Irisss

You can barely catch a glimpse of her through the imposing cedar trees that cast long shadows over the forest. If you look closely, you'll see her silver hair, like smoke undulating in the breeze, then her thin silhouette, like witch of the forest. She is on her kneels, picking iris flower. She keeps the bouquet in her arms, and her movements became frantic as the bouquet is taking shape. Among clods of soil, there can be seen the roots of the iris flowers, but just for a second, than she buries them quickly with her small hands, as she looks back over her shoulder looking worried. The movement makes her hair flow like a river over the petals. I look at her. She is unbelievably beautiful and she impregnates even the air around with her tenderness. She rose up. The bouquet's weight draws ghostly shapes on her dress. She starts to run but suddently she looked back and I saw her lips move rhythmically. Irisss, Irisss ... she whispers and loses her trace in the majestic forest.

[1150] Irisss is my first Xerjoff scent, a sample of which I bought as it has often been recommended as one of the best iris scents. Iris is my favourite note of all, and I am on a quest to smell as many iris-dominant scents as I can. Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist is the gold standard as far as I'm concerned - a top-notch multifaceted iris - steely, rooty, powdery and shimmering. I've since tried a few other irises, mostly pretty decent, but Irisss is easily the best I've smelled since ISM. Irisss is also a cold, vegetal iris, but is more floral than ISM. However, it is very expensive. Apparently, Irisss is made with natural ingredients only, which explains the price. Orris is one of the most expensive materials in perfumery, and sadly, it means that there is no affordable iris anywhere near this quality (or that of ISM) that I can spray with abandon. However, given just how good this is, I'm tempted to buy a bottle.

I've grown irises for decades, several different kinds, and every rhizome I've rubbed through my fingers, every blossom into which I've shoved my nose has a distinctive smell, but that smell transferred—or translated—into perfumery always seems to me to be some kind of super amplified version of iris—technicolor, otherworldly, a dream of iris, ranging from earthy and floral to carroty and cold creamy. But I don't remember one this opulent and oriental. It's for sure heavy on iris, but also on funereal amounts of carnation and rose, with additional notes of incense and waxed wood floors, reminding me in some ways of Bond No. 9's Chinatown. Ultimately, this is an iris that arches its eyebrows and plants its flag firmly on the hill of not just lush but lux. As for the price, I'm reminded of my mother's warning: buy expensive, you'll only cry once.

Opens up with a hint of carrot seeds, then it starts to get powdery. It reminded me of Prada Infusion d'Iris(original version), but smoother and less cedar. It warms up later and is sweeter with the vanilla-benzoin notes. The violet-iris notes are powdery, only a hint of lipstick, like Odin New York 04 Petrana. Mainly how Petrana would smell, if Petrana's start wasn't harsh and sharp. I did smell a little of Annick Goutal Heure Exquise in this, but not so much. The drydown is so BEAUTIFUL. I was worried it would get into Hermessence Iris Ukiyoe territory because it smells like a watery Cashmere Bouquet(the soap) to me. The floral notes in IRISSS were actually quiet, which I didn't mind. The lasting power with this is excellent and I tried the EdP version. Truly a fragrance for iris lovers.

Oh man this is nice. I get a lot of carroty iris. I do think its a little too nice for me. Like this is for a classy lady. She is super classy in really nice jeans, silk blouse, pumps, and a Hermes handbag. For me I get a lot of carnation in the opening but that disappears. Then its carroty iris with that vetiver and benzoin and musk. I think the incense helps the carrot like sometimes its carroty but others its more incensey benzoin. I would say 30+ and perfect for anytime. More of a spring/fall scent and Ibitira more of a summer iris. I personally like this over Ibitira because of the carrot, but I think if you arent into that carroty vibe then try Ibitiria.