Isola Blu

Oligarch

Roja Parfums 2022 Parfum

Some fragrances transport me to a place.

Isola Blu transports me to a state of mind.

Every time I wear it, I picture myself on the deck of a luxury yacht, surrounded by the sea with nowhere to be except the present moment. Very few fragrances create such a vivid image in my mind.

The composition feels effortlessly luxurious. Fresh citrus, green notes, blackcurrant, champaca flower and a subtle touch of coconut come together in a way that feels refined rather than tropical, elegant rather than loud.

To me, this is a fragrance made primarily for spring and summer. It has an uplifting freshness while maintaining the unmistakable sophistication that I expect from Roja.

Performance is another pleasant surprise. While the projection is often a matter of debate, the fragrance remains on my skin for many hours, allowing me to enjoy it long after the initial freshness has settled.

The presentation deserves recognition as well. From the bottle to the fragrance itself, everything reflects the level of luxury that Roja is known for.

As many enthusiasts know, Isola Blu is the modern evolution of Oligarch Eau de Parfum, carrying forward the same elegant spirit in a new chapter.

For me, it’s absolutely worth its price.

How can you call something luxury overpriced? It means you are not interested in the product.

Roja as we know is a high brand, like any other luxury brand, so the word overpriced makes no sense.

The big problem with reviews is not being focused in the context of a product.

Finally I can say that as an owner of hundreds of perfumes, from the most indie to the most luxury, this is an exceptional work, perfectly balanced (not like those horrible clones) by a nose who has worked a lifetime for quality and to achieve almost perfection in his works.

Simple does not mean banal or overpriced, on the contrary, well-made simplicity is the most difficult thing to do, but objectively, all Roja works can boast of their ethereal beauty

Ps.

this doesn't even remotely resemble Hermes (respect the work) but not in 1000 years

It's official. I'm a bonafide member of the "I hate the 'aqua/marine' designation that's associated with a generic 'blue' accord in men's perfumes" club. It's a MARKETING PLOY! Literally a scheme cooked up by corporate advertising suits in NYC after running focus groups on a bunch of impressionable dullards. And judging by the reviews here on Parfumo, fragrance enthusiasts appear to be no less resilient to being afflicted by this virulent PSYOP. After all, young men are eager and willing to open their wallets for the "upscale" experience of wearing a brand like Roja!

NO, this fragrance does NOT remind you of relaxing and sipping cocktails on a boat in the Mediterranean. That is a false association that was seeded in your brain, and subsequently watered, fed, and mimetically nurtured in your subconscious through your overindulgence in online perfume media run by shysters. Do you know what being on a boat in Italy actually smells like? Brackish salt brine, iodine-heavy kelp, crustaceans + mollusks, a hint of olive trees, a whiff of herbal aperitif from the Campari you spilled on your shirt earlier that day, and a vaguely fecal/humanoid-musk note that varies in intensity depending upon how near you are to a major urban area. This doesn't smell like that. At all.

Is Isola Blu a mass-appealing, citrus-forward, 'blue' scent? Absolutely. If that's what you're into, fantastic -- go forth and wear young man! But don't pretend that this somehow "captures the essence of an aquatic lifestyle" (*I just experienced pure physical revolt and cringe by typing that*). But remember, the market for synthetic 'blue' fragrances is completely saturated, and there are perhaps hundreds of options available to you as a consumer. If you feel inclined to drop $500 MSRP for 50mL of Isola Blu, more power to you, but you could also just get the sufficiently similar Blue Talisman by Ex Nihilo at half the price. Meanwhile, if you want something that's been thoughtfully composed, is uniquely refreshing, and does a fine job of capturing the aroma of coastal myrtle trees and salty, kelp-laden bodies of water -- go try Acqua di Sale by Profumum Roma and thank me later.

Oligarch is a fragrance for a true oligarch, who spends summer vacations on his yacht in the most enchanting locations overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Fresh, citrusy, crisp and aromatic.
As in all Roja creations, it is difficult to separate the various notes that compose them, but I can say that juniper, citrus and pink pepper are well perceived.
The woody structure holds all the volatile components very well, providing truly remarkable longevity for the type of fragrance.
Despite not being a lover of the genre, I must say that I like it very much: it is fresh, clean, but at the same time has depth.

14 Swarovski cap, engravings and gold plate.

PPS: Oligarch was discontinued due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and was put back on the market under the name of "Isola Blu"... But the original it's only one.

I read the reviews both good and bad. I tend to trust reviewers who are fans of this dna that's similar to TDH edt. The opening I can understand the negative mosquito repellant statement. I can see that, but I look past it and really appreciate the note structure and development of this fragrance. It's more than just a simple fragrance statement. It's what alot of positive reviewers say that "It smells luxurious." It does and smells blended to perfection. The vanilla and coconut notes really round it out nice! It's just a tiny sweet around the edges. Also i dont see vetiver in the note breakdown, but there has to be vetiver in the fragrance somewhere. I smell a high quality vetiver in this in my opinion. My third fragrance from the house of Roja. Roja fragrances are of high quality on both the fragrance ingredients and bottle presentation. This is just off my first spray on my hand and it's a happy yes for me!