Iris Ganache

Iris Ganache is my #1 most anticipated fragrance ever (besides Guet Apens) because of the iris and white chocolate combo, and is said to be sweet, powdery, gourmand, and even cosmetic-esque! Essentially it supposedly contains all my favorite perfume elements. After finally getting my hands on a sample, I realized that as original as the concept is, the execution was dreadfully poor to my nose *at first*. Most negative reviews/comments on IG fixate on the sweetness but surprisingly that wasn’t the case for me. It did smell candy-like, very sweet with a slight fruity freshness but tolerable and pleasant from the vial. However as soon as I applied it to my skin- *gag*! Simply atrocious! I kinda see the “Apres L’Ondee with caramel” feel that is in the opening but the iris here smelled so musty, dirty, sweaty, moldy, maybe even medicinal...simply gross! Iris Ganache is basically comprised of super-sweet white chocolate + musty iris, I can’t pick out any other notes. It seems to lack complexity. I instantly realized why this perfume was unpopular while still in production. However, I was too quick to judge- my experience with IG exemplifies why it’s so important to test a fragrance directly onto your skin and to do so for several hours, and test multiple times to properly make up your mind. Thankfully the scent became so much nicer when the mustiness died down after about an hour and a half, although I can detect it throughout wear time. The white chocolate becomes more and more prominent and dominates while the iris fades, but there are no distinct stages. It is a borderline linear scent. After trying my sample several more times, the iris isn't coming across as musty and dusty anymore. In conclusion, Iris Ganache is not a bad fragrance, I actually like it. Interesting concept, great execution. But it’s my own fault for hyping up this scent in my head, so disappointment was pretty inevitable. I'm kind of glad I'm not crazy about IG because of how absurdly expensive and VHTF it is now! I do find Terry de Gunzberg Ombre Mercure and Insolence to be *slightly* similar in vibe, but certainly not dupes. The Guerlain bridal exclusive frag Le Plus Beau Jour de Ma Vie has a similar candy-like sweetness level. ***DETAILED COMPARISONS*** Vs. Ombre Mercure: OM is my most successful blind buy, it instantly went into Top 5 favorites list. It is often compared to Iris Ganache and I can see why. OM is a soft, sweet, powdery, and creamy makeup-y fragrance, vanillic, warm and enveloping, rich and luxe. The main characteristic the two share is the creamy soft vibe they both give off. However OM is way more complex and way more floral (dominated by a violet and iris combo that reminds me of Guerlain Meteorites powder, but certainly no mustiness to be found here!), while IG is more gourmand and sweeter. OM is what I wish IG smelled more like. If you were dissatisfied with Iris Ganache but like the concept give Ombre Mercure a try. Vs. Insolence: They both share a similar iris note but it’s a lot fresher in Insolence. Insolence is dominated by violet, a bit fruity, has no vanilla, less sweet, and lacks gourmand touches to my nose. I think Insolence is closer to IG than Ombre Mercure. The drydowns of Insolence and IG are remarkably similar to my nose. Vs Le Plus Beau Jour de Ma Vie: The candy-like sweetness in Iris Ganache is similar to this LE bridal-themed EDP. LPBJdMV is even more gourmand than IG, almond-y, and is very close to By Kilian Love to my nose (except it is more caramel-y). I definitely prefer other modern sweet and powdery perfumes from Guerlain over LPBJdMV and Iris Ganache including La Petite Robe Noire, Insolence, My Insolence, Shalimar Parfum Initial, French Kiss, L'Heure de Nuit, L'Instant Magic, and Attrape Coeur. UPDATE 7/26/16: As we all know tastes can change with time. Despite my mixed feelings on IG when I first tried it I could not stop thinking about it. I've tried many, many scents since then but IG was one of the most memorable scents I tested last year. The composition is unusual and unique, so my fascination with it continued. Finally I found a tester of it for relatively cheap considering how VHTF it now is. Excited to see how it smells sprayed vs dabbed!

