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!

Easy to wear, clean, fresh, and cozy. This fits the bill for many, many days when you need something pleasant, not too wild, not to obvious. My daughter's comment: "you smell like pencil shavings and cuddles."

A shy, elegant and feminine powdery scent that barely clings to the skin. I suppose "450" is made to be worn in the wintertime on a shawl around wearer's neck composing a feeling of being wrapped in a snow like warm blanket. Very smooth, comfortable. Heavy on iris, with a very dominant clean (but not soapy) musk with just the slightest hint of "nutty" undertone. Silage - very low, staying power around 3-4 hours.

The fragrance starts with a green muskiness that slowly develops into a soft floral powderiness, while the sillage goes from moderate to intimate. 450 is nothing outstanding, nor particularly memorable, but it gives its wearer a lovely soapy freshness throughout the day without making it too obvious that one is wearing perfume.

When I first apply this - for a few minutes - I get a nice dry & enjoyably fresh turpentine note mixed with amber, musk and a hint of iris ... The note is similar to the scent of oil paint drying on a canvas. That really uplifting opening soon turns into a soft ashen iris note juxtaposed to a clean amber and light musk accented with something akin to powdered cocoa. The incense in this is a result of the juxtaposition of iris, amber and something green and natural - like the smallest drop of galbanum. It isn't a full on incense just a combination that suggests it - subtly. It's like a quiet incense that married an outgoing iris and let's the iris do all the talking at social events. It's a quiet yet uplifting incense note totally at home being unnoticed in the crowd. It adds the slightest bit of sweetness to the overall composition. It's like the smile on the pretty face. The drydown has a warm airiness about that lends itself to summer wearing when you just don't want an aqua or something typically citrus fresh. Very nice, very uplifting, very soft, dry, bright and airy.

This fragrance looks like Bois d’Argent by Dior. But I think it’s more easy to wear on my skin. Smooth, comfortable, elegant. Even if it's an eau de parfum, it is not strong. I’m wearing it today. The weather is bad, not very warm, but humidity is too much for my taste. 450 works very well even if I thought could be perfect for a cold season. It’s sweet but very far from girly gourmand and sweet fragrances. Unisex for sure, but very far from the usual unisex and polite fragrances. It’s a warm and soft skein for a loving and free cat. I wonder how it will be in hot days. Fragrances are fairy-tales, they are able to amaze us. I’m curious to wait and discover this scent further. It has got a mysterious soul.

On me, it is a powdery iris vanilla that has a makeup feeling. I've been on a kick lately looking for scents that mimix vintage cosmetics, so this was a good find. I will have to try alone in hot weather to see if it gets too sticky, though, because it does have a playdoh note creeping in. Interesting

The notes according to the producer's web site: Top: SAGE, INCENSE, PEPPER, NUTMEG Heart: IRIS, MUSK Note di Fondo: VETIVER,SANDALWOOD