Roja Dove
Encyclopedia
Roja Dove is a fragrance specialist, fragrance historian, and possibly the world's most famous nose, an affectionate name for a perfumer
. Dove was born and raised in Sussex
(southeast England), his career in perfumery began in 1981 when he joined the French perfume house Guerlain
, working there for 20 years before leaving to set up his own companies RDPR and then Roja Parfums.
Following his school days Dove became a medical research student at Cambridge
, whilst studying there he celebrated his 21st birthday with a visit to the Guerlain Boutique on the Champs-Elysées
. It was after this visit that Dove resolved to pursue a career in perfumery and with Guerlain.
. Specialising in luxury Beauty, Lifestyle, and Perfume, RDPR have represented and worked with a wide variety of internationally acclaimed companies including Baccarat
, OPI Nail Lacquer, Clive Christian
, and Houbigant
.
in conjunction with Urban Retreat. The concept behind the project is a ‘store within a store’ providing a luxurious environment for which to experience and discover a range of fragrances, each chosen by Dove. Women who are looking for a more refined perfume are given the opportunity to arrange a consultation, either with Roja himself or one of his personally trained consultants, to be guided to their signature fragrance.
“Physically, it is going to be a sensual haven… Silks and satins, lots of glass, mirror and crystal, as well as the black lacquer, give the salon the air of an exotic boudoir”
Since it opened in 2004 the Haute Parfumerie has stocked scents from many famous and unfamiliar brands including: Tom Ford
, Caron
, Lalique, Xerjoff, Dior
, Atelier Flou, Clive Christian
, and Grossmith etc.
In addition to these brands Dove decided to experiment. Having received requests from customers to smell ‘Roja Dove’ creations, the perfumer resolved to try something different. Previously, in 2002, Dove joined names like Manolo Blahnik
in donating prizes for the annual Terrence Higgins Trust
fundraiser, the perfumer created a bespoke scent for the highest bidder contained within a Baccarat crystal presentation bottle. In 2005, Dove drew inspiration from this event and created a range of Semi-Bespoke fragrances for customers of the Haute Parfumerie to purchase; however these scents come without bottles, names, and with only enough liquid to make 50 of each.
"A sensory haven of fragrance; it is the most inspiring, distinctive and lavish perfumery anywhere.
Roja Dove is the fragrance connoisseur’s connoisseur. Every item is selected by Roja himself; they are
fragrances that he believes to be innovative, directional and of true quality" Tom Ford
, The Jasmine Awards, and The Cosmetics Perfumer Retailers Association, all of which are organisations focused on recognising talent and great contributions to the industry.
As an independent expert Dove has been called upon by, and commissioned to write for a range of global titles including Vogue
, The Times
, Vanity Fair
, and Wallpaper. These assignments vary in focus discussing anything that could possibly relate to perfume, for instance celebrity fragrances, classic favorites, or even the ‘Smells of London’.
As an academic Roja Dove has also given lectures and spoken at charity events for The Barbican
, The Science Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
. In 2010 Dove worked closely with the Victoria and Albert Museum
for their exhibition Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes, which ran from 25 September 2010 to 9 January 2011, where he created an accompanying fragrance named ‘Diaghilev’ and gave an evening lecture upon 1920s Parisian society and perfume.
With regards to new initiatives, in 2007 Dove teamed up with BA Highlife Shop, the British Airways onboard retail publication for duty free products, as their regular fragrance expert. Then in 2009 Dove began to work with World Duty Free to create an online resource to help the user discover their ideal scent; www.discoverfragrance.com. Shortly after Dove collaborated with The Macallan
Scottish whiskey house where the perfumer created a new way of experiencing whiskey; using an odour profiling technique referred to now as The Macallan Aroma Box.
In 2011 the existing Roja Dove line becomes Roja Parfums. Simultaneously, following 2 years of research, the first Roja Parfums candle 'Neroli' was released, to be followed up in the future by additional scents. Furthermore, the same year Roja Parfums is introduced to the Black Hall Perfumery in Harrods, alongside fragrance houses such as Chanel.
Roja Dove’s reputation is based upon his principle of using the finest quality ingredients; the perfumer travels the world to achieve this as well as relying on trusted locations such as Grasse
in the South of France.
