After the last scent from Parfums Delrae, an orgy of melon, Emotionelle, I was not incredibly excited to try out their newest scent introduced this year, Mythique. Inspired by Diane de Poitiers, the Duchess of Valentinois and mistress of Henri II of France, Mythique has notes of Florentine iris and flowers found in the gardens of Chemonceau, the Loire Valley castle given to her by Henri II. Can I just say that if a man wanted to give me a chateau, I’d be on board for that mistress bit. It also features notes of mandarin, bergamot, ivy, peony, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli and ambrette.
So far I believe just Les Senteurs and First in Fragrance have this scent. I’m still waiting on my bottle from les Senteurs to be shipped, they were out of stock on it when I was there in July.
Several people have reviewed this already positively, and I just want to add to the admiring chorus. This is a slightly fruity, but not syrupy, iris scent, almost slathered onto your skin like butter, with the same sensuous feel to it. Created by Yann Vasnier (Divine perfumer) and not Michael Roudnitska, it has a whole different, lighter feel than the other Delraes. Not light like Ellena’s barely-there creations, but light like bordering on myth. We spent time in the Loire Valley last year, crawling through chateaus. We didn’t make it through Chemonceau, but the notes in this absolutely feel like those charming places from another world, like history wisps lifting up from your skin, inviting your mind into another time/place. This is one gorgeous iris scent. That’s saying a lot for me because iris is one of my favorites, and it takes a lot to put one in my Top Five, but this is one that should be there.
Les Senteurs was nice enough to send a couple of larger samples to me while waiting on the bottle to show up, so we’ll do a giveaway to two commenters today. Okay, Top Five Iris Scents, what are yours?
Mine: Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist, Fath Iris Gris (I know, not fair, you can’t get it anymore), Parfums Delrae Mythique, Odori Iris, and… yikes!!! TDC Bois d’Iris or L’artisan Iris Pallida? But Guerlain’s Apres l’Ondee really should go in here, even though it’s not strictly an iris scent. What to do, what to do. Well, that’s my list.
I do have to mention that I’m very studiously trying to ignore the pleasantly howling Roja Dove No. 4 on my left arm.
My favorite Iris scents:
Dior Homme
Prada Infusion D’Iris
Hermes Hiris
Yves Rocher Iris Noir
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist
Please enter me in the drawing.
Just catching up on my reading on a steamy, hot Sunday and thought I’d add a vote in case there are others out there like me reading late. The best use of iris EVER – Vol de Nuit parfum! Nothing else is even close. I too have a pack of the Delrae samples coming so no need to enter me in the draw. I was very disappointed to read that Mythique was done by Yann Vasnier as I’ve sampled all of the Divine’s and while beautiful initially, they turn syrupy sweet on me. Fingers crossed that Mythique will be the exception.
I am very new to Iris as a note but my favorites so far are Bois d’Iris and Hiris. I haven’t tried Iris Pallida or Iris Silver Mist, but I have high hopes for those two. I would love to try the Mythique, I’ve been wanting to try it but couldn’t find a sample anywhere to save my life, so please enter me in the drawing.
i’ve recently truly discovered iris and lordy it’s LOVE i tell you. Faves are hiris, prada, 31 rue cambon, no. 19 & apres l’ondee and i can see that it’s going to be an expensive affair. Please enter me in the draw as i’d love to try mythique.
Chenonceau is my favorite chateau…I would love for someone to give it to me! (with enough money to maintain it, and have servants, of course!).
I like iris, but I am not sure that I have a favorite, but I love the sound of the new Mythique!
I do not like iris very much. Or thought I didn’t, anyway. I had a sample of 28 La Pausa and sloshed some on without knowing anything about it, and my first two thoughts, in rapid succession, were, “Jesus–IRIS IRIS IRIS” and “Actually, not that bad.”
