Flower Ikebana Indigo

I love the entire Flower Ikebana line (Sakura and Mimosa were both so beautiful) and was highly intrigued by this latest flanker. Ink and iris? I’m not even usually a huge iris fan but I was intrigued. This opens with a clean yet also earthy “orris root”-type iris that reminded me a lot of L’Iris by Santa Maria Novella. After a few seconds, the vanilla comes in to add a sweet background note but the iris does stay front and center. I can detect the slightest hint of that mineral “ink” note that gives this fragrance a warm, ambery quality, but it doesn’t play a huge role in the overall composition. To my nose, this is mainly an iris and vanilla fragrance. It is definitely sweet, or at least sweeter than a “traditional” iris perfume due to the vanilla, but I wouldn’t consider this overly sweet as a previous reviewer indicated and it’s definitely nowhere near as sweet as Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle to me. It’s interesting how we all interpret fragrances differently!

As a lifelong Flower fan, and as a lover of iris, I simply had to try this. Does anybody know why it has such a limited availability? I had to resort to buying a tiny official sample on ebay. Is it simply because it's relatively new? I would love to have a small decant of this, as Indigo is quite beautiful. This ain't Iris Pallida or anything, but I do enjoy it. It opens with a mineral blast that quickly evolves into bitter iris mixed with sweet vanilla. And there is slightly sharp, curious inky note present from start deep into the drydown. For its entire lifetime it remains primarily iris, and only then vanilla. Longevity is so-so, which I'm ok with, silage is minimal, which makes it an acceptable work fragrance. Overall, quite an interesting creation.

I smelled this perfume quickly. If i can feel an interesting mineral aspect (représenting the ink) , it’s really too bad this « Iris Pallida » is very very sweet, almost sugary. It make me think at the iris in « la vie est belle », especially the « Iris absolu » one, even that i prefer this flanker over Ikebana a indigo. I feel this perfume is a new try of the brand to touch an always larger audience, and it’s sad. (Sorry for my English, thank you for your understanding)

My mom bought this for me in Greece. I am in love with it. It’s an inky mineral iris. The bottle is stunning. It’s a simple and linear perfume ...but in not in a boring way. It also has some warmth to it (I am guessing from the vanilla which I don’t pick up specifically). It does have a tint of soft leathery sweetness. I am thrilled to have it in my collection...as an Iris lover this hits for me. Maybe because it was a gift I am biased, but this feels special to me.

Ikebana Indigo has straight up shocked me, I really wasn't expecting to love it so much. It starts off clean, reminding me of a boutique, just to turn into the most lipstick-y iris I've ever smelled lately. It's a bit overwhelming at first, but then a more acidic almost salty note of ink finds its way too, very simple and balanced. Don't imagine a bright red lipstick, this is a dark, cold frosty purple made perfume.

The best Iris perfume I have ever smelled so far. It is true it has similarities with Givenchy Irresistible Nude Velvet (which I also love) but it is much better because it has a mysterious smokiness surrounding it. Very feminine and mysterious. It's moderately strong and appropriate for any season but I love Iris, I could wear it anywhere, anytime and it will make me happy.

This made me think "if an android ballerina chose a perfume for herself, this would be it". Sheer and weightless, but also inky, mineral and cold. I smell printer ink (not squid ink), iris and vanilla. There is something high-tech and futuristic about it, yet I find it extremely wearable because it's so soft. I like it.

There is something in this that reminds me of my mom. Whenever we would go to the shopping mall on Friday she, and the atmosphere, smelled exactly like this perfume. This is the wooden floor at Zara, the Sanrio store, sparkly purple lipgloss and whatever my mom was wearing in 1999. A bit of nostalgia and maternal love.

I fell in love with this perfume after I smelled my sample. I need this so so badly...the notes are intriguing, but I think they work very well together. I think I need to try more iris fragrances.

Such a nostalgic and calming scent 😍 Little metalic at start, then vanilla join the party but its still very airy and light. Beautiful very natural iris. Perfect spring/summer scent

I didn’t like the original flower but this one is for me thank you, smooth light misty suitable for every occasion

I like it, but unfortunately it completely disappears in about 2-3 hours.

