Isola Snow

I sampled Roja Parfums Isola Snow over the Christmas period, which felt like appropriate timing for a fragrance built around the idea of high-altitude winter. My first impression left me intrigued but uncertain. The opening was striking — undeniably cold, undeniably different — yet I found myself needing time to decide whether I actually liked it.

The snow accord that Roja has developed for this fragrance is the standout element. It dominates the opening with something mineralic and sharp, evoking the first breath of air stepping off a cable car at altitude. Bergamot provides citrus brightness without warmth, while peppermint delivers an almost medicinal coolness. I noticed a slightly synthetic quality in how these elements combine — not unpleasant, but present. What some reviewers describe as "bleach-like" I experienced more as a sharpness that sits just on the edge of natural.

The heart softens things somewhat. Lily of the valley emerges alongside pear, creating a transparent floral quality that never dominates. Rose appears briefly before receding. However, what interested me most was how the cold sensation persists through the development. Where many winter fragrances eventually warm into cosy amber-vanilla territory, Isola Snow maintains its crystalline character.

On my skin, the performance was moderate rather than exceptional. I got perhaps four to six hours before it faded to a skin scent, with projection staying fairly close after the first hour or two. The base…