Hermès will launch Iris Ukiyoé, the ninth fragrance in the Hermessence collection, next month. The word Ukiyoé can be translated from the Japanese literally as "images of the floating world", and refers to the Japanese art of woodblock printing (see ukiyo-e at Wikipedia).
Iris Ukiyoé was developed by Hermès house perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena, and focuses on the iris flower rather than the more widely used root. Additional notes include mandarin, orange blossom and rose.
Hermès Iris Ukiyoé will be available in 100 ml Eau de Toilette. (via condenast-profesional.es, nl.elle.be)
Update: see a review of Hermès Iris Ukiyoé.
A Hermes iris you say? Must. Sniff.
Well, it won’t be an iris in the sense that it won’t be comparable to most iris scents: it’s not using the same raw material. But I always look forward to a new Hermessence!
I’ve been waiting for this one, before making an Iris purchase.
Sounds like it won’t be a “standard” iris though, so might not affect your other buy if what you were after is iris root.
I’ll look forward to the review to let me know.
For months now, I’ve been loooking for a good iris, but it turned out the ones based on iris root I did not like, beacuse they are all too earthy (iris silver mist, le labo iris etc.). But I don’t like them too sweet either, like Iris Ganache. Could this be the one I’m looking for? Can you recommned some other iris frags to sniff? Thnxs!
You might try Serge Lutens Bas de Soie, By Kilian Prelude to Love, Chanel 28 La Pausa, Prada Infusion d’Iris, Frederic Malle Iris Poudre
I ran across the heads-up at Grain de Musc the other day, and I’m really excited about this one.
Iris fanciers: please note that, as Robin mentions, this one is purportedly focused on the iris BLOSSOM, not the iris ROOT you’re used to in the notes list. (I can just hear the complaints already: “This doesn’t smell like iris!” And I understand, I really do. I was all whiny about Avril’s Forbidden Rose not having rose in it, and even whinier about Liz Taylor’s Violet Eyes not containing violet. My expectations were unfulfilled.)
I do love the smell of iris blossoms very much, so although I haven’t had much luck so far with Hermes, I am anxiously awaiting this release.
Well, I’m especially intrigued because I have no idea what an iris flower smells like. Evidently, many iris blooms have no fragrance [e.g. – the ones in my flower beds]. I have to admit, I so love rooty, buttery , earthy iris scents that something so different may disappoint me – but who knows? Definitely looking forward to a sniff.
The ones I’ve grown smell. I actually don’t have any in my yard at the moment, but did at my old house. Can’t tell you cultivar names because they were OLD ones, from my grandmother and MIL and various cousins. A very ephemeral smell, anyway.
I the smell of irises. I think they smell a bit like floral grape juice. 🙂 I know that doesn’t sound like a selling point, but it works.
Floral grape juice? Could be nice. I didn’t know that iris flowers had a smell at all!
Floral grape juice would totally work for me, but most irises that I have smelled actually smell pretty bad. Not the kind of scent I’d want to wear.
Which does NOT mean that I won’t sniff this as soon as I can, of course, in hopes that it doesn’t smell like the irises my mum used to grow.
Exactly! We have bearded irises in our yard, and they smell very much like Concord grapes wafting on a cool breeze – juicy, floral, and tart with a wild, earthy green. It’s hard to describe, but you can smell it all over New England in July and August.
I can’t wait – it’s what I always wanted in an iris fragrance.
Rooty and earthy- a resounding YES!
Dutch iris have no scent…..most of the tall beardeds do, and many of them smell different. Some smell like grape soda, some smell like sweet anisette, some smell like a bit like orange blossom (maybe that’s the kind we’ll sense in the perfume?) …so if you’ve never smelled a bearded iris before, give it a shot in mid-spring….I think you’ll be surprised!
I agree that they smell somewhat Neroli Like… I have BEAUTIFUL HUGE Pale Pale Lavender Colored Irises that grow in my front yard and they have a very Sweet Candied smell, Very reminiscent of those Valentine Candies in the shape of Hearts that have words like “I Love You” and “Be Mine” Printed on them… so i am very anxious to see how this works out!
