Out of the many floral fragrance notes, the note of iris might be one of the classier ones. Many fragrances make use of the beauty of this fragrance note, but what are the best iris fragrances for women?
What Is The Note Of Iris And How Does It Smell
The note of iris is a floral fragrance note that comes from the root of the iris flower. Naturally, the note of iris will have a fresh, slightly woody, and mostly powdery scent to it. Some link this scent to that of lipstick, but that’s not always the case.
Of course, there’s also a synthetical recreation of the note of iris which dives more into the floral side. This version will give off a brighter and fresher scent of an actual flower and almost smells a bit like the note of violet, another floral note.
Due to the powdery freshness of this fragrance note, you’ll often see it used in more classy, formal fragrances. The powdery aspect gives a fragrance a classy and elegant feel. Furthermore, the note of iris is commonly blended with woody notes, a combination that once again makes for a classy and refined scent. Below are listed the best iris fragrances for women, in no particular order!
1. Frederic Malle Iris Poudre
Scent: Frederic Malle Iris Poudre is a lovely fragrance with an elegant scent of iris. This fragrance immediately opens with a powdery, classy scent of iris, supported by a few citruses and floral notes. Shortly after the opening, an undertone of aldehydes starts to appear, blending in nicely with the powdery iris and giving the fragrance a ‘Frech’ feel. In the dry down, some woody notes emerge, once again giving the fragrance a classy, warm, and rounded feel. In the end, you’re left with a stunning fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Frederic Malle Iris Poudre are carnation, ylang ylang, rosewood, orange, and bergamot. The middle notes are rose, violet, aldehydes, lily, jasmine, and magnolia. The base notes are sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, amber, ebony tree, musk, and iris.
Best for: Frederic Malle Iris Poudre is a fragrance that will work great all year long, regardless of the season. Throughout the year, you can wear this fragrance casually all throughout the day, but it might work even better in a formal setting. This fragrance is somewhat soft and quiet, but it portrays success and confidence, making it perfect for a business meeting or any other formal occasion. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
2. Hermes Hiris
Scent: Hermes Hiris is a gorgeous iris fragrance with a smooth and elegant scent. The opening immediately introduces you to a beautiful scent of iris that doesn’t come across too powdery. Instead, it shows the beauty of the purple flower itself. Along with the iris is a lovely touch of fresh citruses and some other floral notes. When this fragrance starts to dry down, some soft spices, as well as a warm scent of vanilla and honey start to present themselves, leaving you with a smooth, rich, and elegant fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Hermes Hiris are amber, iris, carnation, and coriander. The middle notes are neroli, rose, and iris. The base notes are almond tree, cedar, vanilla, and honey.
Best for: Hermes Hiris is a fantastic fragrance with a fresh opening and a slightly sweeter dry down. This makes it perfect for the spring and summer, but also for the fall as well. During those months, you can either wear this fragrance casually or formally. The elegance, paired with the easy to wear freshness allows it to be worn pretty much wherever you go. Do make sure you dress the part, as this fragrance will shine even brighter with an appropriate outfit. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. Le Labo Iris 39
Scent: Le Labo Iris 39 is an iris fragrance through and through, perfectly encapsulating the raw beauty of the note of iris. The opening of this fragrance immediately introduces you to a strong scent of powdery, woody iris. Every now and then, you can pick up a hint of citruses and violet as well, adding some depth to the fragrance. When this fragrance starts to dry down, though, a clean touch of musk is added, leaving you with an overall fantastic, realistic, and clean scent of iris and musk.
Notes: The notes of Le Labo Iris 39 are rose, civet, lime, cardamom, ginger, musk, violet, patchouli, ylang ylang, and iris.
Best for: Le Labo Iris 39 is a great fragrance that can be worn all year long. Throughout the year, you’re best off wearing this fragrance casually, as it can come across a little strong. In a casual setting, that’s no problem, but formally it can feel a bit out of place. When you’re wearing this fragrance casually, there really is no going wrong, as it will work well in any setting. Just make sure you apply an appropriate number of sprays. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
4. Guerlain l’Instant De Guerlain
Scent: Guerlain l’Instant De Guerlain is a beautiful fragrance with a slightly sweet and powdery scent. This fragrance opens a strong doe of white floral notes, supported by some fruits and citruses. These combine beautifully to create a fresh and naturally sweet scent. Shortly after the opening, a creamy hint of vanilla makes itself known, blending in perfectly with the white florals. All the while, there’s this powdery undertone of iris present.
