PROFESSOR OF PERFUMERY

Briton Roja Dove – one of the most famous creators of fragrances in the world, a perfumer by vocation with a perfect sense of aroma. He composes his luxurious, extraordinary bouquets without having any professional education, yet, in spite of this, he is hailed as a professor of perfumery. Having worked in the French perfumery house Guerlain for 20 years, he gained a reputation as the best nose in the House, and also gained invaluable experience, including in the field of marketing. And he was the one with the revolutionary idea, which he made a reality in 2004 in collaboration with the prestigious London department store Harrods – to open a boutique with a unique assortment. He compiled his own list of the best fragrances and managed to persuade famous perfume brands to re-release them specifically for this boutique, which became the first haute parfumerie store in the world. A few years later, he created two brands of luxury niche perfumes – Haute Parfumerie and Roja Parfums. Roja Dove is one of the few perfume historians in the world, the author of The Essence of Perfume and Quintessentially Perfume, which describe the history of perfumery and many of its notable legends. In 2000, he received the prestigious Gordon Whitehead Award for his contribution to the industry. In an exclusive interview with Monaco Today magazine, the legendary perfumer discussed the secrets of creating his exclusive fragrances and the first presentation of Roja Parfums in Monaco, which was held thanks to the collaboration with the beauty salon R Beauty.

MT: Where did you get such a passion for perfumery? RD: I have been in love with scents since my early childhood. I remember one moment very well. I was six or seven years old. My mother came to wish me good night, and after she left, the fragrance of her perfume lingered in my room for a long time. Everything played a role – a loved one, the scent, the moment. Since then I have been fascinated by scents. It's like magic – it’s as if you are releasing a genie from a bottle that takes you on an enchanting journey. Perfumery is perhaps one of the greatest joys in life, it gives us the opportunity to dream a little and gain confidence in ourselves.

MT: Tell us about the beginning of your career. What did you do before creating your own brand?

RD: I studied the history of perfumery, and I was lucky to work in Grasse, at the old French perfume factory, Guerlain. I was commissioned to create a training course on the history of perfumery for consultants at Guerlain House. This course later became a standard in the perfume industry. I was mainly involved in training and was an ambassador – I became the first person to represent the Guerlain perfumery house around the world who was not an actual member of the Guerlain family.

MT: What has 20 years with Guerlain House given you? RD: I was very young when I came to Guerlain. I met real professionals there who dedicated a lot of time to me and taught me a lot. I never worked at Guerlain as a perfumer, but even then, I began to study the art of composition and materials.

MT: Which fragrance from your Parfum De La Nuit trilogy do you like the most?

RD: This is my only collection that has numbers. This is an openly sensual set of fragrances that encourages us to understand the inner desires lurking inside of us all. After all, when the sun sets, everything changes, and we behave differently. In the dark, we do things that we would never do during the day. The idea of the night is a fantasy. I came up with three types that you find everywhere and which you can turn into, if you wish.

Parfum De La Nuit 1 is a predator, a very confident person who, when entering a room, seduces by their very presence, literally knocking you off your feet. When you meet such a person, you feel it right away. I have never heard of anyone liking weak people, we like strong people. By this they conquered me.

Parfum De La Nuit 2 – I would call such people soft seducers. They whisper in your ear, fleetingly touching you. At first you don’t even realise that you are under the spell of their strength and their desire.

Parfum De La Nuit 3 is exotic, the person you see in a darkened room, unlike anyone you've ever seen before. This otherworldly figure is so irresistible that you are in an almost hypnotic state. Personally, I’m closest to Parfum De La Nuit 1.

MT: What makes your brand luxury?

RD: You know, I was a very spoiled child, because I grew up in luxury and had the opportunity to see and use expensive things. I know their price. I believe that you cannot create a masterpiece from bad materials. It’s like cooking – you can’t make a gourmet dish using low-quality produce. When we say that our perfumes are the most exquisite, we don’t say this out of pride, but because we use the finest high-quality ingredients. And it’s easy for me to do this, because this is my private company, and I don’t have to ask anyone for permission to do this, I myself decide what and how much I have to spend (laughs).

R Beauty, located in the heart of Monte-Carlo, specialises in the care of nails, skin and hair. The credo of the salon is exclusivity and professionalism. The salon has an international team of professionals consisting of 12 people who offer the highest level of service in several languages. R Beauty's exclusive line of premium products, including Oribe professional hair care and SNB professional and medical nail and skin care, make its range unique. The latest highlights of the salon are the luxurious fragrances of Roja Dove. An exclusive partnership with the perfume brand was announced at a gala reception hosted at Hermitage Hotel.

R Beauty 15, boulevard des Moulins, Monaco

MT: How did you choose a partner in Monaco?

RD: We are very selective in where and how our perfumes are presented. We definitely do not want to be sold in every store. It was important for us not only to find a place with beautiful aesthetics, but also people who feel and understand scents, without these things, it is simply impossible to sell them. Indeed, not all of the fragrances in my collection will suit you, you need to find the one that will be yours, special for you. Our collaboration with Ralisa Rasheva and the R Beauty salon is really the best way to conquer Monaco. I met the R Beauty team in person. They know a million secrets. I saw the close and trusting relationship the masters of the salon have with their clients, who entrust the salon with their beauty. I sincerely believe that this will help in our cooperation.