Fire & Ice by Revlon (1994)

by: Dr. Marlen Elliott Harrison

This is another in a series of bargain fragrance reviews, scents that may be found online or at discount stores for US $25 or less. Leave a comment below for your chance to receive a sample, shipped anywhere in the world, free!

Summary: One of Revlon’s biggest hits of the 90s, Fire & Ice still finds a lot of love these days for its floral-oriental bouquet that wears like an orange-gourmand incense.

Perfumer: Givaudan

Try this if you like: Orange Blossom fragrances; creamy, ambery vanillas; tangerines; sweet white florals; osmanthus flower; cinnamon; cherries.

Pros & Cons: Though the bottle may not look like much, what’s inside is actually quite surprising. I can actually pick out many of the notes listed in the pyramid and on more than one wearing found myself wondering what smelled so good, only to realize it was Fire & Ice. Like many Revlon fragrances, Fire & Ice has great longevity and despite the affordable price tag, it could easily pass as a modern, designer fragrance. Reviews are all over the place on this one with some folks complaining about poor longevity and sillage (I think that the scent is so strong it might have prompted anosmia) and others finding it persistent and almost cloying.

Notes: “Living Osmanthus, Orange Blossom, Davana, Tangerine, Living Yellow Sunset Orchid, Living Magnolia, Tuberose, Narcissus, Musk, Spices, Exotic Woods, Amber, Vanilla”— Revlon.com.au

Reminds me of: The ambery, vanilla tones of Victoria’s Secret Amber Romance; the candied sweetness of Coty Ici; the creamsicle vibe of La Perla Eclix; and speaking of creamsicle, every time I burn a stick of Gonesh Creamsicle incense I think of Fire & Ice.

Designer’s Description: “Fire & Ice™ for Women was launched in 1995 and is a seductive combination of fruity accords and spicy notes, this sheer oriental will tantalize the senses. For the woman who plays with fire and skates on thin ice. Fire & Ice, is a provocative fragrance that’s both sensual and passionate, yet cool and mysterious.” Revlon.co.za

Number of times tested: Five times over the last two months.

Number of sprays applied for this review: One single spray to the back of my hand from a 50 ml bottle I purchased online (ca. 2015).

Fragrance strength: Cologne

Development: (Linear / Average / Complex): Although rather linear, I do find that I can pick out many of the notes and that the fragrance indeed offers facets of white flowers such as magnolia, orange blossom, champaca, lily and ylang. And though cinnamon is not a listed note, there is something akin to “Red Hots” candy weaving in and out. Like many folks, I also detect a fruity, cherry note which I suspect might be the sweetness of the orange blossom!

Longevity: (Short / Average / Long-lasting) Surprisingly good for a cologne even with just one spritz; lasted about 10+ hours and was still on my hand the next morning about 18 hrs later.

Sillage: (A Little / Average / A Lot) I think this one persists and is easily perceivable by others; Fire & Ice has gotten noticed both times I wore it in public.

Note about the packaging: Fire & Ice is currently presented in a clear, frosted glass bottle with transparent cap that looks like a candle flame, and housed in a paper box with red and orange print also representing a flame.

Where can I buy it? A 30 ml cologne spray is as low as $10 USD on online auction and discount sites.

The Bottom Line: One of my favorite bargain finds, Revlon’s Fire & Ice is a yummy gourmand that represented an affordable version of the 90s gourmand trend—think Boucheron, Casmir, Angel, and Gaultier all rolled into one. And I can’t quite put my finger on it, but when sniffing Fire & Ice again for the first time I immediately recognized it as a Revlon scent that recalled a bit of Ciara and a bit ofCharlie Gold (review on that one forthcoming). Perhaps it was the sweet base notes?

Now, about the mixed reports on longevity: The first time I tried Fire & Ice, I found it weak and too quick to disappear. However, on second wearing, I found it surprisingly present and long lasting. What gives? Judging from the reviews, I’m not alone in this experience. In fact, the one spray for this review lingered over two days! Why didn’t I perceive it the first time? Could there be something in the composition that promotes the nose to stop smelling due to its strength?

I’d like to take a moment to point out the list of notes from the Australian website. I love the word “Living” before each flower’s name and can only assume that Revlon/Givaudan wants us to think of fresh, living flowers (as opposed to dead ones?). Perhaps they were using headspace technology to capture the essence of a living blossom in nature? I know this isn’t exactly what one thinks of while at Wal-Mart or Carrefour sniffing Revlon fragrances, but …. And here’s a great blog entry all about headspace technology, “Curious about…Headspace Technology.” I love the writer’s discussion about naturals and synthetics and the misconception that one is inherently better than the other.

So Fire & Ice lives up to its name in its ability to be cool and fresh with citrus and florals while warm and rich with gourmand and spice notes. The quality surpasses the affordable price tag and might just be your next great find! And hey, don’t let the “for women” fool you, gentlemen, there are far more sweet and flowery offerings from the men’s counters today.