Turandot

I blind bought this after reading the description at the Roja Boutique sight and watching Greta Beth's YouTube review. Risky, perhaps, but I am a man who strangely finds that I agree with her assessments of masculine and feminine perfumes alike more than almost any other reviewer. I am also a big fan of Iris scents (Prada Homme, Apollonia, Pikovaya Dana) and they were offering a deal of 2 7.5 mL travel sprays for free if you bought Turandot before April 15. I just lucked out and got a brand new bottle of Parfum de la Nuit 2 (a so-called "grail fragrance" with I love but is way out of my price range at retail) for 60% off and wanted to balance out my collection with something more powdery and summery and unisex. Also, I didn't have any of the boutique exclusives and in fact don't like a large number of Roja's male offerings (Danger Diaghilev etc) which I find too macho and old school. I even am just lukewarm about Enigma and Elysium - there is something too mature about both of them for my tastes. Prickly beards, tweed jackets, cigars..that scene. So, I picked 2 7.5 mL of RDHP15 for comparison and ordered Turandot. Boy was I blown away! Not only did I guess right and like Turandot far more than RDHP15 (which is nice but too masculine and violet and balsam heavy for warmer weather). It opens like cranberry icicles, unsweetened and cold and that cranberry red theme continues as peach emerges as well as some unique cloud of billowy florals. The fragrance warms up but is never warm. It is a fragrance of a princess that is so beautiful people are afraid to approach her even though her face is kind and inviting. Yet it is unisex, more so than Xerjoff Apollonia, Begum, and Accento Overdose, which I also own. The iris emerges and you feel like you are riding on a dreamy seductive cloud of cleanliness. That clean shirt vibe of iris in spades, but more delicate and airy than Pikovaya Dama, though stronger and more sexy than Apollonia. In the dry down the scent of coffee and almonds merge and the fragrance becomes darker and sexier. I absolutely love it and would put it in the top 5% of my niche collection of 60+ fragrances. I will use the RDHP15 when I travel in the winter, and glad I got it for free since there is such hype around this release, but just isn't as unique and eye opening as Turandot. That sexy cranberry ice melting into powdery iris and coffee/almonds (the latter must come from the Princess Flower) is just to die for. It is not beast mode, but lasts for about 10 hours. I wanted a niche iris scent more seductive than Apollonia, and more wearable than the amazing but somewhat dramatic Pikovaya Dama (which I love but always makes me think of lavish costume balls. A true masterpiece! 11/10, maybe 12/10!

I was one of the few lucky people to get personally invited to the Muscat Opera House for the release / mini performance of this fragrance. The biggest Roja community on Facebook "Purple Cap Family" secured a few spots and I was able to go. Besides the Taif rose petal covered bed in the arranged hotel, gold croc themed ticket holders and Cartier chained opera glasses inspired by Roja Dove's own pair, everything was amazing. We arrived in the opera house and our bags containing one EDP bottle and a small sampler of Roja's "Legacy" series are handed to us. Such a great gesture! The desk at the entrance had multiple Turandots bottles and we were instructed to spray vastly on us for the "scented" performance. After 10 sprays, I took my seat. The performance was arranged as per parts of the opera and we were given a little card to follow the parts and corresponding notes. Part 1, Recitative, was alive and loud. This corresponded to the opening notes with sharp citrus and aldehydes. Second and third Arias represented heart notes as the top notes started to fade away and you're let with gorgeous Paulownia. The overture, we got to smell the drydown vanilla and Benzoin richness. I wasn't able to attend the after party with Roja Parfums crew because of my jetlag but overall it was a great event and the fragrance is simply stunning.

Wow!! I absolutely love this fragrance. Turandot is the epitome of class and elegance. The house of Roja Dove produce some of the most stunning fragrances on the market, and this is no exception! Up top I get some citrus notes bergamot, lemon and peach. The peach really shines through the most to me giving a fruity but very unisex smell radiating off of my skin. In the middle you’re gonna get some high quality florals with the ylang-ylang and Jasmine being the star players with a touch of black currant showing it’s face every now and again making the fragrance even more compelling! In the base I get a little coffee and cashmere wood which is absolutely enchanting... and I mean ENCHANTING!! This fragrance is a sleeper, it’s under the radar, it’s hardly talked about or reviewed but when I tell u it’s worth the price I really mean it! Do yourself a favor and at least get a sample. I have a 75+ bottle of 98% niche and 2% designer collection and this fragrance can go 12 rounds with the best of them trust me!!! Longevity for me was around 6-8hrs on skin around 24hrs on clothes. I’ve received unsolicited compliments on every occasion that I wore this, It leans about 55% feminine and 45% masculine. Im a man and Turandot will always be in my collection without a doubt!

This is my first Roja fragrance, and she is so pretty. I adore the wonderful purple parma violet opening that fizzes from the aldehydes, they soften and turn a little floral and juicy. I adore this stage too. At this stage, she feels powdery, and it reminds me of theatrical makeup and baby powder. There is a vintage vibe here, and I love it. She leaves me with a sweet, woody warmth. I love this one so much and want to sing Nessun Dorma each time I wear her. What a lovely gift and such a unique fragrance. I don't own anything like this. Super noticeable, too, I have had several compliments, and I really am not a seeker of them, but this goes on and on with such a lovely trail of beauty.

Roja Dove is in a class by himself. He is Truly a master perfumer. This is probably the most powerful, gorgeous perfume in my collection and yet, no resins, myrrh or frankincense are listed nor smelled. It is syrup sweet but not in an annoying way if you can believe that. However, after smelling it from the bottle, full on, I cannot smell ANYTHING! Completely osmotic! It isn’t worth owning unless you have some incredible place to wear it. Ok, so, maybe to the Academy awards. Yes, perfect occasion but the scent would overwhelm the room. It just isn’t wearable in any public arena. So, spray it on and off to bed with you. Alone. Even your dog will leave the room.