Natalie Wood as Maria in West Side Story

“I feel dizzy; I feel sunny; I feel fizzy and funny and fine – and so pretty! Miss America can just resign…” ~ Maria’s song from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story 

My, my – that Natalie Wood! Although American soprano and ‘ghost singer’ Marni Nixon actually sang the role in the renowned 1961 film, we will never forget Natalie’s luminous beauty as our quintessential Puerto Rican Juliet in West Side Story. Passionate, innocent, guileless, hopeful: when I smell Roja Dove’s 51 Parfum it summons all of her, with those immense pleading eyes. I’m smelling/envisioning this parfum through Natalie-tinted lenses. It’s an abundantly floral, spicily sweet dance number in triple meter. Resistance is futile.

Natalie Wood as Maria in West Side Story

“This thing, what is it in itself, in its own constitution? What is its substance and material?” ~ Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Number 11. Why Marcus Aurelius, of all people? When we examine a fragrance these queries resemble a sort of spirit guide: rather than mere like or dislike, we are enjoined to engage further. It no longer becomes a case of “I hate fruity florals”, or “orientals are suffocating” – but penetration into what the essence may be. Let’s investigate more closely.

Natalie Wood studio shot 1960s

51 Parfum  (2016) is a fruity floral oriental, and no amount of shilly-shallying will alter this. You may immediately close your mind to it if that’s your wont, or peer inside to see how it’s composed, how it works or doesn’t; what its components are like. Substance and material: quality comes first, and Roja Parfums 51 Pour Femme smells expensive straight out of my tester. Floral absolutes are impeccably fine, aromachemicals/art approximation such as lily of the valley; cashmeran and very likely gardenia are lovely and augment the otherwise botanical essences which form the lion’s share of 51. In other words, no corners were cut in the process. What is its nature? Roja Parfums 51 Pour Femme is blithe, sun-drenched and pure of heart; like Maria in West Side Story, there isn’t a single mean bone in her body. She radiates honeyed solar bonhomie from every angle (if she weren’t so deliciously rounded), a generous, playful being full of goodwill. Whatever her age, she is youthful-feeling, with her nosegay encompassing humble muguet and leafy violet as well as the more exotic tropical flowers and bridal orange blossom. Underscored with a smattering of clove and cinnamon, a raspberry kiss, bedded in satiny woods, gourmand caress of benzoin and vanilla, a silvery dose of orris: can the bride be too beautiful? Too much, too pretty? Where’s the flaw?

Natalie Wood dancing in West Side Story-digitalized by Michelyn

 Roja Parfums 51 lilts, twirls, light on its feet and beaming with pleasure; it smells as if it were created with great affection and a nod towards the classical vein of grand perfumery. If a man can wear Chanel No.5 or Bal à Versailles and break your heart – he can surely wear this. Why play to type? Let others define you? 

Natalie Wood studio shot via flickr©

For me, Roja Parfums 51 Pour Femme is Natalie Wood femme fleur – but don’t let that stop you, any of you. Life is too brief to not feel pretty…as glorious Grace Slick sang: “You’re only pretty as you feel; as pretty as you feel inside.” Notes: bergamot, lily of the valley, rose, gardenia, orange blossom, tuberose, ylang-ylang, raspberry, violet leaf, anise, cinnamon, cloves, patchouli, cashmere wood, sandalwood, benzoin, vanilla, orris root

Tester kindly provided by Europerfumes many thanks! My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

photo via Roja Dove©

Thanks to the generosity of Europerfumes the U.S. distributor of Roja Parfums we have a draw for a 30 ml tester for one registered reader in the USA only. Please be sure to register. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Ida’s review of Roja Parfums 51 Parfum aka Pour Femme. Do you like fruity florals if they are well-made?  Do you have a favorite Roja Parfum? Draw closes 8/3/2018

We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume…