Iris Ghalia

Just got the pre-order, and it's quite lovely. Pre-orders come with Siberian deer musk skin flakes in the bottle, half a gram from what I read. Right off the bat it smells slightly tropical, like an exotic undiscovered dark blue flower in the rainforest. It's mainly dominated by a floral accord, an animalic accord, a fruity accord, and mild spices (in that order of overall intensity). The iris starred in this is slightly metallic, cool, and more buttery than powdery. It is supported by a hefty dose of blue lotus that gives it a sort of wet, dreamy quality. The fruit accord is quite beautiful, consisting of a refreshing peach as a top note that lends a tropical vibe to the fragrance. The black currant does not smell like any black current I've ever smelled before since it's way sweeter and smoother, lacking the sharpness I've come to normally associate with it. The fruits give the fragrance a very pleasant sweetness and added likability. As far as the animalic accord goes, I honestly can't tell you where any one note begins or ends, but I will say that the fragrance as a whole is quite musky, sharing the spotlight with the florals. If I had to guess, I'd say that there is an extremely generous amount of what I assume is deer musk. It definitely doesn't smell like any musk I've ever encountered, and I quite like it. The castoreum may be lending a very slight leathery and fruity nuance. The drydown (which takes quite a while to get to) consists mostly of an orris root that gives it a very buttery smell with a soft powdery nuance and a semi-sweet velvety deer musk. It is quite comforting. Very smooth. Taking a quick glance at the notes, it may appear that it is a lady's perfume because it follows the very common formula of a floral perfume with fruity top notes. However, that strong musky base is really something, and it definitely makes it unisex enough for a man to pull off. It has a similar dichotomy that something like Dior Homme Parfum has with the feminine iris contrasted by the strong leather, and it would probably suit the same type of people, clean-cut classy gentlemen. As far as occasion, this definitely has a regal vibe to it. Formal and cooler weather would be ideal, but it is versatile enough. I wouldn't wear it in hot summer weather. Performance is excellent. One spray is all you need, two max. I'm still testing the projection, but I was able to get wafts from my neck a good 6 hours later at least. Longevity is much better than projection, at least 10 hours. Again, still testing. Don't spray clothes because this stuff will definitely stain. The liquid is an almost opaque dark brown. Overall, I am quite pleased with my purchase. I am new to artisanal fragrances of this kind of quality, but even a newbie like me can really smell the difference. It is now one of my all-time favorites. EDIT: After spending more time with it, the deer musk is definitely stronger than the iris. As the fragrance has matured over the months, the spices up top have intensified quite a bit. I used to describe the opening as more sweet because of the peach but now I could say it starts off more spicy first before transitioning to fruity.

Review based on the 2019 first version. I personally don't like the rest, although the 3rd is closest, while the 2nd version lacks the animalic quality and oompf, and the 4th is the worst, almost feels like a downgraded version of what this originally was. To me, this is the Orris Holy Grail perfume. I'm quite familiar with the material in its natural form, and I think here, it is not only showcased in full glory and spectrum but also complemented and perfected by the use of precisely chosen ingredients. This might be Ensar's most precise and finely tuned blend, as everything fits in its place, and follows in a methodical manner, nothing is out of place, everything falls where it should, at the right moment. Smelling this is like witnessing a full-scale opera. The opening is effervescent, spicy, and fruity. Overripe blackcurrant and peaches, hot spices, creating an effervescent sweet fruity opening that takes your breath away. It almost feels like having a sip of an all-natural effervescent fruit beverage. The heart is Orris in full glory, perfectly supported by Lotus and Lilly. The Lotus shares its watery and green qualities with the Orris, creating a most beautiful accord. The Orris is rich, buttery, just a tad powdery. The base is loaded with Ambergris and various musks, to lend their animalic qualities and darken the composition, as the perfume steers surely but gradually from inoffensive fruity, to mature and serene, toward dark, warm, and mysterious. This is all natural yet performance is out of this world. Two sprays on your wrists and you'll fill the entire room, and anesthetize your brain with this intoxicating concoction. Longevity is all day, or till you shower. The Original Iris Ghalia is the pinnacle of what natural perfumery can be when using the highest quality ingredients, and maybe some luck in striking the perfect harmony between them. I don't think they'll pull this one off again, but if they do, I'll gladly pick up another bottle, if I don't find enough backups till then. Top-class perfumery.

Sweet black currant and tart peach on top of Orris butter, violet and lotus. The aforementioned “purple” smelling fruit and floral combo is exalted by a heavy, yet refined deer musk and ambergris. After a long while, the fruity-floral combo starts to kind of “separate” from the musky base and a nice savory spiciness becomes apparent, which is connected to the muskiness. Basically, it smells a lot like someone layered EO2 with Sultan Pasha’s Irisoir. Definitely not complaining about that! Not much more progression (if any). This is seriously potent stuff. Almost breathtakingly strong. Between the Orris butter, Lotus, Deer musk, and Ambergris, this really does feel like a luxurious fragrance well-worth it’s price tag. Amazing fragrance. 10/10.

At a certain stage in my exploration of fragrances, I realized it was time to halt purchasing new perfumes. Reflecting on my last ever addition, it was undoubtedly Iris Ghalia. This fragrance, a top seller from the brand, has numerous detailed reviews. Initially, I was sceptical due to the animalic notes and various ingredients in its formula. However, it was a captivatingly exquisite scent, offering a peach tea-like fizziness, abundant Orris, and a distinct musky, leathery backdrop that unveils its royal character. It's undeniably the finest artisanal iris perfume I've encountered. I have the V4 and have also tried the V2 and they are nearly identical. Instagram: @lecheikhboheme

Unique creative fragrance and top notch ingredients make this a great one. Not necesarily a compliment getter and also watch your sprays. I almost choked my wife because I over-sprayed. No compliments doint that! I'll wear it again more lightly and see how she reacts. I like this along with No 1 ands No 2.