Orris & Sandalwood

The multifaceted character of Orris perfectly interpreted with Jo Malone London’s Orris & Sandalwood. A compelling fragrance; an ambrosial woody note with a charismatic floral accent. Hailed as a complex ingredient and considered as the most expensive in perfumery, Orris are cultivated and extracted in a time-honored process. Orris’ surprising duality; woody and powdery, floral yet deep. Warm and sensual caught in a violety trance. It’s deeply enthralling in its intensity, mysterious in its simplicity. The scent opens with the delicate floral note of Violet and Galbanum that brings a smooth, earthy and powdery softness with a vibrant green character reminiscent of Iris stems of Tuscan hillsides. The powdery floral elegance of Orris envelops the heart, Iris Captive and Geranium lends a rich facet echoing a classic & captivating elegance steeped in sunshine. This is magnified with Sandalwood, Cypriol, Labdanum and Amber at the base for a creamy, warm and unique sensuality strengthening and extending the longevity of the scent. Orris & Sandalwood brings that balminess with an appealingly dark smoke with a powdery veil. There was a time of summer years ago when me and my friends stayed for a year in Tuscany and this scent exactly recreates that memory. This is that scent that makes me long for those cold summer nights, of a late night date that makes you long for that warm embrace. Together with Dark Amber & Ginger Lily this has become my staple for that special night out; a powdery and smoky number that lets out a dark floral character screaming masculine but sensually much more charming with subtle hints of powder. I’m waiting patiently for that Dry Body Oil of Orris & Sandalwood, this also works perfectly together with Mimosa & Cardamom for an added smoothness of Tonka Bean and touches of spice or with Lime Basil & Mandarin for a bright and zesty contrast. -Bertrand II

When I first got this, it was violently sweet like a total diabetic violet syrup. After less than a year, it has turned into this most unbelievably mesmerising and buttery smooth carroty orris with the most attractive earthy hint of vegetal rootiness. Its smell is now sweet, rounded, mellow and yet striking! No more of that nauseous sweetness like initially and it stayed that way. A miracle of maceration? Carrots boiled with floured icing sugar; starchy sweet with barely perceptible aldehydes giving it a noticeable sparkle and lift. In terms of the realistic carroty rootiness, no other orris or iris scent in the market touches this. ALL OF THE iris bearing Chanels, Guerlains and Xerjoffs should curtsy, no BOW DOWN to this Queen Mother of orris roots. Even the orris bearing Amouages couldn't hold half a candle to this orris root game seriously on fleek. There is no sandalwood in this. It's a show stopping carroty starchy rooty orris teasing with candied violets and airy sparkles. Did I mention all of the Chanel, Guerlain, Xerjoff and Amouage irises and orrises are now its maids, servants and sisters in waiting?

First, I must say frankly that I do not even know how pure Orris smell they are. I just know it is a kind of roots which appeared dominant in 1932 Chanel and various other Chanel perfumes. For this note, the same in both 1932 and Orris & Sandalwood is "unpalatable", a scent that looks elegant, expensive, but easy to wear, not too sharp or pungent to love and use daily. However, talking about Orris & Sandalwood, although the Jo Malone claims the orris note to be a protagonist. But personally, the distinctive smell of the perfume is Violet flower. It is sweet but not too sweet like candy or sweetmeat. Its sweetness is shining together with seductiveness, luxury and attractiveness. Besides, the violet color as a main symbol of the fragrance means wisdom, creativity, mystery and magic. These characters are some parts of my identity that’s why I am mad about this fragrance and I can confidently say that it is my icon. Longevity: 8 hours + Sillage: moderate to heavy

I added this as my signature scent, although really I have too many fragrances to call any a signature, just because this is so 'me'. I had been hunting for the perfect iris scent, one that had that very distinct carrotty smell, minimalistic, just very centered around that note, and so this was such a great find. I tried Iris Prima from Penhaligon, Hiris by Hermès, but none felt right. Après L'Ondee I like very much (and own a bottle) but it has more of that melancholic vibe, similar do L'Heure Bleue, whereas O&S is fresh, botanical and clean, more spring-like, more uplifting. The only thing about this perfume is that I wish it had more projection, just a tiny bit, but it is otherwise perfection! As for the 'sandalwood' bit, it kind of just adds to the powderiness of the perfume...a fresh, delicate kind of woodiness, not at all like anitque furniture. If you have ever tried Eau Claire de Merveilles, it's that kind of woodiness.