Still don’t like the Prada iris, and Demeter Iris is one of their genuine disasters, hideous and chemical. Didn’t care for Chanel No. 19 years ago and probably still wouldn’t. Am neither here nor there about Dior Homme and Hermes Hiris. But I need to investigate 28 La Pausa more deeply: my first impression was that it was very restrained and very expensive-smelling, which is to say classic Chanel. It could be the one that at long last wins me over.
Heure Exquise and Iris Nobile~ unfortunately, just the two so far. I would love to be entered to appreciate a new iris.
Hi Patty, your inspiring use of “mythique” reminds me of Urrea’s The Hummingbird’s Daughter. I bet you could feel the creosote bush if you tried. So, my iris favorites are Après l’ondée, Jacques Fath Iris Gris (got it from TPC) SL Iris Silver Mist, Heeley Iris de nuit and TDC Bois d’iris. Hope I can find more than these five.
I’m having trouble naming five, but my top four are: Apres l’Ondee, Iris Pallida, Ferre, and Hiris. I would love to be entered in the draw for Mythique, a buttery iris sounds perfect for fall.
I’ve been a “lurker” till now. Being a newbie I want to learn more before I “spout off”. But I find myself entranced by Iris. And leather. I was going to wear leather notes today, but read this and decided to revisit my irises. A meal of iris..
Appetitizer–Prada Infusion d’Iris. Peppery touch nice for office (and I live in perfume-phobic Seattle!!)
Main course–SL Iris Silver Mist–filling, long lasting ,a smokey carrot pudding.
Maitre Parfumer–Fleur d’Iris–another vegetal, long lasting delight
Dessert- Chanel-La 28–warm creamy with vanilla (oh for it to last longer)
AdiQ Iris nobile–gardenia w/Iris-sweeter, golden. Yum!
Let’s see – I’m only a budding perfumista, so I haven’t tried everything. So far, I love Infusion d’Iris, 31 Rue Cambon, Apres le Ondee, Hiris, and Iris Noir. I have yet to try Iris Silver Mist, so that’s on the list.
No need to enter me in the drawing, I have a sample pack from Delrae on the way.
I actually don’t have a favorite Iris. I am working on becoming a perfumista! I have so far that I adore, Hermes Ambre Narguile (love amber), Fracas by Robert Piguet (never smelled tuberose), and Hermes Un Jardin en Méditerranée (wanted to smell figs). I linked here from Now Smell This and have now bookmarked here. Sorry I can’t list a favorite Iris, but would love to smell a good one!
~michelle
I love a few iris scents – TDC’s Bois d’ Iris, Heeley’s Iris de Nuit and CHanel’s No. 18 and a few Delraes – Bois de Paradis and Amoureuse – please include me in the drawing as I’d love to sniff Mythique! Thanks.
This list is a slice of heaven. I’ve only recently discovered that I love iris. So far my favorite is Prada Iris Infusion.
Hermes and AdP don’t thrill me. But now I have “The List” and my education will continue. Perhaps you can contribute to the education fund with a sample of Mythique!
I don’t think I have five Iris scents to list…Iris Nobile, with the gardenia accord; Iris 39 fom Le Labo–green, green, green; Lutens Iris Silver Mist and from BPAL, Sheol. Iris and I have a strange scent relationship…most of the time she’s entirely too powdery for me. In the right potion, fabulous! Ah..one more from BPAL~Nefertiti…Five!!
If Les Senteurs is as sensual as you say, it is worth trying!
Sign me up for the draw!! Make me a lover of iris!
top five irises, I almost forgot
Iris Poudre is just too lovely
Iris Gris
Bel Ami
Apres L’ondee
to be determined!
Oh goodness, please put me in the drawing! Mythique sounds like just the thing to lift me out of new mommy-perfume ennui/laziness. I just haven’t had the same drive since my little man arrived
Congratulations! (am I, like, the Last Dog Over the Hill to wish you joy?)
hang in there!!
xoxo >-)
I like the Prada iris and the Yves Rocher Iris Noir. I don’t think the last one has any really noticeable iris though. I also like Unicorn Spell, Hiris, and Iris Ganache. Please enter me in the drawing.
