What makes Dior Homme smell like lipstick?

[Celsius32]

I totally get it in the original DH, and this is the only reason why it's not sitting on my shelf. However, the intense version seems much more to my taste.

[Le Grand Duc]

However, the intense version seems much more to my taste.

Oh yes, it's in a league of it's own!

[petruccijc]

It does not smell like lipstick to me - at least not the kind I use.

[scentaddiction]

It does not smell like lipstick to me - at least not the kind I use.

Ha.

Spray...you are not alone. I get an incredible make-up-bag-fulla-old-lipstick smell from DH from beginning to end...but I LOVE the fragrance. I always assumed it was the iris, but then again it is not present in Dreamer at all....
Its funny, I receive a compliment almost every time that I wear it, but when probed about the lipstick accord, everyone says, "well now that you mention it...."

[Hasupk@gmail.com]

Dior Homme to me is way too feminine, I would rather smell it on my wife!

[Scentologist]

I'm thinking that the whole makeup vibe comes from iris and cocoa.

[mtgprox05]

The lipstick.... duh! You didn't know? They soak bits of Walmart brand lipstick in it before shipping out the bottles. Jeez, I didn't realize it was still such a secret.

[Spray]

Some guys here have mentioned makeup...

I think I get a combo of makeup and lipstick. The iris + cocoa theory is worth investigating.

[mrclmind]

It's not really "iris" that is associated with makeup, it's orris root. Not all iris fragrances are based on orris root. When an actual orris note is used in perfumery, synthetics are usually used, since pure orris absolute, orris butter, or orris concrete, are some of the most expensive perfume materials in existence. But to add to confusion, often the name "iris" will be used in a pyramid when "orris" is the actual note.

An iris note, on the other hand, is often based on the scent of the iris flower, and is built up using aroma chemicals in order to reproduce the scent of irises without ever really smelling much like orris root. Orris root doesn't really smell much like iris IMO. Actually, it smells more like violets if anything. Orris root has has a very distinct smell on its own. The rhizome itself is not prohibitively expensive, and in it's powdered form it has been used extensively in cosmetics, and as a fixative in potpourri mixtures for many years. The yield of essential oil is very low however and it is difficult to produce, thus making natural orris perfume materials expensive.

I really believe it is the orris root note in DH that is giving people the association with "lipstick." Just because a fragrance contains an orris note however, doesn't meant that fragrance will smell like makeup, but DH is built around an orris note, rather than just containing this note.

Also, it is important to remember that natural orris root is one of the most common and pervasive allergens in both perfumery and cosmetics and thus is being used less and less due to this fact. (Whenever I had to work with the stuff, I had to wear a mask and gloves and still would be sick for days afterwards). The synthetic scent of orris root will often be added to cosmetics to smell like "makeup" even though there is no longer any actual orris root being used in the manufacturing of the product itself.

[Spray]

Wow, great answer. If I'm ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire...

[mrclmind]

Wow, great answer. If I'm ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire...

Sorry, I added some edits to my answer since you read it...

[SculptureOfSoul]

mrclmind,

I am curious - do any synthetic orris components bother you, or only natural orris root? Do you mean that simply working with the absolute would cause you problems, or only in its powdered form?

I guess depending on those answers of yours i'm really interested in a sort of tangential question: have you ever tried Amouage Reflection Man? I smell a very strong high quality orris root note there. It could very well be entirely synthetic but I'd like to think it is at least partially natural. It smells natural, to me. Anyhow, if you've tried it, what did you think? Did you have any reaction?

Back on topic - I don't think it is the orris alone that evokes lipstick but orris + amber notes surely could. Orris + tolu balsam or benzoin + some waxy sandalwood or something could easily turn lipstick-ish.

[mrclmind]

mrclmind,

I am curious - do any synthetic orris components bother you, or only natural orris root? Do you mean that simply working with the absolute would cause you problems, or only in its powdered form?

I guess depending on those answers of yours i'm really interested in a sort of tangential question: have you ever tried Amouage Reflection Man? I smell a very strong high quality orris root note there. It could very well be entirely synthetic but I'd like to think it is at least partially natural. It smells natural, to me. Anyhow, if you've tried it, what did you think? Did you have any reaction?

Only the natural bothers me in all its forms; the whole rhizome being the least problematic and the powder and concrete being the worst offenders. The Givaudan Givco base "Orris Givco" is one of the best synthetic orris roots available (IMO and newer ones may be out that are as good or better that I am not aware of). It never caused any allergic reactions in me that I can recall. I should definitely give Reflection a try. I haven't tried it yet. DH never bothered me, but the Hugh Parsons orris centered scent did give me a reaction. Which made me wonder if it indeed had some trace amounts of authentic orris; but given its price I highly doubt it.

