The Candy Perfume Boy Bvlgari, Speed Sniffs

Speed Sniff: Splendida Iris d’Or by Bvlgari

Speed Sniff: Iris d'Or
Speed Sniff: Iris d’Or

There are so many fragrance launches each year it’s difficult to write about them all. Speed Sniffs is a way to bring you to the point reviews fragrances that are quick and easy to digest. After all, sometimes all one needs is a few lines to capture the essence of a scent. Speed Sniffs are perfume reviews without all of the faff and tell you whether the subject is something you want to sniff or not. So hurry up and read, because we don’t have much time…

Do you ever sniff a fragrance and it stops you dead in your tracks? Sometimes you really have to spend time with a fragrance to really work out its nuances, but with others you have an instant reaction to it. When this reaction is positive it makes for a magical moment where one knows that they’ve found a scent that speaks to them in an entirely new way. This is exactly how I felt when I smelled Iris d’Or from Bvlgari’s new Splendida collection.

Bvlgari
Bvlgari

Iris d’Or is a reworked version of Bvlgari Pour Femme from 1994. It centres, rather unsurprisingly, on the note of iris, but do cast out your impressions of iris right now, because this one is not a rooty, or earthy, or powdery – it’s an example of iris as a supporting act. To my nose, Iris d’Or is about heliotrope and mimosa as much as it is iris. Together these elements create a green freshness that is evocative of YSL’s Paris but in a more refined way (yes Paris is awesome but let’s all agree that it’s hardly subtle…). So far so good. The iris boasts a soft yeastiness that adds further contrast by creating tension between the sweetness of heliotrope and the savoury, dry quality of flour. It lays like a soft, glittering dust a top a warm base of tonka bean and sandalwood, rounding off with a cosy, nutty finish.

The Verdict

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. There’s a tenderness to Iris d’Or but also an opulence too. It feels opulent and rich, but its also dazzling and cool, portraying a real array of contrasts.

Sniff This If…

You fancy a more luminous take on iris that sheds away any of the earthy or rooty characters that make the note so aloof. If you want warmth and glamour, all served in an understated manner then Iris d’Or would be perfect for you.

Availability

Splendida Iris d’Or is available in 100ml Eau de Parfum for £97.

Disclaimer

Sample, notes and quotes via Bvlgari. Images are my own.