Iris Poudre Frederic Malle for women

An absolute masterpiece. I usually dislike aldehydes but it’s well done in this. This smells soft, slightly powdery, with other florals in the background. I do wish it was a bit more powdery but this is a great scent nonetheless. It still smells rather modern to me with vintage touches.

Projection: Soft
Longevity: Moderate

True art. Took my breath away.
I can see where some people are coming from when they say this reminds them of the No5 dna. It’s the aldehydes.
And yet, I don’t really care for Chanel No5.
But I fell head over heels for this one.
I’m in love! I currently don’t have the words to describe it, but I’m reading some of those beautiful reviews here and I’m nodding and smiling. Yes…you get it.
I must get a bottle of this soon.
Until then, I’ll be dreaming about it.

The name of this fragrance is a bit misleading, as you’d expect to get a powdery iris bomb. But instead, you are hit with florals and aldehydes first and the powdery notes last.

This is a modern take on JCE’s very first creation, VCA’s First. That typical old school aldehydic dna is unmistakably there, especially in the opening. However this is not an in your face heady floral like First. It is more gentle, pretty, and calm. The powdery dry down is less makeup and more baby powder.

If I didn’t have First, I would want this. It is a feminine scent that would suit a refined lady of any age, including a younger lady in her 20-30s.

So interesting to read people’s various responses to this perfume — I was on the hunt for something that smelled like lipstick and this 100% fits the bill. It is softer and “nicer” than both FM’s Lipstick Rose and JHAG’s Lipstick Fever. I have never paid attention to whether I notice anything other than powdery florals and aldehydes, and this wears very linearly on me. While I don’t wear it that often, it’s my go-to reach after a nice soak in the bath.

I do get the iris and the powderiness from Iris Poudre, but there's not enough for my tastes, especially given the name of the fragrance. I could maybe forgive it because there are other floral notes I enjoy here, except there's something that my nose doesn't like - possibly the aldehydes, but I'm leaning more towards one of the deeper woody notes. As much as I love florals and powder, Iris Poudre is too vintage-smelling.

Others here have definitely described this better and in more detail, but this is what I get: I blind bought it, hoping I'd get a clean powdery elegant iris. However, I got some bright aldehydes in the opening, then quickly settled into this clean airy musk with a little powdery feel. The name misled me, it's not a powdery iris, but a fresh, bit astringent in the opening, then a subdued clean musk. Good for office wear. I don't see the resemblance with Chanel 5, aside from the aldehydes. Performance is really bad on me, couple of hrs staying power with minimal to no projection.

Say perfume has iris and powder notes and I have to try it, maybe would even blind buy it. I had high hopes and when I dedicated an afternoon to perfume testing, this was the first I grabbed.
My imagination went in a different direction from this perfume and it wasn't my thing at all. It was too retro, a bit old lady smelling and somehow it was lifeless on me. Nothing fresh, no vanilla to my nose, just woodiness of an old powder and a bit of iris and green, herbal notes.
Very decent longevity, but was outperformed that day by Agent Provocateur.

Comparing

FREDERIC MALLE: Iris Poudre
Pierre Bourdon (2000) and

STÉPHANE HUMBERT LUCAS: Panthea Iris (2019)
(Review made earlier)

These two clear, sophisticated and soapy scents are in the same category. Both has a clean white musky base and they are very subtle, elegant and refined. They are airy and dry. They are powdery but it’s rather sharp and cold powder than soft and warm compared to those “baby vibe” powdery scents.

Iris Poudre is even colder and drier than Panthea Iris. There is a lot of aldehydes in IP and it creates a frosty, super fresh and bright nuances. In Panthea Iris there are pink berries in the top notes which gives a hint of the sweetness to the scent and Orris butter in the base softens the whole concoction a little bit.

Do I need the both? Yes. But I don’t know if it’s necessary- try them and decide. 💙

Iris Poudre:

Top: Rose - Violet - Ylang-Tlang
Heart: Iris (Aldehydes)
Base: Sandalwood - Musk - Tonka bean

Panthea Iris:

Top:
Pink Berries - Italian Bergamot and Tangerine - White Tea
Heart:
Iris Absolute - Jasmine - Violet
Base:
White Musk - Tonka bean - Sandalwood - Patchouli - Iris butter

Iris Poudre has multiple faces for me. Initially, it opens citrusy, but immediately turns to a clean, powdery scent which, reminded me of the perfumes of the elegant ladies of a few years ago, as has already been said, in the wake of Chanel n.5. Thanks perhaps to the aldehydes and the violet, the fragrance seems to "rejuvenate" itself and add gracefulness to everything. It gives a beautiful feeling of cleanliness and well-being, it is absolutely not suffocating. I don't consider it a perfume for "ladies of a certain age" but very wearable even by a younger person, perhaps on a beautiful spring day. Very good persistence, I like it a lot, like most Malles.

Smells exactly as advertised on my skin - fresh out of the bottle it smells like irises, baby powder, and some fresh-chopped fragrant wood. I love it. I get scents of other flowers, too…I can smell the rose, carnation, and if I try very hard I get a whiff of maybe citrus (maybe). Honestly, it smells almost exactly like my grandmother's bedroom - which is just what I was hoping for. She loved irises and had many iris gardens and would sprinkle her bed with a sort of floral baby powder each time she made it. Very nostalgic for me. As other reviewers said, it's Chanel No 5, but a little less old lady - slightly fresher, newer, modern. Still a bit old lady, but in a good way. I don't like Chanel No. 5 much, but I like this. There's a green-ness to the scent, too, that I like a lot but I am not sure what note is providing that lift and making that powder not stale-old-lady powdery but a more fresh-clean linen powder. It is a cold scent, not for an occasion when you want to seem warm and friendly and youthful, but rather when you want to smell a bit like a slightly older, sophisticated career lady that comes from old money and wears a lot of very expensive skirt suits and takes care of herself. It also isn't sweet on my skin at all - I don't get any vanilla note. It dries very powdery on my skin, which I like here and don't like in most other perfumes (it's a better, cleaner powdery smell than most and not itchy-nose inducing). I would agree with others that it wears quite close-to-the-skin and doesn't have much projection and, for some reason, fades fast on my skin. It's a 7/10 for me, only for that reason. I am still considering buying a bottle because it's one of the few powdery scents I've loved and the nostalgia runs deep for me here. If it can last on your skin more than mine, though, and you love powdery floral smells it's a very good choice.

The aldehydes burn off quickly, like a descent from the sparkling stratosphere that punches through lilac clouds and lands you in a fragrant, slightly chilly garden. Then the sweet, narcotic fog rolls in, a tonka-vanilla-scented blanket. After a while, in the manner of dreams, you’re somehow inside. The garden flowers have been cut; they’re in a crystal vase, but they never lose their freshness. It’s very quiet in here. The clock is so loud.

Once you accept the transition from bright floral aldehydes to sweet floral suede, it’s incredibly long-lasting. It seeped from my skin into my sheets and lives there now, which is fine because it’s soothing and pretty—not pretty like a girly-girl, pretty like an elegant and well-groomed woman with expensive hair and no-makeup makeup. A real class dame.

You know in Vertigo when Jimmy Stewart forces Kim Novak to dye her hair platinum blonde and buy a dove-grey skirt suit to become the gorgeously demure ice queen of Hitchcock’s fantasies? He probably made her switch to this perfume.

In short: a work of art that is not my thing at all.

This is powdered iris?! 🤔 I thought iris and powder were my thing, but I don’t recognise them in this fragrance other than vaguely in the drydown. It’d made more sense to me if this were called Aldehydic Carnation. Most of the accords in the pyramid fit my preference profile but the actual fragrance does not appeal to me. The head and heart of this smell like what I used to think of as an archetypal cheap/counterfeit frag before I joined Fragrantica. Since then I realised that smells like this can indeed be legitimate ‘haute perfumery’. So, in addition to the suffocating aldehydes and carnation, I think I can smell a bit of skank in this even though animalics are not listed. Someone mentions that the jasmine is indolic here. Is that it then? It’s also mentioned that this is up the alley of Chanel No. 5 lovers. I can see that. Definitely. But that’s not my alley. I’m coming to sit by MissWithoutLogic on this one (see her review below). Also, why vertiginous prices? Anyway, I feel in no way deprived for not being able to afford this ‘art’. I did not get the beauty of Carnal Flower either. My apologies to whoever thinks I owe them an apology.

PS: I liked Eau de Magnolia, though! I hope this can redeem me somewhat.

Initially I strongly get aldehydes which I’m not keen on. This has a photorealistic iris note. I am a fan of iris and orris notes in perfumes when it’s in a creamy form but here that's not the case. In real life I find iris to be almost suffocating. I was able to get a faint sweetness from ylang ylang and tonka bean which I really enjoyed but that fleeted quickly. Overall it rounds out to be a powdery, soapy and clean scent. This reminds me of powder that’s been spilled in a bag. It’s for the clean girl aesthetic. This perfume remains quite strong and projects. The vibe I get from Iris poudre is that of cherubs and angels.

YYYUCK. Maybe I don't like iris after all, LOL!
I'm assuming I, like many others, actually love the fantasy iris note, or orris root. I hear that this is a true iris, quite metallic and loud, polarizing and unappealing.

I find this perfume ghastly, but for an iris purist might be a true love. I wish I smelled what everyone else is smelling!

Gave me a headache. Which is weird because I also could barely smell it.

Wearing my floral frags now in Springtime.
Reviewed earlier, but this is very woody, which I'm enjoying.
This is not overly feminine. It has very nice woodiness, sandalwood and rosewood. It has a spicy musk, and aldehydes. Besides Iris dominant floral, and get the violet also.

Iris Poudre is the definition of cleanliness, elegant and smart.
It absolutely suits the white color.
The only drawback is the weak longevity and sillage 🥲

Such a nice scent … it just hurts that it doesn’t perform like it smells..

Scent 8/10
Performance 6/10

Literally a chanel no5 clone

Painfully chic. Really does make you feel like you’re just better than everyone else. When applied with a light hand, this wears like the silkiest, most luxurious smelling skin scent…like you just naturally emanate the smell of finely milled expensive floral soap. Icy rich bitch but done so well.

I have worn my sample of Iris Poudre several times now. The more I wear it the more I disconnect with it. In a lot of reviews it is compared with Chanel No 5. I have been wearing No 5 Eau Premiere for the last week and don't get the connection. If anything, I find Iris Poudre brings to mind Chanel No 18. For some reason I am smelling ambrette in Iris Poudre. It is an earthy iris and maybe it is the same iris used in No 18 and I'm just thinking I smell ambrette. Strange, I know. There are a lot of notes listed here on Fragrantica that I don't pick up on at all when I wear Iris Poudre. Then again it presents a little different everytime I wear it. I feel I really don't know it all that well yet, but I'm not going to spend the money on a full bottle.

