Written by Kristina Kybartaite-Damule

Following the success of Isola Blu, previously known as Oligarch but renamed for very well-understood reasons, Roja recently released a new fragrance within its lineup - Isola Sol. Needless to say, it's a sunny, summery composition, evoking the vibe of a vacation on a tropical beach.

The composition is fruity and floral. It opens with juicy apricot and peach, with a touch of creamy petitgrain, instantly painting a picture of a hot summer afternoon. Coconut, jasmine sambac, and ylang-ylang join the composition, enhancing the exotic mood.

Smelling Isola Sol, I can clearly imagine the sandy beach with palm trees, turquoise blue ocean, and warm sunset. Light summer shirt, flowers in the hair, and a piña colada in hand. And, of course, sun-kissed skin - the sensation I get from the salty notes in the fragrance. It exudes a sensual quality in a way that only Roja Dove can achieve. One can easily discern his distinctive style.

That being said, I must acknowledge that with this release, Roja hasn't reinvented the bicycle. Everything is executed in the familiar manner of tropical fragrances - between the peach, coconut, and ylang-ylang, there are no unexpected, surprising notes. It's a textbook vacation scent, but crafted with high-quality materials and finished masterfully and unmistakably in Roja's style.

Perhaps this is precisely what we needed - a high-quality, luxurious tropical fragrance, refined and not overly sweet. I find it to be a more mature, grown-up interpretation that fits well within the brand's lineup.

[Review based on a sample purchased by myself]