Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile

Iris Nobile is a real mystery, albeit a beautiful one. My love affair with IN started with a sample I ordered - the impression it gave was an an iris on a lovely cloud of full white flowers and a powdery sweet base. I decided to order a bottle last month and it made me even fall harder for this release from Acqua di Parma. Since Fragrantica doesn't have a separate page for the EdT/EdP, I'll list the notes for the latter here (according to the official AdP site): Top: Bergamot, Aniseed, Mandarin Heart: Ylang-Ylang, Iris Base: Vanilla, Patchouli, Oakmoss I was really excited when my bottle finally arrived (I was able to snap it up for a bargain price!). As soon as I sprayed it on it confused me; it didn't smell like my sample. It started out rather airy/ethereal, nothing like my sample. I was afraid my bottle already turned since it smelled so thin. The opening consisted of fresh bergamot/mandarin and a light, silky and powdery iris, slightly spiced with aniseed. To my surprise, the opening lasted rather long: about 30 to 45 minutes. Most of the time top notes don't last that long on my skin, so it was a rather nice suprise. It slowly moves on to the heartnotes: the iris becomes more powdery and it gets a slight leathery/oily feeling. The ylang ylang note is simply heaven - it's sweet and smooth, not too intense. It really lifts up the iris and works great with the top notes. The heart notes also last quite long, about 3 hours before the basenotes start to show up. From this point on I start to recognize it; turned out my sample somehow consisted only of the heart/basenotes. The patchouli gives the fragrance some darkness, the vanilla contributes to the plush, powdery feeling and sweetens things up a bit. I can't really make out the oakmoss to be honest. This fragrance is simply a real delight. I've never had a fume 'evolve' this much on my skin. It starts out light and airy, before transforming in a blooming flower and ending with a sensual whisper. Longevity is great, about 10 to 12 hours. Sillage is really sneaky; I gave it three sprays and at first I barely noticed anything, but when the heart- and basenotes appeared it became rather cloying/overwhelming. Go easy on the trigger with this one. It's versatile enough to be used anytime and anywhere. I would even wear it when going for a night out! It's also perfectly wearable by men - it would make a slightly more floral/fresher version of Dior Homme (without the amber/cacao).

Please bear with me, as I know I've previously reviewed this and noted my heartbreak over its demise, but I just sprayed myself lavishly as my sleep scent. I want to cry, but I'm too angry to do so. Why, Acqua di Parma? WHY????? Iris Nobile is the crown jewel of the Nobile collection, and I have all of them. It's the first and the best in my opinion. I understand that fragrance is a completely subjective experience and that its likability to any individual is based upon many factors, but it's really hard for me to fathom how anyone could find this objectionable. It may not be your cup of tea, but it's just formulated and blended so wonderfully that it at least deserves recognition based upon that alone. It's unique among my collection of various iris fragrances, and I really love how the Mediterranean vibe associated with the brand works here. The iris is sublime - not too powdery, not to rooty or carroty, not to flat and reminiscent of paper, just my perfect style of iris. The fact that the tuberose in no way overpowers the iris and instead just lends some sweetness is amazing to me. I love tuberose and white florals, but would never categorize this as a white floral fragrance. I just don't understand. I suppose it comes down to what sells and what doesn't, but I do consider this to be somewhat of a masterpiece, and you just don't (or shouldn't) stop making a masterpiece based upon profitability alone. I know it's useless to beg them to reconsider, but a woman can wish. I plan on purchasing a backup bottle next month and another the following month. Thanks for hearing me out! I just couldn't let this slip on by without expressing how much it means to me, how much I love it, and how much I will miss it once it's gone.

I have reviewed this fragrance before, but this comes as a new impression after I experienced more of drinking wine and appreciating all the scents around me. Initially this fragrance was cutting sharp in a subdued way to me. Now I realize that even if a own and use EDP I think I am experiencing the original EDT. I sense a yellow lemon at the start, with a type of a sparkling white wine. The wine later looses its sparkle and becomes reminiscent of a freshly opened new cotton cloth, like a fine-machined cotton blouse made in a factory, packaged in a see-through plastic bag and sent to the chain of department stores like KAUFLAND from where I bought a night gown. Then the fragrance continues in the same note without much change, at least to my sensing, which I like. I find no powdery notes, not much iris in its bulb smelling form, but there is a bulb of a flower at the texture of the overall volume. This fragrance relaxes me now, bringing predictability and clean comfort. I had noticed over time that just like with drinking wine, tea, coffee and water, we bring to the original fragrances types of nuances we carry from our experience of life. That is how people who love chocolate, apples or fruits in general, use spices in their food with deliberation and knowledge, sometimes find those loved nuances in the smells of a wine. With fragrances, as synthetic or natural as they might be, I experience a similar appearance of my perception. But this fragrance somehow comes to me as if I experience it from a fixed point of view, without much change, rather a development based on my meditation through life.

The following review is reffering to the E. d. P. Elegant and well balanced a classical luminous fragrance more than an "avant garde" creation. Though iris is the main theme, many other ingredients are involved like Bulgarian rose and jasmine (in the opening) a gentle touch of peach even though not declared in the piramid above, noticeable especially during the dry down while it turns into a lovely powdery fragrance. Personally I prefer even a little more invention - when possible - BUT I see that the especially good ingredients here employed make the charming fragrance that it is and ingredients make always a difference! Good sillage, it reminds me the vintage Paco Rabanne E. de Calandre....but probably mine is just a fade memory. Very good persistence, even better than I thought. Whenever real iris is involved prices are always looking towards the sky... so if you are sure to leave it where it is, at least, think about a gentle introduction because it worth. I cannot suggest when to use it, I've tried it twice during the last three days (february) and I think it could be right for winter, probably also for the middle seasons, but I can't say without "evidences". Very good - in a different but interesting manner - either on a male skin or a female; on me it's perfect (another temptation!) but...every skin speaks a different language. Another way to "do" perfumery. Definitely.

I, just this past weekend, received carded spray samples of BOTH the Iris Nobile EDP and the EDT *bows deeply to ElenaLondon*...and here are the differences (as shown on the cards) between the two: EDT: "An elegant floral fragrance-transparent, fresh and crystalline: IRIS, STAR ANISE, ORANGE BLOSSOM and AMBRETTE CRYSTALS." EDP: "An intense floral fragrance-sensual, sophisticated and long lasting: IRIS/ORRIS, YLANG YLANG, PATCHOULI, VANILLA and OAK MUSK." To me (at "firsniff") the EDP is definitely richer, thicker and more heady, sexy and deep...while the EDT (while remaining a "true" iris scent) is sharper, more "active" or energetic and spicier (after it dries down). I shall review BOTH of these "Ladies" (separately) VERY soon... I do believe that the "for HER" AdP scents are actually more "me" than some of the men's releases are: (Cipresso di Toscano excluded) Iris Nobile EDP and Magnolia Nobile EDP, for example, are both well-constructed clean but complex florals with a touch of mystery and exotic spices, and marvelous dry downs that LAST!! My skin normally DEVOURS flowers like magnolia (or sours them!) but here they are amazing and long lasting (in either concentration)! Kudos to Acqua di Parma! Your perfumes are as wonderful as your Colonias...maybe better! *winks*