Hermessence Iris Ukiyoé

I'm really into this. Of all the Hermessences, Iris Ukiyoe is one of only two (the other being Cuir d'Ange) which I think is having the intended effect on me - where the simplicity of the composition paves the way for waves of edenic serenity, and, latterly, of smooth luxury. Iris Ukiyoe's main point is that it is focused on iris flowers which, evidently, smell vastly different from the aged rhizomes (i.e. orris) which are replete with irones and often paired with ionones. As such, Iris Ukiyoe is not particularly powdery, purple, nor otherwise evocative of typical iris scents. Whether the floral iris note was derived from a floral enfleurage or is rather a careful recreation like Diorissimo was to muguet, I can't readily find out online, but I gather it's likely the latter. Iris Ukiyoe does indeed smell floral, faintly citrusy and green, but with what to me smells like slightly "sour" white petals, but in the best possible way. It's a bit of a fantasy to my nose as I'm not familiar with the scent of iris flowers, but to me this actually smells not too dissimilar to those massive white magnolias you can see blooming in summer sometimes. Equal parts citric-fresh and floral-heady, it's really a wonder of scent, and makes me think of a carefully tended garden with rivulets of cool water trickling through paved aqueducts. I don't get much of a drydown at all - this is truly just one big floral sigh in a bottle which, on my skin, isn't extremely long-lived (perhaps only 4 hours or so). But in its ephemerality and sheerness lies the ability of IU to give a full-bodied floral experience without becoming suffocating. Smelling it again on my skin I keep coming back to that faint sharp/sourness which offsets the rest of the composition. It's by no means excessive, but it does help to give the fragrance its important "disturbed" element, which saves the wearer from the boredom that I think can quickly descend on soliflores generally. Overall a really amazing fragrance, the skill of its composition perhaps does justify its enormous price (perhaps, perhaps!) I think this would be pretty effortless to wear as a man, as it lacks the frills, fruit or vanilla of more typically feminine scents (though of course anyone can wear anything, I'm referring more to typical conventions). Iris Ukiyoe slides on like a freshly pressed white shirt, and exudes a kind of calm authority which is really attractive to me. 10/10

Iris Ukiyoé smells of clean iris, greenness, and has flecks of pencil shavings with a bubble smell – not soap, but bubbles – like the kind you blow for hours as a child. When I was little, at the end of the elementary school year we would have ‘field day’. I live in a suburb of hot and humid New Orleans so field day was more like, water fun day! All of the kids churned in anticipation during our only morning class session because of the excitement for the coming activities. It’s as though I have finished my only school assignment of the day and you can smell pencil shavings and graphite. How can we possibly do any work when there is fun to behold? The bell rings at 9:35am and all of us rush outside to behold oodles of activities that don’t involve work! The smell of cool, dew-dropped purple flowers & earth quietly whisper - they have not been warmed by the sun yet as they are still shaded by the height of the school building. We are excited because water games like water guns, water balloons, water slides and a slew of half-filled kiddie pools beckon us over. And there are bubbles, oodles of bubbles with varieties of wands to be blown for days. Iris Ukiyoé smells like the beginning of an elementary school Field Day circa 1991. So pretty. So veilish. So good. The rose, orange blossom and mandarin never showcase themselves. The drydown is simply the loveliest and sheerest iris perfection.

I asked for samples from Hermes. And the company sent me one of each of their Hermessence. I have to say my favorites were Vetiver Tonka & Poivre Samarconde the most. The others were very nice. THough I dont care for the Vanilla one because its not as exciting and complex as the others. I also got the Brin Reglise but I never liked the smell of licorice but i dont mind it. Ambre Narguile was so masculine yet gormand and sweet enough to appeal to women. As for this Iris...one of the more feminine ones from this unisex collection of Hermessence but let me tell you besides my favorite 2, Iris Ukiyoe gets me ALOT of female attention. Possibly the Iris floral note attracts them. On the skin of men the floral becomes more masculine. I especially get more attention when I wear this with my Dior Homme! (which contains Iris & leather, wax, chocolate and vanilla) all aphrodisiacs! Its no wonder the females keep complementing me. If your a guy and too stuck on machismo and wouldnt try this then your living in a closed mind and ultimately missing out. If your a "i know i am a man and i can rock anything type" then try this. And you will see.

