Orris Root

Orris, violet, floral notes, slight cedar and some other deftly blended notes - maybe tonka. Very violet and not for every man, to be sure, but for one sure of himself. Discontinued, now, I believe, which is very upsetting.

I found the 50 ml "Eau de Cologne" through an online boutique, the only place I've found still selling it. The first spray is a bit too much like a fruity resin for my taste (a bit of a cough-drop aftertaste feeling), but once it dries the heart and base is a wonderful powdery iris, like Prada Infusion d'Iris, but more flowery and a bit sweet, not green at all (which makes sense because this is the root we're talking about and not the plant). If you're looking for a masculine cologne, this is not it. This reads very feminine to me, with hints of violet and cedar. Another winner in that category, despite the initial medicinal edge. EDIT: I just sprayed a bit more on, and the fruity medicine hit is stronger now, and not going away. I loved the drydown, but I don't know if I can put up with the nausea for the first hour before getting to that iris. Another one for swap, sadly.

Oh if only: if only it really HAD had been the promised, purely orris-woody-powdery magic concoction done by Durga - which might have been my idea of ecstasy. Its orris note is indeed beautifully authentic, rooty and chalky and savoury. It's certainly nichey, unisex and distinctively quirky, and worth the hunt... for those who don't share my intense aversion to violet - which is the pale-purple party pooper here. That slightly pushy excess was what spoiled it for me, so moved it on to another D S & D fanatic who loved it. So: if you're a completist of the house and don't mind a violet surprise, this will earn its shelf room. But for me, this much violet is violence.