Roja Parfums Burlington 1819, photo by Michael Devine
“In the world of safe hues, like black, red and white, yellow shouts: ‘Look at me. I’m happy’!” – Joy Sewing
At this point, it’s certainly no secret I’m a Roja habitué. I’ve swam in the waters off Isola Blu, I’ve basked in the heavenly aura of Elysium, I’ve searched the jungle for the Apex. One might think I bleed purple, but at the moment, as the brightest, tartest, juiciest grapefruit accord fills my “synes-theatre,” I’m fixated on yellow. Roja Parfum’s Burlington 1819 is a celebration of life, fellowship and in my impression, the color yellow. Sun-drenched, sparkling, Prozac-popping yellow.
Roja Dove with Burlington 1819, Photo Courtesy Roja Parfums’ Instagram
Roja Parfums Burlington 1819, eau de parfum composed by Roja Dove, was released in 2020 to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Roja Parfums’ flagship store in London’s Burlington Arcade. This iconic shopping plaza was opened to the public in – you guessed it – 1819. While recent Roja Parfums releases such as Oceania and Elysium Eau Intense explore a more easy-breezy side of the Roja line—in harmonious counterpoint to the expansive collection of decorous, red-carpet knockouts—Burlington 1819 splits the difference and exhibits a blithe elegance. Where Diaghilev is befitting black tie at the Met Gala, Burlington 1819 calls for a linen blazer at a Hamptons barbeque.
Roja Parfums Flagship Shop at the Burlington Arcade, photo courtesy of Roja Parfums
Oscar Wilde once said that a grapefruit is just a lemon that saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. Well, Burlington 1819 takes advantage of grapefruit – a pulpy, sanguine accord that serves as the heart and soleil of the composition. Sunny and exultant, this yellowness is further enhanced by streaks of bitter orange and lime which bolster, rather than better, the grapefruit. Interestingly, according to the Roja Parfums website, Burlington 1819 has no heart notes. That isn’t to say the fragrance has no heart; the grapefruit, our raconteur, takes us to the base with the same rhapsodic vibrational pulse as the euphoric opening.
Roja Parfums Burlington 1819, photo courtesy of Roja Parfums
In the mid and base, the yellow hue turns golden as ginger, blond tobacco, cedar, vanilla and cumin temper the slight bitterness from the grapefruit while adding roundness and gravity. The addition of oakmoss, ambergris and labdanum remind the wearer this is a Roja creation through and through, while remaining a wholly unique experience. Despite the ostensible lightness of the composition, it’s tenacious; the freshness from the citrus notes reverberates throughout the long wear. The vanilla in the base provides depth and balance rather than sweetness. There is a nod to the traditional citric warm-weather eau de cologne, yet in true Roja fashion, the rules are acknowledged and with a mischievous grin—broken, ever expanding the genre. Roja Parfums Burlington 1819 is a radiant crowd-pleaser to which only the enemies of joy might object.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Lime, Mandarin, Bitter Orange, Mint
Base Notes: Ginger, Cinnamon, Cumin, Saffron, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Rum, Tobacco, Cedar, Casmir Wood, Benzoin, Vanilla, Labdanum, Ambergris, Musk
Disclosure: Based on a bottle of Burlington 1819 sent from Twisted Lily for the purpose of this review. Opinions are my own
Michael Devine, Senior Contributor
Shop Roja Parfums Burlington 1819 at Twisted Lily here
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