Volkamaria 2015

WienerBlut Volkmaria (2015) - iris mandarin - I was able to acquire this #pierregueros creation in Vienna. The seller sold it to me as the smells from the Viennese cafe - in a way, it does, but without the coffee. Starts the accord with an airy yet sweet notes of Mandarin and Bergamot. Iris comes out quite early, but not dry and mushroomy, more powdery and fresh. The perfume gladly has more depth - Rose, Tonka, Incense. The drydown goes into a powdery white musk accord.

Many iris-focused fragrances have a tendency to come off quite austere; the rooty, powdery smell of iris is not always particularly uplifting. Yet Volkamaria does have a charmingly cheerful touch to it, with the vanilla, heliotrope, and bergamot, while keeping the iris center stage. The final scent definitely brings the story behind the fragrance come alive: spring and powder and rustling skirts in the sun in the Prater of Vienna. Volkamaria is a simple fragrance, perhaps not fully worth the high price and certainly not the most innovative or interesting one from this line, but a lovely one to try, especially if you're fond of iris.

I was born in Vienna and moved to another country over 10 years ago - I hardly ever go back, but I miss Vienna and the vibe. I tried Volkamaria and some of the other Wiener Blut scents, and while the others weren't the most wearable or evocative to me, Volkamaria made a huge impression. Wearing it makes me feel like a fancy Viennese lady promenading between apricot trees. There's a beautiful stretch of the Danube close to Vienna called the Wachau (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and smelling Volkamaria transports me there in the most beautiful and cheerful way. It's not the most complex, but I think that's OK here. Now I just need to get over the price to buy a full bottle to replace my rapidly dwindling sample!

A lovely bright citrus/iris/musk that reminds me a little too much of perm solution from a hair salon. 2.5 out of 5.

This fragrance smells like laundry detergent.