And there are only a handful of iris flower perfumes out there. Omnia Amethyste, and a few others I can’t think of right now but that will come to me at 3 am.
I called my local Hermes to see if they had even a tester out. Apparently I was the one to break the news of “an iris addition to the Hermessence collection.” Caught on before they were even informed, let alone briefed! Needless to say, a bit awkward.
I cannot wait to try this, though. Cautiously, of course. Of all the flowers I’ve sniffed, iris is not one I think I would recognize.
Don’t know where you’re located, but they generally don’t get to the US til the last minute.
well, I guess this means I won’t knock myself out getting to the phone to call the Hermes Boutique.
Yeah, not unless you want the (lovely, by the way) SA to ask you to spell it. Polite as can be but not much help.
I can wait, though. Just bought a bottle of Bas de Soie and I’ve got some time before my Perfume Fund has recovered enough to handle an Hermes purchase.
God, this always happens to me. The ladies who work my local perfume counter obviously don’t spend their evenings combing through perfume blogs, because there’s always a long pause, followed by, “Gucci is doing what now?”
On the one hand, it’s probably 1 in 20 people behind those counters who REALLY like what they’re peddling; if not specific perfumes than perfume as a concept and product. On the other, you’d think they’d get news a lot faster than us.
I would like to sniff this but I’ve so many iris-based fragrances already. Am I getting jaded????
I feel the same way… but if it’s the flower and not the root, then it will likely be quite different. So I look forward to smelling it, but probably won’t go out of my way to get my hands on it right away.
I am SOOO annoyed with myself….I was sniffing something just the other day and thought: this reminds me of the dark purple iris by my back patio—-until they are cut , because cutting an iris makes the blossom change scent almost instantly…..I was telling someone…who? …egad! why is there just this blank space in my brain where this information was???? gah! maybe I’ll remember after an infusion of coffee…..
Oh, please remember what you were sniffing. I was a serious iris grower for years and I love their soft, ethereal fragrance. I’d love to have a perfume that came close to that.
YAY!!! Finally an iris I can get on board with! After all these years of being anosmic to iris root, FINALLY! So excited!
Though I have no concept of the smell of an iris blossom, I like the sound of this fragrance!
Yes, I am longing to try this fragrance.
A new take on iris is just what I need!
Hugs!
great news!
I wonder if they will have it in 15 ml discovery version as well. I just finished my vetiver tonka and rose ikebana, so it would be perfect time to get a new set 🙂
OMG OMG OMG! I have been waiting for an iris perfume that smells like iris blossom FOREVER! I hate the iris rhizome/root scent. So put together iris blossom (one of my favorite scents in nature) with Jean Claude Ellena, can’t WAIT to sniff the results! Already putting money aside……..
I really want to sniff this. Iris is not my favorite note in perfume, though Ihave always loved irises themselves. This may be The One for me!
What no base? That can’t be all the notes. It sounds like a floral gal’s dream. It certainly has me intrigued. It sounds…well, incomplete.
Fingers crossed, please don’t have any benzoin in it…
sounds gorgeous. Will be stalking the Hermes boutique ready to pounce!
Am praying it is slightly more than fleeting.. i do love JCE’s haiku approach.. but can’t bring myself to pay AUD $340 for perfume that is fleeting at best 🙁
My irises smell like grape kool-aid (white or purple) or lemonade (yellow). I’m all for earthy and rooty — Hiris and Iris Silver Mist are favorites — but I would just about line up to try this.
I love the smell of bearded iris! This will be a must-sniff, not to mention I like the purple-ness.
This sounds VERY promising. I can’t wait to try it out!
i would love to try this. I’m very curious because i never smelled iris flower before. iris immediately makes me think of the rooty smell.
only bad thing about this i think… THAT HIDEOUS PURPLE! ICK!
Here’s hoping you get to test this and review it real soon! I am very much looking forward to hearing what you think of it! It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to try it myself. : )