Paradisus

130-100 BC, Antioch: Alexandros stumbled upon a gossamer marble stone, larger than life, diaphanous, iridescently violet. It spoke to him and whispered the name, 'Aphrodite.' Day and night he carved the enchanted stone lovingly, porcelain-like powder filling the air as he worked passionately, when finally his work was finished. She was magnificent, cold, and had transformed from sweet violets to a beautiful goddess of love, radiant with iris valor and grace. Alexandros grew old and died, departing from his love and soon Aphrodite became buried in dust; abandoned and lonely, yearning for her mortal creator. Centuries passed, when at long last a peasant on the island of Milos unearthed the divine beauty from her mineral tomb. She was a sight to behold, but alas, her arms could no longer cradle the one she once adored. But her grace was beheld once again, now in Paris by admirers from every corner of the earth. And she was renamed Venus. Once again she radiated with divinity, but this time with earthly melancholy. War broke, and she was hidden in a sweetly scented wood box and taken to the countryside where the fields were wild with lush lichen growing in the dampness of the mountains. Finally, when it was safe, she was returned to her pedestal. Here, Venus de Milo remains in graceful orris radiance. Transcendent, yet stained with the bittersweet scent of her wooded mountain refuge and her quiet, earthly sadness.

Paradisus by House of Gray, an orris centered work of art by the perfumers of Auphorie, Eugene and Emrys Au, for creative director Elizabeth Rose of Avé Parfum. Paradisus contains a jaw dropping amount of orris butter, an additional powdery note giving it a face powder type feel, but this is combined with earthy soil and a clean air note, a bit of woodiness, and together it creates what you might imagine paradise would smell like. It’s a combination of retro glamour and earthiness, with a dose of bright clarity. This is one of the most creative perfumes idea-wise, and executed masterfully by the Au brothers. How this didn’t win some sort of award, I’m not sure. In my personal opinion, this is a solid 10 orris masterpiece and I don’t go around saying that lightly. The materials used are as you would expect from Auphorie, and even though it is labeled as an EDP, everything about it seems like extrait. The creativity of Elizabeth’s idea along with the work of the perfumers here creates some sort of magic. It’s simply dreamy and euphoric, and fantastically transportive. If you love orris, and if you love the creations of Auphorie and haven’t tried Paradisus, you are seriously missing out on a piece of olfactive paradise here.

Paradisus wasn't love at first sniff for me. The opening is wet and muddy, like hiking in a rain forest after a storm. I enjoy gardening but don't want to smell like wet dirt, I thought... but the dirt scent quickly gave way to an irresistible sweet and powdery scent that lasted for more than 12 hours, and I just fell madly in love with it. Like the reviewer before me, I feel this is a scent you get to appreciate more an more with each wear. By the time my sample was spent, I loved the clay opening as much as the sweet, dreamy dry-down. Paradisus just makes me feel GOOD. And I like feeling good, so I ordered a full-bottle. I absolutely LOVE it and highly recommend sampling this masterpiece.

Loved the description of this as starchy, deep, dense and rooty. I’m always on the lookout for a powdery fragrance that isn’t overly floral. Each time I’ve worn this, I get a deeper appreciation for the soil tincture. It has a great texture, and wish it stayed dirty, and I wish I could smell the Palo santo. For me, the mountain air note just sits on top and dominates, like I’m smelling the scent filtered through a luxury dryer sheet. I love wearing this and sniffing my wrist to find that clay texture, but the fresh note is not for me. I can see a lot of people loving this though.

I have nothing to add the already excellent and accurate reviews of the scent itself. It is gorgeous: vintage-modern, quietly sexy, orris for days. The problem is that no matter how much I apply or how I apply it, I cannot get this one to stick around for longer than an hour, and sillage is nearly non-existent. At this price point, it can't possibly worth it, as the lovely scent leaves me as soon as it develops. I'm very glad I purchased a sample first without going all in for the full bottle.