Black Iris

Black Iris is really, really nice. It is extremely elegant and surprisingly light-weight, airy, powdery and bright. Therefore even though it is an Iris centric fragrance, it is wearable in any season and at any time of day. It would even make a great work/office fragrance or signature scent. As Scent Land stated, I think it is the carrot seed that makes this fragrance so unique and easy to wear. It is blended so well, so well that the iris does not stick out as iris tends to do. I am so pleasantly surprised by this fragrance. I think it is blind buy safe, not only if you like iris, but just in general. The only issue I can see people having with it is if you go into this thinking it is going to be a rich, thick masculine winter iris replacement for the reformulated Dior Homme Parfum. It is not that at all. Black Iris is aromatic, airy, powdery and slightly spicy. It is completely its own unique thing, and it is extremely pleasant. Although they share very few notes/accords, the only fragrance that I can think of that Black Iris even remotely resembles is Kiton Red. I don't think the name "Black Iris" was a good choice. It is not dark, deep, thick, rich, aggressive, complex, moody, smoky, musky, ambery, oudy, balsamic or resinous. It would be better described as "Iris Blanc" or "L'Iris Nuage". this fragrance is more white than black. The opening and mid are great. The dry down gets a little sour and musty, so overall I give Black Iris a 7.5/10 and a Fragrantica score of 4.10

This iris fragrance is a true standout. From the very first spritz, it dazzles with bright, effervescent citrus notes, creating a vibrant and uplifting opening. While it certainly has a masculine leaning, its sophisticated and airy quality makes it easily unisex. The name "Black Iris" might lead you to expect something entirely different—perhaps a heavy, dark, or brooding scent, especially considering other powerful fragrances with similar names in the niche world. However, this fragrance defies those expectations. It's light and airy, yet it maintains a remarkably unique presence due to innovative notes like the carrot seed which is often used in perfumery to amp up the iris note. While I wouldn't classify it as "beast mode," it delivers solid longevity and projection. In my opinion, "Iris Star" or "Divine Iris" would be more fitting names, perfectly capturing its sparkling and ethereal character. This is absolutely a keeper for my collection, versatile enough for formal events or everyday office wear.

10/10, fantastic execution!! — I came across this fragrance by accident in an airport duty-free, and as someone familiar with Borsalino’s legacy, I was intrigued. From the first spray, it’s woody and deeply warm, with a refined elegance. The iris and amberwood add a smooth richness, making it surprisingly versatile—even a woman could wear it, despite clearly being more geared towards a man’s perfume. The powdery vanilla and carrot seed bring a subtle sweetness, while the cedarwood grounds it with a polished, classic edge. A sophisticated, well-balanced scent that blends warm spice and woods into a wearable yet distinctive statement. Didn’t expect to like it so much, but I’ll definitely be wearing it a lot this year—and certainly buying a couple more to give as gifts.

My father wore it first, and he kept getting compliments non-stop. I had to try it myself, and wow—it’s just as stunning on me! It’s perfectly unisex, effortlessly bold yet extremely elegant and refined, and it always gets noticed. The way it evolves on the skin is incredible. If you want a scent that make you unique and elegant, I think this is the one!

Such a great perfume. I put it in the morning and my neck still smells by the time I go to bed. I believe they just launched this scent and so it's not yet very known, but I always get compliments on it. A hidden gem.

Perfection! Brilliantly blended notes with iris, cardamom and most above all the carrot seeds being the stars of this composition. Elegant, mysterious and smoooooothhhhhh. Extremely nice release, bravo Borsalino!

I received it and used it yesterday. I love it♥️ Has great longevity and sillage, I should say is more masculine than even unisex.

@Eastport: it is an EDP. My review link hereby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY_McRNoC-E

Anyone know whether this is officially an EDC, EDT or an EDP?

fresh, powerful, long lasting! This just became my go to!

@garethspencer09 did you really feel the need to write "most likely residing in some ghastly council house in Croydon, Lewisham, or, God forbid, Brixton" ? This site is to review fragrance, not insult groups of people! Stick to Judging perfume, not people eh!

Definitely get the bergamot, carrot seeds, and cardamom on my skin. It's almost gourmand. Bread-like. Warm and cozy. Soft wood and florals in the background. I also get some powderiness from the iris. Eventually it becomes predominantly vanilla woods. The image that initially popped into my head was like a carrot spice loaf for the fall or winter holiday. Don't understand the name choice as there is nothing black (dark) or iris about it. More like autumn kitchen baking without the sugar. No one else seems to get this though, so I am going to chalk it up to skin chemistry differences. I don't have tiktok so not up to date on the hype. Try before you buy.

