Description
Iris Cendre
Enigmatic, elegant and enchanting, the iris is one of perfumery’s most treasured ingredients- and also one of its most challenging. So when we heard that Naomi Goodsir’s first-ever floral was to be named Iris Cendré (or “Iris Ash”), our hearts began to flutter with anticipation of an Iris fragrance that might transcend convention and offer a bold new portrait of this beloved material. And even beyond our wildest dreams, Goodsir and perfumer Julien Rasquinet have delivered a bona fide masterpiece- a lush, warm, buttery interpretation of iris with a gorgeously restrained hint of smokiness that feels both wonderfully creative, and quintessentially Naomi Goodsir.
Before even the first spray, Iris Cendré affirms its rarity with a striking green color that results from its uniquely high concentration of true iris concrete, a property that gives the fragrance its striking depth and nuance. While the opening presents a crisp, delicately fruity burst of bergamot and spiced tangerine, the rich heart of buttery iris soon takes over, displaying a gorgeously evocative facet of the flower with warmer, more sultry tones than we’ve ever before found in an iris scent. A light veil of violet reinforces the floral depth, while a sensually smoky accord of cistus, tobacco and amber evokes the distinctly complex drydown of another Naomi Goodsir classic, Bois D’Ascese. The overall effect is both subtle and striking, a wholly unisex floral that seems to contain multitudes without ever raising its voice, feeling vivid and deep but also masterfully restrained. With Iris Cendré, Naomi Goodsir and Julien Rasquinet have redefined what we thought an iris scent could be and in doing so, created a new reference.