Iris Ukiyoé begins as a koān, the ultimate paradox of shape and volume in perfume. Jean-Claude Ellena renders another aquarelle, this time with iris: weightless, watery and cool. A mandarin zest and orange blossom highlight the composition, smelling like the very joy of spring's arrival that I am experiencing today. The iris is clean and sheer, with a tempered powdery undercurrent, resembling more the fragrance of scented iris varieties, which often do resemble that of orange blossom, mock orange, concord grape, and citrus. Sour oranges and soft purple, so beautifully limpid, it sustains for a while, then seems to fade so swiftly, but fear not, it's the sillage, the apparition of the fragrance, that haunts for far longer, like that sensation of hypnagogia: the space between sleep and being fully awake. Ellena's genius is in his ability to massage nuance to every detail of his work, and while its sadly not always accessible for consumption (I for one had to go with this 15ml bottle for an online discount), they are truly worthy of sampling just for the experience.

A lovely iris watercolor. It's as if Jean Claude Ellena has used a paintbrush to create this fragile scent. A stunning scene w/an iris flower growing next to a moody waterway..... I get no orris root from this but rather flower petals. This in itself is unusual I think. I can really detect the orange flower as it starts out. It brings a lovely bit of sharpness to the composition. Very quickly it dries down into a perfect iris flower. It's soft and delicate and still~tenacious! I get hours and hours of exquisite pleasure from just a couple of sprays. This is a go to scent that speaks of class. It smells expensive~which of course....it is! I truly can't think of one place that this wouldn't be appropriate. On me this has all of the makings of a classic. Simple and elegant w/out being stuffy. Timeless and yet completely modern. Iris Ukiyoe takes extreme heat and blossoms w/out ever becoming overwhelming. This is not a fragrance that you'll be smelling on everybody. Which of course makes it your very own personal and absolutely brilliant well kept secret.

I know iris flowers and their smell well. as a child it was my favorite flower because the smell somehow reminded of a strange and delicious cake. still in spring I crawl on the meadows to smell the wild, dark purple ones. as presumably everybody here knows, iris flowers' delicate spicy sweet vanillic smell is totally different from the root (with its many different aspects) that we're used to in perfumes.... Iris Ukiyoé is more about "the idea" of the flower than a hologram (I find it too citric and too rosy also has a slight tuberose-and-tomato-aspect which the flower absolutely doesn't have in my opinion, but I imagine it to be difficult to reproduce the scent of the flower). but while I find it isn't too much recalling the real thing, Iris Ukiyoé is touching in it's subtlety. it's tenderly intellectual so to say, or intellectual without radicalness...and very beautiful at the same time...my mother robbed almost all of my stock and she normally doesn't wear perfume...

The opening of 'Iris Ukiyoé' is one of vitality, rich with mandarin's warmth and sweetness. A mellowed citrus, mandarin is expertly utilized here for its restrained brightness. What follows is a hyper-realistic purple iris note, so realistic in its complexity as to be unbelievable. Orange flower imbues an ethereal lightness, along with a honeyed nectar-like accord. The velvety texture of the iris petals is captured by the inclusion of rose in the composition. This rose is less jam-like and more powdery in scent. Together these notes comprise one of the most beautiful and truly authentic floral fragrances ever imagined. Sillage and longevity are soft to weak as this "eau de toilette" strength fragrance seems to carry a demure personality. Most exceptional in spring and fall, it would also be pleasant on warm summer nights. Quite simply, an impressionistic masterpiece; one certainly not to be missed. Read my full in depth review at my blog:

Translucent iris and orange blossom. I find it very enchanting, despite poor to moderate longevity at best. I have a travel spray snd will be sad when it's gone. Hopefully I can find another travel size or large decant. When full bottles of this, and almost all of the Hermessence line, pop up on eBay, they have become prohibitively expensive, and I am not exactly known to hold back when I find a perfume I must have. Still, you have to draw a line somewhere, and from what I've seen, this crosses mine, especially given how fleeting it can be. I don't mind that it's fleeting. The lightness that is frequently the hallmark of John Claude Elena is to be expected, and the ethereal quality is lovely. Nevertheless, I don't want something I need to respray every 30-60 minutes unless I can afford to be that generous. I like it far more than the other Hermès iris, Hiris.