I'd have called this Aldehydes Poudre, although that's not to say the iris isn't pronounced. The initial aldehydic blast is almost reminiscent of Oud Khol for me, although obviously only the aldehydes, sharing the almost savoury sharpness rather than being on the soapy side.

Wondeful, addictive, powerful yet light... another yes from me for this wonderful house.

I get the comparison to No 5, but this is more subtle, and once the dry down takes effect, the warmth of the amber really balances it out wonderfully. It's like a next level No 5 EDT.

Okay... really? Yet another expensive iris scent to steal my heart and my money?

At first spray, very bright, waxy aldehydes. Classic Chanel No. 5 vibes, and specifically No. 5 L'eau. YUMMY.
The aldehydes sparkle around on my skin for a bit, and melt into this soapy scent. It's a powdery, creamy soap. I don't get much of the specific flowers on my skin, but just a vague round, comforting, soapy, lightly musky smell. It's a creamy liquid soap, not a bar of soap like Chanel No. 5.

Essentially, Chanel No. 5 L'eau, with IRIS. Could any scent get more perfect????

Scent: 10/10
Longevity: Average (~6 hours)
Projection: Soft to moderate

It has a similar feel to classics like Chanel No 5 but it's less linear. This one is more complex, powdery, and iris and violet notes pop out.

Not for me, but I appreciate this one for being a modernized Samsara.

@misswithoutlogic Have you tried standing on your head in a grey tailored suit and pink, fluffy bunny slippers? Did you clap your hands five times while doing it? Did you say "Pierre Bourdon" at the end?

No?

Well, that's how you activate its powers! 😋

P.S. Dear frenemy, I miss you without logic!

This perfume is so classically beautiful that it breaks my heart a little. I know that's dramatic, but it is true. I fell in love with this the moment I spritzed a sample on my wrist. As many have said, it does remind me a bit of Chanel, but it is its own fragrance. It is a bit cold and reserved, but in a demure way. It projects a delicious bubble and has moderate to strong longevity. It's honestly one of my favorite perfumes. I can't wait to buy a full bottle. Wearing it makes me feel so ladylike and professional. I think it's best for autumn and spring, but it can definitely work in the winter. It has a bit of a makeup smell, but it's not sweet like Lipstick Rose. I pick up the powdery, woody, iris, and musky notes the most. It is DIVINE!

A crowd pleaser. It balances popular appeal with a lot of depth and subtlety. It's woody without oriental spices.

When compared to Apollonia by Xerjoff, this is dryer, woodier, and more powdery. Apollonia is both sweeter and more masculine at the same time. On the other hand, the rose and powder in Iris Poudre render the scent too familiar. It's familiar right because the combination has been a huge commercial success in perfumed products. And to be fair, Iris Poudre is way more than iris powder and rose. It's got a ton of depth and subtlety. However, Apollonia is definitely the fresher of the two.

Coming from a 25 year old female, I'm enchanted by this scent. Makes me want to get dressed up in silk.

What I like about this one is it’s almost like a unisex version of Chanel No 5 edp, which I love. Perfect for spring,

It’s a male fragrance, the heavy black musk note gives a masculine feelings.
Absolute beauty.

I wanted to love this so bad!

The opening is just what I need to start to and to finish my day but the quality just isn’t there. The cap is plastic and for that price I expect something more premium, it doesn’t last either which I have found is the standard with FM and you can blame ESTÉE LAUDER!

After the acquisition their quality just went into the bin so to speak, such a pity because some of them are truly beautiful but not worth the price when weighted against the quality. There are better options out there for the same price point or less…

The words quality and performance just aren’t in Estée Lauders’ vocabulary.

Coming from someone who typically "hates the genre," this is insanely beautiful! Don't take this the wrong way- this is grandmother of the bride. A comforting hug from a high-class woman.

Granted if you don’t like aldehydes this won’t be your taste, but imo knocking it because you dislike the genre isn’t really a fair critique. It’s does what it’s meant to do flawlessly. It’s clearly a no.5 homage and actually a quite romantic and thoughtful take on a classic. Sometimes you get a soapy powder, then a rooty iris, here and there a dewy white floral, a drift of amber, once and a while heady intoxicating rose surfaces. You’ve got your makeup smell but it also captures the vivacity of flowers without becoming annoying or predictable. I don’t know how to describe it other than it feels like a floral without really being one. She’s really a whole personality that is really quite difficult to pin down and get to know. You won’t remember it from a scent strip at a department store, rather it’s something that would stick with you about memorable person-

I’ll say that lily and ylang ylang actually carry much farther than the aldehydes- so if you are pressing your nose to your wrist you aren’t going to get the same effect as a passerby. My husband loves it, despite having fairly mainstream taste and typically going for more sweet and vanilla. I don’t see the quality issue. I can smell it on a sweater from two months ago so I don’t know what more you could want. I’d also say it’s a rare person under 30 who could pull this off (although I could maybe see it for a younger man.) sexy 30+

I don't get any powder. I get soap, but the generic toiletries kind, i.e. cheap. Not enough iris either. The aldehydes+florals results in a dirty jasmine note, which is much stronger than the iris. The musk (is it musk or is it Ambroxan?-I think the latter) is sour.
Like going to a public restroom. Awful.

MASTERPIECE. Iris Poudre is the most elegant and refined fragrance I have ever tried. As the name suggests, the Iris is Powdery, and the overall experience is quite fizzy with the noticeable presence of aldehydes.
The main note is surrounded by a beautiful, slightly creamy flower bouquet. Slightly masculine in my opinion, as a Man, I love wearing it.
Try it, you won't regret it.

PS: I get small similarities with Chanel 5, I prefer IP.

Ever since I tried Iris Poudre at FM counter, I could not take this off my mind. Finally bought myself the small travel bottle recently. Being averse to overly sweet, powdery floral, the name Poudre itself generally does not evoke elegance to me. Such a experience of "Poudre" is Narciso Poudree, which I found screechy and harsh, and a bit too sweet.

Iris Poudre opens with aldehydic floral and the citrus brightens the top. Soon, a bouquet of ylang ylang, rose, jasmin, very similar feel to Chanel No.5, emerges. You will feel beautiful powdery note also coming through supported by gentle wood base. It is very elegant and comfortable. Breathtakingly beautiful, Mr. Bourdon's creation is.

A modern take on vintage perfumes. The aldehydes and iris are definitely the dominant notes. It’s more refined than a classic 80s aldehyde “bomb” but it definitely evokes those. I also get some woods and a citrus spiciness (probably the carnation?). Don’t really get the white florals. For me it’s a bit too vintage/mature (I’m in my 20s) but I can see why others like it. Longevity is very good, 7+ hours.

A very screechy, dated and dry scent. Didn't like it.

Smells very much like a true iris petal after drying down. In the opening, the powder is strong, until it slowly ebbs away into a petal

This would be my first comment here but I've been a reader in fragrantica for a long time. Just received my IP today. IP first sprayed smells like Chanel no19 Poudre immediately after spraying. Then in a few seconds, it verges to between Chanel no 5 Premiere and no 5 L'eau. It also has a tiny hint of sparkles or fizziness like in Coco Mademoiselle. I can't explain the middle, it seems like a hint of sweetness, elegant smelling perfume, hint of face cream my mom used when I'm younger. The last smell seem to be so soft, subtle, and comforting. It also shows a little bit of musk and powdery smell. It is like a skin scent when it settles. First time I sprayed a perfume that my kids and hubby did not react on how strong the smell is but they know I'm wearing perfume. It blends with the wearer. It is not so modern take of vintage perfume. I think this smell is a little bit mature for me, but I'll update you guys of what happens if I wear it in a few days... I like it, but don't love it yet...

A beautiful dream, surrounded by marble, iris and freshly washed sheets. I would wear this to an exhibition of fine arts. A shower of Iris Poudre. Gorgeous.

This one upon first spray reminds me of bug spray for some reason. It turns into a nice floral scent, but eventually gave me a headache--so an easy no decision for me.

I honestly just think it smells bad.
I didn't really get the iris from it, or powder. It's very strong and stings the nose with its opening and lingers with a overpowering urine-like vetiver......

A splendid beautiful scent. Some iris, some powder, some sparkle and some something special that makes me feel beautiful when I wear it. Sadly I think at its price tag, its performance needs to be better, definitely longer, and because of that I cannot justify buying a bottle.

A bit of a disappointment...
More white floral than powdery iris, to be completely honest.
And the white floral elements weren't all that interesting, to add insult to injury.
Quite forgettable, to be honest.
Aldehydes, muted white floral and a weak woodsiness in the background.
It's a no from me...

It's a very powdery Iris fragrance. I can definitely feel the aldehydes, ylang ylang, some rose and violet. I enjoy it, but my boyfriend hates it. He thinks it smells like old lady. While I can understand his point of view, I still like it. Would I buy a full bottle? Probably not. I will probably just sample it every once in a while instead.

Edit: I must say that I really love the Ylang Ylang in this perfume! It's really intoxicating.

I was concerned it may be too feminine, but it's not so much. I have been wearing FM French Lover all morning, Pierre Bourdon's other FM fragrance.
Ylang Ylang can get quite feminine, but it's in accord with the spicy green carnation, which keeps it in check.
This is similar to FM Noire Epices, which is a classic style aldehydes with orange top note, but with predominant rose. This is a better composition for me, more complex, with interesting and enjoyable fragrance accords.
I enjoy one of the most persistent orange notes in a fragrance.

I enjoyed the opening right away, it makes me think modern/ classic, and slightly metallic fresh opening. I get the aldehydes with a little orange and citrus, but unique. The aldehydes are in accord with violet, a favorite floral.
The powderiness is a little uncomfortable for me, as this is leaning somewhat feminine. It is less feminine than Mitsuoko or Diaghilev, in the same category of fruity floral chypres.
I like how the orange stays throughout most of the duration, yet never dominates, nicely blended.
I like the soapy aldehydes as they are in accord with orange, and natural white florals. On second day of wearing, I'm really enjoying the white florals in the mid, Lilly, magnolia, jasmine. They have a light natural sweetness. I don't pick out the rose.

The opening top notes are really well crafted. The Ylang Ylang is in accord with the more green carnation, and a really juicy tangerine note, goes great with the other top notes.
The Iris never dominates, but you can pick it out more or less throughout.
In the drydown it started to remind me a lot of Diptyque Vetyverio. It is Ylang Ylang with vetiver and orange frag.

I will enjoy it. It is an 7.5/10 for me, but for a woman 9/10. This is a must try for woman fragrance lovers.

God bless. John 3:16

Definitely have my opinions and that is _this has good longevity on my skin. Does not project for hours but honestly, I don't like washing my clothes and still smelling a fragrance. I have issues with that. POAL is like that you spray it and a month layer it still lingers on a couch or other fabric for too long. This is a beautiful powdery unique fragrance. If you like Iris based fragrances, you will enjoy it. Heck, just buy 7.5 travel spray it's plenty.