No need to enter me in the drawing, but within my limited iris exposure the winners were ALO and the Prada. Iris Poudre was meh, Orris Noir meh, Hiris goes all Musty Basement on me, too.
Still hoping to try TDC Bois d’Iris and Heure Exquise some day, but am trying to slow down on my sample-ordering.
I’m with Mariekel. I really love iris when it’s not the main focus, as in No. 19 and 31 Rue Cambon. Apres l’Ondee is a glorious silk chiffon scarf of a thing, all iridescent periwinkle and green and silver, and I wouldn’t have said it was iris-centric, but that might just be because I feel no inclination to dissect it for notes, it’s so beautiful.
I haven’t had great luck with iris frags, actually. Iris Taizo was nice, but not FBW for me, and OJ Orris Noir was great but somehow I have difficulty telling the difference between it and Ormonde Woman. Hiris goes all Musty Basement on me, and Iris Pallida goes all Sweaty Old Guy Who Never Bathes. (Gah.) Prada Id’I is great now and then, for a “just smells nice” sort of thing.
So. I’d love to smell a wonderful iris thing – please enter me in the drawing, and thanks!
apres l’ondee & iris ganache….that’s it. I think I would love the Fath, but haven’t tried it.
So you can see why I need to be entered in the drawing. Iris is something so lovely when it’s done in a way that I like.
Hi Patty! Well, don’t think I’ve even TRIED five irises! In fact, don’t think I’ve tried any fragrances with a predominant iris note either, except for Prada Infusion d’Iris, which I didn’t care for AT ALL. As far as I know, I don’t have anything against the note, though, so I should get on the ball, shouldn’t I??? Would love to try the Mythique.
There are a couple of fragrances with iris in them that I DO love, though – 31 Rue Cambon (yearning for a bottle big time) and Cologne a la Francaise. I also have a decant of Apres L’Ondee that I can’t say I’ve given a fair chance, having only dabbed it onto the back of my hand a couple of times. I suppose I should commit and wear it like I mean it one day…
I must admit that I always want to like Iris in perfume more than I often do — bearded irises are, after all, my favourite flower. But I often find Iris smells too much like carrots for me. I have found that when Iris is used as a note — even a strong one — but is not dominant, I tend to love it. I am also a big fan of Cuir Ottoman.
What surprises me is that my absolute favorite perfume — and not even mentioned here so far — is Andy Tauer Orris. I was lucky enough to score a full bottle recently and eke out my decant sparingly. There, the Iris is enveloped in incense and leather and is just, frankly, fabulous. I love it so much I pleaded with
Andy Tauer to bring it back (he sent me a sweet email telling me the ingredients were too difficult to source).
While this may well be heresy, I also recently landed some Iris Gris. While it is very pretty, the earth did not move for me. The Prada Iris parfum reminds me a bit of it.
Actually, mariekel, Nika and lavanya and I have all mentioned Tauer Orris. And you are SO right. Isn’t it a treat?
I guess it’s because nobody really likes to say they like Armani Prive, but if somebody tucked a bottle of Pierre de Lune under my pillow I wouldn’t kick it out of bed. . . 😉
hmmm. must have missed those mentions.
I am actually wearing Mythique right now — the Delrae samples arrived this afternoon. Sadly, I am underwhelmed. Another carrot.
My top five:
Lutens: Iris Silver Mist
Divine: l’Homme de Coeur
TDC: Bois d’Iris
Fath: Iris Gris
Prada: Infusion d’Iris parfum
Please enter me in the drawing, and thanks for the post!
Scott
ooh- This sounds lovely- I’d love to be entered in the draw..
As far as Iris fragrances go- I remember smelling and liking Tauer Orris..
I have a soft corner for Iris Poudre which is not an out and out raw iris perfume, but pretty. I haven’t yet fallen in love with SL Iris Silver Mist, but I might get there..:)
Hello,
I’m a greeny newbie in the blog community and the perfume universe 🙂 today I wear Lalique by Lalique (classic edition); iris is in top notes & I love it very much; i have an Prada Iris maybe will succumb in buying a bottle. Iris is a beautiful flower and a seducing note.