Notes: The top notes of Guerlain l’Instant De Guerlain are red apple, mandarin, and bergamot. The middle notes are magnolia, ylang ylang, jasmine, and iris. The base notes are white honey, vanilla, amber, benzoin, and musk.
Best for: Guerlain l’Instant De Guerlain is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the colder months. Even though this fragrance seems like it’s on the fresher side, the sweetness of the vanilla makes it work better in the lower temperatures. During the colder months, this fragrance can be worn either casually or formally. What matters more is the person who’s wearing it. This fragrance will be the perfect fit for a relaxed but confident woman who knows what she wants. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
5. Prada Infusion d’Iris
Scent: Prada Infusion d’Iris is a fantastic fragrance with a woody and powdery scent. This fragrance opens with a fresh and powdery scent of many floral notes and a lot of citrusy notes. These all come together to create a rather fresh scent that still has some weight to it. Shortly after the opening, a bunch of woody notes start to appear, blending in beautifully with the powdery fresh opening. From here, the fragrance doesn’t change too much anymore, leaving you with a truly stunning, fresh, and powdery fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Prada Infusion d’Iris are neroli, mandarin, orange, and African orange flower. The middle notes are galbanum, mastic, and iris. The base notes are benzoin, incense, cedar, and vetiver.
Best for: Prada Infusion d’Iris is a fantastic warm-weather fragrance, perfect for the spring and summer. The fresh and clean scent of this fragrance fits in perfectly with the warmer temperatures and can be worn pretty much all the time. It’s fresh and inoffensive enough for the office or any other formal setting, but it has enough character to make it work great in a casual setting as well. If you’re interested in this wonderful fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
6. Acqua Di Parma Iris Nobile
Scent: Acqua Di Parma Iris Nobile is a gorgeous iris fragrance that focusses a little more on the flowery part. This fragrance opens with a lovely scent of citruses and florals, immediately creating a fresh and classy feel. Shortly after the opening, the note of iris makes itself known, giving off a flowery and powdery feel. When this fragrance starts to dry down, some warm hints of amber start to appear, adding to the classy feel. Overall, you get a beautiful iris-based fragrance with a fresh and easy to wear scent.
Notes: The top notes of Acqua Di Parma Iris Nobile are star anise, iris, orange, mandarin, and bergamot. The middle notes are ylang ylang, hibiscus, orange blossom, cedar, tuberose, and mimosa. The base notes are vanilla and amber.
Best for: Acqua Di Parma Iris Nobile is an amazing fragrance to wear during the warmer months, but will also work great during the fall as well. This is mainly due to the warm undertone of amber, which gives the fragrance a bit of weight. During these months, you can easily wear this fragrance casually throughout the day but it’s just as good, if not better in a formal setting. The clean and classy scent will never be out of place in a more serious place. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
7. Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On
Scent: Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On is exactly what you’d expect with a name like this. This fragrance opens with a thick scent of powdery iris, giving off the impression of lipstick. However, this lipstick is extremely elegant and actually amazing to wear. After the opening, some creamy sweetness is added in the form of tonka bean and vanilla. These blend in beautifully with the powdery, waxy opening, leaving you with an overall feminine and elegant fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On are neroli, heliotrope, and bergamot. The middle notes are galbanum, iris, and orange blossom. The base notes are vanilla, tonka bean, and patchouli.
Best for: Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On is a fragrance that will work well in any season except the summer. The waxy, lipsticky feel can be a bit too thick for the high summer heat. During the other months, though, it’s perfect. You can either wear this casually throughout the day, but it will also work great at night. Something like a fancy dinner or a date could be great for this fragrance. However, formally it holds its own great as well. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
8. Christian Dior Homme Intense
Scent: Christian Dior Homme Intense might seem like a weird choice for a woman, seeing that the name says ‘Homme’. However, this fragrance is definitely more unisex than masculine and will be perfect for any woman. This fragrance opens with a sweet and powdery scent of iris and pear, supported by an aromatic touch of lavender. In the base, some woody notes start to appear, giving the fragrance an even warmer feel. All the while, there’s this chocolate-like scent present that makes it appear much sweeter.
Notes: The top note of Christian Dior Homme Intense is lavender. The middle notes are pear, ambrette, and iris and the base notes are cedar and vetiver.