One of the best fragrance ever. What a wonderfull clean, elegance, classy fragrance for those over 30. Always at my top 5. Can be weared even at sunday brunch or at a formal business meeting.

Thanks to Piere Bourdon for this amazing fragrance❣️

I wanted to like it
I hoped I would love it
I had this glimmer of hope that it’s my next purchase from this grand house
Sadly it disappointed me
When I sniffed it for the first time in the FM boutique I was enchanted by it
with the kindness of the sales associate of the brand he gave me a 2ml sample and I sprayed the heck out of it
And after two to three hours I just paused for a second and thought “this is it”!!??
It deceives you on paper but on my clothes it just doesn’t perform
Iam very annoyed by this fragrance
Either Mr Pierre made it weak for older women or Estēe Lauder butchered it

Totally agree with the comments that it has very weak longevity. Definitely an expensive skin scent

Well, there has been a change here. This is a fragrance that I know well and have loved for years, although haven't owned it for ages. Today, I gave myself four generous sprays on the forearm whilst at the Malle counter. It still gave that lovely fruity powder, soft-focus aldehyde musk. It still smells fantastic. The difference is that it became a skin scent after 2 hours and completely disappeared after 4.
I checked with other people as maybe my nose had become tired, but no - nothing left. In warm, humid weather, it should have bloomed well. I am not someone who requires 'beast scents' or monster sillage, but if I'm going to pay £200+ for a bottle of perfume, I need it to last until morning coffee. Portrait of a Lady on the other arm did not perform much better. Very, very sad.

Iris poudre starts very "Chanellesque." It is aldehydique, bright and does remind Chanel 5 , but on drydown is of Guerlain's Samsara. Overall it is a gorgeous,classy, sophisticated scent on mature side.

One of the best blind buys EVER. This is formal, elegant, but it is not stuffy. It is regal. This is a true portrait of a lady, too bad that name belongs to another. This is going on my top shelf along with No. 22.
It is Iris and and it is powder but not a dusty, sleepy powder. It is pure beauty.

This is a big, strong fragrance ideally for evening, but doesn’t give me a headache. It’s very elegant. Develops from iris to a warm sandalwood.
Edit: I first tried this in hot, dry weather. Now in the UK autumn, the damp cooler weather has changed this fragrance completely. It now smells of Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere (not a bad thing) and the staying power is lacking a little. Still love it though - one of the best irises I’ve tried. Full bottle purchased.

WOW! I had sampled this a couple years ago. I had problems with anosmia, not just with this, but with many others, definitely brought on by smoking. Two years later and smoke free, I got my hands on a small spray bottle and it is just amazing. It's in the running for my favorite perfume ever, and definitely my favorite iris!! I had fallen in love with Boucheron Iris Syracuse, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile, and CHANEL No. 19 Poudre. I still love them, but Iris Poudree is the Queen! I will move heaven and earth to get my hands on a fb and will have it in my collection forever.

It really fits the name, you will get a blast of iris and powdery, But not the same iris note that exists in Dior homme, it's more refined mixed with other kind of roses, But over all it's dominant with Iris and powder so if you like these notes you will love it.

Iris Poudre is a high class, smart ladie's fragrance. It starts with blast of bright aldehydes and citrus. Aldehydes here are not at all old fashioned. At this point it smells very Chanel like. In few minutes fizzyness calms down and smooth,warm sandalwood and other floral notes slowly emerge. Now it smells to me like a cross between Chanel no5 and Samsara. I find hard to describe particular notes but I tried to describe an impression.

I've been putting off writing a review on this fragrance because I really don't know how to form my opinion into words.

I received a sample and as per "the usual", sprayed it on a piece of cotton to test it. I sniffed it periodically to see how it developed. First impression was that it's a nice scent to wear to the office; soft, powdery and inoffensive. I liked it enough to try it on me. I applied it and went to work. As I drove, I really enjoyed the sweet scent bubble that encompassed me. As I was leaving my car and unpacking the contents (about an hour after first applying the fragrance), I kept getting whiffs of something different. I can't tell you exactly what the note or notes were, but it wasn't anything that I picked up from the sample on the cotton. I actually thought it might be the result of the Iris Poudre mixing with another fragrance that was still present in the car, but it wasn't. The Iris Poudre had actually gotten heavier - more dense and mature - and not in a bad way. This nuance wasn't revealed on my test strip. Either my body chemistry and/or body heat caused the Iris Poudre to develop on totally different on me. It was at this point that I realized that I'd gotten hold of a winner.

Even though I feel it's office suitable, I felt underdressed when I wore it to work with jeans and a cotton shirt. This made me feel like I should've been wearing something a bit more dressy. I felt sophisticated and elegant when I had it on.

EDIT: The cotton shirt held the scent until laundry day - about a week after wear. The fragrance left on the shirt had settled to a soft powdery dream.

So far out of all the Frederic Malles, this is the one I hate the least. Still wouldn't wear it - I can appreciate a mature fragrance but this one seems fully outdated. The animalic component of this entire line is way way too much for me. All of FM's fragrances smell like perfume + BO to me.

Like freshly washed hair after a Wella toner

Holy crap haha. This is huge. I mean wow. This is a grandiose feminine powdery iris, it is big and shooting for the stars, and guess what? it does succeed. Would recommend everyone to check this out, cause this is true art in a bottle.

This will be my next purchase this fall. What a beautiful iris fragrance it is❣Not overpowering, but not weak either. Very wearable. It will be lovely for fall/winter.

Opening versus dry down is night and day. The opening was a little stuffy, Tweed Chanel Suit ladies who lunch vibes. The dry down is ... perfect? a sweet, aldehydic and floral iris. The aldehyde gives this an irresistible (and the most subtly fecal... yet still soapy) edge that makes me keep sniffing.

Frederic Malle has so many great iris scents and they're all so different, BUT if I had to pick my fave... I am going on record that it's this one <3

This is largely iris and aldehydes. It opens with a slightly dry, cool, and earthy iris, lots of aldehydes, and some musk; it definitely has a baby powder vibe going on (not a bad thing, in my opinion). As it dries it warms up a bit with the vanilla, rose, ylang-ylang, and woods coming out. This is really a beautiful iris fragrance. It reminds me a bit of a lighter and more aldehydic version of Casbah by Avon. I wish the performance was a bit better- sits fairly close to the skin and lasts about 3-4 hours.

The snow-white aldehyde iris of Frédéric Malle is reminiscent of the cool blondes in Hitchcock films, bathed in luxury. The iris accord, or rather, the finest iris flour, lies between the evil, soapy-steel aldehydes at the start and the floral-cold white musk. A touch of light cedar to define boundaries and privacy, vetiver and lily to add even more arrogance, and finally sharp amber studs to make the whole world jealous.

Neither supremely poudre nor exclusively "iris-ey," Iris Poudre reads to me as a wholly unisex woody, floral amber...and a lovely one at that! It begins with aromatics and the fresh/"lavender" scent of dihydromyrcenol (used more sparingly here than in your standard masculine fougere). There's definitely an overall ionone/orris vibe in the floral core, as well as a version of the typical rose, jasmine, ylang combo. We get the "hamminess" of ylang ylang and the banana-like undercurrent of some jasmine accords featured fairly prominently--rose is subdued but there. The drydown smells of smooth sandalwood aromachemicals plus coumarin and vanilla. The DHM and woodiness definitely skew this in the universal/unisex direction. I know aldehydes are listed as a note...and lots of things (including vanillin!) are aldehydes, but I don't smell the typical waxy/fatty/cilantro-like aldehydes like C10, C11, and C12 that define scents like no 5 and its ilk. I do get some similarities to both Dolce and Gabbana By Men and By Women--creamy, vanillic woods beautified with florals and complicated with an herbal bite--but its not a total smell alike to those.

A more contemporary version of Chanel No.5. Whereas No.5 gets rich, creamy, soapy, this is more airy and elegant. It seems more casual and wearable, not so potent. As it is iris centered it gets the most of Prada Infusion D'iris type of sophistication and is different from any other No.5 flankers which are more vanilla and ylang-ylang centered (Eau Premiere) or citrus centered (L'Eau). This smells more expensive than the latter. +

Sophisticated, dry iris. More woody (sandalwood) than powdery, not very sweet. Too dry to my taste. Lots of aldehydes on top. Sophisticated, like all Malles, but ultimately a bit boring. Too much white musc.

Iris Poudre is an aldehydic floral fragrance that was created by Pierre Bourdon. At first I thought that it is a simple fragrance that consists of a powdery iris and a musky base. However, after many wearings, I realized that I was completely wrong as the fragrance started revealing its complicated character that was hidden under that big aldehydic opening. Iris Poudre opens with a soapy aldehydic accord that brings memories of the aldehydic fragrances of the past century. However, under that aldehydic cloud, I detect a very sweet floral note that has hints of jasmine but it is much sweeter, this floral note is definitely ylang-ylang. Along with it, I detect another floral note, it is not sweet but spicy, it has a noticeable clove like peppery spiciness, it is definitely a carnation accord. There is a sweet woody linalool-heavy rosewood and a heady spicy fleshy floral lily (lys) accord. This short-lived opening is followed by the iris accord which forms the core of this fragrance. Iris accords can take different shapes, from the cold dry iris in Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist, to the lipsticky iris in the original Dior Homme, to the almost vegetal iris in Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena and the doughy iris in Masque Milano L’Attesa. However, in Iris Poudre, Bourdon created a very innocent iris accord, it is sweet and clean with a very powdery texture just like the name. It has many overlaps with another powdery floral note, violet, but without the green nuances. The base is a clean musky base with hints of vetiver, sandalwood that is further sweetened by vanilla. Overall, this is a soft and delicate iris fragrance.

I have never had such strong coloured imagery from a perfume before. The ultimate, dark purple perfume. I asked my partner what he thought and his review was: “you smell like a special event”. I agree, perhaps a little too wow for simple me. But I do absolutely love it.

One of the most beautiful fragrances I have ever laid my nose on.
The iris, violets and aldehydes compliment each other so well.
I find this to be a very intimate scent in the dry down which I love. I’m no fragrance expert by any means but I absolutely adore this and can recognize it’s beauty and quality.

I expected an old fashioned aldehyde style bomb, so was pleasantly surprised.
This is soft, sweet, crisp, powdery iris, the aldehydes are very subtle, and the musk gives a nice base.
It’s not something I’d ever buy or wear, just because it’s not my style.

Iris is the note im not particularly like, and often times it gives me headache. But this one is different. Soft, powdery but a little dirty iris, which is nicely done. As its name suggests, iris is at the centre, supported by sandalwood, aldehydes and various floral blends. Perfectly unisex, moderate longevity but minimal sillage. A lovely day wear office fragrance.

It's taken me almost a decade to grow into this fragrance.
Now that I have, I am completely enamored with it.

