450

This review concerns "450" EDP. "450" was launched in celebration of Farmacia SS. (Santissima) Annunziata's 450th milestone year in 2011. To any IRIS lover, this perfume brings to mind names such as "Bois d'Iris" from Van Cleef & Arpels, and Dior's Bois d'Argent. Both are my all-time favorites, and "450" isn't a long stretch from them! 450 opens with a smooth, velvety iris with a musky undertone. The pepper and nutmeg (that are listed on the brand's homepage as top notes) have a supporting role and can be smelled when sniffed very closely. Iris is the star of the show here. Vetiver in the drydown in thankfully minimal; it doesn't interfere with iris in the leading role. I must say it's been an absolute pleasure to delve into this perfume. I'd say it's a sibling to Bois d'Iris and Bois d'Argent, but the light impression of nutmeg, some pepper and also incense stop 450 from being an identical twin to the two "Bois". On my skin, the afterthought of 450 is a waxy, sexy lipstick scent. The mental image I get is a young, ambitious and serious businesswoman in a power suit who's retiring to her upscale hotel's "room with a view" after a long way of negotiating a business deal. The only downside of 450 is its projection: it's a delicate skin scent... So delicate, I'm afraid my 2ml sample is about to run out in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, thank you 450... you've brought me very, very much joy.

Am I losing the plot here or what? Bois d'Argent? Two comparisons here and I don't think it smells anything like it. 450 has a delicious opening of sweet, sticky, amazing gourmand vibes and musk... Really it smells caramel like to me with a hint of powdery iris. This scent is all about amber for me, a straight up dusty amber accord which is balanced up not to be too sweet and compliment the other notes. I wouldn't have said this is a floral fragrance more of an oriental amber which smells edible to me. I love it, I have to say. First scent from this house and they're off to a blinder!

What an inspired combination of notes. Who would have thought that incense, nutmeg and sage would go so well with iris. The vetiver also adds plenty of zing which is what I think iris always benefits from. We arrive at the sandalwood all too soon as it fades away. Its such as shame that it doesnt have good longevity and moderate sillage.

It is really warm these days in NE Europe, so I guess this scent suffers too. I get sweet powdery vanilla-amber, nothing green or flowery for me in here, very much like Le Parfum de Lalique. It is really fine and tame, for gourmand/oriental lovers something. I hope to get more iris, musc and incence in colder weather.

This is an absolute favorite of mine. I wore it to a friend's birthday party and was complemented numerous times. I get smooth vanilla notes that jump out and stay with me from the beginning into the dry down. It's a complexed woody composition that's light but also long lasting. Thanks Yvettra!