Infusion d'Homme

Now that the dust has settled on the first decade of this century, I find it easier to think about Infusion d'Homme in relation to what it captures for me, and how much I've remembered it. Among mainstream releases marketed to men, it is one of the best of that decade. I recall trying it many times at stores together with other perfumes, and its smell was always lost on the test strip: I simply couldn't smell anything in the olfactory cacophony of other perfumes sprayed in the same environment. A few years down the line I tried it from a small decant, received due to the courtesy of a Basenotes friend. I was struck by its soft-hazy yet clear form. It reminded me of Mugler Cologne because of the soap; however, while Mugler was fun and uplifting, Infusion d'Homme was sombre and introspective. I found it to bear some similarities with Bois d'Argent, in part because of the iris and the myrrh, and in part because of their personalities. Years later when I'd sampled Iris de Nuit, I found they sometimes speak in the same language, but always tell different stories. Infusion d'Homme was always compared to Prada Amber pour Homme, and they had many similarities, both being fresh, interesting and reminiscent of soap, but with one key difference: Amber pour Homme was warm and friendly, while Infusion d'Homme was cool and aloof. If you like Christian Dior's aesthetic of pale greys and pastel pinks, Infusion d'Homme could be for you. I find it soft yet gently persistent, with notes of clean iris, a light and moody incense, and a touch of myrrh; they together manage to create something airy, and an accord that is a dead ringer for soap. A good quality bar of white soap; very simple but quintessentially chic and androgynously beautiful. Yet, the most unique feature of this scent is its subtlety, and that, it is inoffensive and always appropriate; and another very interesting aspect is that it is clean, soapy yet shyly sensuous and intimate, while completely shunning any conventional notes used for such effects. On my skin it sits quietly with soft occasional wafts, and duration is moderate at about six hours. It's been one of my most worn scents, and it's been uplifting in the heat and comforting when cold. I once read a comment on a blog post about Infusion d'Homme: "young people, especially single, could use this". For some reason, those words have stayed with me; maybe because I did use it quite a bit in my twenties. These days I find it more calming than before; it reminds me of the cacophony that it got drowned in, and I connect it to the cacophony of a world that gets messier each day. It doesn't solve life's problems, but it is comforting. If I weren't nuts, I'd have worn it everyday. 4.5/5 P.S. Infusion d'Homme has been discontinued. I have tried Infusion d'Iris Cedre on paper and on skin, and it is at least 98% identical. I attribute the difference of 2% to my vivid imagination. The prices are not identical.

Over-all smell - 7.5/10 : Complex yet Phenomenal smell like clean clothes with a bath of flowers; iris-neroli-vetiver powdery fresh scent trail but these statement doesn't seem give equity because of it's mysterious & magical character. It isn't exactly masculine in its soul but it would reflect the freshness and energy as it transports the image of cleanliness and optimism. Many might like it and I didn't find objectionable but it exudes luxury and modernity. (+) * Niche quality; perfecty well-balanced * Impressive longevity; 7-9 hours * Arguably the most perfect work-scent ever * A masterpiece for every soap lover complexity. * One of the best all-year round fragrances and the more wearing it gets the more it grows on you. * Not the loudest, most noticeable, or the strongest out there, but, if you enjoy wearing a work-scent that turns heads and it exudes for smelling clean without smelling like your trying. * For the ones who wants to balance the charm and class with broad appeal to the ladies; this is the fragrance for you. The most appealing thing is when it dries down; rich, yet smooth. This deserves to be on every man's collection. Versatility - 9/10 : Feeling also like putting on a fresh white shirt' or fresh out of the shower feeling. Great on college and professional guys and occasions like business meetings and job interviews. Easy for a night out or just laying around in fresh sheets. Great to wear in the Summer and Spring! (-) * Somewhat atrocious soap, unworthy, cloying can gives nausea to others. * Vain, uptight, and self-conscious personality. * It's blasting yourself in the face with rubbing alcohol. * Too sweet! It makes you smells like a teenage girl! * This fragrance might work for you if you smelled it on someone else standing on the other side of the room. * Lacking of character - cold quality * Bergamotto Marino and Mugler Cologne offer with much more character - fresher and sportier even some of the "Gendarme" & Dior Homme works better. * Somebody said IDH is latter way inferior to the first (Prada Infusion d'Iris) due to the fact that it's sharp and unsophisticated and its silage is horrible and a clean soupy home fragrance - laundrish - air refreshener that stinks way too much. It opens with a blast of soda and dries out flat-boring, starch and shampoo aroma that is better suited for collectors of strange odors, rather than practical cologne wearing gentleman and it lingers as unsuccessfully cheap soaps. Maybe that's what really ruins. It seems like it's trying so hard to be the beacon of perfectly composed male grooming, that it kind overdoes it, like a guy who spends too much time on his hair and gets frequent manicures instead of just clipping his nails. Love or Hate, but who cares? Definitely a masterpiece. 8/10