This dream of a scent first came into my life through a tiny little sample vial. I always remember the moment it revealed itself to me. I'd daubed it on quickly, gotten dressed in several layers and then forgotten it entirely, but it later captured me with one warm waft of air as I adjusted my winter scarf. Creamy, sweet, and distinctly floral, but unlike any flower I'd ever known. Powdery, and cool, but with the rich, hot decadence of melted cocoa butter. I'd been so sparing with it and the scent was so fleeting and hidden, I couldn't wait to get home and apply MORE. But not too much...it was too precious to me. Over the years I would eventually find a lovely fragrance collector who sold decants at cost, and from her I would go on to receive 3 small decants, each one guarded like a precious gem and mourned over as I used the final drops. My last decant came to me in 2016, and somehow I knew it would be my last. Through the next few years I would watch the cost of the handful of remaining bottles climb far out of reach for me as a single mother, pouring over bills at the kitchen table. I took my last decant and refused to wear it, tucking it into my jewelry box instead, as a memento. One day I found the decant had turned, and my heart was broken. I said goodbye to Iris Ganache forever. Earlier this year, the strangest thing happened. I came to visit this page to remember (as I do from time to time), and I read a new review from some brave soul who had eschewed all rationality and set out to purchase her beloved and elusive Iris Ganache. I smiled on her good fortune and wondered if one day I could be so blessed myself. Some spark of inspiration took hold of me that night, and before I understood what was happening I had purchased my own bottle. It cost me more than I have ever spent on a single fragrance, and it turned my stomach to think I could ever be so frivolous...but beneath the nausea there was a pang of pure excitement. I waited and watched the mail for it's arrival and will never forget finally having the sealed box in my hands, knowing I was holding a liquid dream come true. In all my searching there has never been anything like Iris Ganache. There are no dupes or substitutes, and there has never been a single fragrance that even whispered a recollection. It's true, my scent preferences have shifted throughout the years but this is the one perfume that, had it escaped me entirely, I would have never truly rested without. Poetry aside, this was the first perfume of my adult life that I felt intrinsically drawn toward. I would go on to claim various iris-featuring fragrances as my signature as I refined my stylistic requirements, but none of those ever held the same mystical importance for me as Iris Ganache.

Why have I not reviewed this masterpiece yet? I fear my words pale in comparison to the feeling I get when I am wearing this scent. I love every stage of it- from the gorgeous top notes straight from the nozzle, to the amazing iris middle notes that linger on my skin and clothes, to the never ending smooth vanilla ice cream finish that is so characteristic of Guerlain gourmands/orientals. The first sniff is a little cinnamon, some sweet powder- maybe from the white chocolate, and iris (oh yes, it's there from the beginning). I don't get bergamot, which is fine because I don't think it belongs here. Then more iris unveils itself along with very soft, almost ethereal patchouli, and a little cedar. The drydown is powdery, soft, sweet, musky vanilla heaven. Amber? I hadn't thought of it. Perhaps it just enrichens the vanilla to give it a more "ice cream"-like feel. The sillage starts off moderate, and then unfolds into a soft, skin scent over its 12-14 hour lifespan. The longevity is incredible, but nothing new for this line of fragrances, which is exceptional in every way. From start to finish this scent is soft, womanly, elegant, ethereal, light, and fluffy. I can picture a field of irises and a beautiful young woman wearing a white dress, barefoot, hair flowing in the breeze as she walks through the flowers, lightly caressing them as the sun shines on her. She is oh so sweet, so feminine, so innocent. It is truly a shame that Guerlain decided to discontinue this amazing scent. I have been scouring the Earth for another iris of this magnitude, and it doesn't exist. I am incredibly grateful to have two bottles of this lovely, and I will cherish them until the last drop.

Initially, I was confused and slightly repulsed by the odd, slightly sour, very first moments of cinnamon and bergamot combined..but Oh My, a few moments later, I understood this culture clash, how it could blend to create new ideas and artistry. During the first half hour to hour, the scent seems watery, almost grassy at times, unexpectedly very natural, indeed. The cedar and patchouli in the middle notes are almost my favorite, they make the scent stimulating, thick, velvety, and deep, earthy. Oh but that fragile, fair, and lofty iris -or -the highetst quality Belgian or Swiss white chocolate, makes it impossible to choose a favorite here. The white chocolate here is a ganache-definetely-the concept of ganache is that it is a thin chocolate sauce, not sweet, not a syrup- very much a pure cocoa. It's used as a refined decoration or accesory to a lovely desert plate, but, hidden behind that facade of beauty only, is a delicate and refined smooth flavor that deliberately boosts the taste of the whole dish. Here, that concept is acheived. One doesn't "smell chocolate" here, one senses a veil, a sublime nuance, that yet arises amidst the whole compostion, changing the notes, not to be ignored, but never overbearing or gauche. The amber is viscous, and sharp at times, along with the patchouli, it keeps this scent on a spicy edge, at all times. The white musk is shy, hard to notice. The vanilla at times is monotone, but never artificial. I enjoyed this scent for many long hours today. Although I love Oriental Woody perfumes, sometimes they fall short of my expectations. This perfume exceeded them.

