Basenotes Events Coverage: Roja Dove - a Profile

by Danielle Cooper, 11 May 2009

Basenotes will be celebrating its exclusive Roja Dove masterclass with a series of editorial pieces about the man himself and the eclectic Haute Parfumerie that he has created in Harrods, one of London's most famous department stores.

In our first piece we find out how Roja became involved in fragrance and take a look at a career that has seen him quoted in so many leading magazines and newspapers, allowed him to become the resident fragrance expert for British Airways Highlife magazine and to undertake the training of staff in some of the UK's biggest fragrance retailers. Often cited as a knowledgeable and flamboyant story-teller and passionate orator of his subject, Basenotes discovers the source of that passion and the background of that knowledge.

Like many of those with a passion that borders on obsession, Roja's awareness of his subject began at an early age. As a young boy being tucked up in bed by his mother he can still remember the way that "her fragrance lingered in the room long after she was gone, keeping the image of her cocktail dress and the kiss alive." This encounter with the power of scent and it's evocative, memorable properties sparked an interest that developed and grew, providing Dove with the impetus and drive to want to be part of the world of fragrance.

Upon turning 21, the fledgling fragrance expert celebrated with a visit to the Guerlain Boutique on the Champs-Elysées. During his quest for knowledge Roja had familiarised himself with a number of fragrances from the house, but the visit cemented his course in life and his campaign to work for the historic French Family began in earnest.

To improve his prospects of employment with Guerlain as much as possible Dove set out to learn about the history of the house and it's creations. The constant communication between the young Mr Dove and the Global outposts of Guerlain brought him to the attention of Robert Guerlain. Then still a family owned concern, Roja soon found himself working for the company in training and public relations. Honing his growing skills in this illustrious environment, Roja then went on to set up RDPR - his own company with interests in public relations, training and fragrance creation. Basenotes editor Grant Osborne remembers his time on one such training course: "at the beginning of my career in the fragrance industry my Boots fragrance counter colleagues and I took part in a Roja Dove training course and I remember being struck by the enthusiasm and passion that he displayed towards his subject. I can fully understand where his reputation as an engaging and enthusiastic fragrance expert comes from".

As well as Boots the chemist, the leading UK fragrance retailer at the time (enjoying a market share of 32.5% in 2004), Roja has also undertaken training for WDF (world Duty Free). These training sessions included information about online tool www.discoverfragrance.co.uk. This WDF website allows travellers to answer two questions on its homepage which will then generate recommendations from Dove as to what scent to wear for business, romance and pleasure in various worldwide hotspots. This initiative is just the tip of the iceberg for Roja when it comes to scent profiling - look out for our piece later in this series about Basenotes' personal experience of the profiling service that is offered at the Haute Parfumerie.

In 2003 Roja launched his bespoke fragrance service with the donation of his first to a celebrity charity auction at Christie's auction house in London. The following year RDPR secured a corner of one of the most famous department stores in London and in October The Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie was open and operating from it's lofty position in Harrod's fifth floor Urban Retreat. The combined success of both the Haute Parfumerie and the Bespoke fragrance service led Dove to his next move. The first commercially available trilogy of scents from Roja Dove were launched: Scandal, Unspoken and Enslaved.

His reputation for being an engaging and knowledgeable 'fragrance connoisseur' has meant that he is invited to speak at prestigious venues such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Barbican and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. With his career to date including such lectures and talks as well as writing commissions for national and international press, a book was surely inevitable. "The Essence Of Perfume" was launched in 2008 and covers topics such as the sense of smell, the use of raw materials, the key players in the industry and the classic scents of the past. Extensively travelled and oft quoted, it's clear that Roja Dove is on a mission to spread his love of and enthusiasm for fine fragrance and you could have the opportunity to ask him how he intends to do this in the future. If you have a question to ask about Roja's career, his illustrious training, his own fragrances or any of his many projects read next week's piece for more details of how you can put it the man himself.

To find out more about your opportunity to experience a Roja Dove masterclass and enjoy a two course Lunch with Roja, read our Basenotes event announcement. To book your place or find out more please contact Danielle Cooper.

Categories: Guerlain, Roja Dove

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Basenotes Events Coverage: Roja Dove - a Profile

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