Next up from the Ephemeral Infusions line at Prada: Infusion de Tubéreuse (shown above left) and Infusion de Vétiver (above right). Both are limited edition, and both were developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier, who also created Infusion d’Iris, Infusion d’Homme and Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger…
Prada’s new Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger is the first in a projected yearly series of limited edition “Ephemeral Infusion” fragrances drawing on fragrance notes from the harder-to-find (and more expensive) Prada Exclusive scents. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the Ephemeral Infusion fragrances are designed to “evoke a light memory of the original ingredient”.*
I adore the Prada fragrance line, most or all of which (including this new one) was developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier. I adore Prada Infusion d’Iris, which along with Prada No. 4 Fleur d’Oranger was listed as a progenitor of Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger. Another iris + orange blossom combo, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile Eau de Toilette, is one of my favorite spring/summer fragrances. So while I didn’t tempt fate by assuming I’d adore Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger, I was pretty sure I’d at least like it.
Nope. I do like it for about 15 seconds…
Prada will introduce Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger, a new limited edition fragrance, this coming March. It is the first in a projected yearly series of “Ephemeral Infusion” fragrances.
Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger was developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier, and is described as a “descendant” as of Prada Infusion d'Iris and Prada No. 4 Fleur d'Oranger…
I bet lots of Now Smell This readers can relate to the following scenario: you’re in, say, Paris (somewhere “foreign,” far from home) and you find yourself in one of those shops that sells expensive little rarities — red silk Chinese lanterns with hand-painted calligraphy, tiny porcelain monkey figurines from Thailand, gold-and-horn letter openers from Kenya, babouches from Morocco — and you come across a gorgeous box of soap; each hefty bar of soap is wrapped in handmade paper and tied with a heavy ribbon. The scent of the soap is lovely but you don’t recognize the manufacturer, have never heard of or seen this delightful product before. The enticing perfume rising from the box of soap makes you imagine using it back home: it will make you feel confident and happy, it will remind you of your trip, it will make you feel rich and glamorous. You look at the price tag: the box of soap is $120 — $40 a bar!
In shock, you put down the box of soap and start wandering around the shop. You think: “This is outrageously priced!” “Decadent!” You attempt to gauge how long the box of soap will last…a month? six weeks? “So each bath will cost.…” As you pace around the shop, listening to Shirley Bassey singing Diamonds Are Forever on the sound system, your mind becomes calmer, your thoughts clearer…
Infusion d’Iris is the latest fragrance release from Prada, and I was looking forward to smelling it on several counts. Iris is one of my favorite notes, and the iris perfume sold on a small scale in the Prada boutiques a few years back (sorry, not sure if it is still there or not) was lovely. I’ve also been impressed with Prada’s mainstream perfumes to date, and I am especially fond of Prada Man, so I was excited to hear that the same perfumer who created that scent (Daniela Andrier) did Infusion d’Iris as well.
My first impression wasn’t entirely positive. The first thing you need to know about Infusion d’Iris, if you haven’t smelled it yet, is that it is light. Really light — hence, perhaps, the massive vat of juice the model is swooning over in the ad shown above. It is just a wispy little slip of a scent. On my first encounter, I sprayed a little on a card, and thought it quite nice, but within an hour, it didn’t smell like anything worth worrying about either way.
Still, on my next shopping trip, I sprayed a little on skin on the way out of the store. It is just as well that Infusion d’Iris wasn’t actually for sale yet, as I might have gone back to buy it on the spot…