FRAGRANCE | Tuberose Parfum by Roja Parfums: A classy celebration of the polarizing white flower

Roja Dove's Tuberose Parfum does live up to its name, as it places this fragrant white flower (locally known as azucena) front and center. The perfume is just filled with its strong and intoxicating scent—and generously so. It's immediately recognizable from the opening, where it's accompanied by a touch of citrus to brighten it up. It smells clean as a result, with the tuberose's natural indolic properties effectively toned down at this point.

The muted zing is short-lived, easing into the blend almost immediately. The brightness remains as the creaminess builds up, slowly filling the scent with a luxurious softness. The tuberose is not all alone, though, as it enjoys a strong white floral support, enriching and magnifying its aroma even further. A fruity sweetness is also added to the mix, contributing to the ensuing richness.

The development is so nuanced that the fragrance appears linear, more so because the tuberose simply lords it over everything else. But the once bright and clean scent carefully morphs into a warm and comforting beauty, with the tuberose now embracing its indolic side, something it muffled at the onset. It's not a skanky type of indole but more of something fleshy and very rich, which gives the perfume a semblance of seriousness and formality. By contrast, the classic tuberose fragrance Fracas by Robert Piguet is a lot brighter and playful.

Simply put, Roja's Tuberose Parfum is made for tuberose lovers, brandishing the white floral's scent from start to finish with absolutely no reservation. It never attempts to tweak or sugarcoat it to pander to people who have a thing against tuberose, let alone convert them into worshipers. It's a fairly strong and long-lasting perfume although it naturally softens as the hours go by. The composition speaks of quality and refinement worthy of the Roja brand. But yes, it is expensive.