Roja Dove

Roja Dove, born Roger Bird on September 25, 1956, in Sussex, in the southeast of England, is a highly respected British perfumer known for his luxurious and exclusive fragrances. His fascination with scents began at an early age, when he was captivated by his mother’s perfume while she gave him a goodnight kiss. As a teenager, he spent his money on small perfume bottles, amazed by their powerful impact. Despite his growing interest in fragrances, Dove initially studied medicine at the University of Cambridge. However, a visit to the Guerlain Boutique in Paris on his twenty-first birthday changed the course of his life. Inspired by the world of perfume, he began working at Joshua Taylor's, a department store in Cambridge, before finally leaving university to join the iconic French perfume house Guerlain. In 1981, Dove joined Guerlain’s Training and Public Relations Department, where he gained professional experience in the industry. Over the course of nearly 20 years, he became the first non-family member at Guerlain and the first “nose” who was not French to create fragrances for the brand, after being appointed Global Ambassador, nicknamed the “Professeur de Parfum.” His time at Guerlain shaped his unique approach to perfume creation and laid the groundwork for his future projects. After leaving Guerlain, Dove founded RDPR Limited, his own public relations firm based in Brighton. In 2004, he opened Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie on the sixth floor of Harrods in London. The luxurious boutique, designed like an exotic boudoir, showcased a variety of rare and exclusive fragrances from renowned brands. In response to requests from customers for creations of his own, Dove founded Roja Parfums in 2011. He initially launched a trilogy of fragrances representing the three main female olfactive families: Oriental, Chypre and Floral. These scents, Enslaved, Unspoken and Scandal, demonstrated Dove’s meticulous attention to detail and his commitment to using the finest ingredients. As Roja Parfums gained recognition, its offerings expanded to include candles and various collaborations with other luxury brands. Dove’s fragrances are now sold in prestigious department stores around the world and are used by some of the most discerning people. Beyond his work as a perfumer, Dove is a respected author and lecturer. He has written two books, “The Essence of Perfume” and “Roja Dove’s Fragrance Guide,” sharing his extensive knowledge of the world of fragrances. Dove has also delivered lectures and taken part in charitable events at institutions such as The Barbican, the Science Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Roja Dove’s unique approach to creating perfumes, his inspirations, and the story behind his brand have made him an icon of the fragrance industry. With absolute dedication to his craft and a passion for perfume, Roja Dove continues to create some of the most exquisite and luxurious aromas available today.