Roeya

Spirit Of Dubai are one of the high end Dubai fragrance houses very far removed from the dupe merchants and cheapy Ambroxin pushers that we see a lot of here. Last autumn I went to a nice brunch at the Atlantis on The Palm and walked past the Spirit Of Dubai shop there. I'd heard great things about Abraj by them so popped in to take a look and of course walked out with a bottle of that and a bottle of Roeya. Abraj I will review another time. Roeya meanwhile was an instant love off the testing strip and continues to be one of those slightly eclectic orphans in my collection that doesn't have any contemporaries and does not sit in any of the constituent groups that make up the bulk of my close-to 200 bottle trove. I don't know why I love it. Maybe because it is so different. I've worn it twenty times and I still have no idea what it is about this one that keeps me coming back and holds such a sharp interest for me. It certainly is enigmatic. So let's get the basics out of the way. The bottle comes in a natty leatherette case and is quite nicely done with a perforated metal finishing around the centre and some glass "jewels" adorning the top. Not my personal taste, but it feels heavy and looks premium even if it maybe the printing doesn't pass the detail test up close. The atomiser though is top class and the juice is incredible. The feel is typical of Spirit Of Dubai fragrances in that it is very rich and extremely complex. So much so in fact, that I struggle to pick out some of the accords because there are so many. These are fragrances for experienced, discerning noses, I would say. Roeya's top is a lovely fresh neroli and some sparkly jasmine working in harmony with a sweet orange and orange blossom citrus note. This all works off a tuberose core that runs through this like structural steel and is what makes this so strong. These are not typically heavy accords but Roeya is a serious bit of juice indeed and I get an easy 10 hours off this. It projects very impressively the whole time. The mid is a really nice papery textured papyrus and a bit of saffron to take this even richer. The base is musk and an amazingly dainty oud with some green aromatics and a cashmeran (and some Iso E Super?) blanket to smooth and homogenise. There is a greeny, leafy undertone too and some aquatic vibes from this as well. We have a lot to take in here, for sure. It shouldn't all work together but it does and the overall effect is quite removed from initial expectations. You only get the oud coming in after a couple of hours but it does gain prominence as this dries down. I'd say Roeya is comprehensively unisex but leans a little feminine as long as the woman in question likes complexity and tuberose. You have to enjoy tuberose to love this one I think. Think "fruity, shiny summery aquatic florals" turned up to full volume. The blending is superb and the quality is right up there. If you're looking for chic Parisian minimalist refinement, this is likely not the one. But if you are after something of incredible quality and with real interest and individuality done in a very high end, big Middle Eastern style, then this will be right up your sharie. Roeya is not a budget fragrance and it doesn't wear or feel like one. It isn't subtle. It isnt shy or reclusive. It is an assertive, confident fragrance that demands to be experienced and will get you all the compliments. I very much enjoy this one. Layering suggestion - Kayali Musk 12 because of the shared aquatic and musk accords Three Word Summary - Orangey Coastal Floratopia Scent - 9/10 Drydown - 8/10 Sillage - 10/10 Bottle/packaging - 7/10 Performance - 9/10 43/50

The Spirit of Dubai is a company that I really like, with very special fragrances, not very noticeable, but really really pleasant. Roeya has done nothing but confirm these impressions. The opening of Neroli and Cashmeran make it green, pungent at the beginning, but for the first few minutes and perhaps here we find the oriental part, then everything "lightens" to give space to the jasmine, but beware, not the usual one that is felt in many perfumes, which I don't like, but precisely the smell that is perceived passing next to a bush of these flowers in summer, which I literally love. The persistence is truly remarkable and so the trail it leaves, I confess I blind bought it, but I would do it again a thousand times.

The best perfume I ‘ve smelled so far it’s fresh bit at the same time it has this arabian resins that make it incredible and it lasts for ever. It could be an Anentus style arabian super luxurious scent for everyone

So the issue with this one is there's a Aroma chemical that strongly reminds me of my grandmother and I think it's the tuberose ingredient and I was really expecting a lot from this one. As a masculine guy that likes wearing white florals ( platine blac, reflection man, ect) this is decidedly too feminine and unfortunately I was really looking forward to this one but the quality is exceptional that's no mistake. There is a bit of a leather Accord that they try to offset to make it seem masculine but the perfume ingredient for the tube Rose I think just makes it too feminine and it's too much for me although the quality is excellent but I think that women can wear this more than men but for me it's a no.

I just received this yesterday. I was kind of on the fence as to whether I like it or not, which was not the case with Turuth, Majlis, or Diwan; I love each of those. However, after wearing it all day today, I am growing to like it more and more. I have to get past the initial waaf and let it settle on my skin and it works for me.