Velvet Iris

Velvet Iris: 1)It is very unique 2)It is difficult to compare it to most other Iris centric fragrances. But overall, it leans toward the more earthy, tart, astringent Iris fragrances like Serge Luten's Iris Silver Mist 3)If it was a color, that color would be, without a doubt ... GREEN. It is extremely aromatic and balsamic. The Galbanum contributes significantly to its very sharp, earthy green persona. The mastic is strong and sharp as well, giving it a turpentine-like component 4)Basically, there is not a sweet bone in its body 5)it is extremely dynamic and fluid. The scent changes on my skin literally minute by minute, which is extremely pleasing and borderline exciting 6)I really like it, but I'm not sure if I am the best person to ask because I love all varieties of iris and orris root notes/accords 7)It smells incredibly natural. It transports me to my grandmother's garden. If you wear this, you will smell like you have been gardening all afternoon, in a good way 8)As I smelled this for the first time this morning, and got to know it this afternoon, it also transported me to a fantastic play I saw at Stratford in Canada a number of years ago. My favorite playwright, Arthur Miller's "All My Sons". The play was performed on a thrust stage with the audience on three sides of the stage, and it was set as if you were outdoors ... with the sky above, green grass below and bushes, flowers and trees landscaping the family's farm. The sounds of birds, passing cars and thunderstorms enhanced the scene and story. Cold wind and hot air were intermittently utilized based on the time of day and season. I was smelling Velvet Iris and thinking, wow, it would have been great to pump this stuff into the air during that play 7)If you really love iris like I do, it is blind buy safe, especially because its retail price of roughly $90-100 is a steal 8)If you do not know if you really love all types of iris/orris root notes and accords, or you only have experience with more mass appealing sweet and smooth designer level iris fragrances, I would not recommend blind buying this 9)I do not think this will do very well in the United States, but it should do well elsewhere 10)I am excited to get to know Velvet Iris better. It seems like the type of fragrance you have to spend a lot of time with to really appreciate

Bought a full bottle because Iris is my favourite note and I must collect them all. Yet to smell Iris Malikhan so can’t comment on similarity. So, this is a weird one. I like it and glad it’s in my collection, however, I can see why some folks might not like it and why they have a problem with the naming of the juice. If you don’t like Iris as a note, don’t make it a star note for a fragrance by a legendary perfumer. That’s a recipe for confusion and disappointment imo. The juice - this one is a chic, slightly ashy, and grey-tinged iteration of Iris. Also quite green. It reminds me of a more modern and unisex Chanel No.19 and sometimes like a more grown up M01+Iris. It has a menthol herbaceousness that’s quite refreshing, and combines with the violet facets of iris in an interesting way. It’s a rather serious feeling iris, quite grown up, but still casual enough for daily/signature wear. The leather is there but more airy and textural, and doesn’t take on too much of the violet facets as say Ombré Leather does. Overall, it’s a very well balanced and crafted frag, and an interesting take on Iris. However, I do wish the brand owner had gotten out of the way a little, because I imagine if the perfumer was able to make a fully Iris Iris fragrance, it could’ve been truly exceptional.

to the workers at ministry of scent who watched me tear up on a random weekday in san francisco over this perfume, you don't realize how much of my life flashed before my eyes. Dominique Ropion does it again with a titularly velvety iris, combined with the smooth and fabric-like texture of orris root, a warm and woody undertone, and a hint of powdery, perfume-like greatness. the one quality, however, that struck me as particularly cogent was the startlingly green and bright galbanum note, paired with the iris and orris to present an almost chypre-like fragrance with the challenging mossy and/or leathery notes of patchouli or oakmoss noticeably missing. there is a carrot-seed quality, as if you are nestling your nose into the soil of a richly kept garden of flowers with freshly dug dirt on the surface that has just been rained on. smelling this perfume feels like genuinely recapturing the scent of a flower–in all of its complexity, be it a root-like astringency or an easily tearable and dark purple petal–in a room where flowers needn't be. cold blooms on grey stone, bouquets in the corners of a funeral home, or lively vases on dusty credenzas. crudely put, these flowers are lively–but grieving.

A very interesting and truly disruptive fragrance. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting an iris like this, but it surprises me in the best way. The opening bursts with very spicy, vertical notes blended with fresh minty accents, which bring energy and freshness. Then comes the iris not powdery, but in the form of buttery iris intertwined with woody and leathery notes. The leather facet pairs beautifully with the iris, creating a suede-like effect that makes the whole composition even more elegant. It’s true that this isn’t a conventional fragrance, but it’s executed brilliantly. I don’t think you can find an iris with such an excellent price-to-quality ratio on the market, which means you can overspray without any hint of regret at this price! I can only recommend it for both women and men.

