Bloodiris

This is absolutely wonderful. I also own Divine Oud by Cavalli and it blows my mind that that one isn't talked about more. Bloodiris is every bit as good. The opening is this juicy, photorealistic blood orange accord that makes the mouth water. It is stunning. The middle is a very clean, powdery iris that uses a bit of turmeric to manage the sweetness. This isn't a sweet fragrance even though the notes may suggest that it is. The way the tempered iris and the blood orange work together is a really original and beautifully judged bit of perfumery. It reminds me a bit of the way another Fanny Bal creation, Neon Garden by Dries Van Noten, manages the sweetness of a heavy iris middle over a musky, Ambroxin base. Whereas Bloodiris uses turmeric, Neon Garden used carrot and carrot seed and the effect is the same. It keeps the richness and the powdery texture but dials back the incandescent sweetness so it can work with a fresher top. The two fragrances aren't the same but they use iris in the same way. What impresses me most here is the longevity of the blood orange accord in this. We're used to this kind of citrus dying away in a few minutes or an hour at best but here it stays in for pretty much the life of the fragrance and long after it is has dried on the skin. The base is just smooth and rich but deliberately kept in the background as the main event here is the blood orange and the tempered iris and it showcases this very well indeed in a fresh, smartly individual package that has real power and tenacity. I get 8 hours off this and it does project pretty impressively. If you compare it to the hideously expensive freshies the likes of Tom Ford are doing with orange or mandarin as the top notes, this is vastly stronger and performs much, much better. I'm astonished this fragrance is not better known than it is. I would say this is one of those designers that has niche level blending and performance and is as creative anything else you will find in the niche sphere, but is criminally slept on by the FragCom. This is an absolute banger and one of the best summer fragrances I own. Sleep on this at your peril. Don't say I never warned you. Three Word Summary: Powerhouse Summer Banger Scent - 9/10 Sillage - 9/10 Drydown - 9/10 Bottle/packaging - 10/10 Performance - 8/10 45/50 and yes it is that good.

If you are still mourning the discontinuation of Mugler's A*Men Ultra Zest, pull up a chair. Roberto Cavalli’s Bloodiris just delivered the high-net-worth, aristocratic upgrade. The opening is an absolute masterpiece. You are immediately hit with a juicy, metallic blood orange that carries that same vibrant, zesty DNA as Ultra Zest, but it instantly pivots into something significantly deeper, darker, and more resinous. It is a brilliant, cold shock to the system. The true magic happens in the heart of the fragrance. The powdery iris does not suffocate the composition; it perfectly complements it. The masterstroke here is the turmeric. It is spicy, earthy, and borderline dirty, acting as the perfect antagonist to the refined iris. They balance each other flawlessly. The collision of these two notes creates an 'unauthorized spice'—a zingy, electric tension that physically crackles off the skin. Do not mistake this for a basic, western designer freshie. It is as light and vibrant as it is dark and wealthy. There is a heavy aristocratic credibility to this DNA. It possesses a subtle, floral sexiness that mixes incredibly well with male chemistry and pheromones. This is going to be an absolute weapon in the dry California heat. It has the exact structural depth required for warm summer nights and upscale dinners without ever becoming cloying. It is a complex, zingy, perfectly balanced masterpiece. 10/10.

This was a blind buy from a discount site, and I LOVE it - sharp citrus with a powdery, vaguely floral background. It is beautiful with better sillage than other citrus fragrances in my collection.

Wow. Never smelled anything like it. Smooth unsweet blood orange, intensely waxy iris, leathery turmeric and woody musk. Love this. Smells high end. 9/10

Such a wonderful blend. Blood orange that doesn't read as juicy, but rather like neroli and petitgrain. Followed by slightly powdery and creamy iris that reads like a creamy orange blossom with a twist. Hints of turmeric - more like the mix is vaguely coming off that way, rather than actual curcuma put in the scent. Bought blindly, pleasantly surprised. I think it's ideal for summer nights.