Bois D'Iris by Different Company, 2000

walking the woods feeling alright!

The jarring forced falsetto of the cedar in the opening is an anomaly; it soon subsides to provide essential (and fortunately, none too distinct) support. What's left is dough, mud, plastic, suffused with an understated buttery sweetness, and it's completely wonderful. Wears close to the skin and I have my doubts about how well this would perform in warmer weather, but this is truly distinctive.

This one will probably split the camp of iris lovers out there. It is simple and subtle, yet distinctive and capable of hitting multiple marks. I would sum it up as an iris cedar combo, and that would be true enough, but would be missing some of the finer elements of this fragrance. The balance between doughy iris and sharp vetiver is a fun one, leaving a hint of powder, yet a feeling of coolness also. The cedar note floats in and out throughout this fragrance, used to sharpen or used to flesh out various aspects of the floral background. There is violet in here, and some musk - both used as fillers, akin enough to the iris to blend everything even further. This one is a nice compromise if you find Iris Silver Mist just TOO cold to wear. Bois d'Iris is cool, yet not aloof. I find it a very nice iris fragrance.

BOIS D'IRIS has a sharp, dark quality completely missing from the members of the Prada iris trio: Infusion D'iris edt and edp, and the Jean-Baptiste Grenouille composition, Infusion d'homme. I suspect that the dark woodiness--almost incense-like quality--may appeal to those who find the Prada compositions too light and frivolous--or simply too polite! I, however, as an amateur of the Prada trio, find this creation a bit heavy handed. It's certainly not a big carrot-iris (HIRIS), but it does have its own unique earthy funkiness, which is bound to vary in expression from wearer to wearer. I do think that the spicy bois dominates the iris here, and the sharp quality makes the overall effect less appealing to me than, say, IRIS NOBILE or IRIS NOIR.

While this is sparse in terms of construction, it is pleasantly unlike much of JC Ellena's work for Hermès and others, which I distinctly dislike. This for once does not remind me of functional perfumery, it is in fact my favorite iris scent - rich, buttery, boozy, woody, kind of a drag king to dior's metrosexual "Brian Molko" Iris, not to speak of Hermès emasculated carrot Hiris. The full accord fades rather quickly into a pleasant, understated whisper, though, so I'll have to hand the prize for superior construction to dior homme. Still prefer this one, though, on a purely sensual level.

Bois d'Iris, contrary to Ellena's typically-emaciated creations, has real appetite and begins as a respectably rooty iris with delicious gourmand touches of yeast and butter and cocoa. Beyond this, green notes of geranium and (especially) vetiver creep in and the fragrance makes its transition to a somewhat less exciting cedar-based drydown. Bois d'Iris does what it says on the bottle and is throughout a fragrance of iris and woods albeit with tantalizing topnotes. It's surely an iris worthy of the name. Nonetheless, it makes me crave the magisterial Iris Silver Mist which, though less compliant than Bois d'Iris, is superior in its Antarctic strangeness.

Bois dIris has an incredibly beautiful iris note brilliantly combined with the bergamot and vetiver. The cedar adds the barest hint of sharpness to the smooth iris-bergamot floral woodiness. I dont get any spices. I get a very clear iris, without powder, infused with floral and a breath of green. Very linearwhich, in this case, is wonderfuland long lasting. I dont see the scent itself as being excessively feminine, but it does take a very feminine turn on my skin. So I wouldnt wear it, but thats all rightIm not elegant enough to wear one like this, anyway. It is so finesuch a lovely, sensual, personal sophistication.

I am not a big fun of IRIS... I tried this sample and, even if it's a nice glass vial, not to press the pump somehow do not satisfy me. All the DC line is superior (except for the OSMANTHUS) and original (ROSE POIVRÉE and JASMIN DE NUIT). Jean-Claude Ellén is synonym of quality products. The perfume starts with soft-spicy bergamot and touches of virginian cedar-wood quicklying taking part and characterizing the composition. The iris-butter starts taking position pretty soon but the combination with the cedar-wood make a super-dry effect with a just sharpen-pencil result. Luckily there is a "Florazon-ßdamascon" violet aspect taking part and balancing all situation. The dry-down is sweeter and goes even more powdery. Classy and long lasting I can see it sailing in a summer morning with temperature rising up quickly emphasizing up the buttery notes but, if I would ever buy an Iris perfume, Iris Silver Mist or Iris de Nuit would be my choice!

Very sterile woody/iris/honey scent, like a high end store freshner.

BOIS D' IRIS is a minimalist yet sophisticated take on the iris and bears Ellena's signature 'ethereality'. For me the first whiff was like a lipstick-heavy smacker on the cheeks - it certainly left me pleasantly stunned. While far from smelling unpleasant, the scent's 'peculiar' presentation will never generate AdG-like sales nor find fans among sillage lovers. And as a commercial release it also seem to take considerable risks, push boundaries and explore a realm not many are willing nor able to venture into. Rather avant-garde IMO.