Iris is not my favorite floral note. Far too frequently it is too woody and dry in fragrances for me. Even worse, it can be a bit buttoned up and unimaginative, which is how I initially thought of Iris Poudre, pleasant enough, but sober. It felt like a pair of sensible shoes when I wanted stilettos in my fragrances.

Over time as my taste broadens or narrows, I can't tell :) the Malle iris (L'eau d'Hiver included) now seems to deliver just the right amount of poise and calm, with the woodiness I use to find off-putting, more inviting. Unlike FM's L'eau d'Hiver, however, Iris Poudre isn't ethereal. It has a firm structure and an aldehyde lift that's unmistakable and soapy in the right breeze. I detect a slight creamy sweetness courtesy of the vanilla. I don't find this iris nearly as powdery as the name would lead you to hope for or avoid, but the powder I do smell is on the sweeter side, not glaringly so, but enough so that it's worth mentioning.

Iris Poudre is not Chanel No. 5-like or powder centric to my nose.

Iris Poudre is, first for foremost, a lovely iris, aldehyde, mild musk, sandalwood creation with a small vanilla mixed in for good measure. It's a perfect office casual scent, neither loud nor shrinking in temperament. It's so easy to imagine it the signature scent of many. one reached for daily. It's an understated crowd pleaser.

Notable
more 9-5 than after hours
more sensible than wildly sensational
more compelling than I originally thought possible

For several years I haven't given fragrance much attention, though it's always interested me greatly. I worked at the Estee Lauder counter many years ago, and I secretly longed to transfer to fragrance...though I never did I still find it fascinating.

I've been wearing Chanel Allure (again) for over a year - a favorite of mine since its debut. It will always be a favorite. By now, it's a comfort and a trusted standby when I feel nostalgic or in a fragrance rut. I'm grateful to have that. Maybe it was turning forty that nudged me to mindfully and actively seek out a new 'big girl' scent.

It has been so much fun learning more about fragrances, and myself in the process. I began reading 'top fragrances' lists by various beauty editors. Frederic Malle was a house that kept appearing. It was new to me. I live in a small rural area and have not much knowledge of fragrance beyond Chanel, Calvin Klein, Armani, and of course, Estee Lauder to name a few. So I ordered their small discovery set.

In the meantime I have been purchasing samples on Mercari from numerous other houses that were new to me: Byredo, Jo Malone, Tom Ford, Arquiste, The Harmonist, etc. So I have been doing a lot of sampling...some lovely, some downright putrid.

But short story long, Iris Poudre is definitely a signature for me. I have learned in my little journey that I love iris and powdery scents, soft and feminine but complex. Iris Poudre checks all those boxes. It is exciting to wear it and it just feels like me. I am so happy to have it, it makes me feel like the best version of me when I am wearing it.

It's a complicated beauty of a fragrance. There was something in the top notes I found a little off-putting the first couple wears. Not sure if it was the carnation or the rosewood but a sweet tweak stood out to my nose that I didn't enjoy. If that note would have stuck then this would have been a no for me. But it is fleeting and from there this fragrance is straight up gorgeousness.

I have never had or tried a perfume that I enjoyed the middle and base notes more than the top. Usually it's quite the opposite with my body chemistry - the top notes are amazing and then the fragrance morphs into something yuck as time goes by. So I feel there's something to be said for the experience itself of the story the scent tells as it melds with your skin, and I truly enjoy the anticipation of what will come next as I wear it. This is LOVE.

It is a masterpiece.
I do get Chanel notes as they both have aldehydes but this fragrance is above and beyond .
My favorite fragrances are Chanel exclusives 22, Chanel 19 Poudre and Iris Poudre by F.M.
I do get a lot of musk and carnation flower, not only iris and powder.

Wow, I was surprised by this. I have always avoided this at the perfume counter because iris perfumes tend to give me allergies. However I thought I would just give it a spray and was immediately hit by the cold and austere notes of orris that signal danger to me. However I forgot about it and then later, I kept smelling this amazing aldehyde violet accord that, as the previous reviewer correctly said, reminded me of the Chanel hallmark aldehydes. It was just fabulous. It took a second for me to remember the Iris Poudre tester spray. What an amazing transformation. It had become a magical, fluffy, warming violet and aldehyde concoction that is simply addictive. In the dry down it became more musky and animalic, with a lighter version of the musk in MR. At this stage, it reminded me strongly of Armani Prive Musc Shamal. It is next on my list and luckily my birthday is coming up! I have recently been in the hunt for violet perfumes (they seem to be quite few and far between). I have been frustrated by the number of perfumes named after violet that turn out to have iris but no violet. This it seems, whilst definitely having iris could equally be called “Violet Poudre” - I am so glad I didn’t overlook it! Edit: The next day, I tried this perfume again, and fantastic as it is, it gave me a big migraine. I didn’t realise this the first time I tried it as I already has one. Much as I love this juice, I will have stick to my Musk Shamal. 🙁

I was particularly excited to try this FM scent, as iris is one of my favourite notes in perfumery. Lutens Iris Silver Mist aside (the iris to end all irises, as far as I'm concerned), Chanel, obviously, has several gold standard iris scents, notably No. 19 Poudré and 28 La Pausa; Guerlain has L'Heure Bleue, Insolence and Après l'Ondée; and Hermès' Hiris is also worth mentioning (the vintage version anyway). Apparently, I enjoy many iterations of iris - from barely-there colognes to lipstick accords to symphonic blends. Here, Iris Poudré is pleasant, but is too aldehydic and soft for my liking than living up to its powdery name.

The iris is present from the opening, and is earthy, smelling of orris-root. There is a hint of fresh citrus too that injects some sunny freshness. The bright aldehydes emerge minutes later, making for a beautiful Chanel-style concoction that's a hybrid between La Pausa and No. 5.

As it develops, it becomes powdery, like its name. Simple, classic and beautiful, it's what Soft white florals round it out, but are subtle, playing second fiddle to the iris. Woody notes emerge as it dries down, complementing the earthy, powdery iris nicely. The soft vanilla note in the base adds a nice creamy sweetness, and it fades to a sweet, slightly musky skin scent with some soft woodiness.

This is a fairly subtle scent, ideal for winter days (iris is for winter-spring use in my opinion). Elegant, ladylike and discreet, IP has soft sillage and moderate longevity. Nicely done, but not the definitive iris for me. 3.5/5.

This is aptly-named, powdery perfection. This fragrance is both comforting and uplifting. In the cooler months, I spray it on after my shower, then climb into bed with a good book. In the springtime, it's an inviting, everyday scent. Simply beautiful.

I have a rather complicated relationship with soapy perfumes and this is quite soapy to my nose. However, good thing is that it's not "screechy" soapy, as some perfumes of this kind tend to be, and also that there is still some sweet powderiness to it, coming from iris and vanilla. My nose gets jasmine the most, though.
It's a soft scent, with moderate longevity and sillage. However, it's still quite pleasant. I like it and even though I won't probably buy a full bottle, I still recommend it to people who like to smell very clean, like "right after shower" soapy clean.

It's a nice perfume with iris and poudre notes (I get the poudre one quite strongly and it reminds me of old cosmetics scents like my grandma's lipstick). It is a bit like Prada's Infusion of Iris but the Iris Poudre starts off better. Sadly it becomes very subtle after a while (after 2 hrs the old age poudre effect goes away and iris is heard more like in Prada). It is a bit old fashioned so I would say it is good as a workplace perfume? but not for me.

There is something so Chanel No 5 about this perfume and I think it's the use of the aldehydes and iris. I see this get compared to a "makeup" kind of scent and I agree that it does have that same kind of old powdery quality of something like the Coty Airspun face powder, but with an edge. For a better makeup scent, I recommend Replica's sadly discontinued Lipstick On which was beautiful and really captured the smell of vintage makeup. I know some don't like this term, but this does feel like a mature fragrance. You can feel the inspiration of Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour in this perfume as it's almost a perfect capture of the idea of a demure housewife from that time, but with something dark hiding underneath the layers of crisp linen.

화장품 냄새가 난다. 파우더리한데 답답한 느낌은 전혀 들지 않고 시원한 파우더리. 남자 화장품 냄새 또는 옛날 화장품 냄새에 가까운 잔향

Very Powdery and soapy, it is way better to try it on the skin as the experience is totally different from the paper strips. It is a beautiful fragrance, but I have found better and more natural Iris/Violet Fragrances. Leans more feminine to my nose, but can easily be worn by men.

frédéric malle once said this fragrance was inspired by catherine deneuve in belle de jour, and all i can say is that pierre bourdon and frédéric malle have accomplished just that. this perfume mixes a nurturing, wise-beyond its years and mysteriously not of its time powdery iris with a backdrop (a veil? a chorus?) of restrained, composed yet flirtatiously sensuous skin-soft woody floral. iris poudre is an oddly beautiful woman in ironed out vintage couture. you encounter her through a business relation first, or in the halls of the university library working on your dissertation – she works the counter, of course. you are never sure if she's flirting with you or just being cordial as a professional courtesy. you are both aware she is smarter than you, but graciously she doesn't make any effort to humiliate you by drawing attention to it. instead, she offers effective yet empathetic solutions to the problems of the day, always surprising you by noticing a new angle you hadn't considered. in many ways she becomes at once the office mother and the impenetrable bachelorette. you know next to nothing about her life, it feels safe to assume she has always been the same virginal young woman she appears to you as now. over time you build up a friendship as your curiosity turns to a crush, and your interest turns to fascination. sometimes, when work is winding down, or in the twilight hours of the library's silence, you watch her staring out the window and you see a wild hunger in her eyes. can other people see this, or has your obsession just given you the knowledge of where to look? either way, the fire consumes. it feels like repression – no, containment. it feels like her holding back her whole life with perfect resolve, and now preparing to strike. maybe she knows you are watching her, maybe she is unaware. who are you kidding, of course she knows you're watching her. it doesn't matter anymore, you just want to see this side of her more: you want to see what she is capable of. suddenly her eyes dart to yours, and you look away shamefully. you can do nothing but think about it that evening alone in your room. maybe you decide to move on, maybe you touch yourself, maybe you cry. but no option will ever allow you to forget her scent.

you can't see why it reminds some people of No. 5...

but for me I came to realize I don't like mixing iris musk with sandalwood...
This combo to my nose can smell very similar yo diapers... I am sorry

You can wear this for ANYTHING, and it's not boring. Lots of flowers. Powdery iris and woody base. A mature, regal fragrance. Sapphire necklace. Love it a lot.

On this occasion, the name says it all... Powdery Iris, but added on, that distinctive amber/musk accord that seems to be in the DNA of all FM perfumes. It's very elegant and beautiful, and multilayered and complex, with a bit of citrus and softness at the top and a deeper violet that combines really well with the aldehydes. I think it's my favourite FM, being a die hard Iris fan in general, but this one unfortunately has less sillage and staying power than his other perfumes and I don't think therefor that it's worth the price tag.

