Oligarch

Oligarch, inspired by Roja Parfums Oligarch Pour Homme (2016)

Oligarch begins with a burst of citrus, cut with lavender and the dry, savoury edge of thyme. It soon turns fruitier and rounder, as apple and blackcurrant arrive with a little coconut, followed by orange blossom, jasmine and champaca for a floral middle. Underneath runs a long chypre base, meaning a structure built on oakmoss and patchouli, here threaded with maté, cut grass, pink pepper and a faint aniseed note. Vanilla, tonka, amber and leather cushion the very end.

About the original

Roja Dove created Oligarch Pour Homme for Roja Parfums, which announced it for September 2016 as part of its Russian Collection, sold as an Eau de Parfum. The old Oligarch page on Roja's site now opens Isola Blu (Parfum, 2023), whose official note list matches Oligarch's word for word, and a US retailer describes Isola Blu as formerly known as Oligarch. Some wearers believe the formula was adjusted slightly in the change.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Roja Parfums stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Men who already wear Terre d'Hermès and want more layers are a natural audience, since the two are often compared and Oligarch is usually judged the richer of them. Coconut and vanilla make it sweeter than most citrus chypres, and the leathery, mossy base will disappoint someone after clean, simple freshness.

Related scents

• Roja Parfums Isola Blu
• Hermes Terre d'Hermes

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Lime, Lavender, Thyme

Heart notes: Orange Blossom, Grasse Jasmine, Lily, Champaca, Apple, Blackcurrant, Coconut

Base notes: Cut Grass, Maté, Galbanum, Pink Pepper, Aniseed, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Cedarwood, Juniper Berry, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber, Orris, Birch, Leather, Ambergris, Musk

Lemon, lime and bergamot open it, sharpened by lavender and thyme so the citrus reads aromatic rather than sugary.

The heart is fruitier and more floral: apple, blackcurrant and a thread of coconut sit with orange blossom, Grasse jasmine, lily and champaca, a yellow flower with a heady, apricot-like scent.

Its base is the busiest part. Maté, cut grass and galbanum keep a green tone, pink pepper and aniseed add spice, and oakmoss, patchouli, cedarwood and birch give a dry frame before vanilla, tonka, amber, ambergris, leather and musk settle it.

Is Roja Oligarch the same as Isola Blu?

Roja has made no official statement, but the old Oligarch page now opens Isola Blu and both carry the same official note list. We also make a version inspired by Isola Blu.

Which Oligarch is this based on?

Oligarch Pour Homme in Eau de Parfum concentration, from 2016. Isola Blu, its successor under a new name, is a Parfum.

How does it compare with Terre d'Hermès?

The two are often mentioned together. Oligarch adds coconut, fruit and white flowers to its citrus and woods, so it comes across as sweeter and more complex.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Roja Parfums and Oligarch are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Roja Parfums in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.