I love it! The combination of iris, galbanum and mastic smells so fresh, bitter, green, cool, elegant and beautiful. Reminds me of Nordic summer fields. The buchu note gives it some bitter tea like facets but it fades quite quickly. The leather and sandalwood support the heart notes well. Leather and iris are of course a classic combination but the galbanum and mastic change the character from elegant towards more natural and evocative. I think galbanum and iris is a very interesting combination, and it works well here. I bought it a week ago and have been wearing it almost every day on these warm-ish Finnish summer days. Could wear this in the office as well. 9/10

Velvet Iris is unbelievably good - especially in the opening. I find it utterly delicious, even though it's not sweet (exactly), it just has me salivating. It has a quality that wakes you up on first blast and has all senses on alert. I find it addictive and wonderful in every way - it makes me feel great. I have nothing else like this in my large collection, so it's quite unique to my nose (and I have Gris Charnel and Iris Malikhan). I prefer the opening to the dry down, but I'm OK with respraying. Superb value by a superb perfumer and house. 4.5 stars.

I have to disagree with most of this negative reviews. I can get that people expected this to be the new best perfume by Essential Parfums, but for me this a lovely signature fragrance. It's better than Bois Impérial: there, I've said it. To me this scent is elegant, green, powdery and completely unisex. Maybe the drydown isn't very original and I agree, but it's not an awful drydown either. I bought a full size bottle after trying this in the discovery set and will use it as my signature.

At first, I was struck by a captivating green scent with a bitterness I had never experienced before. After a while, mellow sandalwood emerges, along with powdery orris root, and mastic also makes a subtle appearance. Fresh iris occasionally makes its presence known as well. Ultimately, it transforms into a soft, gently enveloping musk scent that leaves me feeling very comfortable. Compared to the rising prices of niche perfumes these days, I think it's also very reasonably priced.

It starts with beautiful soft green and camphoric whispers the quickly follows in to creamy iris that is like cushion for the rest of a journey. Some elements comes and goes, but a gorgeous creamy iris always present. Sophisticated, classy, sexy, for day or night. Gorgeous for a frag conoseurs collection or for signature fragrances especially considering the affordable price point and we can swim in it, after all you get 100ml.

It is a soooooo beautiful scent. Clean, woody, creamy, leathery. Crisp opening & then after a 30 min or so I started to pick up the resinous facets and the dry down is woody leathery musky beauty. A bit dusty definitely unisex as a female I love it & find it more feminine leaning. I wouldn’t consider it masculine despite the voting. I have a sample size of it and I think I’m gonna get a full size bottle

I think people are trying to gatekeep it or there are lots of people here with lower expectations. This is an amazing scent. You need to have your baggy pants , prada chunky shoes but a velvet blazer with white shirt on and have a cigar in one hand and cognac on the other while you have this scent on u... Its a breezing December, Friday and its around 7 pm ... Its just an amazing statement scent...

Very good perfume and i don't understand the low rating. Smells nice. The similarities with Maison Crivelli Iris Malikhan is not soo close. Velvet Iris is green and aromatic iris fragrance while Iris Malikhan is more sweet, earthy, woody and leathery .The performance is also very good and can be used in every season.

As someone who doesn't like classic lipsticky iris fragrances, this is wonderful. A bitter and floral opening gives way to a sweet, powdery and balsamic drydown that's velvety like the name implies and perfectly unisex. Yes the projection is intimate, but the scent profile is unique and pleasantly surprising.

Gothic and dark. I agree with you who wrote that it smells like a makeup store. To me it smells like a high end make up store in London where products are all black and white color palette and super expensive, and pretty sales women in all black I absolutely love this scent. It’s sexy and interesting.

It's amazing. An iris that is not too princessy, not to old rich lady, slightly masculine on my skin, but really, not much. Or blends wonderfully with other perfumes, if you want layering. And the price is fantastic.

I love this fragrance. Absolutely could see myself buying a full bottle. My only issue is the projection. Velvet Iris sits close to skin on me, if it were a tad bit stronger this would absolutely be top 5 for me.

This is a beautiful, buttery leather scent, that feels seductive, a little woody and slightly sharp. Elegant and musky, and leans masculine. Another unexpected contender for full size bottle

I sampled this last week. Not overly sweet or makeup-y, a little woody, and really nice. The leather seemed rather subdued. Longevity was average. I plan to purchase.

Powdery, starchy, ever so slightly sweet – imagine the texture of a fluffy brioche bun. Extremely unisex and very soft. 9.7/10 imo.

A chilly, almost minty fresh Iris fragrance. Not like any other Iris in my collection, so it’s full bottle worthy IMO!