Please add me in your draw, i’m curious now !
Thanx, Violaine
Sign me up, Patty!
Gosh, I love iris. The last time I was blown away by it was sniffing vintage Chanel No. 19 in extrait. I think that is the most heartbreakingly beeeoootiful iris note my nostrils have ever quivered to.
First, LEAST fave, because for some reason I just have to get this off my chest: FM Iris Poudre. Smells like Dr. Scholl’s foot powder to me. Sigh.
Four more top irises besides No. 19 — and this took all of eight seconds to figure out. Much as I love Hiris and Cuir d’Iris and Homme and all sorts of other nifty variations on the theme, the winners for me are:
Tauer Orris.
Iris Ganache.
L’Artisan Iris Pallida
LL Iris 39
Great gravy!
THAT’S what I’m smelling in Iris Poudre! ROFL! When I said it was irritatingly good I meant that in a ‘what the hockeysticks am I smelling in there that isn’t a ‘bad’ smell – but shouldn’t quite be in there?’. For me, it’s not Dr Scholl’s Foot Powder – it’s Gold Bond Medicated Powder which I suspect is very similar. I love the smell of Gold Bond Medicated Powder, though I don’t want to smell like it! IP is a glammed-up Gold Bond!
RobinR, you are thanked from the bottom of my feet!
xo >-)
Awww! Thanks, dear Musette.
xoxox
I 2nd the Cuir Ottoman . I’m gonna go put some on right now…
I haven’t yet explored the iris scents, so perhaps I’ll be able to start by winning one of your samples. Wish me luck!
Oh no. I don’t need another beautiful iris to be lemming after. Iris is my favourite note, so it shouldn’t be too hard for me to come up with five…
28 la Pausa
No. 19
31 Rue Cambon (I love how Chanel keeps iris spare, and not powdery. At least they read that way on my skin.)
Prada Exclusive No 1. (I’ve been nursing a tiny sample forever.)
Dior Homme. Love! Iris and lavender and COCOA. So good.
I would be very excited to try the Mythique. Thanks for putting me in the draw!
I forgot to add Cuir Ottoman! Sexy and elegant leather and iris. Getting a FB for my birthday next month…
huh. you’re #2 to mention CO – I have that – and wear it a lot – and never knew there was iris in it.
huh. gonna go spritz some now, see if I can smell it.
thanks!
xo >-)
Iris is hard for me. I eagerly awaited my sample of ISM, but I just don’t get it..all I get is dirty rooty carrot, not the ethereal magic everyone else seems to get. I’ll keep trying maybe someday the magic will strike! Here are the few Iris I like (I know..not very original):
Iris 39 (actually this is more true love than like..I see an FB in my future)
Iris Poudre (Musette hit the nail on the head when she described it as “sort of irritatingly good”)
29 La Pausa (so elegant)
I would really like to try to Mythique as I adore all the Delraes (well maybe I adore Emotionelle a little less than the others!) especially Amourouse and Bois de Paradis. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks..
I’m with Kathy T on Iris Taizo..
I’m not lucky enough to have tried five. I do love SL Iris Silver Mist and Apres L’Ondee. Does Tocca Florence count?
Chanel’s 28 La Pausa & Lutens Iris Silver Mist – they are so amazing that everything else pales in comparison for me. They are both truly gorgeous in such very different ways – the cool rooty, earthiness of ISM vs. the warmth and subtle spiciness of La Pausa. Other favourites: Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir & The Different Company”s Bois d’Iris. Guerlain Apres L’Ondee Parfum is lovely but disappears quickly on me – am I the only one with that problem?
I’m patiently waiting for Mythique to hit the US. But I’d love a sample!
My favorite iris scents:
Hermes Hiris
SMN Citta di Kyoto
Odori Iris
Heeley Iris de Nuit
Yves Rocher Iris Noir
Patty, thanks for being willing to share your Mythique samps with the lucky winners.