Frederic Malle Iris Poudre (2000) - aldehydic floral - #pierrebourdon ‘s perfume starts with a Bergamot opening combined with a well-integrated floral accord: Rose, Ylang-ylang, Carnation, Violets, White florals and Iris. The perfume name misleads as it not an Iris soliflore, but a big floral accord that has woody, dry, indolic and powdery facets. I also get this waxy and sparkling aldehydic heart that lends itself to this old-hollywood motif with diamonds, night gowns and black-tie affairs. In the base, the Iris comes out contrasted with a creamy Sandalwood, White musk and Amber-like accord.

The person below who said this smells like a makeup bag hit the nail on the head. I’d add that it is an old/forgotten makeup bag full of lipsticks which have lost their lids.

To me, the problem with iris fragrances is often that they tend to smell too cold, melancholic and even sad - but not this one! This smells very friendly, soft and even a little warm. It's still not particularly joyful but rather calm and comforting. To me this is actually like an easier version of Chanel no 5 - it's fruitier and less animalic. It has no hard edges whatsoever and to me so soothing to wear. It is described rather formal in Frederic Malle's official site, but I wear it happily in my sweat pants :)

For me Iris Poudre is the crème de la crème of iris fragrances. An overdose of iris woven around core of sparkling metallic aldehydes, sweetened by violet and rose is sensuously feminine, yet noticeably austere. The notes harmoniously bounce off each other to provide a composition-coloured purple that is the epitome of timeless luxury, and effortless sophistication.

A piercing blast of razor-sharp aldehydes devoid of sweetness or warmth dominate the opening of Iris Poudre. As the fragrance settles and the ice-cold opening warms, the aldehydes soften to reveal their much softer nature. The sweetness of ylang-ylang and orange are subsumed in a soapy aldehydic cloud that sits in a state of crystalline-like transparency. As the fragrance continues to evolve, this perfectly transparent cloud is tinged purple as iris supported by violet and rose encumbers the aldehydes rising until all transparency is lost. The iris that dominates the heart of the composition is at once buttery, woody, powdery with just a fleeting hint of carrot-like vegetal quality. What strikes me most about the evolution of Iris Poudre is how Bourdon uses the aldehydes to provide dynamic separation from the iris. Here, metallic sharpness and ethereal soapiness clashes against the buttery, and earthy to provide an array of texture that is so incredibly satisfying. An iris elevated by aldehydes and rounded by candy-like violet and rose oscillates between seductive passion one minute, and complete aloofness the next. As the fragrance transitions into its final stages, any residual sharpness is enveloped in a cashmere veil of musk, tonka and sandalwood as the fragrance slowly fades out on the skin.

I am completely enamoured by the beauty of Iris Poudre. It’s a fragrance full of contrasts. On one hand it’s delicate femininity, on the other it’s cold-hearted seduction. Above all, it’s a fragrance that conveys absolute luxury.

I have no grievances with Iris Poudre’s performance. I get around 8-10 hours on the skin, with a moderate-heavy sillage throughout. Yes, the fragrance leans feminine, but it’s something I enjoy wearing and always will. It has an effortlessly chic vibe that lends itself to most settings from casual through to formal, and works well in all seasons.

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عطر جميل وهادئ في نفس الوقت متوسط الفوحان والثبات ممتاز
عطر مختلف يشبه رأئحه مستحضرات التجميل الفخمة

The fragrantica stats suggest this leans heavily on the feminine side. I would disagree and say it does but only slightly. Me and my dad both love this. To me the powdery notes are reminiscent of Korous which he used to wear a lot... Anyway, point being that this is definitely a 'if you like it you can wear it' type of fragrance. All ages and all genders can get down with the clean and airy complexion of Iris Poudre. Love this juice

Baby powder from Johnson’s & Johnson’s but in a good way. Also, decent performer.

Edit: I have tested this over the past week and I am completely in love with it now. Powdery, rosy, aldehydic, and clean. This somehow reminds me of Lyric Man by Amouage. Its so opulent and simplistic in the same way. Most people have voted against using this one in summer but I think it would be so beautiful at any season especially in the day time. I think it would be great for layering as well since it isn't so complicated. Think of it as a better version of Prada L’homme before Prada L’homme was created.

Hands down, one of my top 5 favorites. Perfectly balanced in every way...so beautiful. Can't contribute anything else to what's already been said, except to express my love for this scent. Sadly, I'm reaching the end of my bottle.

The opening was really interesting with the cardamom and pimento and I really enjoyed the salty caramel at the heart, but the lovely drydown faded within an hour. Oh well, it was wonderful while it lasted! Glad I only have a sample!

if it was stronger i would buy it

8/10. Sweet iris with woody bitter. Very pleasant but slightly boring. Powdery after time. Expensive version of Prada Infusion d’iris but less stimulating. More just ‘there’.

This one is really interesting because despite its name it starts out with neither iris nor powder for me. It opens with a bold, sharp woody scent that resembles oud. I don't get much floral in this stage. After an hour, it is a nice warm sandalwood with a touch of amber. After a few hours, I finally get the iris and powder. I generally do not like iris or powder but here, it is mixed with sandalwood and a hint of amber, so it never goes into that vintage, makeup-y place. In fact, the opening of this is pretty masculine, although on dry down, it does lean feminine. Super interesting fragrance.

I have been wearing this perfume for 12 years, and even though I alternate perfumes frequently, Iris Poudre remains my darling-almost-signature fragrance. The powdery feeling of it gives out such a comforting sensation. It's a long plush hug in a bottle. After discovering it, I was convinced that the iris is what drew me into it. Still, after sniffing many iris-based fragrances, I haven't liked any, so I believe the notes that attract me most are ylang-ylang, rosewood, jasmine, lily, iris, sandalwood, and amber.
Rose Supercritique by Les Eaux Primordiales has a similar powdery feeling combination. If you're a fan, you'll probably like that too. It is not similar per see, but it gives me the same sense of coziness. A chill Sunday by a window, reading your favorite book with your favorite blanket.
Also, I love the '30s, and this perfume also has a vintage feel, in my opinion.
I just sprayed some more on after writing this. It's definitely a fragrance I'll carry for life.

Currently my favourite fragrance of them all, and a position well-earned.

Iris Poudre, as its name implies, is an iris-centric, powdery scent... except it isn't really. I first encountered this fragrance in a set of dabber samples (from eBay) which I was mindlessly going through whilst reading Nietzsche's Twilight of the Idols. As a result, I now associate this fragrance with quite lofty philosophy and beautiful writing, ha!

The opening (and most of the mid) of Iris Poudre is dominated by "aldehydes", a slightly tortured word in perfumery. The main other aldehydic florals I know are No 5 (of course) and the lesser-known Jardins de Bagatelle by Guerlain. It's a really hard thing to put into words, and varies greatly between each of these fragrances, but aldehydes lend a certain clarity, plushness, and intelligence. In Iris Poudre, particularly, they come off to me as incredibly thin slices of premium-grade candle wax, curling onto itself as it is freshly shorn. It's cooling and soft like a sapient silk pillow, or as if a goddess put you into her handbag, the interior of which has been woven and combed by angels. It's somehow icy and soft, most certainly loving in a dispassionate way, and is like an incredibly thinly frozen surface of a lake. There is also the very faintest hint of fruit (which is actually almost certainly coming from the ylang-ylang, not the orange) but it truly is just a drop and very hard to find.

There are justified challenges against the idea that this is an iris fragrance. Iris/ orris is root-like, earthy, often woody, papery or medicinal/ cosmetics-like and this fragrance, to me, isn't really quite the same. Rather, it's as if someone took petals of iris, rose and jasmine and managed to somehow balance them into the shape of a true iris, with all the softness and none of the soil. The floral core of this scent is truly a work of art: there is not a hair out of place, and you can feel the incredibly precise balance of the florals almost vibrating under the cool aldehydic surface. It's as if iris petals (which in reality are odourless) have been frozen in time, halted in mid-air. Gorgeous to me, it will disappoint anyone who's here for ultra-realistic, bury-me-alive type iris.

The dry down doesn't vary hugely from the mid, but the aldehydes will burn off and the scent as a whole ossifies and gets woodier and drier. The idea of powder, which is never very prominent in this fragrance, grows slightly at this stage (but never even reaches a tenth of the powderiness of the old Guerlains, for example). The scent works damn hard not to yield its ethereal bouquet, which persists admirably over around 6/7 hours before the woods and musks finally win the battle, and it becomes a true skin scent. There is a faintly undulating warmth in the dry down which contrasts with the cool, breezy top.

I'm a man and this fragrance perhaps does warrant some words on its gender or lack thereof. Whilst people should of course wear what they like, this could register with many as the height of sophisticated femininity (interesting given its total lack of sweetness) - this is almost certainly because of the association of aldehydes with No 5, and No 5 with so many wives, mothers (and also associated by single women with themselves) etc. For me, however, No 5 was virtually never worn by any women around me as a child (or even now as a young adult) and so aldehydes to me have never been quite as sexed as they are for most people. In any case, Iris Poudre to me smells like a scholarly man or woman, who is quiet and well-read but has a fatally romantic streak running through them.

Joyfully scrimping for 100ml.

Catherine Deneuve in a bottle.

What happened? I was supposed to hate aldehydes, powder and iris, but I just pushed the button and ordered the 10 ml travel size. I´ve been wearing this beauty for a week now (1.2 ml sample) and suddenly the loathing has turned into love and admiration. The first rays of the spring sun lured me to have one more try of the almost discarded sample I´ve had for months. I think this scent is very suitable for crisp early spring. I think it´s positive, comfy and bit sparkly even.
I´m still very bad with detecting individual notes, but even I get the aldehydes and powder. And somehow I just crave for more. Did not see this coming... : )

EDIT 08/2022: Over a year after my first review and I'm still in love with IP. Some loves turn to just likes or even to hates, but IP remains a solid love. I have to admit that iris is not my favorite note, but perhaps IP is not so much about iris after all. Iris is there yes, but it's not very dominant. At least not to my nose. I'm very content in the calming, romantic and quiet cloud of IP. And hubby likes it too, I just sprayed and he commented:"Oh, this kind of scent today, very good."

not a bad fragrance but too much aldehyde for me... should be too much for everyone though.. I totally agree with the comment below, smells like the middle class women using Chanel No 5 dupes

I had low expectations of this creation from the fantabulous Frederic Malle house as I'm not a powdery floral kind of a gal. Once I'd tried it though, I totally fell in love! Many of my most treasured fragrances contain aldehydes so maybe that's the hook to me with Iris Poudre.

I think it's a beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and heady fragrance that makes me feel polished and 'put-together' in a chic French-lady-not-trying-too-hard kind of a way. A great confidence booster in an interview situation too. At the same time, it's uplifting and yet deeply comforting.

