KILIAN PARIS Vodka on the Rocks Eau de Parfum

The hate this fragrance gets is very unwarranted. It's just people jumping on the bandwagon for no real reason. With that being said this is a great fragrance that smells exactly the way Kilian represents it. Cold, boozy and fresh. Doesn't smell like Percival or Fierce, but it is in the same family. GREAT stuff.

It is the best smelling in the genre. Fierce is more immature and synthetic (still great obviously), Mont blanc legend is closer but waxy and has a problem with the notes meshing and going flat or bland (like crushing a fragrance by smearing it in, also both have a unpleasant musk in the dry down etc…. Percival is almost there.. but like most marley frags, the notes feel confused and not so compatible. VOTR has none of those problems as the notes pop out individually throughout the wear and is higher quality with additional noticeable notes that are superior than the others hints niche but not daring so it is still easily pleasing. Longevity is better than the others (has a tendency to disappear to your own nose most likely from sniffing and possibly iso e super or ambroxan but then again i can smell it after a shower) I also found this to be better in cooler weather like someone else had mentioned.. although its characterized to best suit warmer weather .. I found this to be true with many fragrances.. like issey myake which is entirely better in the cold winter or snowing.. same with burberry touch etc.

My everyday cologne. Beautiful, masculine, sophisticated, and complimented daily. Complete strangers stop me and ask what I am wearing. Cardamom and coriander grace the top notes, but the aldehyde gives a subtle twist of citrus. Contrary to what others have said, this scent does NOT smell like "an alcoholic" or "booze," and one can only assume that the power of persuasion (in the name of the fragrance) has caused this misunderstanding.

The lily of the valley, rhubarb, and rose are probably some of my favorite notes, but they never act independent of the base. Ambroxan and oakmoss tie everything together beautifully and help to create one of the best olfactory experiences I have ever smelled. When I say this is complemented every single day, that is not an understatement. Although I always appreciate compliments, I wear this scent because it truly is remarkable. It manages to evoke subtle masculinity while defying the heavy spice that seems to permeate the genre.

This scent is perfect for every day wear, which is why it is my signature scent. Suitable for all occasions, all seasons, and all times of day. Safe enough for the workplace, but bold enough to get noticed by everyone.

My only qualm is longevity, but that holds true for many of the products made by the House of Kilian. If an intense version were to come out, I would purchase it in a heartbeat. However, it is nice that they sell refills for a discounted price, as the entire line is built around reusing the original bottles and cases they come in. Refills, though, still run about $195 - so longevity could certainly be improved upon at that price range.

I can't believe I'm saying this. But the aldehydes are superstars in this.
Yes this smells very close to many other designer fragrances. It's fresh, clean, and citrusy. But what really ups the level of this compared to the others is a wonderfully executed aldehyde note. It creates a sparkling feeling to the fragrance that feels like little bubbles of fragrance popping on your skin when you smell it. Like a perfume caviar.
This and Amouage Reflection will be my go to perfumes for when I want to smell clean. Reflection is perfect with a bright suit and Vodka on the rocks for more casual settings.

Yes, it smells somewhat generic (in a good way), but I think that's necessary in a collection--although this one could certainly stand on its own if you're looking for an "one and done" fragrance. Great for a date, a business meeting, the office, or trip to the mall. Year-round, too.

A lot of fragrance fanatics get caught up in their "niche nose," and they ultimately begin to like scents that the general public find displeasing. In this, they start downplaying a lot of crowdpleasers. I'd like to think that I'm in between the crowdpleaser and the hipster.

As that type of consumer, Vodka on the Rocks suits both personality types perfectly for me. It's got that kinda niche edge and quality to it--complexity as it dries down and has a slight evolvement where the woodiness becomes more present. However, it's still plain and fresh enough that you don't have to ever worry about someone saying you stink. That's perfect to me.

A "dealer" quit stocking the refills of this and marked them half off, so I bought two 50 mL refills. Started with one, liked it so much that I bought a second while it had a good price. Yes, you can buy the refills to fill generic atomizers. It's cheaper than buying the fancy bottle--although I will say that I also own the "real" bottles of By Kilian Intoxicated and Gold Knight. This one, however, is my favorite overall; the other two are definitely more "niche."

Does it smell like its competitors? I own Mont Blanc Legend. This is like massively upgraded version of it. Where MB Legend smells synthetic or harsh, this smells naturally smoother and so much deeper; the wood notes are more present, and the performance is better. However, MB Legend is a fraction of the cost, so if it's way out of your budget, then that's a great way to access this sort of scent for cheap. VTR has that extra "oomph" that's the next level of luxury. They're almost a little redundant, but the Kilian is far superior, especially noticeable when worn side-by-side.

If I ever run out, I may be willing to buy at full price, currently $295 bottle/$195 refill, both 50 mL. Notwithstanding, that's close to Creed Aventus pricing. In my opinion, that's the closest competitor for this type of scent at this price point known by me. If a lot men in your circle wear Aventus, get this and stand out and still smell great.