My favorite iris scents are
28 la Pausa
No 19
Heure Exquise
Apres l’Ondee
Calandre
I know Calandre isn’t known as primarily an iris scent, but the iris is there all the same. Also, I’m glad to see 28 la Pausa getting some love here.
I don’t have any iris perfumes but I love the Delraes (most of them) so, kindly, enter me in the draw.
Apres l’Ondee
Iris Ganache
Iris Nobile
I have tried other irises, but haven’t been partial to them.
Please enter me in the draw.
Hmm, iris is hard note to tackle, so I barely have five that I can wear but here they are”
Iris Ganache
Orris
PG Cuir d’Iris
Heure Equise
ISM
oooh , how could I forget Huere Exquise !
Hhhmmmmm….I really can’t list ANY frags with Iris in them because I’ve always operated under the assumption that iris smells instantly powdery on me….but for the life of me I can’t think of where that particular belief stems from. So I respectfully ask to be thrown into the draw for a sample without my list. Perhaps this iris scent will show me how wrong my previous assumption is?
Thanks!
Okay, off the top of my head, I’d say my favorite irises (no particular order) are Iris Taizo, Silver Factory, Iris Pallida, Prada IdI (though I don’t get much iris) & the iris note in Daim Blond. I would love to try Mythique!
I have shrieked about how I am largely anosmic to iris but it turns out I can smell quite a few of them – and like them!
The flat-out can’ts are Prada Infusion and L’A Iris Pallida – I get nothing but wet water with those. ISMist isn’t much better. So that’s that.
The cans and loves (or at least a deep liking) might not quite get to 5:
Iris Poudre (sort of irritatingly good)
Le Labo Iris 39 (Shelley made me and I’m glad she did – it’s lovely)
Apres l’Ondee, though I get only a little iris
Dior Homme
31 Rue Cambon
huh. that wasn’t so hard…
I know nothing of Hiris. I’d decided I was anosmic so stupidly I decided to not even bother. I’ll have to sniff Shelley’s – I won’t go back into Hermes, as you know, lest I end up in jail. 😀
would love to try the Delrae. Wonder when it’ll hit Barneys (Chicago)… I think they’re still waiting for Apothia Pearl, the slowtops.
xoxoxo >-)
I need to go retry Mythique. Liked it, but it didn’t create any magic for me. Maybe it will now (this has happened more than once when I resample things). My current faves in the iris universe are Washington Tremlett’s Iris Absolute, Iris Pallida, ISM, Dior Homme and Iris Poudre.
Sheesh, I don’t think I’ve ever smelled any of the iris scents you guys mention… Frustrating!
I second the Iris Nobile. Makes me feel like I’m wrapped in a purple cashmere sweater. Love it.
Not necessarily in the following order:
No 19
Iris Pallida
Iris Silver Mist
28 La Pausa
Le Labo Iris
and I must throw in, Heeley Iris Nuit & CDG Sticky Cake
I just couldn’t resist commenting on an iris-fav-poll. Besides the obvious ISM, 28 La Pausa has stollen my heart. It’s the only jug I decided was worth the cash in the exclusives line. Lovely stuff, and for some reason, it lasts all day on me. Maybe I over-apply? My other fav – L’Homme de Coeur (another Vasnier special).
I love hearing all the iris recommendations! My top five are: No. 19, Prada Iris No. 1, Bois d’Iris, Apres L’Ondee, Iris Silver Mist. I’d love to try Mythique! And I second the YAY for no melon.
I’ll go for Iris Nobile (though I don’t really get iris from it except in the name so it’s a bit of a cheat), Hiris, Heure Exquise, Iris Bleu Gris and Iris Pallida with 28 La Pausa as honourable runner up and the Dior Particular Passage one just to be different.
I like 28 La Pausa, I don’t think that’s on the list yet. Iris is tricky.
YEah. Where the hell is my chateau? Drums fingers impatiently…