Whilst the brand carries a heavy legacy in Italian luxury, the fragrance itself feels like a misstep. I really wanted to like this one, especially given Borsalino’s heritage, but Black Iris is a massive letdown. For a fragrance marketed as an Eau de Parfum, the performance is abysmal. I’m not exaggerating when I say the scent didn’t even last for 30 minutes on my skin before becoming a faint, barely-there skin scent. If you’re looking for something with even moderate longevity, this isn't it. The scent profile is incredibly generic. It feels like a safe, "boardroom-approved" iris that lacks any soul or character. It clearly tries to mimic the DNA of much better fragrances—specifically the powdery elegance of Dior Homme Intense or the clean, soapy vibe of Prada L’Homme—but it falls embarrassingly short. Where those fragrances feel intentional and sophisticated, Black Iris feels like a low-budget dupe that lost its way during the blending process. There is absolutely nothing groundbreaking here; it’s uninspiring and honestly feels like a "filler" fragrance in a crowded market. The smell itself is... okay. It’s not offensive, but it certainly isn't a masterpiece. Despite being marketed as a masculine or unisex scent, it leans much more feminine in my opinion. The sweetness from the "vanilla speculoos" note is a bit too cloying, lacking the woody or spicy backbone needed to pull it back into neutral territory. Perhaps the most off-putting part of the dry-down is the specific way the iris and carrot seed interact. About ten minutes in, it takes on a distinct, powdery medicinal quality that smells exactly like a fresh baby’s diaper. It has that specific mix of talcum powder and a strange, organic "dampness" that is hard to shake once you notice it. Instead of smelling like a luxury Italian accessory, you end up smelling like a well-maintained nursery. Unless you want to pay a premium price to smell like a generic, short-lived powder puff, I’d suggest skipping this one. There are dozens of iris fragrances on the market that do this better, last longer, and actually have a personality.

I feel so burned by the "FragTok" and certain YouTube girl on this one. I bought this for myself based on all the rave reviews calling it "sophisticated" and "a bit unisex," but it’s a total disaster in person. The dry-down is the biggest "ick" I've experienced in a long time. There is this weird, metallic, sickly-sweet chemical vibe that hits after about 30 minutes. I couldn't put my finger on it until it clicked: IT SMELLS EXACTLY LIKE A KETO BREATH! If you know that fruity, "off," acetone smell of someone deep in ketosis, that’s exactly what this is. It doesn't smell like a luxury Italian hat-maker; it smells like a metabolic imbalance. Guys, as a woman, please hear me: this is a massive no-no. It’s not seductive or "come-hither"—it’s medicinal and strange. I don't care how many influencers tell you it's a masterpiece; if you wear this on a date, you’re going to smell like you haven't eaten a carb in a month.

Lol To be blunt, Black Iris smells exactly like cat pee from a feline suffering from both diabetes and a full-blown gonorrheal infection. The only "mercy" here is the performance; the whole thing lasts maybe an hour before fading into a skin scent that smells like a spot of piss that’s been licked clean by a cat. The vibe is like a Somali refugee sat in a local A&E who hasn't seen a shower block in a fortnight. Picture that deep, fermented BO mixed with the stench of a necrotic, pus-filled foot infection being aggressively hosed down with benzylpenicillin powder. And can we talk about the marketing strategy? Borsalino’s lot decided to lob free samples at every "low-life" fragrance influencer they could find. You’ve got these "DEI hire" types with about 15 followers shill this stuff, makes the whole brand look incredibly cheap, and it only amplifies how synthetic and low-quality the juice actually is.