[mtgprox05]

The first time I tried Dior Homme, I thought it smelled like Dr. Pepper. Subsequent tries have changed that opinion.

[andylama]

I thought iris flowers had no smell. The ones I've grown had no smell at all.

[mrclmind]

I thought iris flowers had no smell. The ones I've grown had no smell at all.

There are thousands of varieties of iris. To my knowledge the only one that has the "Iris Fragrance" is Iris Pallida (also where orris root comes from). It is actually cultivated for its fragrance that is somewhat reminiscent of orange flowers/vanilla. I know that there has been much attempt at getting an absolute from it, with zero success. The names "Iris" and "orris" have been used interchangeably for a long time as a fragrance note, but the flower and the root smell very different, and any iris flower scent must be accomplished synthetically.

[andylama]

Ah. I'm familiar with just a handful of varieties, but don't remember any of them smelling like anything.

[mrclmind]

Ah. I'm familiar with just a handful of varieties, but don't remember any of them smelling like anything.

Most don't... But they sure are pretty!! That's great that you grow irises! I've got a brown thumb. Are they difficult to cultivate?

[scentimus]

It is like it smells like the bottom of a much older females make up bag -

I found that Royal Copenhagen has that same smell in the down dry - - - - - - - - - -???

[sumandre]

The scent that you are experiencing is orris. This smell has been described as fruity-floral, oily, voilet-like, ethereal.
If somebody were to ask me what it 'actually' smells like, I would tell them to go stuff their heads into their girlfriends makeup bag..quite literally. To me, it always reminds me of women's foundation or lipstick. Dior homme is quite iris for a men's fragrance, then again, I do believe there's no such thing as a man's fragrance. Hiris by hermes is almost all iris. Maybe you can test it and see if that smells like lippy too!

[Kevin Guyer]

The first time I tried Dior Homme, I thought it smelled like Dr. Pepper. Subsequent tries have changed that opinion.

As they used to say, "Dr. Pepper, so miss-understood."

[sumandre]

Interesting about the association with Dr. Pepper. I have always thought that Gucci Pour Hoome smelled alot like A&W root beer due to the orris. Perhaps with the right mix of other ingredients, we have discovered a new facet of perfume, a cola note!

[Crash Red Hot]

I definitely get the lipstick. And I just can't do it. I've sampled it a few times, hoping to like it. I just don't. That's ok... plenty of ones (too many) that I do.

[Armor King]

i just tried this out for the first time and damn it it does smell like lipstick to me...interestingly enough though im enjoying it? i dont know what it is but there is some other note in there that blending in with the lipstick which makes it enjoyable.

[Spray]

there is some other note in there that blending in with the lipstick which makes it enjoyable.

eye shadow

[mrcologneguy]

Yes, I get loads of lipstick smell from DH. DH Intense - even more. It's my favorite part. Wish it lasted longer.

Not a very masculine scent, but I don't care. Love it too much to care.

I passed around a bottle of DH at a party not too long ago - a party attended by fellow fragrance fanatics, men and women - and everyone said "lipstick" or "makeup" upon initial sniff.

[Crash Red Hot]

180 on this one.

I was at Sephora last night doing some mother's day shopping and figured I might as well pickup a sample and give it one more try. To my surprise, I hardly smell the "lipstick" scent when applied to my skin. It's still definitely there front and center when I apply it to a card. I actually find it quite pleasant on me right now, though it's a little weak.

[SirWill]

I can't wear Dior Homme, all I get from it is lipstick and old lady makeup bag smell.

[stevolution]

I kinda like that fatty, greasy smell of lipstick. I smell it in Serge Noir when first applied.

[actiasluna]

There are thousands of varieties of iris. To my knowledge the only one that has the "Iris Fragrance" is Iris Pallida (also where orris root comes from). It is actually cultivated for its fragrance that is somewhat reminiscent of orange flowers/vanilla. I know that there has been much attempt at getting an absolute from it, with zero success. The names "Iris" and "orris" have been used interchangeably for a long time as a fragrance note, but the flower and the root smell very different, and any iris flower scent must be accomplished synthetically.

Iris germanica (which is the common "bearded Iris" of many home flower gardens) actually has a nice scent to the flower, maybe not too far off the pallida. You need to get close to the flower to smell it, and it's a little more earthy-herbaceous perhaps, but definitely recognizable as Iris. And it makes me sneezy...sigh.