Roses on Ice by Kilian

Roses on Ice is one of the releases from The Liquors collection by Kilian. I have been excited to try out all of these since discovering the gem that is Angels’ Share. But, this is the one that I was least intrigued by as it seemed like a rather simple gin based aroma. Is it actually? Is Roses on Ice actually a sleeper pick? Does it have good performance? Is this one worth a try?

What does Roses on Ice Smell Like?

Notes include: juniper, cucumber, lime, rose, musk, sandalwood

My Full Review

Here’s how Kilian describes it: Anyone for notes of gin, distilled with rose and cucumber? The perfume Roses on Ice opens with the aquatic freshness of cucumber and the aromatic uplift of juniper berries, creating an icy sensation, rounded in an accord with voluptuous Rose Centifolia.

Roses on Ice kicks off with a semi-aquatic profile of crisp cucumber and a bright lime note. It is indeed quite a cold feeling, juicy, with a spicy finish thanks to that cucumber. It is a heavy weighting to that note early on, so be prepared.

Beyond that, juniper and rose start to come up from the heart early on, and will only grow in strength as we move forward. Very much a gin-like aroma with tonic carbonation, super boozy in its presentation.

After some time, the cucumber note will fade. Juniper and rose take the top, with a growing strength of sandalwood and a general muskiness.

Roses on Ice isn’t all that complex. In the end, I get a generally chilled scent with a heavier weighting towards the juniper, musk, and the lingering rose. It really is exactly how it is described by Kilian. So, if you can imagine that impression in your mind, you have a close idea of what this perfume is all about. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is lighter to moderate. That’s a good thing in this case, as I really wouldn’t want a heavy gin based scent. Well, maybe 212 VIP, but that has a whole lot else going on with it. 

With Roses on Ice, you’ll be able to notice it from 4-6 feet away, at its short-lived peak. From there, it will sit approximately 3 feet from the wearer. Not terrible and pretty standard issue for many perfumes.

Longevity is surprisingly good with up to 8 hours, on my skin. It isn’t a powerhouse, but I was impressed that it stuck around that long. I wasn’t expecting a lighter wear like this to pull it off, but it does keep itself going.

Seasonally, I’d go with wearing this in the warmer weather of spring and summer. The chilled quality isn’t all that amazing in the cold. More of a casual daytime wear than anything. Not super versatile, as it does have that booziness.

I’d say it is for sure unisex. It doesn’t really lean one way or the other. Anyone can be fine wearing this. They may not enjoy it, but anyone can wear it. 

Overall Impressions of Roses on Ice

Overall, do I like this Kilian fragrance? Not particularly. It’s the worst of the Liquors collection that the brand has come out with thus far. It’s not completely terrible, but I don’t find it to be really appealing, especially at this price point. 

I get the gin as inspiration, though, it isn’t a favorite of mine and it’s pretty heavy on the cucumber note…that’s better in smaller doses. 

Roses on Ice isn’t going to be a mass appealing fragrance, very much niche, and something that’s going to be for your own personal enjoyment. So, really it will have a small subsection of fans, and a large quantity who either hate it or are indifferent. I lean toward the latter camp.

Unless you really really love a rosy gin and cucumber aroma, I’d probably skip this one. It’s Kilian prices, but not really worth that for most people. If you happen to find yourself intrigued, I’d definitely get a sample first to see how it works with your chemistry.

Performance, is pretty solid. Which, at least it isn’t a total ripoff, but one that most of us can do without. 

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.