Right then, listen up, because I've had a truly dreadful experience with this "discount bin cover band," Borsalino Black Iris - the olfactory equivalent of discovering a dusty, rare vinyl, and frankly, I feel utterly bamboozled. Let me set the scene: I sprayed Borsalino Black Iris expecting sophistication, maybe even a mysterious, noir-ish iris fantasy. Dior Homme-level poetry. Givenchy-level swagger. Prada-level elegance. Instead? My soul immediately stood up, packed a suitcase, and said: “Ah. So we’re time-traveling today.” I blind-bought the blasted thing, you see, expecting a deep, velvety iris—something quite natty, perhaps even seductive. A bit of pizzazz, what? Instead, what I received was a scent that distinctly smelled like it had been scraped off a forgotten historical artefact and bottled without so much as a thought for its appalling mustiness. It screams, quite frankly, of the plantation, which is a ghastly heritage to be wearing, wouldn't you agree? And the reviewers! Don't even get me started on the TikTok brigade—a frightful demographic of what appears to be exclusively low-grade wannabes, greasy societal rejects with practically no discernible following. They're obsessed with its 'ruminating DNA,' which, let's be blunt, conjures up images of chains and shackles, rags and whips... you know, the whole fried chicken and watermelon cliché - you know what I'm talking about. Honestly, the whole thing feels like a demand for reparations, much like Oprah's famous scene in The Colour Purple. Good grief! The initial sniff, with its promised iris and woods, manages to feel less like a refined gentleman and more like the very storage room of an antique estate—the one you'd rather keep locked up and forgotten. There's a dusty, earthy aroma to it that gave me the distinct déjà vu of a frankly outrageous old plantation postcard I once saw in a museum gift shop. Not exactly the vibe one wishes to project in 2025, is it? And the dry-down? Oh, the dry-down is simply dire. Imagine wandering through an utterly derelict manor house, where the very furniture has a strange, haunting whiff because time itself has simply given up on cleaning the poor sod. It's not mysterious or elegant; it's just monumentally outdated. A relic, indeed, that nobody in their right mind asked to smell like. If you call it modern, I call it 'I CAN'T BREATHE!' in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is a simply horrifying association to make for a chap just trying to smell decent. Mark my words, if you purchase this fragrance, you will immediately be associated with a very specific aesthetic: that of the vintage historical drama extra. Not the main chap, nor the witty sidekick. No, you're Background Character #11, whose sole purpose is to lug crates and harvest cotton—anything, frankly, that reminds one of Amistad or Uncle Tom's Cabin. How utterly humiliating! If you're after iris done correctly—smooth, modern, wearable, and, dare I say, emotionally stable—you must look elsewhere. I suggest you consider: 1. Dior Homme (any vintage, but for the love of God, avoid the 2020 reformulation debacle). 2. Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privée 3. Prada Infusion d’Iris These will offer you actual sophistication, instead of a scent profile best described as 'haunted archival document.' Black Iris is neither pioneering nor groundbreaking; it's just utterly confusing, like the perfumer took a wrong turn and ended up in a forgotten era. Save your pennies! Save your reputation! And for heaven's sake, save your nose! Whilst 'The Fragrance Shop' may offer a discount—and good on them—you would undoubtedly get superior value and a far better scent profile from the Dior Homme Original 150ml. At least with Dior, you won't be lumped in with the sort of Black Iris buyers who, let's face it, are most likely residing in some ghastly council house in Croydon, Lewisham, or, God forbid, Brixton. That's the overwhelming vibe. Final Verdict: A paltry 2.5 out of 10. Buy practically anything else if you value iris and, crucially, your dignity. Also, let's not mince words, shall we? If one were to catch a whiff of this Borsalino Black Iris on you, my immediate, and rather unavoidable, mental image would be thus: "I am currently accepting Government benefits and my primary mode of UK entry involved a rather sturdy inflatable vessel." If this suits you, then congratulations, darling, your moment has arrived.

Marked as one of the greatest FLOPS of 2025! 😂 - rightfully so! I’ve already listed mine on eBay... what a total waste of money! It’s hardly surprising they’ve been handing out samples to those budget tiktok reviewers who’ll praise absolutely anything just to get a free gift. The opening is a screechy, synthetic mess. The bergamot here smells like cheap floor cleaner, and the cardamom is so overbearing it’s actually nauseating. Once the iris finally makes an appearance, it doesn't have that buttery, high-end feel you’d expect. If you've tried the smell of fufu and yam, that's what it reminds me of; hence black people shilling about this a year ago🤢 To top it all off, the performance is lacklustre - which for me is a good thing. For an EDP at this price point, you’d expect more than at least 6 hours of longevity, but this vanished from my skin before I’d even finished my morning commute, thank goodness! The bottle looks decent on a shelf though, but looks like a second rate copycat of Frederick Malle.👎🏻 It’s WAYYYYYY too overpriced for smelling like a cheap dupe arabic perfumes.

For me this is a well-defined, clear-cut fragrance. Warm iris with wooden hues on a bed of cardamom and vanilla. Sounds simple, but the iris note is an accord by itself: clean, soapy buttery, woody, all of this. Pity it disappears first and the fragrance is so short-lived in general.

If you have a givenchy fragrance for men that is Iris centred there is little point to owning that and this Black Iris. Personally I do feel if your in the market for an Iris Fragrance, Prada L’Homme Intense or Dior Homme Intense is the way to go.

Where's the iris?! Mild cedar and not-too-sweet vanilla is what I get the most in the dry down. Very subtle fragrance. Not bad, but to call this black iris is very misleading.

Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privee...Dior Homme Intense...in these realms.