Perfumer
A perfumer is a term used for an expert on creating perfume compositions, sometimes referred to affectionately as a Nose due to their fine sense of smell and skill in producing olfactory compositions...
. Dove was born and raised in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
(southeast England), his career in perfumery began in 1981 when he joined the French perfume house Guerlain
Guerlain
Guerlain is a French perfume house, among the oldest in the world. It has a large and loyal customer following, and is held in high esteem in the perfume industry...
, working there for 20 years before leaving to set up his own companies RDPR and then Roja Parfums.
Early life
Dove's interest in fragrance was sparked at an early age when his mother kissed him goodnight; as she lowered her head to kiss him, he was aware that her fragrance lingered in his room long after she had gone, keeping the image of her cocktail dress and the kiss alive. This interest developed whilst Dove grew up, as a teenager he spent his money purchasing small bottles of scent and was impressed that the tiny containers could contain such an overwhelming effect.Following his school days Dove became a medical research student at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, whilst studying there he celebrated his 21st birthday with a visit to the Guerlain Boutique on the Champs-Elysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
. It was after this visit that Dove resolved to pursue a career in perfumery and with Guerlain.
Time at Guerlain
In Dove's enthusiasm for learning more following his trip to the Guerlain boutique, he frequently wrote the classic French perfumery requesting information and experience. Eventually, pestered but impressed by Dove's interest, Robert Guerlain offered him a position. In 1981 Dove was recruited into the Training and Public Relations Department where he began to consolidate a professional understanding for the industry. Dove remained with Guerlain for nearly 20 years, after a number of years he was honoured with the position of Global Ambassador, the first non-Guerlain family member to be given the role, and eventually became their chief nose, Professeur de Parfum.RDPR Limited
After two decades with Guerlain, Roja Dove left the house to set up his own public relations firm RDPR Limited, with a head office based in his hometown of BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Specialising in luxury Beauty, Lifestyle, and Perfume, RDPR have represented and worked with a wide variety of internationally acclaimed companies including Baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
, OPI Nail Lacquer, Clive Christian
Clive Christian
Clive Christian is a British designer best known for his designer kitchens and his creation of Clive Christian No. 1, the world's most expensive perfume....
, and Houbigant
Houbigant
Houbigant may refer to:* Charles François Houbigant, Biblical scholar* Houbigant , perfume manufacturer...
.
The Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie
In 2004 the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie opened on the fifth floor of HarrodsHarrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
in conjunction with Urban Retreat. The concept behind the project is a ‘store within a store’ providing a luxurious environment for which to experience and discover a range of fragrances, each chosen by Dove. Women who are looking for a more refined perfume are given the opportunity to arrange a consultation, either with Roja himself or one of his personally trained consultants, to be guided to their signature fragrance.
“Physically, it is going to be a sensual haven… Silks and satins, lots of glass, mirror and crystal, as well as the black lacquer, give the salon the air of an exotic boudoir”
Since it opened in 2004 the Haute Parfumerie has stocked scents from many famous and unfamiliar brands including: Tom Ford
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.-Early life :Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961 in...
, Caron
Caron
A caron or háček , also known as a wedge, inverted circumflex, inverted hat, is a diacritic placed over certain letters to indicate present or historical palatalization, iotation, or postalveolar pronunciation in the orthography of some Baltic, Slavic, Finno-Lappic, and other languages.It looks...
, Lalique, Xerjoff, Dior
Dior
Dior can mean:* Christian Dior SA, a French clothing retailer* In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium:**Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elven of the First Age**Dior , a Steward of GondorDior is a surname, and may refer to:...
, Atelier Flou, Clive Christian
Clive Christian
Clive Christian is a British designer best known for his designer kitchens and his creation of Clive Christian No. 1, the world's most expensive perfume....
, and Grossmith etc.