I remember the first time I tried this perfume, I was amazed by how great and clean it was. Reminded me of the most luxurious soap on earth. I had to have it for sure, as I enjoy soapy scents, but the overall effect was really simple. I got a big bottle recently, and all I can say is that the more I wear it, the more I love it. I have to say this: the men marketed perfumes in the designer range is incredibly disapointing for me, and it's getting worse (I can't find anything I love in the most recent launches). I'm having the opportunity to test some niche and vintage perfumes, and how many great discoveries I've been doing! And that's what's been making me less tolerant to the lack of creativity and overall quality of most of those perfumes. It's part of the process of being here in Fragrantica and discovering new experiences, I guess. However, ladies and gentlemen, there is still some hope. Infusion d'Homme has for sure one of the best qualities regarding the choice of ingredients out there, and it's better than many niche, so I recommend everyone to test it as soon as possible. Iris has always been one of my favorite notes, if not my favorite: it's earthy, powdery, crisp and mysterious. Infusion d'Homme is a gorgeous interpretation on that note: the iris is combined with refreshing neroli and mandarin orange to give it a sparkling effect. The vetiver sets a smooth and polished woody base, and the incense gives it a soft smoky opaque feeling. Benzoin warms and sweetens up, just a bit, since this is not a sweet perufme by any means. This is extremely complex. Which might be strange to those who only smell the soapy scent and let those wonderful elements vanish, like they're not there. Well, if you smell carefully, you may distinguish all the notes and stages of this perfume, but you have to test it more times, as I only smelled soap as well the first time. It's very polished, sophisticated, simple and elegant, and one of the things I love the most about it is the fact that it's absolutely versatile. It manages to be a safe choice (as it's not intrusive) as well as an extremely interesting one. Most occasions and weathers would go well with this perfume and you'll smell effortlessly chic. Classic and modern at the same time. It lasts greatly on my skin, although the sillage is not strong. It's not a loud perfume, and it's not supposed to be. It's smooth and suave. And that's something you won't find many times in the department stores. Also, lovingthealien's review is spot on.

This is soapy. Yes, pretty much everybody said that already, but that's really the one-word definition of Infusion d'Homme. However, this is as well-made expensive soap smell as there is in a designer perfumery range, and even in the niche range I know. The pyramid is quite simple. Opening of citruses and, mostly, neroli, paves the way to a gentle iris heart. The iris note is of a soapy, powdery variety, compared to a waxy, lipstick-like iris I usually find in designer perfumery. The base adds a touch of incense and faint woods and a general feeling of muskiness. All those notes, in conjunction, make this perfume feel like a liquid, bottled white linen shirt. Pretty much, a definition of cleanness. Now, I don't know how enthusiastic all this may sound, but, to me, it's so outrageously good. It bodes well with every situation when you want to make a subtle impression rather than a strong, screaming one - it's ideal for a workplace, for a walk, for any romantic meeting, especially in hotter, summer or spring days. Women can wear this one as much as men can, as it's, note-wise, pretty genderless, but I feel like it's tailor-made for gentlemen. White shirt and jeans are what comes to my mind as an ideal outfit to wear this one, but it mostly doesn't matter, you can wear it with anything, anytime. Five years have passed since I had and, pretty much, rejected a sample of this little wonder right here. Through those years I found a whole new level of appreciation for this kind of smell, and right now I find those soapy scents a must-try. When I returned to this one, I fell in love with it for the first time, but I don't think that will end any time soon. Along with Narciso Rodriguez for Him Musk, this is my favorite clean, gentlemanly scent. 9.25/10

It’s difficult for me to express just how much I love this scent. Everything about it is just right. It’s classic and modern at the same time, and the quality is just amazing. The associations with soap and powder are definitely there, but there is so much more to this fragrance. The top notes are an intense soapy neroli and tart citrus which, combined with the massive dose of irones present, come off as fizzy and refreshing. Quickly, the heart emerges as a beautiful, sunny iris. It’s utterly weightless, and plays at the edge of earthy and powdery while never falling completely into either. Beautiful, perfectly dosed Somali incense and vetiver take what could have been the dirge that is Apres l’Ondee or Iris Silver Mist and make the composition playful and fun. The drydown, for once, is actually the best part! A tinge of musk and orange blossom warms up the olibanum, frankincense, and orris, keeping the whole thing deliciously warm for hours. I think this fragrance compares quite favorably to the far more expensive (and surely higher quality) Iris Silver Mist, Apres l’Ondee, and Hiris. It certainly blows 28 La Pausa, Irissime, and Iris Poudre out of the water. Although I can’t attest to the amount of genuine iris in this fragrance, this absolutely reeks of iris. I will say that this fragrance is, hands down, the very best masculine designer release of the past ten years. It has perfectly elegant sillage, lasts forever, and is very wearable in all but the most humid weather.