I-Ristretto

I would say this fragrance is perfect for an iris/violet/powder lover, who wants some interesting complexity from a strong coffee note. The coffee note is initially strong and a bit dirty, almost a Turkish coffee dirt note, and then the iciness of the iris and the powder come through. All together, on initial impression, it mixes into an impression of a bitter, floral and powdery drink. I like it much better on the way to the drydown though, because it starts to meld and be a calmer iris, and the coffee mixes with the powder to be a little milky. The patchouli and cashmeran help soften it a little bit, but not quite enough for my liking until an hour or two into wearing it. I do think this is suitable for quite chilly but overcast days, and is more of a fall/autumn scent, or a very chilly summer evening, it would be too intimate and stern to wear during hotter times. I would also not spray it right before going out to an event, because it doesn't smell that sophisticated until the fragrance starts evolving on your skin.

Tested a sample from a set. The coffee (with cream n sugar) note settles and sits far in the background. It blends very well with the powdery note. I was complimented when I wore it. I was already planning on purchasing a full bottle before the compliment.

Sampling Maison Tahite I Ristretto, from their recent coffee quarter released in 2022, a blend of coffee, iris, pink pepper, violet, and cashmeran, with even a bit of a rosy vibe, a very pleasant mix that, while including coffee, is not coffee-intensive but feels like maybe one third coffee, one third iris, and one third violet/cashmeran/other notes. Dark and smooth coffee strikes me as a good foil to iris, to prevent the overall mix from being too sharp/powdery/screechy, while still having a bit of sweetness in the mix as well, coming off like a pinch of vanilla and musk. I quite like it and it adds variety to the other coffee-themed fragrances I’ve tried so far. Overall I like and it performs well, as well. I Ristretto, like the rest of the house, is priced very reasonably at $115 for 100ml, in EDP concentration, and is sold at Luckyscent (where I bought the sample set) among other boutiques. 7 out of 10

This is just shy of being fabulous. I really enjoy the scent. Coffee mixed with iris is fantastic. If they just made it a bit stronger and longer lasting. Glad I had a sample to experience. Don't plan on getting a full bottle.

Smells like a Dior Homme Intense with the slightest "cherry" to my nose. Update: I can distinguish the coffee note more in the opening and throughout the fragrance

Errr... not quite the espresso moment I hoped for... For me this opens like a spiced cough sweet, warms into full-on cardamom/dusty spice shop, and then... well, it sort of fades into nothing. The coffee that should be the star never really shows up at all — it’s more of a polite wave from another room? Don't get me wrong, it really is pleasant enough - nothing harsh, just very quiet and very spice-forward. If your skin pulls coffee, this really might shine, but for me it is a soft “no thank you,” and we move on... Definitely sample first!

A powdery floral iris-violet, flavored with a soft coffee note and anchored to a woody base. The patchouli adds a faint sweetness, while the light and quickly fading coffee note fits my sensibilities (which is to say I don't like or drink coffee). This is more of a purple floral scent. Moderately strong projection fades over 3-4hr, longevity 6-8hr.

Dries down to straight up face powder very quickly. Not bad, but definitely face powder.

hmmm... i might actually not like iris in my perfumes. or at least iris served like this - the way its bitterness combines with the unsweetened coffee and patchouli smells kind of like the wet coffee grounds that have been sitting in your machine overnight. in that sense, they got the ristretto part right? the zingy pink pepper and soft cashmeran work together very hard to give this concoction some warmth, but it just lost in the grind(er?)... pass...

I usually love coffee scents but this one is not for me. It smells musty. Maybe the floral notes are killing it for me. It certainly wouldn’t be the pepper. What might be more helpful to others is to say it is dark and moody, not sweet. It reads old and dusty to me, like an antique shop that needs some cleaning. It’s neither very masculine or feminine and it doesn’t project much. More of a private scent

Virtually no projection and longevity—could've sprayed water on myself and it wouldn't be much different. I did not catch any coffee in it at all. Just dusty-powdery middle notes before it disappears completely. One of the most disappointing scents I have ever had.

This made me recoil. Smells like lipstick, concrete, and dirt.

Rating: 😐🤱🏼🍫 Do I like it: Meh Who it is: a kind middle aged teacher that is a tad overly controlling Smells I get: heavy baby powder, violet, coffee-cocoa accord Meyer's Briggs type: ISFJ with an Electra complex Not too bad, basically a coffee-cacao accord bomb with a bunch of powder and iris over it. Chocolate scented baby powder - funny, heavy, not super unpleasant. Gets a bit metallic up close. It's interesting and unlike most baby powder/wipe type scents, but really nothing to write home about. Could be a "sexy" perfume for someone that enjoys powdery violet musks.

I had never smelled ris and coffee together: I must say that it is a really interesting combination. At the beginning you can smell the elements well blended, then the coffee (which seems sugary), it's as if it detaches itself from the dustiness of the Iris and the softness of the violet, making me perceive them all as distinct elements. Original, a coffee that maybe I would wear during the day, I liked it but it didn't make me say “wow”. I see her as very youthful, fresh. “Portrait of Lady Maria Conyngham” painted by Thomas Lawrence.

My sample is from Lucky Scent. I thought I'd love this, but this has almost no longevity and is a very close, intimate skin scent immediately. What I could smell at the very beginning was iris and violet. It also immediately turned a little dry and dusty, maybe that's the powder. I see no point in this perfume when it's impossible to smell unless you're constantly sniffing your arm and it lasts little more than an hour. It could have been so good!