I've loved Geurlain since I was a teenager wearing Dana Baby Soft. I was 13, we were in NYC and my sister, brother and I were allowed to walk 5th Ave by ourselves, we got turned around and wound up on Madison and E. 61st street (just off 5th Ave, but we were terrified. NYC is HUGE when your'e a kid) and there she was. Barney's. My heart still skips a beat when I remember it. I begged my brother to go in for just a minute and miracle of miracles, he let us. I tested Mitsouko and my love of fine fragrance was born. I remember the Guerlain counter sales lady, sophisticated and so very kind to a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. She gave me a sample, knowing full well I'd not be able to buy for many years, but by doing that she made me a customer of Guerlain for life. That was many years ago, Saks has Barney's inside it's flagship store now on 5th Ave, but for me it will be forever on Madison Ave. Fragrances do that, really good ones do. They evoke memories and feelings, not just scents. I get tingles and feel that yearning to be an adult, whatever that meant to my younger self, when I wear it now. Describing Iris Ganache objectively is beyond my capabilities. Creamy, warm powder (not a usual occurrence for iris, which usually comes across as cold), slightly sweetish gourmand, some spice from the cinnamon with the bergamot/cedar giving it a little kick and I think the patch is giving it some warm sweetness too but it doesn't take over on my skin like patchouli is wont to do. That description isn't even close to how I feel, though. I just know it beats the socks off Dana Baby Soft.

Reviewing from a decant so not sure which formula. When first sprayed there's something harsh and chemical about Iris Ganache that catches in the back of my throat. I've smelled this chemical plenty of times in everyday life be it either paint, gasoline, permanent marker, nail polish... I haven't quite made the connection to which it is but it's along those lines. It could be that the iris used is less "filtered" or very green, perhaps it's a truer iris than I'm used to smelling. Either way, the chemical aspect does calm down a little after a few minutes but not much. It remains throughout the entire life of the scent and I'm left feeling robbed of what I believed would be a marvelous experience. And yet they created it to smell this way as I'm sure my decant hasn't turned so what gives? Unfortunately it causes a head rush in the way inhaling nail polish or gasoline does (not that I make a habit of doing this). The only other perfume that's had the same effect on me is Lolita Lempicka Minuit Sonne, to the point they actually feel harmful to breathe in. I've worn it multiple times and each time it's been the same. I should love this by all accounts. It's Guerlain, it's iris, it's white chocolate. But darn it, all I get is a chemical iris blast with a little powder and nondescript sweetness. All in all it's for the best because it keeps me from being drawn into the lure of yet another elusive creation. More bottles for those who truly love it.

Iris Ganache surprises me in a couple of ways. First, it smells of powdery violet--way more than iris. I am hard-pressed to smell any iris, in all honesty. The second thing is that it smells very animalic, so much like suede, one of my favorite notes. So that was a nice surprise! And I can't necessarily say that it's white chocolate in there because it pretty much just smells like vanilla. Luckily it does not overpower the whole perfume and instead provides an edge of sweetness. While not my favorite from Guerlain, it's lovely and feminine. ----------------------------------------------------------- Update: I take it back. I do smell white chocolate, specifically. Also, this juice is downright SEXY. These exclusive Guerlains remind me of high-end versions of their common perfumes. Iris Ganache is like a much finer version of Insolence. ----------------------------------------------------------- Note: I am one of the people for whom Ombre Mercure does work as a suitable replacement for this, so if you can't get Iris Ganache, it's worth sampling Ombre Mercure. The patch in OM is more prominent, and there is no suede note, but it's still beautiful. ----------------------------------------------------------- Note: I have recently discovered Stephane Humbert Lucas' Khol de Bahrein. It's also not the same thing, but if you seek a classy Iris with creaminess, no patch, no suede, just straight-up white chocolate, iris and some powder, try it!

