Prada Infusion d'Iris (2007)
by Prada

I was disappointed in this fragrance. I wanted so much to like it but for some reason, almost all I could smell was plastic. Barbie doll plastic. Underneath that I could detect a pleasant soapiness, which I would have very much enjoyed, if it had not been for the overwhelming plastic smell.

Surely it must just be my chemistry, as I highly doubt all of those who gave this high marks love to smell like plastic...

On the upside, it had pretty good staying power (about 8 hours).

I dont usually tend to like powdery fragrances but love Infusion d'Iris. I think its the softness combined with the chypre base that has me hooked. Plus it has good longevity and sillage, which is great given that a lot of fragrances tend to die prematurely on my skin.

For me, this fragrance is like a relationship that starts from this unassuming friendship that you never even know will blossom into a beautiful, addictive, passionate affair! This fragrance takes a while to "grow" on you, but once it does, you never want to be without it! I started out as a huge fan of the original Prada and when this came out wasn't too impressed. I actually didn't like it, but wanted to see if I was missing out on anything, I kept testing every time I went back to the store. Eventually, I started really liking it, to the point where I have decided to by the full bottle, and then another bottle, and another bottle... It is a beautiful, unique, feminine fragrance, sexy, but not overpowering, classy, but not conservative.

Iris seems to be moving into the “note of the decade” category along with vetiver. This seems to be a highly likeable, middle-of-the-road iris perfume that avoids smelling like ordinary, feminine iris perfumes—a difficult task. Infusion d’Iris starts out bright and lemony, although mandarin is the actual citrus. It quickly moves into a cool, powdery iris that maintains just enough earthy, rootiness to make me like it. I prefer Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist and The Different Company Bois d’Iris. The Prada creation carefully straddles the line between popular sensibilities and artistic greatness, but I would say that the former goal supercedes the latter. I am not a great lover of iris unless it truly revels in its sweet, carrotlike facet. I would wear pure orris butter rather than most iris perfumes. Having said that, I still give this perfume the green light. The base has a certain sweet, green, milky, smoothness that rescues it from becoming harsh or soapy. Of interest to me is the lentisk, or mastic, note listed in its pyramid. This resin from a Mediterranean evergreen tree is used in both fragrance and cooking. It is an acquired taste, both unusual and pleasant.

I don't get why this wonder is being rated (and sold) as feminine. Vetiver, cedre, incense... to me it's rather masculine reading of iris. It smells wonderfully on my skin, sillage is very gentle yet self confident. Can't get enough of it.

Went to Macy's particularly to check this one out. Wasn't too impressed, mainly because of how powdery it was.