Best for: Christian Dior Homme Intense is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the colder months. The powdery sweet scent of this fragrance is perfect for those colder months, where you can wear this all the time. It’s great for casual wear, seductive enough for nighttime wear, and classy and luxurious enough to wear formally or to the office. Even though the name says ‘Homme’, any female can easily pull this one off. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
9. Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste
Scent: Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste is a lovely fragrance with a soft and delicate scent. This fragrance opens with a soft scent of grapefruit and powdery iris, immediately introducing the delicate and soft-spoken scent. Shortly after, a hint of rose starts to appear, giving the fragrance a slightly luxurious feel. When this fragrance starts to dry down, some woody notes start to appear. These give off a nice layer of warmth but don’t interrupt the softness of the fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste are pink grapefruit and green notes. The middle notes are rose and iris. The base notes are heliotrope and woody notes.
Best for: Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste is a gorgeous warm-weather fragrance that’s best worn during the day. Throughout the day, you can either wear this fragrance in the office or, better yet, in a relaxed setting at home. As mentioned above, this is a very tender and delicate scent that perfectly embodies the tranquility found at home. This would be the perfect fragrance for any woman who’s looking for a relaxing and overall soothing fragrance. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
10. Chanel No.19
Scent: Chanel No.19 is a fantastic fragrance with a focus on woody notes. This fragrance immediately opens with a bunch of woods and green notes, creating a dry and fresh scent. Quickly after the opening, some citruses are added, strengthening the freshness. After a little while, some floral notes are added, including the powdery note of iris. The powdery iris blends in gorgeously with the woods, leaving you with an overall fantastic fragrance of woods and florals.
Notes: The top notes of Chanel No.19 are bergamot, neroli, hyacinth, and galbanum. The middle notes are lily of the valley, ylang ylang, narcissus, jasmine, rose, orris root, and iris. The base notes are vetiver, oakmoss, musk, cedar, leather, and sandalwood.
Best for: Chanel No.19 is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the spring, summer, and fall. Here, the fresh scent of florals, paired with the warmer woods will be perfect, as the temperatures are on the warmer and cooler side. During these months, you can easily wear this fragrance casually throughout the day, but it will also work great at night. And, besides casual wear, it will also be great in a more serious setting as well. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
11. Creed Fleurissimo
Scent: Creed Fleurissimo is a beautiful floral fragrance with a fresh and likable scent. This fragrance opens with a bunch of floral notes, including rose, iris, and tuberose. Along with the florals is a fresh undertone of bergamot, giving the fragrance a sparkly undertone. Shortly after the opening, a beautiful, slightly salty scent of ambergris makes itself known, blending in beautifully with the fresh florals. This leaves you with an overall fantastic fragrance with an elegant and likable scent.
Notes: The top note of Creed Fleurissimo is bergamot. The middle notes are rose, violet, tuberose, and iris. The base note is ambergris.
Best for: Creed Fleurissimo is a fragrance that’s best worn during the warmer months. Here, the florals will appear much brighter and fresher, making the fragrance much more lively. During the warmer months, you can wear this fragrance pretty much whenever you’d like. It will be great in any casual setting, but it’s also elegant and clean enough to wear to the office or any other formal setting. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
12. Guerlain Samsara
Scent: Guerlain Samsara is a fragrance on another level. This fragrance has such an up-scale, ethereal scent that’s full of class and elegance. This fragrance opens with hints of fresh citruses, supported by a powdery dose of iris. Shortly thereafter, some more floral notes are added, as well as some green notes. These give off a new layer of freshness and make for a nice transition into the more wood-focussed dry down. Along with the woods, the base also provides you with some creamy vanilla and tonka bean, ensuring a gorgeous finish.
Notes: The top notes of Guerlain Samsara are lemon, bergamot, ylang ylang, peach, and green notes. The middle notes are rose, jasmine, orris root, narcissus, violet, and iris. The base notes are musk, amber, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood, and iris.
Best for: Guerlain Samsara is a beautiful fragrance that’s best worn during the fall and winter. Here, you can wear it casually, but you’re best off wearing this on special occasions. This one would be perfect for a fancy dinner, a date, or some sort of professional meeting. The class and elegance of this fragrance are unrivaled, making it perfect for such settings where first impressions matter most. And the best part, this fragrance is also extremely affordable as well. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!