Why did Guerlain discontinue this? Why?! It was easily the most unique in the exclusive line and very, very well done. I can only imagine that the expense was too great as this stuff has an obscene amount of Iris in it. And I believe Iris butter is one of the more expensive ingredients. At any rate, it is gone now, with only a few bottles still circulating the globe. I have hoarded several decants of this stuff, probably totalling about half a bottle or so. It opens soft and warm on my skin, an ambery/cinnamon opening with a hint of citrus. It is quite sweet and a bit foody. As it unfolds, the Iris appears, a core of silvery strength against the warm sweetness. Now normally I would think these two accords would be fighting each other, but somehow it works here. The fragrance goes deeper and deeper into woody territory, the patchouli and cedar really give a good grounding to this perfume. It stays quite sweet, the woodiness is tamed with smooth white chocolate. And the Iris never leaves, it is the spine that is found throughout the composition. The base of musk and powder is typical Guerlain and will surprise no one. It is sad this is no longer available and quite irreplaceable. The only other Iris that was sort of similar was another discontinued Guerlain, the L'Instant Noel. The Iris in the L'Instant is also quite beautiful, but the Iris Ganache is an overall better composition. Sigh. The tribulations of perfumistas!

I'm not sure if it's the forbidden fruit thing, the knowledge that I'll never be able to get a full bottle of this unless I sacrifice a vacation, but I'm REALLY loving this Iris Ganache. Luckily, I was able to buy a small decant from a fragrantica member for a normal price (thanks for not putting your bottle on ebay and making 500 euros off it!), and I plan on using it very sparingly, so I'll be able to enjoy it for a long time anyway. The combination of iris and white chocolate that dominates this scent is a stroke of genious; I was intrigued the first time I heard about it, and it smells exactly like I hoped it would. Both notes are clearly discernable, and lovely in their own right, but the magic happens when they blend together: it makes for a wonderful sweetness that is as much floral as it is gourmand, waxy and deep but surprisingly light. The chocolate (and vanilla and other notes, to a lesser degree) give this fragrance all the warmth and comfort of a true gourmand, while the iris gives it all the elegance and maturity of a classic floral perfume. That makes it perfect for any occasion in the colder seasons, and I think I'd wear it pretty often right about now if full bottles were easily available. Fortunately, longevity is great on this one: if I spray it on after a shower one morning, I can still smell it on my wrist the next morning when I wake up. At least I'll be able to make my decant last a long time!

I agree with Celina about the similarities to Aprés L'Ondée, L’heure Bleu and Insolence. What I don't get is the "white chocolate" note so many others seem to smell. I know when I bought this at Harrods the snooty sales assistant mentioned white chocolate to me, and I think perhaps Guerlain wanted to market this as an Iris gourmand and that's why the white chocolate myth (in my view) has taken hold. To me white chocolate smells milky and slightly urinous and salty. What I get from Iris Ganache is more akin to caramel, pralines and butterscotch with a pale, silvery, dry and diaphanous halo of Iris hovering about it. Over time the gourmand aspects of Iris Ganache fade for me, and it becomes an Iris, Amber, Musk and Vanilla fragrance which I love for its balance and the quality of its ingredients. It's so much less sweet than Insolence and consequently a lot less feminine, it's much richer and infinitely stronger than Apres L'Ondee and is therefore much more suited to evening wear, and it's much more powdery and floral than L’heure Bleu (and also lacks some of the nuttiness too) so it's somewhat less edible. Iris Ganache is obviously a part of a Guerlain tradition of Iris and pudding-like gourmands and because of its electricity and magnetism and beautiful character I love it and highly recommend it.