This one is enticing from the very get-go. Others have already mentioned how linear this is -- in this case, I feel it works in the favour of the scent, as it reveals all it's wonderful sweet, floral goodness in the first moments... There is the Velvet Rose and Oud DNA in this, I can't tell just WHAT it is, but it's there and I really like it. It works on many levels, I feel -- the orris is jammy sweet, not plasticky, not nylon-like -- it is quite a pleasant scent right out the bottle. The sandalwood plays second fiddle here, no denying. It's very VERY soft in comparison, but offers good support to the protagonist -- I'm glad I picked this one up -- it literally appeared unannounced and I just had to step in and get it. I'm glad it's in my collection...

Orris & Sandalwood Colonge Intense by Jo Malone London (A76, July 2016, USD 100) Yeah, this is the Orris colonge I am looking for. I can confirm that Orris in this the Orris absolute that they are also put in MCD's Dioramor. It is almost green, rubber undertone that I remember clear from that. I am hunting for that Iris and I found it. It has no jasmine which is a plus for natural Orris scent. Addtional of little powdery sandalwood is such a classiness yet minimal in just one colonge. 10/10 ===== Addendum 1 on 5.23.2024 I declutter this a few months ago.. Hey, sorry. But I just it a bit too plain. And that Green edge is quite sharp as it sits on skin. I might just like the one with more Spicy Edge.

On me this is pure, uncomplicated, close-your-eyes-and-inhale-deeply orris root...my favorite note in all perfumery. The other notes are barely there, supporting but not hindering the orris star of the show. Great sillage and longevity too. As soon as I can find it duty-free I will get the 100ml. I can't wait! Edit: Just happened by a JM counter last night and they had this on for -50%. I found out they are discontinuing it!!! And replacing it with something called Bronze Wood & Leather. I'm sad they are ending this one but so excited I got such a deal on it. 100mL for 69e :D

The latest of Jo Malone's Cologne Intense Collection, this opens with intense orris and violet notes then settles to creamy and powdery sandalwood base. As with others from this house, it lacks projection and sillage but stays close decently to the skin for like 5 to 6 hours. Jo Malone suggests to experiment and try layering this with her other creations but, of course, can be easily worn on its own! By and large, it's a nice scent and worth at least a sniff!

Jo malone always Discontinued their best fragrance 🤩, lucky to have one bottle...its smell so natural like real sandalwood tree with mild powderness in it..very nice logivity it stays on clothes for more then 24 hrs😍

This woody, yet interesting scent fits perfectly with so many occasions. It's soft but also natural and fresh. I often go for typical feminine perfumes but this is a great unisex one. I'm in love!

Habibi NY released a nice version of this called "Cashmere Oud". I'm leaving this note here since Cashmere Oud is not in the database yet.

very original aroma, musk, amber, I love the combination. I do not know of a perfume like this very special!

