Roja has hit 2026 running, already launching their first and second fragrances of the year, with the first being the much-anticipated Isola Snow. The Isola fragrance line is a collection of scents designed to whisk you away to exotic lands; I really enjoyed Isola Verde especially, which was released last year. However, Roja has moved from tropical, summery scents, onto an aroma made just for cold weather. Isola Snow promises to transport you to an alpine wonderland. Think pure white snow, crisp mountain air, and luxury winter retreat nestled amongst glacial peaks…
‘From the comfort of a private plane, a remote island rises from the icy waters of the horizon. A breath-taking vista of glistening snow-cloaked mountains comes into view. Nestled in the mountainside, ISOLA SNOW welcomes you to a plush winter retreat. A reset for the senses, feel the boost of the crisp air out on the slopes, or luxuriate in hot springs and sumptuous spa treatments. Not a care in the world to be had, here on ISOLA SNOW, time is the only thing that melts away.’ – Roja.
The Scent:
The idea of a snowflake accord really appeals to me, but does this scent really smell like a snowflake? Let’s find out!
Opening with notes of bergamot, hedione, snowflake accord and peppermint, Isola Snow feels super airy, light, fresh, clean and watery on first spray. I’m struggling to pick out the notes initially, I will say it isn’t bergamot forward, and there is a mild floral undertone. After about 5 minutes, I really start to notice the hedione with a touch of peppermint coming through. So far, my initial impression is this is a scent that feels very ‘white’, completely see-through even, transparent, light as air, and just very intriguing.
In the heart of the fragrance, you’ll find notes of pear, lily of the valley, rose and hivernal. The heart still feels light and airy, the hivernal giving an aldehylic feeling, adding to the clean freshness of the scent. The rose is noticeably there too but quite subdued, as is the pear. I mostly notice the lily of the valley now giving a delicate floral touch, lifting the fragrance in the heart. There is also a noticeable pine element coming through, resulting in an outdoorsy, ‘crisp air’ effect, that still feels incredibly luxurious.
After a while, I start to pick up on an intense muskiness pulling forward. The base includes quite a few notes: cardamom, rhubarb, cypress, orris, rosewood, cashmeran, amber xtrem, sandalwood, ambroxan and musk – and you would think with this number of notes that the base could be quite rich, and though the scent does become more intense as time goes on, it doesn’t feel heavy at all. The dry down feels distinctly musky, still airy and now more substantial than earlier. Musk is the main player here, but there’s also a lovely smooth woodiness in the base, as well as a delicate, floral touch still coming through, this really is a wonderful scent!
Overall, this is a fragrance that feels airy and cool, but still has a welcome, inviting feeling. Isola Snow is light as air, delicate and ethereal. It really is a fantastic interpretation of snowflakes!
Fragrance Notes:
Top Notes: Bergamot, Hedione, Snowflake Accord, Peppermint
Heart Notes: Pear, Lily of the Valley, Rose, Hivernal
Base Notes: Cardamom, Rhubarb, Cypress, Orris, Rosewood, Cashmeran, Amber Xtrem, Sandalwood, Ambroxan, Musk
‘I began by creating a Snowflake Accord, inspired by icy minerals and dry aromatic woods. This custom accord evokes a radiant, crystalline, snowy landscape. To heighten the freshness, I introduced a trio of Rhubarb, Bergamot, and Peppermint to evoke exhilarating crisp mountain air, with a prominent note of Cypress which gives the impression of evergreen trees covered in snow.’ – Antoine Cotton.
Read More: Fragrance Reviews.
Performance & Wearability:
At first I would have said Isola Snow was quite a delicate scent with light projection and longevity. However, the longer you wear this fragrance, the more substantial it becomes. It’s really quite interesting how its potency increases over time. I would say Isola Snow projected for around 4 hours or so, and lasted a surprisingly long time, all day and all evening, and I could still clearly smell it the next day too.
Conclusion:
Isola Snow is a fragrance created to capture the scent of fallen snow, but did it succeed? I would say yes, it really has. This is such a curious and intriguing fragrance, I don’t think I’ve smelled anything even slightly similar to it.
Isola Snow is crystal clear, transparent, a delicate snowflake falling from the sky on a winter’s morning, and I love how it changes over time. Isola Snow is airy, light and ethereal. The aroma is intimate and serene yet feels denser and musky as times goes on. It also manages to feel luxurious and elegant, in a way that you would imagine wealth whispers rather than shouts. This is a fantastic addition to the Isola collection – have you tried Isola Snow yet? Let us know!
