Ice

This smells like a guy who uses adidas showergel but then sprays Creed Millesime Imperial with a poorly performed dust cloud perfume application technique. Only a rich guy would probably do that.

I got this juice because it was cheap and I had a voucher that I had to cache on that day. The store didn't have a tester so it was a blind buy for $12. I normally enjoy the fragrances from Van Gils so I took a chance. Well, it doesn't smell bad but it is very weak and close to the skin. The longevity is bad and that makes it overpriced, even if I got it cheap. When I first tested it, I thought that it was pretty close to VG Frosted. So I tried Ice and Frosted side by side and there is a difference. VG Ice is a bit darker and with a hint of patchouli while Frosted is fresher with citrus. When I write this, VG Ice is almost gone while Frosted is still there. I can't understand why VG release a fragrance like Ice that smells close to another of their products and a is sooo weak. It is really disappointing. I can't really understand why VG put this on the market.

Van Gils ICE. You'll find no ice here. As an 80's child I feel at home with ICE, but is it an accurate reminiscence? No. There's nothing strong or strictly 80's about it fragrancewise. What I do get is a faded memory produced with synthetics resembling the real thing, like a memory that is not a recollection of the real thing but rather distorted. Obviously we don't get actual ocean beach for there are no rotting algae on this beach, nor sealife cadavers or gull shit. Just an image of a past utopia that never was. I would have called it "Sea Breeze from a Distant Past" and made it sickeninlgy expensive and niche just to make a buck, maybe even two. I'll wear it for myself. With trips down the memory lane does it really matter if one gets compliments, complaints or absolutely nothing at all? Should go for any fragrance though.

I get beach grass as a main note, sea water and mint for an icy, salty touch. It does conjure a feeling of a breeze flowing thru tall grass by the beach. Paid only 9€ at a tax free for 100ml of this, it is very refreshing and it could had been a truly amazing aromatic office safe daily driver if it lasted more than half an hour on skin or clothes. Quite similar to PR XS but fresher and shorter lived.

Packaging and bottle look almost the same as the van Gils V. The bottle is a bit darker grey.... This is kind of minty, not floral as the VGV. It is not bad, smells masculine as most of van Gils creations. Not that strong as the original! But I like the VGV better....