I thank my lucky stars that it's got great sillage and staying power as I'm highly irritated by fragrances that disappear after 30 minutes. What is the point even?? For such a high price-point as Iris Poudre, I want some bang for my buck and boy, does this deliver.

It smells like a makeup bag - lipstick and compact powder. Its lovely, very womanly and reminiscent of my mum's glamorous friends from my childhood. I think of red lipstick, an elegant dress and red heels when I smell this. It's got like a creamy lipstick "texture" to it too, like it's substantial, as if I am smelling an actual tube of lipstick and I could reach out and smudge it with my fingers.

I'm not gonna get a full bottle cause I don't like it that much, but I totally recommend trying this out if you want an elegant, womanly, glamorous scent.

Not my favorite from this house but that’s only due to my own personal taste in fragrance. This is a tiny bit sharp at first then creamy and smooth with the sandalwood and vanilla/ woody base. The opening verges into slightly metallic and it has a lightly powdery dry down. Iris is of course the star and I have to say that it isn’t my favorite of the flower world. There is a gentle tenderness to this fragrance as it evolves. It’s got some citrus, powdery violet, and soapy aldehydes. It’s quite mild in it’s composition and and romantic in it’s personality. It’s like a modern take on a lipstick fragrance with a pinch of vintage. The powdery dry down isn’t as strong as say Original Chanel No 5. It’s not really “me” but it is gorgeous.

Iris Poudre (along with Le Parfum de Therese) was recommended to me by the "Find Your Signature" questionnaire, back when filling out the form meant receiving free spray samples of the recommended fragrances. In the intervening years, I've had the opportunity to smell most of M. Malle's creations, but none has captured my heart in the same way as Iris Poudre. Iris-based scents are often described as cold but, far from feeling sober and buttoned-up, Iris Poudre exudes sunny warmth and powdery comfort. It never feels like a scent I have to achieve; it's always personal, comfortable, and right. Maybe it's turning 40, maybe it's the long slog that's been 2020, but I find myself reaching for Iris Poudre whenever I need some gentle motherliness to follow me throughout my day.

To my nose, it smells like baby powder and baby wipes. The kind of baby wipes that have a certain sharpness to their scent.

Feels like an "old lady" scent. My partner agrees.

This is but a misleading name! I don't get powder nor do I smell iris. If I was FM, I would give it more poethic name as some other of his fragrances have. Maybe Sky Swing. It's closer to Dans Tes Bras than Lipstick Rose.
It's very airy, transparent, mercurial. A better version of 212. Musky and sandalwoody. I love the fragrance.
What I don't really enjoy is a very retro dry down which stays for 20h and more. The longevity is astonishing but the scent is just too last century; even though the first 4-6 hours are so lovely.

Combination of iris, adelhydes and sandalwood create a composition which projects. At first you get an ozonic, green flowery iris, very fresh, very pungent as though a field of iris flowers was just hit by a rain storm and everything is fresh and blooming. Then the sandalwood heats up and the composition becomes aromatic and spicy. Soft and cosy.

I first wore this girly girl scent when I was visiting my college boyfriend and wanted to come across to him as super sexy but also seem kinda classy. He loved it then and he loves it now. It’s just such a pretty iris! I cannot think of a better perfume than Iris Poudre to let this often dainty bud take center stage. Genius creation. This iris was made for pure, unadulterated pleasure!

@SaffySafarelli, it's clear from my review that I HAVE read that iris is often perceived as cold, and as I was saying, I do not experience this perfume as cold. Re-read my review if it means enough to you. There's no need to try to teach me a lesson.

The experience of perfume is subjective, and quite a few people experience this perfume as warm, not just me. I have heard people say they are afraid of iris because they think it is going to be cold, so I think some people are hesitant to try iris scents. I offered my experience for the benefit of others.

As you presumed to give me a reading suggestion, I suggest you brush up on your reading comprehension skills as well grammar and manners if you are going to critique the reviews of others.

This is pleasant but not my favorite thing and not entirely what I expected.

Powder gets marquis billing but there's barely any to be found. This is mostly due to its sticky heart of rosy, resinous vanilla that wets the proverbial pavement. This heart is painted with a pretty modern--dare I say "synthetic"--palette that is maybe a touch grating.

Iris, on the other hand, it delivers in heaping measures. It opens like a gunshot. A smidge carrot-like at the start before settling into something more comfortable. Iris scents are often wallflowers but not this. It can fill a room with heady density.

The aforementioned heart means it also bucks the trend of iris frags being chilly and aloof. No, Iris Poudre is warm like a swig of brandy.

I see it gets the "for women" qualifier but I'd say this could just as plausibly be "for men", if a bit clubby. I could see an argument that this is more conventionally masculine than, say, Dior Homme, for example. (Dior's man has powdered himself more than this lady!) Lots of other reviews here commenting on how feminine it is so maybe I'm nuts but I don't see it as nearly so dainty that the guys should be spooked.

Comparisons with Misia are apt, but Misia's altogether quieter and more traditional. Iris Poudre is like Misia with the iris dialed up several clicks and layered over a liberal base coat of Shiseido's Zen.

Again, it's good stuff, just not what I was expecting. There are many perfumes that are legitimately chockablock with powder that don't explicitly call it out so it's surprising that this one does when it isn't. Instead it smells contemporary, like something that could easily have mass-market appeal at today's fragrance counters.

This is a total love, and a mood enhancer. It's one of my quiet luxuries that lifts the spirits during the pandemic. I may never wear street clothes today, may never wear makeup or tame my hair, but I smell beautiful and serene.

I'll never associate this perfume with what others are describing- a woman in a Chanel suit or in tailored clothing. No, this is a woman in a silk bathrobe with slightly disheleved hair, sitting in a garden in late spring/ early summer, listening to the birds, maybe writing/ editing an academic paper, or maybe writing a historical romance, but maybe just listening to the birds. I will never be a woman who wears tailored suits when this pandemic is over, and I will always be delightfully disordered, but how I present myself will be beautiful in some ways, including the wearing of this perfume. This perfume is very personal, and it's not to be worn to make a statement to anyone about one's level of sophistication, but a statement to the self.

I don't get any sharpness from this that others mention.I get a true, radiant warmth from this perfume that I don't get from some iris fragrances, so I am surprised that some say "metallic." I don't understand people calling it "cold." It is not cold at all. This is why the woman is sitting outside: the scent evokes warmth and sunshine on early morning garden. Along with the iris I smell the magnolia and subtle white flowers along with the violet and the fresh air, and an almost peachy scent. The drydown contains the softest woods.

I think quite a few people misunderstand iris. They have read that is supposed to be "cold," etc. and so they believe it. If you do not have some experience with iris, I would certainly not blind-buy this. Neither would I recommend this for the young. This is not for those who desire to impress. This is for a self-possesed woman.

One of my favorite iris fragrances. Last all day and even after shower I could detect it on me. Beautiful fragrance.

Iris Poudre: A luxurious powder that you can actually spray!☺️

Another episode in the quest for a captivating floral. The idea of iris, lush, ephemeral, diaphanous, I find beguiling. And yet, and yet.

This perfume ably conjurs up herbaceous borders in white and palest purple. It is beautifully constructed, an evocation rather than a representation, poised and elegant, but something about it remains aloof. Perhaps it is the dominance of a white flower note, which is so difficult to render with any warmth. I wish I could move beyond admiration to love, but I cannot. It leaves me cold.

As it turns out, I was duped. My package never made it past Moscow. Fortunately, I opened a case with Ebay and received a full refund because the shipping info was fraudulent. I have 2 samples I am enjoying and a birthday coming up soon - I know what I will be asking for!!

Not a review, but a concern. In my strong desire to own this perfume, I bid on an Ebay auction - the opening bid was low for an FM fragrance, and I sort of figured I would be outbid, but lo and behold, I won. I was the only border, which immediately set off my suspicions. I didn't pay any attention to who the seller was, and after I won, I realized it was coming from Hong Kong. I have made purchases from Hong Kong before with success, but this seller only had six reviews. Needless to say, I am very concerned it's counterfeit.
It will take some time for it to arrive. I CAN cancel it, but what if it is legit and I scored a real deal? I suppose I will wait and see. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should look for in order to determine if it's legit? It's a blind buy, so I won't know based upon smell. I was toying with the idea of purchasing a mini from a seller with high ratings and lots of feedback to make a comparison, but would appreciate any feedback. The bottle is marked as a tester, with the word "tester" etched on the glass. Did my perfume addiction get the better of me?? We shall see, and I will follow with a review upon receipt.

Frederic Malle himself was on Instagram Live yesterday discussing the topic ‘Perfume and personality’
Iris Poudre is my favourite perfume from his brand so I asked him:
How would you describe the personality of Iris Poudre?

~ ~ ~

He explained that in perfumery there is north vs south, yin vs yang, fresh and clean vs lusty and warm...
Fresh perfumes like Eau de Magnolia are probably more for yourself and aren’t loud when you walk into a room, whereas warm ones like Musc Ravageur are wicked and fatal attraction.

Iris Poudre lies somewhere in between, she seems restrained and aloof but there is fire burning under all that ice.

His mental image when creating it was: Catherine Deneuve in the movie Belle de Jour, on the scene when she goes up the stairs.

She’s a woman who seems so contained but actually has that fire within her. She’s appealing, sexy, and exciting but she’ll control how much she lets you see of that side of her and will otherwise be very put-together, even frigid.

He also mentioned that the structure of Iris Poudre is similar to that of Arpege and Chanel No. 5 (Floral aldehydes).
IP has warmth, comfort, and sex appeal in the background but is tamed down with a punch of beautiful aldehydes, ylang-ylang, jasmine and iris.

A lady in a tailored Chanel suit; a woman who means business yet is extremely feminine and lady-like.

~ ~ ~

I think that’s an absolutely stunning image and I now love it even more.

Frederic Malle is the perfume brand I admire the most. It's the reason I initially got interested in niche perfumery and accidentally fell into the deep rabbit hole of the perfume community.

I've carefully sampled almost all of FM's perfumes because I wanted to make a very carefully considered purchase decision. Iris Poudre is without a doubt my favourite and the one I ended up buying.

I was still quite ignorant about perfume when I first smelled it about a year ago, but it was love at first smell. I found out I like iris, musk, aldehydes, and powdery notes.

I feel like I don't have the vocabulary to describe it but let me just plainly say that it smells magnificent and it makes me feel feminine, polished and classy.

Merci Monsieur Bourdon!

Iris Poudre is a quintessential, vintage French perfume. Opens with a characteristically sharp aldehyde note, and after 30 minutes this takes a more comfortable turn into iris floral territory. I can’t pull out individual notes, but there is a persistent, dry powder element underneath everything else.

At the midway point Iris Poudre is linear while being a strong performer in both longevity and projection.

