ROJA PARFUMS
APEX EAU INTENSE
2025
PERFUMER
Antoine Cotton
bergamot
lemon
mandarin
lavender
clary sage
chlorophyl accord
mint
helvetolide
pomelo
rose oxide
cardamom
pepper
grass
elemi
patchouli
violet
cedarwood
sandalwood
cashmeran
driftwood
myrrh
ambroxan
velvione
musk
Apex Eau Intense marks the first official Roja Parfums release that lists Antoine Cotton as a perfumer, instead of Roja Dove.
‘APEX is about embracing our connection to nature and listening to our innermost instincts – to reach the Apex of our potential and become the best version of ourselves. To express this, I wanted to depict a mysterious landscape through a wild jungle where green, leafy and aromatic plants operate together as a powerful phenomenon called photosynthesis. Something unique, singular, with a lasting impact reflecting the strength of plants and nature. APEX EAU INTENSE is an intensified experience, in which uplifting Pomelo, bright Rose Oxide, and salted Driftwood combine with a Chlorophyll Accord to evoke invigorating nature. What is interesting in this creation is a play of lights, a union of bright energies and wild textures highlighting all the beauty of a strong, dominant and radiant nature.’ – Antoine Cotton
Eau Intense marks the third iteration of Apex already, which unfortunately, is one of my least favorite DNA’s to come out of the Roja Parfums stable. In this case, it’s quite different, but not better per se. While I think I prefer the scent profile, but I definitely like the execution less.
Apex Eau Intense trades the warmer, spicier, mossier base of the Apex EDP for an almost kitchy, 90’s men’s shampoo with some metallic tinges. To cut short to the conclusion; you could’ve easily fooled me in thinking I was wearing my teenage year’s Adidas shampoo, rather than a niche Roja perfume.
It’s more suitable for warmer weather and perhaps a more fitting shampoo/showergel combination to my nose, than the clashing sweet-Sauvage Elixir-esque direction that was found in Apex prior, but at the same time, this doesn’t elevate it either. The notes and descriptions seemed promising and I was hoping for something more citrussy, more fruity, more fresh, but everything feels muted and sort of bitter. An old-school scent profile, but contemporary flat feeling ingredients.
It smells familiar, with a more grassy, almost nutty harsh, but at the same time watery vibe and a sense of metal. Undernearth there’s a peppery spiciness, but it feels like paper and cardboard. There is a quite a strong floral component in here, but that too, feels flat, metallic, astringent.
The best way I can describe Apex Eau Intense is taking a fragrance DNA like Apex, but imagine the scent after you’ve already taken a shower with it. The punch from it gone completely, the fruits lacking any acidity or vibrancy, the spices losing their kick… all that’s left is a harsh, but faint green after-shower remnant (which is also anything but ‘Intense’).
I didn’t dislike wearing it and I guess I’d take this over some of the other modern-retro’s and often sweeter renditions of this style. Yet, it wears the least nice of this Apex line, which was a letdown and non-Roja-worthy (and Roja pricing-worthy) release to begin with for me. At best, this would be an average green men’s cologne found in the usual (most affordable) price ranges and compared to some of the better options (Terre D’Hermes, Eau Sauvage) it pales in comparison in my opinion.