photo courtesy of Roja Parfums
One of my not-so-secret pleasures is any well-scripted and enacted, historically-based cinematic experience involving a certain degree of bodice/codpiece-ripping. Well-executed erotica is pure pleasure (often seasoned with a generous dollop of humor) whether it’s in earnest or a spoof. Roja Parfums Fetish Pour Homme falls into the ‘earnest’ category; with all the Roja Parfums ÇaFleureBon has reviewed, I couldn’t fathom how we missed reviewing it. It’s one my first Roja loves since a foray to Bergdorf Goodman’s in NYC many years ago. I’ll tell you this in all good faith: there wasn’t a single woman, man or beast who didn’t dangle their nasal appendage wherever I had sprayed; a fairly ringing endorsement for any avowed perfumaniac. Roja Parfums Fetish Pour Homme isn’t a perfume for the shy, retiring, or timorous. It’s G-ddamn Piratical, is what it is …and not just “pour Homme”.
Tom Cruise in Rock Of Ages 2012 and a scene from Harlots TV Series 2017
Whether you fancy yourself a Johnny Depp, Cap’n Jack Sparrow sort of lad or a bosomy tart worthy of Samantha Morton (as madam Margaret Wells) and her seedy brothel of softhearted denizens, Fetish Pour Homme is a perfect fit. It’s leathery almost-to-a-fault rich, seething with intrigue, and possesses nuclear tenacity and longevity. Roja Dove describes it thusly: “Fetish Pour Homme, Chypré: Warm and Dry – Sweet, Very Spicy, Very Leathery, & Very Sensual.” From the master’s lips.
Well put, Maître.
Because I tend to respect the olfactory personal space of other people (unless I’m alone and need to overdose my aromatic medicine with a heavy hand), I always, always decant my Fetish. That way, I can control its fierce magnificence without asphyxiating my near and dear. It endures forever, anyway – and like the old hairdressing of yore (Brylcreem), “a little dab’ll do ya”. Fetish: fearless, glorious, takes no prisoners – unless it enslaves your followers. The first spritz (or dab) takes citrus to another level entirely, but you know about citrus from my incessant blatherings about ‘low molecular weight’ – that they’re the first to disperse into the aether. What follows is sumptuous – the concatenation of indolic jasmin de Grasse, violet and fig fairly romp with lashings of pink pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and lemon-peppery elemi. And what a base! Rife with patchouli (the best stuff available), vetiver, oakmoss, labdanum, the master hasn’t neglected to include the loveliness of vanilla, benzoin, ambergris and musk.
Beauty and The Beast 1946- Jean Marais asThe Beast
No lightweight perfume to be found here, guaranteed. I hate to refer to the now-shopworn “beast” mode appellation, but it does fit – in spite of my dislike for the word itself (when used in perfume description as it is currently). Handle With Care.
Roja Dove via @rojaparfums
Those amongst you who are admirers of Puredistance M (and I’m right there with you!) will note striking similarities between it and Fetish, since Roja Dove created them both. Fetish was composed in 2012; Puredistance M in 2010. If one goes by the notes, the main difference is the inclusion of rose, carnation and clove which imparts a more rounded, softer fragrance (Puredistance M) overall. Fetish is more like slightly rougher sex; M is sex in the back of an Aston Martin or a vintage Bentley. One’s a little smoother, more suave – and its cousin is perhaps a bit brasher and a tad more tawdry and bawdy. They are both a lot of fun, and if you can manage a decant of each, it’s instructive to compare them side by side, an exercise in subtle distinctions. A very little perfume will last you an exceptionally long time, and it will be a good time into the bargain. Be a scamp and sample this little devil. I think it’s one of the sexiest things anyone can wear, and I choose to wear it often. After 38 years of marriage and much harassment and insistence, I finally tried some on my dear long-suffering husband at this writing. On me, it’s smoky, balsamic and somewhat floral; on him, it’s fiery and rambunctious, very virile.
Notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Lime, Neroli, Jasmin de Grasse, Violet, Fig, Cardamom, Elemi, Pink Pepper, Cinnamon, Pepper, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Benzoin, Vanilla, Labdanum, Leather, Ambergris, Musk
My perfume tester was generously provided by Eden Square/Europerfumes – many thanks! I purchased my first bottle in 2012 and I’ve adored it ever since. My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor
Roja Parfums Festish Pour Homme photo by Ida
Thanks to Europerfumes, now known as Eden Square, the US distributor of Roja Parfums, we are offering a 50 ml bottle TESTER without a cap of Roja Parfums Fetish Pour Homme for one registered CaFleureBon reader in the USA (if you are not sure if you are registered click here as you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible please leave a comment regarding what intrigued you in Ida’s review. Draw closes 1/23/2021 Do you have a particular Roja Parfums favorite?
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