Turning 20 years old in 2020, Iris Poudre has aged well but she feels better suited to a different kind of person than myself. Still, I’m not one to snub a classic, and I enjoyed the day I spent wearing this perfume....but it’s doubtful I will repeat the experience.

Exquisite! The dry down is like you died, you went to heaven and then this uber beautiful deity granted you some extra life on Earth.

The more you dwell deep into the so called 'fragrance game' or - for those snobs like myself who consider this phenomenon too moving to be calleda game - fragrance journey the likilier it gets that you won'tbe surprised by everything that you're going to sniff. And I guess this rule won't just apply to fragrances but to most fields of life.

Now as far Frederic Malle is concerned,no matter where you are in your fragrance journey,you kind of stop when you hear this name. You kind of take a moment and observe what they've to offer because let's get it straight, there's designer's, there's niche's and there's Indies and people would not refrain from making classifications like 'Ultra Niche' to perhaps satisfy their need and urge to maintain singularity and speciality.

However Frederic Malle takes and treats fragrances in a way that these so called boundaries suddenly don't feel all that important. The only important thing that's left is art and this is what's great about this house.

Everytime they're looking to create a scent, there's not a more prime factor than the art or the emotions that it's going to dwindle with and that's where and that's why I personally the utmost respect and love for this house. This is the way imo fragrances should be done. And once you're there,once you're touched with the finesse that they want to touch you with,let me tell you, there's no going back.

Starting with scent itself,Iris Poudre,is when in my long and exciting but lately not so surprising journey,I was surprised again. And what I felt afterwards,and what I'm going to try to explain here onwards is just what unfolded for me while wearing and observing this beautiful Pierre Bourdon creation.


TOP- I take objection with it's name to be honest. It feels like a misnomer at times. At times it feels misleading. It's not an Iris heavy scent. I mean it is but it's not totally Iris Centric and it's not all that powdery (untill unless you smell this from the sprayer) Like I know scents that have more Iris and are more powdery named in a different manner but it is what it is.

You Absolutely love it even when you've just opened the lid I mean. You can sense it's energy and enigma. It starts off very clean. Almost soapy. There's just a hint of Iris overloaded by a melange of everything that's about to be presented to you. It's almost like a celebration and a punch of exciting positivity with how immaculately fresh and pure this one opens and further promises to be.

So all in all there's not much going on in the opening except the promise that it's going to be a good ride.

It gets clean,it feels sophisticated yet positively exciting and almost creamy too in a way or two but it's almost impossible atleast for me to pick out a single note from the top.

MID - Slowly but subtly this one grows in character. The spotlight finally grows on the more hidden characteristics of this fragrance, which start to creep out one by one. It's like the screenplay of a Martin Scorcese movie in the way it unfolds itself. It's slow, it's steady but you never lose interest. It never becomes uninteresting.

Right off the bat,it still is soapy. But Iris takes the backseat for while. Sandalwood makes it's presence felt. There's significant floral component,almost a melange like feel but ever so subtle, adding to the composition but not taking the composition astray of it's original path. There's Rose and Carnation in this melange so you feel a vintage kick as well. But the mainstay of this phase is definitely Aldehydes and they're almost solar and lifelike. They bring this whole muffed composition to life. Lift it up and present it to you.

But the show doesn't end there. There's more to the mix. This retro vibrant play which felt exciting and positive has some darkly sweet and and indolic touches up it's sleeve.

I mean it's so delicately balanced and the shear expertise of this is just so appreciable because soon after that soapy luminous opening few minutes you've somewhat darker and maybe herbal melange of Carnation and Rose and right after that you feel this composition getting sweeter and somewhat edible.

That's the sandalwood in this one is of the milky raw type,which is blending with musk and vanilla on top of everything else that's mentioned. So yeah there's a definite touch of sweetness here.


DRYDOWN - Upon reaching this phase of the delightfully complex journey that it is,you sense the composition dialing down in terms of it's complexity but staying true to it's own core. That is despite all it had to offer it managed to stay uplifting and bright and that's what it does here too.

You've a radiant smelling Iris that I feel truly shines here and only in this phase as it singles itself out,managing to stay strong after this whole journey. It still feels radiated and warm thanks to some residual feels of Aldehydes. I also pick up on some very faint hints of warm Amber in the drydown ever so faintly.

PERFORMANCE - Performance of this heavenly elixir is really really good on me. In terms of longevity this consistently gives me 12 hours and more.

In terms of it's projection it has a beautiful scent bubble around you and you get whiffs of it from yourself everytime you move. Really solid!

Emotions and Usage - As you might've guessed if you've successfully made till this point that I hold this one with a very high regard. This is amazing in the way how it does not lose its posh and rich nature despite having a soapy nature.

So all in all it's very exciting,very positive,and uplifting. Very bright and luminous with a great positive and immaculate aura.

When it comes to usage, it's surprisingly marketed for females but I personally find it totally unisex. Also I feel it doesn't sync with a house who takes perfumes merely as art to show gender restrictions of the kind. Perfumes like art gender and emotions are not binary!

Summary - All in all this is a homerun and a lot more from this innovatively traditional legendary perfume house. I've called this the most complete fragrance I've smelled to date throughout my current journey. If you're like one of those guys who goes a spray extra on the wrist merely to keep digging their nose in the scent and observe, you'll be in for a treat. As everytime you dig your nose into your wrist for sniffing this one you're probably going to get a different element from this majestic Pierre Bourdon concoction.

Delightful! This was a blind buy after much research.

I wanted something in the same vein as Tom Ford violet blonde, which had been discontinued. I wanted it to be clean floral feminine but slightly sweet so it pulls sexy and young, and with adelhydes for summer.

This opens with a blast of iris flowers. Not artificial. More like sticking your nose in a bouquet of iris. The adelhydes are there and make me think of a sun drenched light and airy room with French windows open over a garden of purple flowers. Vintage, feminine, young, sophisticated, yummy! Instant mood enhancer!

The iris did not fade in the dry down, but is tempered by the musky Sandalwood vanilla mix that makes my skin smell delicious. The vanilla adds a sexy component that complements the iris well, not letting this become to soapy.

It's a love for me!! My blind buys have been going well :-)


---- update
I've been wearing this for a week. OMG its amazing!!! I've found my new signature.
When I first spray there is a light smoke/incense to it. Especially in cold weather. Its a very comforting smell, and I can't get enough of it.

It dries down into something so amazing I can't even describe it.
Staying power is so strong. I spray it in the morning and still smell it after work.

This is the scent equivalent of standing in the sun and breathing fresh air and spring flowers after a long hard winter.

Its a <3. So glad I found this scent.

I normally don't like iris very much as a note. I can't stand the ultra-synthetic iris in a sea of gourmand notes in Dior Homme Intense. I heavily dislike the carrot-like iris in Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist. I am ambivalent at best to the iris in Chanel No. 5.

But this iris scent is different. It smells, to me, like I'm smelling actual iris flowers in a field somewhere, beside a lake, while it's raining. It's not a powdery fragrance at all ('poudre' is a misnomer) but a melancholy, sombre fragrance that smells of rain and iris flowers with the earthy scent of petrichor. I know that iris is always a synthetic in perfumery (as iris essential oil or absolute is impossible to extract, though orris root is), but this is maybe the most natural iris scent I've ever smelled.

And the drydown is maybe even better, as it heads towards the direction of a beautiful vanilla and sandalwood pairing along with the iris.

Performance is what you can expect from an extrait de parfum.

Amazing stuff.

5/5

this is what love smells like I believe.reminded me of the boudoir scene from the movie What Women Want...helen Hunt and Mel Gibson, where she talks about french bedroom of her dreams to him. its a masterpiece of a film and perfume here :)

In fact, one of the most elegant, subtle, and exquisite scents. It opens up with powdery iris. Within a couple of hours it reveals even unnoticble rose. Then it dries up powdery musky and soapy a little bit. However soap here is not a common one, not irritating. It is soft and chic.
Also, it stays long, so for those who like perfumes that last almost all day, it will be a good discovery.

No words. A most gorgeous scent, a mood enhancer. I was afraid to buy it because of the bigoted hysteria about the aldehydes featured. Just don't be afraid of the aldehydes, succumb to them; it's delectable! Iris Poudre has got some elating beauty and elegance that I have never encountered in other fragrances. I feel it's so me.

What can I say?I'm a male,with a capital M,and I love it!I don't know what attracts me lately to a iris/aldehyde/powdery fragrances combination,but it makes me happy.It is probably classiness.Like the thing in the Chanel les exclusifs...kind of a decadence that pulls me to smell like that.Some mistery of era gone by,decades away,when whole world was on some higher level of enjoying life all together.

Florence Carala ( Jeanne Moreau ) in ( Elevator to the Gallows ) by Louis Malle 1958

Beautiful, sophisticated fragrance in the spirit of Bourdon. Suitable for girls and women with a fine mental organization, natures gentle, romantic. Beautiful powder, in my opinion. If you put it together with montaevoi powdery flowers ... Montal will fade (in spite of its durability and loops). And it will fade at the expense of its assertiveness and rough sound after all. If you compare these two flavors at the same time, you will understand what I mean. Malevskaya powder is not only beauty and refinement, but also Intellect! Aristocracy is inherent in him.

Montal's “Powder Flowers” - echoes of Chanel 5 and Red Moscow (personally, my opinion, plus the opinions of many who have tried this fragrance, some even called it Grandma's, because many of our grandmothers used red Moscow). I repeat, echoes of the five and Moscow, plus lethal powder. I would call montal a more rectilinear scent (and this does not mean bad), and mall is a painting by Renoir and Monet. "The works of Bourdon (only the line of Romea d'Ameor won me over with its beauty, singularity - especially the Lord of Egypt and the Empress of Japan) are unique in their beauty of sound, disclosure and perception. As for the iris powder, it is sufficiently stable and with a refinedly beautiful train. Very pleased to meet with such a beauty.

I want to love this. It has lovely iris opening but then aldehydes shows up and this aldehydes is too strong for me. So it's not my choice.

Vintage vibes going here. This is one I'm drawn to over and over, but ends up just a little too powdery on the dry down for me.

PS...Fredric Malle is great about sending samples for a relatively low cost and the have a little questionnaire on their website where a REAL PERSON will review and contact you to suggest the best fragrances for you. Nice since I cannot find them locally.

The opening is close to perfection: a cold and waxy iris. But in a matter of seconds, Iris Poudre gives birth to a melange of white flowers, ylang ylang and aldehydes. The magnolia is very present during the whole performance of the fragrance, maybe this could be called Magnolia Poudre!

This is the second time in only a very short space that the words have been taken right out of my ... hand by what's below the add my review button. Just totally 'what it says on the tin' "in full measure, pressed down, and running over"'!

Just incase our friends overseas don't know, the 'on the tin' figure originated in a television commercial for a wood preservative many years ago - I'm showing my age!

