Roma Saudade by Kym Tavares: The Fragrance That Feels Like a Memory
Ask ten people what fragrance means to them and you’ll probably get ten different answers.
Some wear fragrance because they want compliments. Some wear it because it makes them feel confident. Others wear it because a particular scent reminds them of someone they loved, a place they’ve been, or a version of themselves they never want to forget.
For Kym Tavares, fragrance has always been personal.
Long before there was a fragrance called Roma Saudade, there was simply a woman who loved scent. Not because it was trendy. Not because it was a business opportunity. She loved fragrance because of the way it could make a moment feel permanent.
A favorite perfume can outlive a photograph.
Years later, you may not remember what someone was wearing or what song was playing in the background, but one familiar scent can bring the entire memory rushing back as if it happened yesterday.
That idea became the foundation for Roma Saudade.
From Collector to Creator
Like many people in the fragrance community, Kym spent years exploring the art of perfumery as a collector, reviewer, and enthusiast. She developed an appreciation for beautiful compositions, learned what resonated with her, and built connections with people who shared the same passion.
But eventually, something changed.
There comes a point for some fragrance lovers when admiration is no longer enough. They don’t just want to experience fragrance. They want to contribute to it.
They want to create something that reflects who they are.
When the opportunity came to develop her own fragrance through the Roma Creator Series, Kym didn’t see it as creating another perfume. She saw it as creating something that carried her story.
A Word That Doesn’t Translate Easily
The name Saudade comes from Kym’s Portuguese heritage.
It’s one of those rare words that doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent.
It’s often described as longing. Nostalgia. Missing someone. Remembering something beautiful.
But it’s more than any one of those things.
Saudade is the feeling of appreciating a memory while simultaneously wishing you could step back into it one more time.
It’s the ache that comes from loving something deeply.
It’s the emotional space between gratitude and longing.
And when Kym thought about what fragrance has always meant to her, no other word felt more fitting.
Because fragrance itself is an act of remembrance.
The Scent
Roma Saudade opens with a brightness that immediately feels inviting.
Bergamot, pear, pink pepper, and cardamom create a sparkling introduction that feels elegant rather than loud. The opening has a softness to it—a warmth that invites people closer rather than demanding attention.
As the fragrance develops, jasmine sambac, orange blossom, saffron, and black tea begin to emerge.
The floral notes bring sophistication. The tea accord creates comfort. The saffron adds a subtle richness that gives the fragrance character and depth.
Then comes the part that lingers.
Creamy Australian sandalwood, smooth vanilla, amberwood, Ambroxan, cedarwood, and cashmere musk settle into the skin and remain there for hours. The result is comforting, refined, and effortlessly wearable.
It’s the kind of scent that people remember without always being able to explain why.
More Than a Perfume
Kym often speaks about confidence, comfort, transformation, and empowerment when describing what she hopes people feel while wearing her fragrances.
Those themes aren’t marketing language.
They’re personal.
Because transformation isn’t always dramatic.
Sometimes it’s simply learning to believe in yourself.
Sometimes it’s finding beauty in who you’ve become.
Sometimes it’s recognizing that the person you were years ago would be proud of the person you are today.
Roma Saudade was built around those quiet moments.
The moments where growth isn’t announced to the world but felt deeply within ourselves.
A Fragrance for People Who Feel Deeply
Not every fragrance needs to be bold.
Not every fragrance needs to dominate a room.
Some fragrances are meant to stay closer to the heart.
Roma Saudade is for people who understand the power of memory. People who find meaning in small moments. People who carry pieces of their past with them while continuing to move forward.
It is elegant without trying too hard.
Comforting without becoming ordinary.
Memorable without ever needing to shout.
Most importantly, it reminds us of something many of us forget:
The most meaningful things in life are often the things we cannot hold onto forever.
But every once in a while, a fragrance comes along that lets us revisit them.
Even if only for a moment.