A new cologne by Roja Dove is aimed to deliver the sensation of 'majesty'

Perfumer Roja Dove released a new fragrance, Britannia, in his Imperial collection — a group of perfumes that he said are aimed to deliver the sensation of “majesty, tradition, and idiosyncrasy”. Dove, who studied under master perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain, made his career by crafting bespoke fragrances for the British upper crust from his atelier in London’s Mayfair neighbourhood.

In 2004, he opened a perfumerie in Harrods, and in 2011, he launched his own line of expensive, standout perfumes. His scents are musky and sexual, and they feel as though they exist miles away from mass market fragrances.


Picture: BCCL

Defining the new collection, he said that the scents are familiar but eccentric. Each is named after a destination in the British Empire. Britannia is a warm and floral scent, augmented with the gently spicy base notes of cinnamon and cloves. It contains patchouli, sandalwood, musk, citrus, and vetiver. Dove’s secret weapon, ambergris, a decidedly un-sexy secretion from a sperm whale’s intestines, which costs $100,000 per kilogram, is also an added ingredient. The floral body notes include jasmine, violet, and rose.

The smell lasts an entire day and is best used to make an impression.