the faint, yet loving aura of an oriental romance. A very pleasant aroma that mesmerizes you as it delightfully goes through each of the notes, I keep going back to it more and more, longevity and projection is moderate to long lasting. I mostly pick up the woody, amber and the fresh spiciness aromas, which as I said earlier transports me to another land filled with devotion and romance. I would recommend this if you want something that is deep and mysterious with an oriental twist.

Like most of the scents in the line, Enslaved sounds like it was inspired by an E.L. James novel. The scent is a xerox of a classical chypre: herbalized citrus and spicy florals over a mossy base. The opening is sharp and bitter, and then it dawdles along on vetiver and lavender for much of the middle. Over time it sweetens up into a vanilla ice cream thing, but I’d still file it as a chypre over an oriental. Although it seems polished overall, it’s derivative and soulless — all veneer with little substance, and frankly, it’s boring. Decent construction, but uninspired and anachronistic.

Parfum version: It was bugging me so much as to which fragrance this reminds me of and then i noticed Habanita above the edt older bottle and its that!!! Enslaved opens up very loud and doesnt have the vanilla and smokey richness of Habanita. If the dry down on your skin is similar to what i get on mine - enslaved parfum and habanita = similar, then you can really save yourself £££. A very animallic powdery like fragrance. Very different to how i remember the edp to be. Unfortunately the two stores i went to, neither had a tester of the edp.

Wow they were not joking with the habanita comparison!! Slight difference: this is more powdery imo. But 90% the same dna. Also doesn't have the overly vintage drydown aspect which put me off poor habanita (probably the slightly more dominant oakmoss being the culprit - I do love it on some days). But there is still the old school flapper girl vibe - to both - boudoir powder, smoke and a whip of leather.

Just wondering why vanilla or tonka bean isn't in the note. Perhaps it could be the secret ingredient part. Opening was so animalic, hot, and oily to my nose. Not long after the complexity of balzamic, floral, animalic accords are playing in to my mind. Yet, this is not my choice although this is one of good masterpiece of Roja.

The opening is balsamic , floral and slightly spicy with a powdery-woody-vanilla combo in the dry down. Its a beautiful oriental fragrance!! Longevity and sillage are great!

Smooths the edges of modern Habinita, making it more luxurious. I'll stick to Habinita and the edges, thanks.

Anyone have a bottle of Enslaved they want to declutter?

How do I get a sample?A spray on a card would do.