With this scent, JCE again proves that you don't need dozens of notes and synthetics to create a unique and beautiful composition. It clearly takes it's inspiration from the subtle beauty of the iris. But by adding the rose and orange notes, the underlying simplicity of iris suddenly matures into something more intoxicating and elegant, something that transcends nature to become a poetic meditation on nature. As others have noted, this perfume is wonderful for what it is not: no wood, musk, or citrus. It can't be described as green, warm, cool, animalic, dry, or aquatic. Yet while lacking so many of these traditional qualities, it is clearly a perfume, and works well as a personal scent for any occasion. My only complaint is that it does not last as long as others.

Oh wow, I must say this is likely one of the most realistic and beautiful floral scents ever imagined. The purple iris note here is so truly authentic as to be unbelievable. Orange blossom offers a white floral sweetness (almost honey/animalic accord) which blends beautifully with the bashful iris. Rose is subtle here, but does imbue a velvety richness to the fragrance. Mandarin is only really appreciated in the first few moments of the opening, beginning things brightly. Serene, chaste, elegant, ethereal, pure... all connotations that of which I would ascribe to this impressionistic masterpiece. (97)

To me, this perfume is meditative in a way; it's very calm, buttery smooth, very pleasant. There are no sharp edges, every note melts into a plush white cloud near a rainbow. It's not an iris soliflore like the name could suggest, but it is a definite floral. It smells like lily of the valley, grass, mandarin, orange flower, roses and peaches. It's not rooty or powdery but it has a pale lipstick kind of vibe if I'm thinking hard. It's not common at all, although it might sound from the notes; it has such an interesting and intriguing smell, it's gorgeous! 9/10

A beautiful stunning iris! JCE nailed this one!!! Were I a poet I would write something lovely to try and capture the essence of Iris Ukiyoé. Not many perfumes put me at a loss for words but this one does. This is soft, floral and elegant. No earthy carrots here. I think this may be my favorite of the Hermesessence line and a must try for iris lovers!!! My only concern, as others have stated, is the projection and longevity. I love this one so much though that I will be happily spraying away!!!

I just love this exquisite perfume. At first blast, in my minds eye, Van Gogh's Irises take center stage. For me, this is a proverbial summertime scent. The word "ethereal" comes to mind for Iris Ukiyoe. I categorize this in the same phylum as other loves, Une Fleur De Chanel and Amouage Ciel. In my stash, these get pushed to the back in winter, but after the temperature hits 75 Fahrenheit these are the bosses. I could bathe in this. Where would summer be without Iris Ukiyoe?

This is a different kind of iris. The soapiness that is so typical of it stays very timidly in the background simply adding a veil of skin scent to the otherwise perfectly blended composition. It conjures memories of fancy smelling drawer liner paper I once had only it has so much more going on in the quietest way. Very airy, floral and with just the right amount of sweetness. Although not in my plans to buy, you must experience this!

Hermes Iris Ukiyoe (2010) - iris watercolor - #jeanclaudeellena created this ethereal perfume that reminds me of Iris gardens in Japan. Iris, rooty and earthy, is mixed with Mandarin orange and Orange flower for freshness and a beautiful Rose balancing the entire accord. Ellena’s well chosen ingredients create this watery effect across the entire perfume, enabling the wearer to appreciate the scenery in one’s mind.

A lovely fresh citrusy iris. Most iris scents I have smelt are quite soapy but this one has a nice acidity to this with the mandarins. The powdery white floral notes add some depth and complexity that I enjoy and help balance out the iris and mandarin. I would love to smell the rose but I only smell it really faintly after wearing it for a bit and most of the scent dissapears.

Hermes Iris Ukiyoe (2010) - Iris Neroli - #jeanclaudeellena creates a tranquil haiku of dry and powdery Iris with Oranges, Orange blossom and Neroli. The white flowers give the Iris, body and creaminess. I also get a base of Rose, White musks and a slight woody accord. Mr. Ellena knows he’s a technical master, able to coax every nuance to an ingredient. Beauty in simplicity.

This is the crispiest, cleanest, soapiest iris fragrances I have ever smelled. Translucent, poetic but electric at the same time. It feels almost surreal to pay this amount of money to smell like soapy water, but it is worth every penny. Iris Ukiyoé disappears from the skin within a couple of hours, but its sillage lingers and lingers and lingers.......sheer magic.......

Soooo gorgeous, clean, almost green iris. It feels very green and natural, with a slight touch of soapiness. Smells like an expensive, clean, pretty lady. Wow. Classic Hermes. Hiris by Hermes (which I also have and LOVE), is a little more powdery and "wet" smelling. This one smells like a flower on a stalk. Longevity isn't the best, though, and sillage is very soft.