In addition to these brands Dove decided to experiment. Having received requests from customers to smell ‘Roja Dove’ creations, the perfumer resolved to try something different. Previously, in 2002, Dove joined names like Manolo Blahnik
Manolo Blahnik
Manuel "Manolo" Blahnik Rodríguez CBE, , is a Spanish fashion designer and founder of the self-named, high-end shoe brand.-Biography:Born to a Czech father and a Spanish mother and born and raised in the Canary Islands , Blahnik graduated from the University of Geneva in 1965 and studied art in Paris...
in donating prizes for the annual Terrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the charity aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health ; to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected by, or at risk of...
fundraiser, the perfumer created a bespoke scent for the highest bidder contained within a Baccarat crystal presentation bottle. In 2005, Dove drew inspiration from this event and created a range of Semi-Bespoke fragrances for customers of the Haute Parfumerie to purchase; however these scents come without bottles, names, and with only enough liquid to make 50 of each.
"A sensory haven of fragrance; it is the most inspiring, distinctive and lavish perfumery anywhere.
Roja Dove is the fragrance connoisseur’s connoisseur. Every item is selected by Roja himself; they are
fragrances that he believes to be innovative, directional and of true quality" Tom Ford
Independent fragrance expert, public speaker and collaborator
Roja Dove has collaborated with a wide variety of companies, institutions, and individuals over many years. Within the perfume industry itself Dove has been actively involved with The Fragrance FoundationThe Fragrance Foundation
The Fragrance Foundation is the non-profit, educational arm of the international fragrance industry.-FiFi Awards:The FiFi Awards & Celebration is an annual event hosted by The Fragrance Foundation and honors creative excellence and achievement in the fragrance industry...
, The Jasmine Awards, and The Cosmetics Perfumer Retailers Association, all of which are organisations focused on recognising talent and great contributions to the industry.
As an independent expert Dove has been called upon by, and commissioned to write for a range of global titles including Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, and Wallpaper. These assignments vary in focus discussing anything that could possibly relate to perfume, for instance celebrity fragrances, classic favorites, or even the ‘Smells of London’.
As an academic Roja Dove has also given lectures and spoken at charity events for The Barbican
The Barbican
Barbican is a type of fortified building.Barbican may also refer to:*Willoughby House, also known as the Barbican, London* Barbican , a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe* Barbican , a thoroughbred horse...
, The Science Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
. In 2010 Dove worked closely with the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
for their exhibition Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes, which ran from 25 September 2010 to 9 January 2011, where he created an accompanying fragrance named ‘Diaghilev’ and gave an evening lecture upon 1920s Parisian society and perfume.
With regards to new initiatives, in 2007 Dove teamed up with BA Highlife Shop, the British Airways onboard retail publication for duty free products, as their regular fragrance expert. Then in 2009 Dove began to work with World Duty Free to create an online resource to help the user discover their ideal scent; www.discoverfragrance.com. Shortly after Dove collaborated with The Macallan
The Macallan
The Macallan is a brand of single malt Scotch whisky first distilled in 1824 at The Macallan Distillery near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie, in Moray...
Scottish whiskey house where the perfumer created a new way of experiencing whiskey; using an odour profiling technique referred to now as The Macallan Aroma Box.
List of collaborations
- 2005, Hardy Amies, Hardy Amies
- 2006, Kelly Hoppen Candle
- 2009, 6, Pierre de Velay
- 2009, 11, Pierre de Velay
- 2009, 23, Pierre de Velay
- 2010, Blessings, Belinda Brown
- 2010, M, Pure Distance
- 2010, Buzz, The Sun
- 2010, Diaghilev, The Victoria and Albert Museum
- 2011, Four Seasons Amenities, Four Seasons Park Lane London
Roja Parfums
Following on from his bespoke fragrance experience Dove decided to present his own fragrance range. Initially referred to as ‘The Trilogy’, Dove created a scent for each female fragrance family; Oriental, Chypre, and Floral, entitled ‘Enslaved, Unspoken, and Scandal’ accordingly.In 2011 the existing Roja Dove line becomes Roja Parfums. Simultaneously, following 2 years of research, the first Roja Parfums candle 'Neroli' was released, to be followed up in the future by additional scents. Furthermore, the same year Roja Parfums is introduced to the Black Hall Perfumery in Harrods, alongside fragrance houses such as Chanel.
Roja Dove’s reputation is based upon his principle of using the finest quality ingredients; the perfumer travels the world to achieve this as well as relying on trusted locations such as Grasse
Grasse
-See also:*Route Napoléon*Ancient Diocese of Grasse*Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes department-External links:*...
in the South of France.