I’ve been loving iris lately, all of the notes in this sounded appealing, and it’s relatively affordable on discount sites and I wasn’t disappointed. At first it’s a very straightforward dry, kind of chalky iris, but not quite a “make-up” or “lipsticky” iris. There’s also something with a slight edge and depth that I assume to be the ink note. Something about the opening reminds me of pencils - wood and graphite - in the best way. As it settles it becomes more generically “perfumey”, a sweet inoffensive floral. (Parfumo also lists cedar and jasmine in the notes, which I’m inclined to believe.) The opening iris and ink sticks around enough for it to still be unique for me while still being an easy to wear scent that wouldn’t be “too weird” or challenging for people who aren’t as far down the niche rabbit hole as some of us. I also think it’s versatile. The cool iris and ink make it feel apt for cool and cloudy weather, but the sweet floral notes make it feel equally appropriate for a spring day. It could easily be an office fragrance but is pretty enough for a date night and soothing enough for a cozy day in. I’ve been trying a ton of iris fragrances lately, including some more niche and very pricy ones, and this is one of my favorites (for reference some other loves are Molecule 01+Iris, White Rice, Iris Malikhan, English Major, Lipstick Fever, Gris Charnel). If you’re into the notes and enjoy a designer fragrance, this might be a safe blind buy for you too.

i love the whole kenzo flower line so i was so excited to get this..........its nice but not what i was hoping for......and i dont mean that in a negative way......its just i was hoping for a stronger iris more powdery & a bit more vanilla..........i guess i was hoping for richer...........but instead its a nice light serene fragrance........and it blows me away how they can have "ink" as a note - cracks me up but they actually captured the "ink" essence in the beginning - u get an inky vibe - its actually nice - its not what my mind was thinking - i was thinking dark black smelly ink lol......its not that lol u do get the iris but its subtle - nice & sweet...........and the vanilla dry down is very light - almost like theres no vanilla (almost) but the iris does shine here just in a shy way :) overall nice easy scent.............still a flower fan !!!!

This is interesting...I got this perfume because the ink note really made curious and I haven't seen it used in other comercial perfumes, naturally this intriguing notes are found in niche perfumeries, like Toskovat...that uses blood & bubble-gum. I was worried however that my pH that transforms everything in something sharper and more metallic after the dry down will make the ink overpower the iris but that did not happen. This is a very pleasent floral perfume with a warm aquatic feeling but nothing special or out of the ordinary.

Unlike the other reviewers the ink note is actually quite prominent to me. It's salty, slightly cold and smoky. I have never smelled an ink note before and like it! It gives an air of mystery and intrigue. I love Iris and thought that it would be more distinct but sadly I can only smell a blend of sweet florals not exactly just Iris. Considering how unique and interesting the ink note is I wish they had paired it with an equally as interesting floral accord. All in all I still like it :)

This perfume is definitely not unique, but sure is charming and modest. It reminds me of a sunny spring or summer afternoon, a time for daydreaming and taking a nap. There is something truly peaceful, fresh, and comforting about it. The combination of iris and ink adds an expensive, classy feeling without being too heavy. This perfume is light, it feels as if you're not even wearing a fragrance; the scent simply floats around you.

Great iris interpretation, way different than the usual one. If you struggle with iris scents, like myself, give this one a try, it feels very different than the norm. I'd say that it feels clean, yet dark. More of a winter daytime scent for my standards. I also loved the mineral feel from the ink note. Overall very pleasant.

To me the smell of this perfume is very mineral and soapy type. A clean girl perfume, after the shower. I don't know which notes give this clean athmosphere but I kinda like it! It's a light scent to wear during the day or at home. I only have a sample but would look forward to buy a 40ml one Very comforting scent

Fragile beauty of iris aroma, completed by cool, almost mineral ink. There is a subtle poetry of it. One simple accord which has a bit melancholoc, but clear sound. Vanilla base makes the scent close, not too distant as it could smell first. The perfume is balanced in harmony. I wish it only wasn't so fleeting...

This smells like an iris for the nighttime. It is inky for sure, it's a great combination. There is a slight reminiscence of ELDO La Fin du Monde, but it is barely there - I would not put them in the Reminds me of category. I'm wearing my sample and I really, really like it. It is FB-worthy for me.

What is “Iris Padilla”? Is “Padilla” correct!? #Rubendiaz93 thanks for your kind explanation, though, to be honest, i know what iris paLLiDa is, that’s why I don’t understand why in both the ad pictures they wrote “padilla”🤷😉

A more muted version, reminiscent of the dust notes drifting through an old library. A more melancholic take on the original. Over time, a powdery base settles on the skin, lingering for many hours.