Hermes Ukiyoé- is a lovely bright blend of Iris and African Orange Blossoms. The Iris is not powdery or lipsticky and the distinctive fragrance combination is as though the two flowers are dancing amongst a few pink rose bushes and juicy sweet mandarin oranges. Softly addictive scent, feminine, not cloying sweet, with moderate sillage and trail. Divine!

I love iris scent but for some reason I can't do an iris soliflora so this is a very happy medium for me. I can't say it smells like iris but there is something to it that just smells great. This line is very natural almost neutral smelling to me. I like it but there is definitely no projection at all. It project more like an aura than a scent.

It smells very much like a gin and tonic - light, citrusy and just a tiny bit of bitterness. In warm weather I can smell a bit of warmth in the base notes. In winter, it's purely the sparkly citrus. Looking forward to the first hot days to wear this again. Too cold where I live to do so until April or later.

Oh my goodness... How much better can a take on iris GET??? This is a beautiful, natural iris. It's decidedly not as unisex as the modern perception of unisex is. But this can be worn by the guy who isn't afraid of smelling beautiful. I love how the listed notes are blended. Oh my goodness......

As a lover of Unisex fragrances ,I just found the best line for them , and this Iris fragrance is the best of them ,it is awfully beautiful iris with rose and orange notes, the underlying soapiness is amazing.Sillage& longevity are above average.This goes directly to my want list.

Such a beautiful but quiet skin scent that brings in citrus and iris together in a most sophisticated and chic way. Not earthy at all, in fact, this is ethereal and transparent in a way only a master perfumer like JCE can develop. I absolutely love this one!💜✨✨✨

its a floral scent, remind me of Lily (flower beach), its simple and not that transferable, longevity 4 hour and its still on my skin its more wearable for women but i don't mind enjoy it. no doubt about the Quality and of course expensive smell . usual Hermes

This is the one I grab in the winter when I'm sure spring will never arrive, just to give me a breath of blooming light. Today I found it's perfect for the summer, also. Let the rest of the world swelter while I'm floating around on my own shady island.

When I first put it on it smelled like ginger to me (WEIRD), but that faded quickly. It's now a sweet green Iris with a twist of spicy orange. This stays close to the skin and only lasts a couple hours at best on me.

Great take on iris. Very fresh and clean. It feels very natural and of high quality ingredients. Its is very soft and does not project but I like the simplicity and ease of wear.

Probably my favorite perfume ever. I smell more rose and neroli than Iris, but still Iris gives it a lovely accent. It is fruity and earthy... reminds me of a Guava tree.

its quite indolic and can be a bit headache inducing. but cuz its sooooooo achingly beautiful i still wear it. or maybe im just a masochist

Piano Sonata No. 8 (Beethoven): Adagio cantabile Irissen met sprinkhaan Katsushika Hokusai 1820

Cold, quiet, glassy iris blended perfectly to a citrus top.

It’s a crisp spring morning and the long crepuscular rays of sunlight hits the garden and creates a warm embrace. Fresh blooming flowers of iris and rose secrete the sweet scent of florals; these smells are unlike anything else, they are natural. After a light morning mist the smells take on an even stronger quality of verdant vibrancy. Green, dewey, saccharine and lavish, with just enough re-twang to not be too monoscented. The Hermessence ‘Iris Ukiyoé’ captures the scent of a subtle spring morning. It begins with an incredible combination of mandarin and iris without powder in sight. Orange mandarin and purple iris intermingle to replicate the dew and the sweet intoxication of blooming florals. A note of honey and rose give sweetness that works hand in hand to create the scent of the countryside. This fragrance creates the exact same phenomenon of pushing your nose deep into the petals of a pink rose or purple iris next to a mandarin tree with light mist in the background(again). Because of this ‘wet’ character – Iris Ukiyoé could pass for an aquatic-ozonic cologne that is paramount for this particular scents extraordinarily realistic character. A little bit of bitterness comes through that it detectable at the back of the senses and permeates the nose; as you would expect from either rose or iris flower – or perhaps even orange flower and mandarin pith. The absence of orris root means there is no powderiness whatsoever. Often iris and orris root come as pairs and something to accept in these fragrances, and without it makes for a welcome change. Instead you get a purely sweet vegetable aroma. Simple, but devastatingly effective; like a haiku poem. Hyper realistic Spring morning dewdrop floral Total masterpiece After approximately two hours this becomes a skin scent and sillage is moderate. Attuned for femininity, however completely unisex. It’s unique for men as there are totally no woods, no musks or nothing animalic about this; just light flowers and a feminine style of elegance. Daytime only. It’s like shoving your head in a bouquet of freshly picked flowers in the wet springtime. Not for me, however. 4/5