I've now had the chance to smell the original 2007 version and now the newer 2018 Paris exclusive version. I wonder if the original doesn't age as well. I too was underwhelmed when I smelled it. I found it sort of nice, but a tad stuffy. It was hard for me to pick out any notes, especially the iris, which I think may have turned more dirty than floral in time. But who knows, I'm going off a decant. The new Paris version is a reformulation but is very much the same scent. I find it much fresher, more transparent like a veil of perfume rather than a huge dusty spray. It's much more wearable for me and I really prefer the new version! The initial spray is all pink bubble gum. I have no idea what causes it, but I've worn it many times now and it's always the same - a baby pink bubble gum blast and I love it. It quickly settles in though and the iris is the major star here, coming out right on top. It's bright and fresh and crisp and has a floral warmth that melds with your skin. The white chocolate backs it up along with their lovely powdery Guerlain vanilla. It's Guerlain gourmand, fresher and more biscuit-like than Gourmand Coquin, which is all dark chocolate rum. Altogether it's more of a simple vanilla-iris scent but that's what I'm really loving about it.

My beautiful friend Carol split a partial 75ml bottle with me. Just a side note: I have met some of the most interesting, generous, wonderful people in FragCom. I found an empty bottle of Iris Ganache and now we both have just under 30ml’s each. It was the best birthday present ever. Iris Ganache, my big white whale! This is for Violet and Iris lovers. I think if you’re coming into this looking at the notes thinking it’s gourmand, you’ll be disappointed. What I get in the opening is tart Violet backed by a smooth, buttery like suede Iris that is powdery. Interestingly, the aura it creates around me is sweet and vanillic with Violet and Iris but when I touch nose to skin I can smell the patchouli and cedar. There’s an animalic touch from the musk. After the opening, the texture changes and smells more waxy “lipstick” like with the Iris coming forward more. I’m starting to smell the cedar and Patchouli more. I haven’t picked up any cinnamon or white chocolate but there is a sweetness here but not nearly as sweet as I would have thought. The closest fragrance to Iris ganache is Ombre Mercure. I’ll update after more wears but this is a stunning fragrance for lovers of Iris/violets and or powdery fragrances.

Guerlain's delicate Unicorn... I had to travel to Paris to get my personalized decantable Bee-Bottle of this juice. The whole experience in the Paris Guerlain main shop was very enjoyable. You pick the bottle color, the type of label, what you want to have it engraved, the ribbon... and obviously is here where most of the euros are going to fly out of your pocket. But let's talk about the juice. This is a soft elegant iris with a sweet touch, that could be white chocolate or any other creamy sweet your mind would like to imagine. In the background you may find a velvety patchouli and a very faint woodiness. (no amber, not for me) It is simple and linear, and ingredients wise, nothing out of this world, but... it's beautifully delicate, sensual, and quite chic, making you feel somehow special. Being honest, and taking into account availability and price-tag, I can imagine this more in the shelf of a collector rather than in a regular fragrance aficionado weekly rotation. Uniqueness: low-medium Scent: 8/10 Performance: average Would I buy it: No (I have it in my collection, but not having this in your shelf is nothing to be worried about)

I got a tiny 1mL sample of this from The Perfumed Court for a whopping $15 (unsurprising, since the perfume is no longer available to buy). First putting this on, I got a medicinal and creamy and a somewhat toxic smell that alarmed me a little. Half an hour later, I get a heavenly smell that reminds me of butterflies, or angels having a tea party- it's the perfume! It smells ethereal yet happy and easily likeable. I was worried about the patchouli and cedar notes (my least favourite notes), but the patchouli can only be smelled up close, and the cedar isn't detectable on my skin. There is something sweet and gourmande-like about the perfume, which I assume is the white chocolate note. Overall, this is what I imagined what Miss Dior Cherie 2005 to smell like (which it really didn't!). I can't comment on longevity, but sillage is moderate- you'll probably leave a bit of a trail and it can be smelled from arm's length. It's too bad that I won't have access to a full bottle. I might just keep buying the samples if I can't help NOT treating my meagre sample like liquid gold! Definitely a 'love' rating from me.

A sparkling diamond amongst fragrances! My bottle has become my prized posession in my collection. This is easily one of the most breathtaking perfumes I've ever experienced - an absolute favorite, and I hang onto my bottle with every little bit of life I have, only bringing these precious MLs out for special occasions. One of those 'fumes you'd give a kidney for! The atmosphere of Iris Ganache is elegance, heart-fluttering romance, poise, and finesse. The opening of this fragrance is delicate, candied violet-tinted-iris french soap on a lace doily. There's a mix of a sweet powdery nuance with a more robust, grounded, earthy note. As it dries down, there's more silky sweetness to enjoy, the chocolate note isn't giving too much of a gourmand feel, just an additional level of sweetness. Not even words for this one! Just pure heaven in a bottle. Dear Guerlain - You are perfumery (evil) masterminds; Stop discontinuing your best products!!! For lovers of: Shalimar Parfum Initial. This scent has 'typical Guerlain gourmand' written ALL over it!