This smells interesting. Fresh, cold, clean and nocturnal. I get a bit of powder but it is still clear. It’s also mature but in a good way. Really nice scent.

It gives me so much nostalgia! Like I am in school classroom and smelling the ball pen ink which i accidentally broke... How is it going to project in winter?

I love the ink note, it brings back the memories of hand-written letters. The fragrance is well-balanced and quite elegant but has poor longevity.

It smells like a furniture store. Interesting perfume.

This fragrance truly smells blue — not aquatic in a beachy way, but ink-blue, mineral-blue, twilight-blue. There’s something cool, inky, and restrained about it from the first spray, like dyed silk or indigo fabric drying in night air. The vanilla is very faint on my skin. If you’re expecting a creamy, edible or comforting vanilla, this isn’t that. Instead, it acts more like a soft shadow in the background — barely sweet, more textural than gourmand. The so-called “ink” note doesn’t smell like real ink either; it’s not sharp, metallic, or inky-black. It reads more as an abstract mineral accord, clean and slightly smoky, giving the scent its blue identity rather than literal realism. There’s a noticeable masculine lean here — in a calm, composed way. Not aggressive, not barbershop, just cool and self-contained. The iris is present, adding a dry, powdery elegance that keeps the fragrance from feeling too stark. It’s not makeup-powder iris, more like pressed petals and cool suede. Overall, Ikebana Indigo feels bold, futuristic, and artistic. Not flirty, not sweet, not feminine. It wears like a mood rather than a statement — thoughtful, minimal, and a little distant. If you love fragrances that feel blue, mineral, and slightly androgynous, this one will speak to you. If you want warmth, sweetness, or obvious sensuality, it may feel too restrained. This is a fragrance for people who like atmosphere over obviousness.

The scent is not bad. It is quite pleasant actually. Nice and fresh. Not offensive, hard to imagine anyone hating it. Office-safe but suitable for many occasions. A safe gift. The problem I have with it is that it feels so... Generic. Unremarkable. Forgettable. I feel so sad to say this. Polarizing, offensive scents are not my cup of tea. But from the notes, I was hoping for something more... Special. Interesting. A fresh perspective. I do find the ink from it. Just like the blue stuff inside a blue rollerball pen. It is subtle and can easily go unnoticed if you don't know to look for it. However, once you find it, you will always notice it. Whether you consciously recognise the ink or not, it does bring a subtle and nice mineral touch to the whole. Maybe I should not judge too quickly but give it a chance to grow on me. However, there are other, more interesting options to wear. Maybe I'll give it to my mom. We'll see.

This was so disappointing for me... I was very intrigued by the ink note and the simplicity but when I tested this in store it just smelled like the most common and boring cheap perfume marketed for teens. It doesn't smell bad it's just very boring and smells like a thousand other things I have smelled before. It's bright and has a bit of a punch, easy to wear in the morning and quite feminine. I was hoping for a cool, dark, emo scent reminiscent of a dark fairy in a rainy cold forrest - something like the vibe I get from Lolita Lempicka Le parfum but more modern and less sweet. So I'm quite sad I didn't find another treasure with that vibe.

First of all: I don't like any of Kenzo's fragrances. They give me headache. But today I received a sample of Ikebana Indigo and well...it's actually not bad though Iris is not my favourite flower accord. The almost leathery headnote is quite surprising in a positive way, something new or at least interesting. But it fades quickly and makes way for a clean, rather commonly sweet, flowery and powdery/earthy fragrance that lacks a distinct profile but is still nice and rather inobstrusive. A bit old fashioned and melancholic even. Retro.

I was able to get my hands on a sample of this one. I truly liked the fragrance. It reminded me of a creamy children's cosmetic I had when I was a kid, which made it feel very nostalgic. In the background, there's a sweet citrusy note and a touch of soft vanilla sweetness, I believe. I'd love to wear this perfume, but its sillage and projection are practically nonexistent. I don't think it's smart for my wallet to buy a perfume that I have to keep smelling on my wrist just to enjoy it. It almost feels like a joke, really.

I can definitely appreciate this fragrance for what it is but if you expect something unique (like I did looking at the notes), you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Yet I also understand I'm not the target audience so that's on me. It opens with really pretty, slightly cold and sharp iris. Sadly the ink note is too short-lived for me, quickly it turns into powdery flower scent and not much else. If you like inoffensive flower fragrances, you might enjoy this.