Floral Aquatic I credit JC Ellena for trying to tell a story with his perfumes. Instead of wearing his perfume just to smell something good, it helps to look at the whole thing as a statement of art. When I first tried Iris Ukiyoe I didn't like it, because I thought it would be primarily an Iris perfume, which it isn't. So I looked up the word "Ukiyoe," so I could maybe understand the concept, and this is what it means: Ukiyoé "pictures of the floating world" which refers specifically to a Japanese art style. Originally it was a Buddhist word that referred to the sadness of life. Well this perfume isn't melancholic or moody, but in the context of creating a style of art meant to evoke a floating world, this perfume nails it. It is so aquatic, it immediately reminds me of water, cold creeks, and the flowers too remind me of petals or cut flowers floating on top of cool water, outdoors, where there are a lot of fresh breezes. There are definitely green notes, too, but of the fresh, florist's shop variety, not the heavy mossy forest kind. Practically, I smell more of a greenish orange flower than iris. That's still a disappointment to me. The iris is very light, a light green floral style iris that is vastly overshadowed by the green neroli/orange blossom notes. Oh, and speaking of water, this wears very, very close to the skin, and lasts about 2 to 3 hours on me. I actually do like this perfume, as it evokes many peaceful visualizations in my mind. I would wear a spritz or two just for that. But afterward I would probably put on my regular perfume. I think that this may be discontinued, as the bottles on Ebay are very, very expensive (like over $300 a bottle) so it's not likely that I will get a bottle after I'm finished with my decant.

I admire Hermès as a fragrance house, and Jean-Claude Ellena as a perfumer, but in my (thus far, fruitless) quest for a (readily available) powdery iris-dominant scent or soliflore, Iris Ukiyoé is not it. Meaning something akin to "art of the everyday" in Japanese, the name brings to mind Van Gogh's iris painting for me, but the scent itself doesn't. While iris is present, rendered in Ellena's trademark olfactory watercolour style, IU is overall not for me. It reminds me of Guerlain Jardins de Bagatelle or (to a lesser extent) CK Eternity - a slightly sour green floral, typical the late 1980s/early 1990s. The hint of iris is pleasant, but there is not enough here for me to really love this scent. IU opens with bright citrus notes, becoming increasingly soapy as the florals creep in. Transparent orange blossom and dewy rosewater-like rose emerge, very green and slightly sour as it progresses. Iris unfolds on this dewy, green base, very soapy and light. There is no powder here, much to my disappointment. It fades fairly quickly to a musky skin scent, with the sour greenness remaining until final fade. Soapy and pale, the performance is fairly limited - sillage is intimate and longevity is moderate. An underwhelming sour green floral, IU is dewy and inoffensive with a barely-there iris note. It is a feminine-leaning springtime scent for everyday wear. It is fresh and crisp, but not my thing, and not what I'm looking for. Still, objectively decent, if quiet. 3/5.

The opening of Hermès Iris Ukiyoé on me is green, aqueous, even a bit spicy at times, but all in a very delicate manner. Underneath these shimmers lies a buttery iris, creamy and satisfying, yet translucent and not heavy at all, like the water in the pond. This iris fades after about 4 hours, and Iris Ukiyoé then becomes essentially a honeyed orange blossom and rose with a discreet aquatic touch. It still retains the smoothness and the elegance, though. The sillage is soft and the longevity is around 6 hours. While I do get orange-like nuance when I sniff my pot of Iris germanica, it also has a distinctive metallic edge and lacks the buttery texture, however translucent, in Iris Ukiyoé. Therefore, Iris Ukiyoé is more like the 'idea' of iris flowers with its floralcy. Its combination of citrus and buttery texture also reminds me of Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile and Miller Harris Terre d'Iris. But Iris Ukiyoé has much less white floral and is much less woody than the former, and the contrast between citrus and buttery iris is much more attenuated than the later. Although each of these three has their own distinct character, Iris Ukiyoé feels more fluid and less demanding with its understated elegance. I'd recommend it as a lovely gateway iris to those who are not used to the metallic, rooty or powdery aspects of iris.

