For most of my life, I’ve been a notorious floral perfume hater. That is, until I started expanding my fragrance palette. Once I started developing my unique olfactive personality and taking a closer look at the scents that I truly love, I realized that many of them have one thing in common: An iris note.
Iris oil can take years to cultivate, making it one of the more expensive ingredients in perfumery. You may also see it going by its other moniker, Orris or Orris butter. Depending on the formula that it’s added to, one iris note can run the gamut of olfactive expression. On one hand, it can smell earthy and root-like, almost to the point of being a little vegetal or dirty. On another, it can come off as sweet, powdery, and a little like licorice—something that typically takes a very discerning nose to recognize and appreciate.
That being said, there are tons of iris fragrances on the market that I believe are fantastic for any perfume enthusiast, from the beginner who’s made it a point to revamp their collection for the new year, to the niche collector whose curated perfume collection is their pride and joy.
Of course, I’ve been testing a ton of iris perfumes lately, and there are so many that can round out an existing collection beautifully, through the winter and well into spring. Here are my 15 favorites on the market right now.
The Best Iris Perfumes
Of all the fragrances on this list, I firmly believe that this is one of the most unisex. Iris Malikan takes a more dry and earthy approach to the note and pairs it with others like vanilla and leather. The result? A sexy, slightly rugged scent that is creamy and smells almost a little like sweetly scented hay.
I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a perfume from Clive Christian, and No. 1 Feminine is my latest obsession. A floral amber masterpiece in the most stunning gold bottle, the iris note in this concoction is flanked by a myriad of others, including peach, rose, vanilla, vetiver, and more. I don’t believe in special-occasion beauty products (you are the special occasion, dear reader). Still, with the hefty price tag that accompanies this bottle, I can only speak for myself when I say that I will only take this out this scent on very special days.
I have been so obsessed with Molecule 01 for years that I didn’t realize there were a slew of other fragrances from this brand that I would also love. This perfume takes the Molecule 01 formula I already know and love and elevates it with the addition of an iris note. In short, iso e. super and iris notes are a match made in heaven, especially if you like to smell powdery, fresh, and clean without necessarily smelling like a bar of soap.
I have been a fan of Snif fragrances for years, so believe me when I say that “Me” is one of the brand’s best offerings. Peach skin, plum, and white moss settle into a blend of orris, sandalwood, and musks, for a combination that creates the perfect skin scent. It’s light, airy, and easy to wear, perfect to throw in your travel bag without thinking—you know you’ll smell fantastic year-round with this bottle as your sidekick.
Ledda’s Orris is one of my favorite perfumes from the brand and for good reason. Pink pepper and pear leaf top notes blend into a stunning combination of orris and lily of the valley, creating a beautifully intimate scent that can be worn for pretty much any occasion.
Don’t let the pointy bottle scare you; this is one of the most elegant perfumes that you can add to your collection. Louboutin’s Fétiche L'Iris is a floral chypre dream, consisting of only two notes: orris and patchouli. It’s a head-turning take on the iris note that will surely be a conversation starter at any event you have on your calendar.
Creamy concrete is likely a phrase that you never thought would describe a fragrance, but allow me to introduce YSL’s Muse. Orris concrete, vanilla bourbon absolute, and ink accord are a few of the notes you’ll find in this fragrance. The combination is somehow warm but sharp; it’s a bottle contradiction that somehow works so beautifully.
Prada’s Infusion line is one of the most underrated fragrance offerings from the brand. Infusion d’Iris is the perfect iris perfume that leans a bit more on the fresh side, thanks to additional notes like mandarin and neroli. Tack on the elegant glass bottle and you have a perfume that screams top-of-the-line elegance.
Etat Libre d'Orange has slowly become one of my favorite fragrance brands, and She Was an Anomaly is the scent that started my love affair. Iris, vanilla, musk, and a bevy of woody notes combine to create a skin scent that is feminine, soft, and intimate—i.e., the perfect everyday skin scent.
This tiny but mighty perfume is one of the best iris fragrances that I have smelled from a brand, niche, or otherwise. Not only is the bottle a chic, sculptural masterpiece, but the fragrance itself is clean, musky, and a little fresh. It’s the perfect everyday scent with moderate sillage, perfect for throwing on and going.
Though my husband is typically the one trying to sneak a few spritzes of my perfume, the tables have turned big-time with this offering from Hugo Boss. Mandarin, orris, and cedarwood are the key notes, and it is one of the most gorgeous (and unisex) iris fragrances that I’ve tried over the past year. Don’t let the masculine-leaning bottle scare you—this is a scent that anyone can enjoy.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Amyris Femme, which feels like an ode to femininity. Florentine iris, Jamaican amyris, Haitian vetiver, and more combine to create a floral-leaning concoction that is perfect for someone who wants to smell like the epitome of the word “pretty.”
Gourmand lovers, step to the front. If you’ve yet to try Lancôme’s popular La Vie Est Belle, let this be the sign you’ve been waiting for. The iris, patchouli, and vanilla fragrance is as mouthwatering as it sounds and is an easy-to-wear, crowd-pleasing scent that will get you countless compliments.
Green, earthy, and housed in the most aesthetically pleasing bottle known to man, 27 87’s Per se is one of those “if you know, you know” scents. When worn alone, expect to smell clean, fresh, and almost airy. When paired with other scents, it takes on an almost enhancing quality, allowing for next-level projection of your personalized concoction.
If I could bottle up a tropical vacation and turn it into a perfume, it would smell exactly like Dries Van Noten’s Bitter Splash. Grapefruit, pomelo, and leather are some of the featured notes—an admittedly unusual combination that the brand somehow aced. While I’m currently sitting in the arctic tundra that is a New York City winter, this perfume allows me to escape a bit, if only in my mind.
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