Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse by In Astra is a fragrance that effortlessly bridges the gap between earthy and sophisticated, offering an olfactory experience that feels both grounded and luminous. Launched in 2020, this scent, crafted by Sofia Bardelli, is an aromatic journey that begins with an intriguing blend of earthy warmth and delicate beauty. The opening greets you with a bold, earthy presence — a comforting combination of coriander, which gives it a spicy, slightly herbal kick, while the heart of the scent quickly reveals itself with the stunning harmony of iris and osmanthus. The iris, a beautiful and powdery floral note, immediately captivates, wrapping you in its soft, elegant veil, while the osmanthus adds a delicate, apricot-like sweetness that balances the earthiness of the opening. However, it’s the heart of Betelgeuse, the iris and coffee combination, that stands as the true star of the show. The coffee note doesn’t just evoke the familiar, robust warmth of a cup of coffee; it deepens the fragrance, adding an intoxicating richness that grounds the floral elements in something darker and more complex. It’s this balance — the lush, earthy floral notes with the roasted bitterness of coffee — that continues to linger, undisturbed, from start to finish. As the fragrance settles into its dry-down, there’s a subtle but unmistakable sweetness that begins to emerge, softening the earlier ruggedness. The powdery undertones of the iris gently rise, adding a velvety texture, making the scent feel almost ethereal in its refinement. The oakmoss, with its earthy, woody character, brings a final touch of complexity, but it’s the faint, sweet undertone that makes this fragrance turn into something truly special. Betelgeuse is unisex, but it leans ever so slightly masculine, making it a perfect choice for someone who enjoys fragrances with depth and character, without being too heavy-handed. It’s versatile, making it equally suitable for casual fall days or more formal occasions.

Wow! This fragrance was not what I was expecting after reading the reviews and fragrance notes online... but in a good way! There is something quite unexpected about it. It's powdery yet there is a sharpness to it. Something waxy, but bright. I was looking for a coffee fragrance that wasn't gourmand or too sweet, and I think that I found it. The iris and the coffee play so well together and the corriander adds a hint of spiciness. All of these notes last for the duration of the fragrance life. The sillage and projection aren't over powering, so I think that you could get away with wearing this during the day in colder months. Definitley unisex but I think that owing to the brightness, slightly more feminine. I'd say that this is an 8.5/10, and I shall enjoy wearing this. Update- I can confirm that this is an excellent fragrance to wear in the office. It is unusual without being obxoxious or overpowering. It lasts for most of the day, and I enjoy when I get a whiff of it.

I'm surprised this fragrance is not talked about more... This is a stunning modern iris. It is not too powdery nor too dry. There's a subtle sweetness from the osmanthus which is balanced out by the coffee. The coffee note is fresh, like you've squeezed on a bag of coffee to get an aromatic whiff... Unisex, but this remind me of an incredibly posh woman. Overall I'd say this is quite unique and worthy of collecting.

It’s a nice iris scent: fresh, clean and slightly powdery. It also gives a bit of dry feeling, probably because of coffee and coriander combo. The coffee note becomes more pronounced over the time. And I must say it’s a very good coffee scent softened by powdery notes. Follow me on ig: scent.guide

Very unique and blended in perfection. Absolute master

Testing blind, this initially opened up with a fruit, maybe strawberry wetness to me, followed by a slightly sweet and powdery floral. Seems to get more dry and powdery as time passes, but keeps a freshness and doesn't become too powdery or tactum like. I want to say it is musky, but maybe I'm finally learning something and it's probably some combination of notes that project a hintly sweet musky undertone. It leans feminine to me, especially in the first hour or so, and looking at the notes I see it is the Iris that dominates, followed by the others. I don't get that much coffee, but I drink really dark roasted beans, so I imagine the coffee here is more of a light roast/green green bean feel. It remains fresh and floral with great longevity, but at its suggested price point feel it's a bit rich. It is specifically unique in that generally a powdery dry floral with a sweet essence air to it, it's specific and level of intimacy does stick out. Ok from me but I can see others swooning over it for it's unique crafted blend.

I anticipated this to be very unique after looking at the note listing. I ordered a sample, and shortly after spraying, I realized that it reminded me of Gris Charnel. I went to my closet and pulled out my travel size of Gris Charnel. I was right. I compared them side by side. This fragrance starts off less sweet than Gris Charnel, but gets sweeter as time goes on, while Gris Charnel loses some of its initial sweetness. Ultimately, the two fragrances are alike enough to me that I noticed their similarities immediately and I found them to be very, very, very much alike, though Gris Charnel is slightly deeper and darker.

The notes look amazing. Would love to smell this. How do I pronounce it? I am reading it as "Beetlejuice." (?)