The opening is EXACTLY like Dyptique's Fleur de Peu... It got me soooo excited because I'd love a more accesible version of FdP. It's magical! That said, while still beautiful, the drydown of this one is kind of generic, not that different from other designer floral fragrances with a vanilla base, in my opinion. Compared to FdP, this is less musky / powdery and more fresh, like shampoo. I like it but I hoped for something else.

Not the best, not the worst. The opening has nice iris, and I enjoy it very much. It smells like a burst of fruit and iris, which was a pleasant surprise. But as this dries down it becomes very musky, which I dislike. Maybe it's the interaction between the ink note and the vanilla, I'm not sure. This is not a bad scent, but it's not for me.

I'm so sad, that I don't like this one. It's not bad, but I really expected something much cooler and mineral from the way the bottle looks and how it's described. The ink and iris notes disappear almost instantly and you get left with a basic vanilla scent. Kind of boring. :/

The first kick is interesting. To me, it smells like a bouquet of dried flowers. And like a spilled ink. It quickly fades into a warm iris. A bit retro. The scent sits close and sadly disappears fast. A beautiful idea, shame it doesn’t quite hold.

Not for me. It smells stale to me.

Just received a sample today. I want to love it - the notes looked promising and the text sounds intriguing. The "inky" smokiness lasts seconds in the opening and immediately fizzles out followed by an unremarkable sweetness that all sub par designer fragrances seem to have these days. The "iris" is again very thin and sweet smelling nothing buttery, nothing carroty, nothing powdery - nothing to indicate that it is iris, it could be any generic flower. Vanilla here is unremarkable - not even sure it is vanilla - more that it is just sweet. I get absolutely no sense of the color indigo from this. It's thin and has no backbone - nothing in the dry down that makes it unique - no leather, no smokiness no depth. Who wrote this drivel? The original Flower by Kenzo was such a delicate, yet intricately layered creation, this flanker is an insult to the original.

The iris here is nothing like the powdery, creamy, or refined kind I love. It digs into the earth and releases a scent of... parsnip. A raw, rooty iris - exactly the kind I instinctively avoid. It speaks of torn-up roots, damp garden soil, when I prefer my iris dressed in silk, dusted with violet, or gently wrapped in musk. In the background, a soft vanilla tries to sneak in, sweet, almost comforting. But it's too timid, too distant to balance out the aggressive vegetal note. Such a pity, because the bottle deserved better. A composition as elegant as its case, that’s what I had hoped for. For me, it’s a no.

found this quite disappointing, it sounds beautiful on paper but the ink note is a bit too sharp and crowds out the iris at the start, then disappears altogether into a generic powdery floral after an hour or so - it just never comes together.

Very weak and smells like ink. Don’t like it

The smell similar to Givenchy Irresistible Nude Velvet, like my mom's old lipstick. Not a safe blind buy. Rating: 0/10

It is ok. Kind of generic. Quite cosmetics-smelling. It reminds me of Good Girl by Carolina Herrera - that prominent synthetic sweet vanilla and that slightly metallic, piercingly sweet, almost minty girls' designer perfume smell that is popular at the moment. It isn't really bad, but it doesn't smell as interesting to me as it looks on paper, and it doesn't live up to the interesting, timeless and unique qualities that original Kenzo Flower has.

starchy rise esque musks with a designer floral DNA. This is heady jasmine with a vintage iris and woody vanilla with a sharp and moody ink undertone. This isn’t particularly ground breaking as it really is just a powdery musky floral but the opening notes of inky sharpness and cooling ball point pen feels is interesting, just wish it stuck around for longer.

this is such a beautiful cool, inky fragrance! there is a starch-like quality present here, and in some ways this is more wearable to me than diptyque's l'eau papier. the iris and vanilla play very well together without being sticky or cloying, this one is perfect for those cool, solo spring mornings

The intial 15 seconds is alchol, pungent, powdery flowers (maybe the ink??). Within a few minutes, it grows into a sophisticated sweet, flowery perfume with a light salty note. Delicious and elegant 💙

My mother dislikes it, she said is a bit sour and insipid (maybe that ink note), despite she cant stand vanilla scents, here was soft and not obstrusive, the only positive thing but... nothing more

CateCate I believe you are referring to Iris Pallida (Dalmatian or Sweet Iris). Iris Pallida is known for its silvery spathes in comparison to other Iris species.

Flower Ikebana Indigo, by Kenzo, smells like cold iris flowers, creamy orris root, rice flour and vanilla powder. Personally, I do not smell any ink.