ScentFan
Helpful Review
6
Now Comes the Sultan
I had no intention of buying this fragrance during my long visit to Neiman's perfume counters. I was simply sniffing through the Roja Doves, the sales clerk and I machine-like as she sprayed each on paper, handed it to me and looked expectantly up as I said things like, "Nice, but not really me; I don't like the Lily of the Valley in this; Wonderful, but I have it at home." Intrigued by its gem-like top, I reached over to this one, picked it up and smelled the snifter, my eyes opening in surprise. "Here, I'll spray it on paper," she said. When she handed it to me, all I search for in perfume wafted up. This is a majestic fragrance, like the promo says, a truly fitting tribute to the Sultan and the family who resurrected the ancient Omani perfume industry by founding Amouage. For 6,000 years, the world's best Frankincense has come from Oman. Perfume is at the center of their culture. “From childhood Omanis learn to layer fragrance like artists building up colors in a painting,” said Marcia Dorr in a travel article. She's the author of several books on Omani heritage.
No doubt this is why Roja Dove pulled out all the stops in creating a fragrance named for the Omani Sultanate. Like trails of smoke spiraling from a censer, fabulous smells wound their sensuous way from this perfume--beguling Elemi, sophisticated Oud, Sandalwood, Gaiac wood, the best Frankincense ever, and more, slithered up from the base through the glorious florals and crisp citrus and took possession of mind, heart and soul. Bugger the cost, I had to get this for my sultan, the guy who won't spend money on himself but didn't blink an eye when I fell for Bogue's Gardelia. Both are bold and accomplished, like hearing the Peer Gynt Suite from a double orchestra. These kind of scents belong together. So I bought it for him, fully expecting a lecture which seemed to be forthcoming until he smelled it. I saw his eyes open in surprise, like mine had.
Don't pass up a chance to test this tribute to the Arab home of perfumery itself. For millennia it has conspired to make the world smell good in its export of exotic incense, resin and fragrances. Roja Dove captures the best of it in this perfume. Wear it and be a sultan, too.