scent : 10/10 sillage : 8/10 longevity :8/10 60% night/ 40% day fragrance nice woody and iris scent

message me if you want to sell this fragrance

Iris is my very favourite note, and I'm always eager to try iris-forward perfumes as a result. Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist is the gold standard for me, but it is discontinued and very elusive. The fierce steeliness of the iris note in ISM seems to be a thing of the past. Often, the iris note in current iris scents is watery and barely-there, or almost undetectable among the other notes. Orris & Sandalwood is frequently recommended on perfume pages, and although it is discontinued and hard to find, I was lucky enough to secure @eleni77's bottle below (much obliged!). It is a pity how frequently good perfumes are discontinued. O&S is a simple, linear, to-the-point composition that does what it says on the tin, typical of Jo Malone. It is a pretty satisfying orris-led scent with a nice woody drydown. As expected, it is made with good-quality ingredients. Rooty and powdery, the orris is dominant throughout, deeply satisfying and sating my iris lust! O&S opens with orris, powdery and carrot-like, but tempered by a subtle green undertone. The violet, naturally, complements the iris to perfection but very much remains in the background - a shrinking violet if you will. As it develops, it becomes nicely woody and musky. I get some vetiver alongside the sandalwood, marrying beautifully with the orris. It gets progressively musky as it fades, with the orris and wood remaining until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A unisex, transeasonal orris-dominant scent, O&S is as expected, and a really decent scent at that. A muted but realistic orris scent with a woody-musky base, this is polite and subtle but features a proper powdery orris note. Unchallenging but immensely satisfying, this is highly recommended for iris lovers. 4/5.

The girl at the counter said this would be a huge hit or a huge miss, and she wasn't wrong. This is totally my skin but WAY better scent. It opens with dry labdanum and BIG orris, but soon it gets warmer thanks to the amber. The overall feel of it for most of the duration is very woody-milky, which reminds me a bit of one of my favorites: Santal Massoia from Hermès. It stays like that for a good 6h, and the late dry down is all about sweet violets. Projection is almost nonexistent, but its lasting power is quite good for a cologne: 7h so far. Lovely and comforting scent to use year-round as a second skin. I was hoping to stop splurging in perfumes until 2021, but I'm seriously thinking of buying one before they disappear. 8/10

Jo Malone and I have a difference (except with Velvet Rose & Oud which is UHmazing in all aspects!) in opinion of what a fragrance should be. This one starts off with all the lovely notes that it should and ones I gravitate toward in other compositions. However, as with most JMs - even the black bottled ones - within an hour...it is a total skin scent. If I put my nose directly on the hand I spritzed it on, I can still smell it. However, it doesn't grab me anymore as something I would choose to purchase "fragrantly" nor with its lack of sillage. Too bad...this is one that if lasted longer and had more of a presence I would like to have owned.

How delightful! Orris, violet and sandlewood are among my favourite notes so I had to get this. I blind bought it and I'm glad I did. It opens with intense orris then settles to a creamy skin scent but with excellent longevity. The violet doesn't dominate as it can have a tendancy to do in perfume but just creates a sort of musky, makeup vibe blended well with the sandlewood and orris. It's sublime, not an "in your face" perfume but your constantly aware of its presence. The sandlewood isn't as intense as Tom Fords Santal BLush which I adore but it's ever present. It's like a melancholic stroll in a spring forest, quite beautiful.

This was an unexpected like. This is mostly powdery iris/orris with violet, and other notes blended harmoniously creating a refined, sophisticated complexity. It is very powdery, but it also has a bright, tartness with only a hint of sweetness. I agree with Digfig's comment below that this is "starchy rooty orris teasing with candied violets and airy sparkles". Don't detect much sandalwood, it's well-blended and subtle. Overall: Not the normal vibe I go for, but I'm enjoying this more and more with each wear. I can see this working exceptionally well at the end of winter/early spring but it's truly appropriate for any season.

This is definitely something I would never have thought of until I smelt it I don’t see sandalwood ever as something I’d reach for in the name it’s very violet powdery soft but also packs a punch which I love so I was shocked Iv tried many Jo malones they don’t last on me I love nectarine blossom but it’s like water this definitely last a lot longer few hours definitely one of the better Jo malones

Strong orris opening infuses with a hint of sweet violet supported by sandalwood. Last about 6 hours with low sillage. It reminds me of Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist which is more complex and, of course, the price reflects. ps Jo Malone website suggests to layer this fragrance with their Mimosa and Cardamon perfume. Instead, I added a little orange blossom and found it beautiful.

