Iris des Champs

Out of the blue, I decided to spray this on today. I'm giving away some of my rarely used fragrances, ones I either dislike or am ambivalent about. The fragrance did nothing for me when I blind bought it a couple years ago. It literally smelled like paper to me and not much else, but the bottle and packaging are so pretty I couldn't bear to part with it. At the time, I was a relative novice to the many facets of this beautiful note. I already had a few iris scents in my collection, including the ubiquitous Prada Infusion d'Iris, but I wanted more and began purchasing several other frags centering around the note. This challenged me. Now I don't know if it's a matter of having plenty of time to settle, if my nose has become more refined, or, quite likely, the fact that I no longer smoke that made the difference, but today I am completely smitten! I actually think this performs really well in cool weather. The projection is much better, and I suspect the longevity has improved as well. But most importantly, I no longer experience this as a flat, unappealing soliflore, but as a more complex, sophisticated multi layered perfume. The iris is constant, displaying it's many aspects - rooty, papery, carroty, powdery, violety, and occasionally there is a hairspray effect which I just learned is indeed a characteristic of iris. I also get hits of lily of the valley, some pink pepper adding some spice and rosiness, and sandalwood. I don't specifically smell the musk, but I suspect it cleans things up a bit. It is NOT an animalic musk at all. I can't stop sniffing my wrist, though I really don't need to, as it seems to float around me. Iris des Champs went from an at best ambivalent fragrance for me to a love in a single day - plus a couple of years. This is the art of old school French perfumery and I am so happy to have rediscover it.

FULL BOTTLE WORTHY. Continuing my way through my collection of iris samples. I must have smelled a dozen or more - but this one’s got me delighted and excited. It has become my #1 iris frag. League-of-its-own unique. Characteristically iris, yes: it’s powdery, and lipsticky - BUT MAN is it a match made in heaven here with the lily of the valley. I get those two notes most prominently on my skin. To then take such a genius pairing and top it with ylang ylang, pear, vanilla, and sandalwood was some divine intervention. This is sheer magnificence. Interesting and addicting. Multifaceted, ever-evolving. Voluptuous and warm, yet peppy and bright. Perfectly powdery, soft, creamy, and a hint woody. There’s a tart, musky, clean that’s remiscent of Narcisco Rodriguez For Her. Smells different on clothes than skin, and I enjoy the combination of the two. Iris des Champs is so sublime. The cream of the crop. Haven’t tested all my iris samples yet - but I don’t need to! Full bottle NOW of this beautiful MASTERPIECE

I was looking for an "old" scent that I can wear everyday and Iris des Champs Houbigant is just the right one for me. It is a very complex scent with no overpoweringly predominant notes, but everything here is well blended, it makes me feel vintagely elegant yet youthful at the same time. The price point was also within my budget range, hence IdC is one of my all-time favorite scents because it's so beautifully balanced and pleasant. I love the way it starts out with the zesty bergamot, mouth watering pear and hypnotic mugue, which all associate so cleverly with following mid notes of tuberose, iris and jasmine, the scent that just gets better as the day goes on with a subtle touch of rose which comnects all the adjacent elements so well together, and the final spicey hint of pink pepper makes it all invigorating and vivid. As someone who has been collecting perfume for over 10 years, I can tell you that this is one that you should definitely have in your private collection.

One word that encapsulates this fragrance is "shy". The scent itself is delicate and feminine and it reveals itself to you very slowly with the dry down. The opening is very papery and faint and as the fragrance warms on the skin, it really blooms. I didn't get to the full experience of this perfume until about the 45 minute mark when it finally becomes rich and nuanced. It's like a flower that blooms only in perfect conditions. I urge anyone who gets their nose on this that testing on your skin is an absolute must and holding off on your verdict until you give the fragrance a good hour to bloom; Then you will know the beauty of Iris des Champs. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 6/10 Sillage: 7/10 (with liberal application and perhaps some ambroxan or iso e super to support the projection.)

Subtly green with a clean musk, an interesting take on iris. Husband walked into the room I sprayed and went “wow, that’s strong!”, which surprised me because I thought this perfume wasn’t projecting. So go light on the trigger. Dry down brings a smooth vanilla into play, which was quite surprising. The mix of different notes on paper doesn’t look possible: pear, Jasmine and a amber accord are somewhere in the composition, but the notes don’t stand out. I think that’s a sign that this is blended well. I love iris in perfumes, and this is similar to Infusion d’iris (the original formula, a favorite) but it’s significantly different: Prada’s iris is more bright and sunny, Houbigant’s is more retro but not in a powdery way. Timeless is a better descriptor. I really like it.