I was lucky enough to get a small decant of this rare gem from one of my swap mates. Thank you, Sabertoothkitten!! I tried a small drop on the back of my hand. Unfamiliar with the notes, I was surprised to find that this was initially very much a gourmand fume, with the vanilla and white chocolate dominating. Perfect, high quality Guerlain vanilla prevents this from being sickly sweet - I have no desire to smell like a cupcake. But within a half hour, the iris comes out, and what a gorgeous iris this is! The vanilla never goes away but is definitely the supporting player her, contrasting nicely with the fresh, violet-ish iris in such an uplifting way that I am obsessively sniffing the back of my hand and smiling. The chances of my ever owning this are practically zero given the scarcity and the cost, so I plan to hold on to this decant and save it for a very special evening. It is that beautiful. I am so grateful to have the chance to experience this very special perfume of perfumes from my beloved Guerlain!

As so many others, i really mourn this masterpiece is discontinued : i am lucky i have still some 25 ml left but hate the idea the bottle will end soon .. So haunted by this beauty, i tried to find alternative perfumes which has the same "feeling", it is just impossible to find the same. And thx to some layering experimentations, i want to share one combination which is nice, beware it is NOT a full replacement of Iris Ganache - so please manage your expectations, nothing can be similar to an original masterpiece - but if you are so fond of Iris Ganache vibe as i am, i can recommend you to try layering Cuir Beluga with one spray (not too much) of Insolence EDP : it is NOT iris ganache but at least it gives me some iris ganache vibe which is already a nice achievement ! If you want to add some more sweetness and creaminess, you could layer with some chocolate gourmie oil or perfume i guess but i am already ok with these 2 combinations which are luckily still available !!

A very soft, elegant and beautiful fragrance. I've often thought how violets and iris are both powdery and similar but definitely distinguishable from one another. Iris ganache is where the line becomes blurred. The smell to me transforms from a characteristic iris (make up/pencil shavings) into a very powdery and delicate violet. This is only very subtle mind you it's not positively violet, more like an after thought. Anywway... The opening of Iris ganache is a rich creamy affair much like others in this collection expensive feminine vibes of iris/violet, chocolate, patchouli, vanilla and amber. The drydown becomes more amber and vanilla business it's a lovely thing. Lasts okay but is very mellow after the opening which is fine with me. It's not unwearable for a man but not exactly my first choice. IG is the last one I tried in the collection and I believe it's discontinued now but If you can get your hands on it ladies I'd recommend it.

My Iris Ganache is running very low 😭😭 And now that Cuir Cannage has also been discontinued, how will I get my unmatched gorgeous Iris fix ?? 🥺🥺 Guerlain why are you bringing back Gourmand Coquin (which is kind of basic) and not the Opera masterpiece that is Iris Ganache ? Why ?? There is no matching magic than Iris Ganache sillage when you wake up after having slept with it all night as your bed scent. 🥰🥰 UPDATE For what is worth, I emailed Guerlain expressing my surprise that Gourmand Coquin is being released again and not Iris Ganache and will also mention it any time I go to a Guerlain boutique... maybe people need to ask their Guerlain SA for Iris Ganache come back, and maybe if we are many enough to ask for it, Guerlain might consider a come back 😉 I suppose that’s Gourmand Coquin lobbying that helped its revival ...

I was almost ready to give up the search entirely, disappointed by many cold, pale, starchy, earthy, green, watery, ashy, papery irissssesssss... but then Iris Ganache appeared out of the blue as my perfect iris. Let me describe my iris perfection: big, fat, buttery iris as a soft blanket that keeps you warm, as long as you want. Care for some not-too-sweet white chocolate, too? Yes, please! These two notes are dominant to my nose, while other notes make one smooth blend supporting the lovely duo. Or, as I read somewhere once perfectly described: a white chocolate praline with soft iris filling, sprinkled with finest vanilla powdered sugar. Delicieux!