Like one of those Japanese old masters' flower paintings, which summon the whole plant in just a few light strokes of watery, brilliant-blue ink. Its simple, apparently minimal beauty can fool you, for there are hidden depths and unusually spiky details around the edges. I get an almost scarily realistic and natural iris at first, but without much earth or greasy orris richness, and no sneaky boosts of sweetness from fruit notes to stretch the flower; it's all iris all the time. Still, somehow there's also a distinctly peppery, spicy (and exciting) edge in the first hour - while they don't smell alike, this facet of it reminded me of JC Ellena doing the same trick for F Malle Eau d'Hiver: it's not spicy, but manages to seem so, in an elusive, tantalising way. Not at all too sweet or blowsy; if anything, just a tiny bit over-discreet for its own good (like nearly all the Hermessences in my experience), and longevity is not brilliant; sillage dies back within 2h and only the faintest wisp lingers for up to 5h on skin. Which is a bit of a heartbreaker. And yet - transience is life, nothing lasts forever, and the calm gentleness of this scent seems somehow just right. If you insist on strong performance, or like a bigger, more solid, or more flamboyant feel, this may not satisfy. But Ukiyo-e is undeniably lovely.

From what I have read below, this fragrance is one that acts differently on everyone, so you may want to try before you buy. On me, it opens as the brightest, freshest, greenest, wettest LIVING iris I have ever smelled in a perfume. It is like burying my nose fully into a rain-drenched bloom on a crisp spring morning. It is so beautiful and true to actual iris flower that it makes me a little teary. This opening fades rather--too--quickly, though, and it mellows into a sweeter, almost syrupy heart that faintly reminds me of Fracas. It is still pretty cool and bright. In the drydown, it gets a bit soapy-sweet, with just a sheer dusting of powderiness, and I know this probably sounds odd, but at this point, it really puts me in mind of C. Howard Violet Candies! I can't say I am totally crazy about the drydown. Like all Hermes fragrances, IU is liquid elegance, and it is a very beautiful, uplifting, and seamlessly composed fragrance. But by the end (which does not take long to reach), it's kind of a static sweet thing on me...kind of meh. It's all about the opening for me, and if I could make that part last, I would be all over a FB!

Like a delicate watercolour painting... Jean-Claude Ellena is famous for creating "transparent" perfumes. This one is inspired by Japanese watercolour paintings. The smell of Iris as a flower is not really addressed in most perfumes, as most perfumes focus on the root (known as Orris) and not the flowers themselves, a good example being Chanel No. 19. That being said, Iris Ukiyoé smells like fresh flowers still dripping wet with dew and water. I get a sparkling citrus, mostly grapefruit and mandarin, followed by orange blossom and fresh rose. This smells exactly like putting your nose into a bouquet of flowers still damp and dripping wet with cold rain. It's incredibly natural. It almost has a citrus-floral-aquatic like vibe. But it's masterfully made (and not at all powdery, more natural and transparent). I would recommend anyone to try out this fragrance, if only to get a feel for what Jean-Claude Ellena does at his best. To me it's more of an expression of olfactive art than it is wearable. I find it very delicate and fragile. But if you want an authentic Iris flower (not Orris root) accord, then this is the best out there.

I can't really say anything that hasn't been said here already. Everyone's review rings true in some form for me (except for having a skin reaction or anything else of a personal nature). Iris Ukiyoe is delicate, watery, and impressionistic (and maybe unique to me - I'm reminded of jelly beans for whatever reason). I think those elements make it "feel" more feminine, but the scent itself is ultimately unisex (I'm male and have a full-sized bottle); it sits close to the skin so is very personal and more for the wearer themselves (in line with most Hermessences). Iris Ukiyoe embodies spring, where bright greens have emerged from the ground and whites, purples, and yellows sprinkle garden beds but trees are still only beginning to bud and the sky has a gray cast. But I still wear it any old time I want, and it layers well with other florals. It's the kind of scent that seems perfect for spraying on paper flowers, though paper flowers last and this scent certainly does not.