Orris is vivid yet short-lived, smells like a faded lipstick mark on an old letter. A few minutes later, it transitions to sandalwood base, though the woody facet of sandalwood is soon tainted by something remind me of...rubber? It pretty much stay that way (rubbery woody) till the end.

I loved this perfume but ultimately sold mine. It's very soft, cozy and warm. It's very woody. I do agree with others it's powdery and reminds me of musky iris-based perfumes. The longevity was fine for me too! Not lipsticky at all!

Started out as lipstick scent but it didn’t last. It turned faint sweet woody on me. edit: Birnam_Wood’s review below is spot-on. That’s how I would describe it if I know English better.

This is spicy clean. very unique. I enjoyed my sample so much. might get me a full bottle in the future.

This was a blind buy. I was intrigued after reading some reviews and when I understood that the fragrance had been discontinued, I bought a bottle before it was too late. No regrets. I certainly do not find it an uncomplicated fragrance, quite on the contrary. Lovely in its complexity. This is for people who like to be distinct in their choice of fragrance because I think you either love it or hate it. I will not describe it because bertranddeux did a truly beautiful job reviewing this fragrance (spot on!). I would add that I do not find it powdery and that there is a strong scent of honey.

I get iris and sandlewood in equal measure. Slightly masculine leaning but unisex. More wearable version of Irisss by Xerjoff.

Fairly underwhelming, very linear. Only getting notes of orris (strong) and sandalwood (light, not a pleasant one). Not a fan of orris and would rarely buy a fragrance with this as such a prominent note, but didn't anticipate that and it came in a sandalwood sampler set. Leans masculine on me. Very close skin fragrance gone in less than 30 minutes.

I should have listened to one of the reviewers - it does smell like lipstick. It also reminds me of pressed powder. I should have passed on this one. Edit#1 - I tried layering with Jo Malone Golden Needle Tea - epic fail. Gave it away to a friend who likes the scent. Just goes to prove that colognes are a matter of personal preference :)

This scent is like a mood ring - it changes every time I wear it. The first time I wore it, I got a strong fermented blueberry type medicinal syrup with a licorice note, drowning in cloying old lady vintage perfume florals. The second time I wore it, it was a softer powdery woody violet iris scent. The third time it read identical to a certain phase of Santal 33 - Santal 33 opens with green violet sandalwood, then spends 30 min as *only* paper and leather on my skin, then turns to a sharp woody iris for 15-20 min, then softens to a powdery floral iris for 15-20min, then turns back into a blend of the green violet sandalwood scent after an hour or so. JM Sandalwood and orris was pure "sharp woody iris" phase of Santal 33 on my skin, which is my least favorite phase of that scent. This isn’t a scent for everyone. It's hard to describe. Semi-sweet, unisex. A few light sprays come out more powdery iris, but if you overspray, this perfume turns quite sharp, masculine, woody, cologne-like. If your bottle gets shaken, it might be medicinal. It isn’t my favorite scent and I know some people might not like it. I don't know exactly what occasion I'd wear this for. Initially, I hated it and wanted to resell. Then I liked it and was a little addicted to it. Then I hated it again. We'll see if future wears are any better, I'm debating whether to sell my bottle.

man who lied to me about this, doesn’t smell good at all on me. Smells like sweaty sour wood 😑 very Orris heavy on me I just smell that and nothing else

I *almost* blind bought this for that gorgeous purple special edition bottle and because the notes looked right up my alley: I love labdanum, love violet in small doses, have loved orris notes in other perfumes. I was hoping for a dark, cold powdery sort of scent. I'm really glad I tested this first, though, because it's unfortunately not something I could use often. The opening was... peppery? Earthy and bitter and root-y and really sharp. Maybe that's the natural smell of Orris root, I'm not sure, but it was borderline repulsive to me. It dries down to a soft (very soft) and comforting scent, sort of Dior Homme-ish without the sweetness or the projection, and also with a touch of Prada Amber pour Homme, I think from the labdanum and amber. I don't get any violet on my skin. On paper, I can smell the violet and it's nice, round and candied and yummy. The violet note really pulls everything together, but my skin seems to just swallow it up, leaving only some super faint, gently powdery, spicier notes. Once it's settled I do like it, but between the sharp opening and the fact that it's a skin scent, I think it's not for me.