Hermès Hermessence IRIS UKIYOE is a gorgeous primarily orris composition, to my nose. Iris perfumes vary a lot, and this one seems much more about the roots than the flowers--much closer to Aqua di Parma IRIS NOBILE than to Prada INFUSION D'IRIS. This perfume is a bit earthy and slightly green without going all the way to HIRIS, with its marked carrot-top note. In a side-by-side comparison with IRIS NOBILE, I find the latter to be much stronger and woodier than IRIS UKIYOE, and also somewhat more masculine, but this creation is an edt not an edp, so that explains at least in part the difference in strength. IRIS UKIYOE is one of my favorite Hermessence creations, offering a nice orris counterbalance to PAPRIKA BRASIL which, despite its name, includes a significant iris flower facet. I love this composition, but my one concern is longevity. Still, it's going on my wish list all the same!

This one, I feel, is mostly citrus white floral, with iris playing a very close second fiddle. Mostly top and middle notes, and even though I can't fault it, it is not anywhere near adventurous enough for me -- the equivalent of an article full of simple sentences. Nonetheless, it is a very beautiful scent, I can't find anything jarring about this one -- I TRULY CANNOT -- but it's really REALLY safe. The iris is tamed, the citrus is held in check, and the rose is meek, noticeable, but not outrageous. There are people who would say THIS is the pinnacle of perfumery, where EVERYTHING is in balance and there are no jagged profiles in this -- I would agree (mostly) with this, but I would also say that is a little pedestrian and, to be even MORE honest, a little boring. Nonetheless, this is pleasant to sniff, but just not thrilling -- if that makes any sense.

Whatever you’re expecting from iris — lipsticky, powdery, waxy, rooty — you won’t really find it here. Despite the name, iris isn’t the star of the show. “Ukiyoe” is actually the more accurate clue: the iris feels watercolor-soft and impressionistic, more of a faint floral wash in the background. This feels like a quiet tug-of-war between iris and orange blossom. The orange blossom is done beautifully: none of that sharp, soapy edge it often gets criticized for. Smells like freshly cut blooms, leaning more into their white-floral character than their citrus facet (I honestly mistook it for jasmine). It blends seamlessly with the iris, which is handled just as elegantly. Longevity is disappointing, especially given the price. Still, a beautiful piece of work. It’s one of those scents where, if it clicks with you, it really clicks. 7/10 ✨

I'm in two minds about this one -- on the one hand, it is ENTIRELY iris-licious, and something I really like and enjoy. But on the other hand, it is quite sedate and a little...disappointing. I'm planning to get a 4 x 15 ml set, and the first 2 or 3 are more or less set in stone. This would make a suitable 4th entrant, though having said that, I might also go with 2 of another. No point wasting 25% of a set on something that I think is 'alright' -- it's gotta be a love, and I'm not sure this is what that is... The citrus and the iris is perfectly balanced, but there isn't much of anything else there, and there certainly is nowhere near enough base or stank. Having said that, it does smell beautiful. I'm not much of a fan of beautiful, though...

After a soft citrus opening, Iris Ukiyoé become a gorgeous light and summery floral fragrance. The perfumer tried to recreate the fragrance of a purple iris flower and I would say he succeeded. Iris Ukiyoé is like walking through a flower garden on a dewy morning in spring right as the sun is rising. There's a fresh cold watery breeze mixed in with the floral notes, making this fragrance perfect for hotter weather. An easy spring - summer go-to!

A light floral citrus. Good for the days you want to relax and enjoy the summer sun. Smells like happiness. Imagine water color in a scent, its that transparent! Extremely high quality. 06/10/22 edit: This grew on me a lot. This smells like a high quality ethereal powdery cloud of Iris and mandarine. A grower, not a shower. Let this stay under the radar, this gem only deserves those who can appreciate it.

This is an exquisite fragrance. A true floral with no messing around. It is in its simplicity that it shines. It transports you to an English country garden walking among the fresh blooming flowers and zingy grasses. It is a fairly light fragrance and its downside is its weak sillage. But saying that, for those who like their perfumes discreet and unassuming this is perfect for you. Elegant in every way.

I think I finally love how this smells... but the longevity is awful! Again, it's an Ellena, but that doesn't make me feel less sad. I am wearing it, 4 hours after application and it's just barely there. Powdery orange blossom and mandarine. Such a strange combination, honestly... done the way it is. This is definitely one you'd need to try first. The sillage is where the magic is.

The scent is very light, but not to the point of being undetectable. I think it’s the first time I’ve smelled a combination like this. It has an iris base, paired with neroli and orange — calm yet not heavy, with a lively, life-filled feeling. The middle notes are just okay, a bit like bath products, while the dry-down is a rose resting on an iris base — quite pleasant, actually.