I took the name as a literal description of the ingredients and was ready to comment that the orris root has a very violet like quality...well turns out judging by the notes here there's violet in there too, not a surprise. I have to say it opens with more of the sandalwood oddly, I got a very nice smooth milky quality with iris and a hint of earth. As Orris & sandalwood settles and drys down becomes much more floral powder than spicy woods, delivering everything I expected from this fragrance. So it's good but not mind blowing, I like the simple compositions Jo Malone has released of late, especially when the notes complement each other so well, and even if it's something I don't particularly like. Suffers slightly from the old Jo Malone longevity issues, even in its Cologne Intense concentration...but it's not bad, lasts several hours but sits low due to the nature of this scent. Worth a sniff I think.

I wholeheartedly agree with fellow Sydneysider Jomoves with regards the staying power of the latest Jo Malone fragrance as I too tried it at David Jones just prior to New Years. Rather pleasant and one of the more interesting and bold Jo Malones of recent times and full marks for going out of their usual comfort zone.The inclusion of orris root is a different twist which I found rather pleasant but for mine it doesn't have the wow factor of perfume in this price range. Nothing glaringly deficient and a solid effort but no Santal Blush by Tom Ford,Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule or my own personal sandalwood fave Le Labo Santal 33. Sillage is close,becomes a skin scent in 30 minutes on my skin but longevity is close to 6 hours. Its new to Jo Malone but a definite been there smelled that vibe.If I were new to niche I would have been thoroughly impressed.

I’m so glad to have found this. I have to ask myself why perfume houses always discontinue their best perfumes? It was the same with Violet Blonde and Midnight Poison. What are they thinking? Don’t they care what customers like? Anyway- this in my opinion is the best JM end of story. It is a pretty perfect iris violet at the beginning - not powdery, too sweet or lipstick like. There is smooth sandalwood underneath, and a deep ambery note that adds a bit of sweetness too. In the drydown it becomes a bit more woody, the nagarmotha which is usually found in oud perfumes gives a deeper, darker aspect. Sillage is low, but longevity is quite good- lasts most of the day. Definitely unisex. It reminds me a bit of Parco Palladiano Violet. It’s worth hunting out if you love iris and violet

Already available in Australia at DJs. I have a few Jo Malones but wont be adding this one. One first sniff I was instantly reminded of unpacking a new electrical appliance and the mixed scent of cardboard, plastic and glue! It has an almost pulpy woody cent to it which I think is the orris. The sandalwood plays a supporting role. In some ways it has a very flat Tom Ford-ish feel to it, with the same "back of your throat" scent effect. As it calmed down I thought it smelled like the inside of an old church - musty but not cold. Almost like incense that has just stopped burning. The silage is low but the longevity is crazy. Lasted through the night and was still detectable after a shower. Not for me, but I can appreciate that a lot of people will go for this one.

My first review on Fragrantica and it had to be for this beauty. I was gifted a large bottle of this when a friend bought it on a whim in an airport and discovered he wasn’t so fond of it when he got it home. Lucky me! I’m never disappointed when I put this powdery earthy and sweet Angel on. I love wearing it to bed, always makes me feel like I’m weekending in a cottage near the sea. I imagine this is what Sandra Bullocks’ character Sally Owens would wear from Practical Magic. A white witch snuggled in bed with a homemade quilt and a cool New England breeze flittering the curtains. If I’m sad, I feel revitalized with her, comforted and collected.

Iris and violet do come through, but they're upstaged by sandalwood—or whatever this is, since I don't get the creamy facet typical of sandalwood, just a general feeling of "woodiness" that at times feels like I'm inhaling a handful of wood shavings. In theory, violet's sweetness should offset the dryness of both the sandalwood and iris, but here it falls short. With this in mind, I layered this with Mancera's Roses Vanilla, and got exactly what I envisioned this scent would smell like if it were more balanced. Sometimes you just need to add a spoonful of sugar.

I really like this one, probably the most of all the Jo Malone's I've tried. I get lovely wood, slight resin, a note that reminds me of coriander seed crushed, a smoky feel. There is a shapr gaiac note in there that never goes away and normally that is a deal-breaker for me, but in this, it seems to fit. The base is an almost edible labdanum amber and musk wiht a soapy touch that I really like. A previous reviewer mentioned violets, and i suspect that is what I'm interpreting as soapy. Anyway, it's a gorgeous, light, evocative scent.

Not bad, but I happen not to like it. The sugary violet quality seems overbearing to me. I would only compare it to Iris Silver Mist in order to point out the differences - whereas smelling ISM suggests a mild tingle in the back of the throat, this one feels unpleasantly sharp to me before the woody chemicals give way to the sugariness. It also never really developes into the infinitely silky-powdery drydown of ISM, even though it has decent longevity.

Cheaper version of Le Labo's Santal 33. Pretty linear, beautiful opening but a slightly scratchy note in the drydown that I also find in Rose d'Arabie and MM L'Attesa, I'm guessing some iso e super or timbersilk, either way it's always a deal breaker for me. If either one of those super concentrated molecule compounds don't bother you and you're looking for a beautiful sandalwood/orris frag at a great price, you need to check this one out.

It begins to me as an incense but with a hint of something bitter/sharp. Smoky? Yes. Then the violet candy (in the purple wrapper) mixes in. Very nice. The bitter/sharp thing hangs in there though. The sandalwood keeps it pleasant and without the teeth required of an incense frag. I feel like saying "it's bug spray" but it's actually very nice. I like it. Try before you purchase.

This is soft and gorgeous. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. It's a very soft orris and violet. I'm not sure if it's the sandalwood that's doing this- (it's never done this before though if so) but I'm getting the most deluxe richest scent of the finest suede/leather bag. Too bad I've only now just found a sample of this and realizing I would have bought a full bottle.

Is the person below that's talking about Santal 33 smelling the same fragrance? This is a powdery, lipsticky Iris scent with absolutely nothing in common with Santal 33. No pickles no nothing. This is exquisitely simple with like I said powdery, lipsticky, vintage iris and smoooooth sandalwood in the base. I'm really annoyed that they discontinued it.

I like this very much! It's for guys or girls but I like it on clothes too. Very calming permeating scent. Slightly delicate but not overtly feminine. The sandalwood isn't too in your face and the orris and mild musk work together. I would wear this and share with my husband. The sandalwood is understated.

One of my favorite fragrances is Cucumber & Elderflower from Caswell Massey. Sadly they discontinued it. This is a dead ringer for it. Le Labo Santal 33 is also a dead ringer for this fragrance. Perfect year round. Just the right amount of violet in this blend. So sexy.

Woodsy violet and blueberry with a very thick, slightly gummy texture. A bit linear and Yankee Candle-esque, but not unpleasant. Reminds me somewhat of Creed's Love In Black and especially, Monegal's Impossible Iris; might be a budget replacement for it.

I must say when I first tried this one it was love at first sniff ,, very lovely yet not over powering, but warm and cosy somewhat, it’s lick almost in a church with incense burning , very were able and I think day to night lovely

I must say when I first tried this one it was love at first sniff ,, very lovely yet not over powering, but warm and cosy somewhat, it’s lick almost in a church with incense burning , very were able and I think day to night lovely

This is exactly what it says on the bottle, sandalwood with orris, it’s ok, nothing special and longevity and sillage aren’t too great either. I think Orris and Saffron by Korres does a better job on the same theme.