By 'on the tin' , I mean what it says on here - musk rather than powder. I temporarily forgot the poudre. Is musk powdery? I suppose it could be said that in this the iris makes it powdery, somehow; and is in it's own right very very much the tarty kind - both meanings intended simultaneously.

I find this strongly reminiscent of Bruma by Trudon. I would say though there's a strong woodiness to that that this hasn't got.

This is just divine. Is anyone selling a bottle? Alternatively I have a couple I’m willing to swap if interested!

If Iris Poudre is a bit too powdery, white-linen-laundry-smelling for you like it is for me, you should try Frederic Malle Creme Pour Les Mains au Beurre d’Iris by Olivia Giacobetti (Iris Hand Cream). It’s outstanding and I wish they would formulate it into a perfume. I wear it with SL Iris Silver Mist for maximum, heavenly, orris-laden gluttony.

Old lady vibe

Lots of florals; the iris here doesn't have the lipstick vibe you get in say Dior's Homme. Here it's sharper, airy, more incense like. In the opening especially I smell sour white florals. There is a musky aspect to IP, a little powder and creamy sandalwood. Though I wouldn't call this a woody fragrance. As the jg2758 below me said, "smells like a fresh flower".

Iris Poudre performed nicely for about five hours. I'm still catching whiffs at hour eight. This is a feminine scent but I think the right guy can rock it. Good for fall, spring and maybe winter; nice for work. It has a bit of an old lady vibe but I would find it sexy on any lady. I like this a lot. Musky florals tick a lot of boxes for me. Expensive but the performance is decent. The notes smell high quality and natural. Good stuff Pierre Bourdon but not quite worth the coin to me.

So *that's* why people love iris! Despite the name, there's no face powder here at all. It smells like a fresh flower. A little powdery, but also a little spicy. Warm. Inviting.

This is the second time that Malle's line has changed my mind about an entire genre of scents. Floral aldehydes were my number one hate. But this? This is gorgeous. Unique somehow. Memorable: long after I smelled it, I could bring it back to mind.

Much respect.

Edit: 3 years later, I still remember how this smells. So, I purchased it. :)

Ode to my dearest:)
In recent years I've been quite submerged in the niche scents world, many beautiful fragrances appeared on my bathroom shelf, but that was the only one I've been wearing with the same unbroken enthusiasm for years. I feel this fragrance has been highlighted my personality so far. Sophisticated, but comfortable at the same time, timeless and modern, its a creamy, powdery beauty, and on my skin very special, but free of all exaggeration. Iris Poudre is a beautiful symphony: all in place, with a perfect sense of proportion. If I had to use a single scent for the rest of my life, I would happily choose it!

this is not unpleasant on my skin, but I only can detect musk, rose and a tiny little of iris. too much soapy on me. it's good, clean, but I don't like it enough to buy it.
surely it's a every day scent, elegant and quite classy, but it hasn't the personality I am usually searching for in a perfume. I think gardez moi by jovoy it's far better.

From medicinal to soapy.

First impression: Wow! Overly feminine! Reminds me of a mexican laundry detergent called Zote. The Iris is drowning in the bergamot and some other chemical twang. There's something raspy going on in the background..... So far, not good...... I think I have to scrub it off.

This is not unpleasant but it does remind me of an "older woman's" scent. It's a bit powdery and the Iris is very strong. It is long lasting but something I'd expect a classy grandmother to wear, rather than a seductive smelling younger lady

A superbly modern take on iris: not makeup-y, and much less powdery than any other Iris I've ever smelled. It's juicy and sparkly, as if an elixir that can quench your thirst. It's woody in a gender-neutral way. Not rooty or bready. It's fresh and clean without being soapy. The aldehyde is light and doesn't shape the overall character of the scent, but enough to add even more sparkle. Utterly ageless. In other words, this is what I'd been searching for a year and everything I wanted and finally found.

One day, if I go to a Fragfreak Anonymous (FA) meeting, I'll stand up and say "Hi, my name is Allan and I'm a man who loves to wear Iris Poudre", and the people there will say "Hi Allan", and I will feel accepted and understood.

If you are an Iris fan,Im not sure it gets better than this..a beautiful Iris.

5/10

Sparkling aldehydes, a soft gingery miasm (coriander-like rosewood), powdery violets and lilies. Iris Poudree is charming and enigmatic, cool, mineral-like and clean. A bit of a unisex barbershop aromatic even. Bracing yet delicately sweet.

Interestingly this is reminiscent to my nose of Armani Idole and SL La Vierge De Fer. Sparkly and softly fruity, pretty with airy wafts of vanilla and a curiously cool sandalwood. Call me crazy but it's even more evocative of discontinued Dolce & Gabbana By. Yes, the lavender and coffee spiced beauty in the brown leopard print bottle. What I'm the world? I don't think my nose is off today. That scent is going for crazy prices online, near the price of a bottle of FM.

This one has been a pleasant surprise despite the designer feel at niche cost.

Elevator to the Gallows by Louis Malle 1958

آيرس باودري
رائحة شفايف امرأة تفيض بالانوثة :)

Iris Poudre is more lily of the valley than iris exactly but it is very stylish, characteristic and powdery but it not totally like iris. I think that most realistic iris is Iris Silver Mist from Lutens if you want to smell real iris effect.

Its very elegant in warmer climates. Nicely done.

A magnificent floral aldehydic with so many deserving rave reviews on this stunner! Rich, thick, and ethereal all at the same time, Iris Poudre is a modern classic with a nod to the past.

This aldehydic creation is a warm blanket of sexiness. I get a definate animalic feel to it that I'm surprised no one else has mentioned. A comfort scent extraordinaire, it literally caresses the atmosphere with well being. Every single note is designed to hug the wearer and anyone else in the vicinity.

One of the things that really sets this apart is that it's both comforting and carnal. Usually one sacrifices the other, but in this composition they are actually married. This scent is warm, alluring,and it whispers sweet intimacy into your ears. An absolute knockout.

Pierre Bourdon is obviously a very talented artist, and I am, admittedly, in love with this fragrance. Still, I have a hard time believing that most men could pull this off. It smells of a rich woman in the 1920's. To me this is definitely a more aggressively feminine fragrance than many of the others in Malle's collection, but perhaps some men can pull it off.

This is boudoir, this is flapper, this is old world elegance at its finest which brings to mind the finest of silk kimonos, velvet throws, moonshine whiskey and berry-bitten lipstick.

This really cultivates a feeling contemporaneous with not only the above, but too, the golden age of film and glamour, while commanding the essential feel of femininity; softness but complexity, executed with balance and utter control over herself. A woman in possession of herself and free in her choices is sexy.

This fragrance makes me think of exactly that. Excuse me while I try and find a particularly dusty copy of Death of the Nile and smoke a Nerma cigarette on a thundering evening, awaiting my lover.

I adore how this scent is so elegant...I've been on the fence wanting to buy it for some time now, but...I'm so disappointed by its low sillage... It is quite a pricey investment and not making the 3 hour mark is sadly a no-no in my books...I'm heart-broken and thorn because I love it. My heart says Yes, but my head says No since it's doesn't seem to last. Has anyone else had the same experience? I sprayed at noon, turned into a skin scent in the next hour and it was gone 2 hours later...

Matronly and unpretentious

I was expecting so much of Iris Poudre - it's such a classic, I love iris and powdery scents, and I've been very impressed by almost every Frédéric Mall I've tried so far. So it's been an unexpected disappointment to discover that my feelings about this are rather mixed.

I have to agree with the reviewer below me: longevity isn't great. That's obviously problematic from a practical standpoint, and also from a financial one, since it's just the generally wonderful longevity that make the high prices of this line easier to swallow.
What makes it even worse, though, is that the only really potent part, the opening, doesn't really agree with me. It's very heavily musky at first, not bad if you care for that sort of scent, but too animalic for my taste. And then the scent starts to fade away just as soon as the musk starts to calm down and is joined by the iris and other notes! I really like how it turns out, though: all my expectations of a high quality, timelessly elegant but also very wearable and interesting powdery iris scent seem to be fulfilled, it's just that it's only for the briefest of time. Too bad!

I have a hard time accepting this - I find myself hoping that maybe my sample had gone off a little, or that I've tested it at the wrong time of year (although spring seems like it should be the perfect season for Iris Poudre), or that my nose was just a little off this week. I'm determined to revisit this at some future time - that wonderful but brief heart warrants doublechecking at the very least. To be continued!

like it alot. very soothing powdery n warm. but even as a fm fan, i got to admit the sillage and lasting power for this is very disappointing. for tht price tag this is certainly a pass for me.
update: i gave in finally. this simply smells so heavenly so even tho its def overpriced with weak sillage i bought it

Bourdon is a genius! This creation is no exception!

Despite marketed at women, I feel a modern man can equally wear this. The aldehydes steer this into CHANEL #5 territory and with the woods, vetiver and musks it has enough grit, depth, and "dirt" to qualify for a male user.

It is a bit of a misnomer as it is not powdery in my understanding of the term, yet more musky, woody and fresh.
The sandalwood and violet are the only ingredients that add the powdery aspect.

Very complex fragrance and possibly for some (including me) more interesting and therefore more desirable to wear than Dior's "L'Homme" that I consider much more powdery and more feminine than this one.

This is initially cold as an icicle to warm up to be as cool as a cucumber but eventually it warms up in the dry down to at least room temperature.

10/10. I cannot help it, but I am a Bourdon superfan. His products are works of art.

Ok so admittedly I´m on an iris quest so I´m picky and choosy about my irises. This is actually a lovely perfume, it just seems to me to be chasing too many rabbits at once.
At the first sight, it´s a romantic floral perfume – iris, rose, orange peel. But it´s still tame, everyday and office-appropriate. I wouldn´t wear it to dinner or date.
It seems to nod to the great old formulas of the past; the iris here is the waxy, lipsticky kind, it´s packed with aldehydes…but still somehow too vague and effervescent to be a real classic.
Thirdly, it could be a good office perfume, the sillage is just right and it can make you smile in the morning. But I prefer my office irises to be green and ball-busting, not white and waxy. (I´m looking at you, Chanel; you do office iris right.)
All in all, while I like Iris poudre, it is not really working for me.

Well i was disappointed, i have really enjoyed the other frederic malle scents, but iris powdre reminded me of irish spring soap! it smelled exactly like the times i have used irish spring soap, it is not that i don't like iris poudre but for the price, i would not put that much money into a fragrance.

I received a generous sample from the NYC West Village shop when I actually walked in ready to try POAL (which I ended up not caring for - at all). I immediately liked Iris Poudre, and have grown to love it over time. It's elegant, classic, powdery, floral but not too femme...and it's just a little different (which I always love). I'm sure it's the aldehydes that make me want to say, 'it's what I imagined/wish Chanel N. 5 smelled like,' because I have always wanted to like C5...but couldn't get fully on board. My signature scents over the years (Lou Lou, Guerlain's Encens Mythique D'Orient) are definitely darker, more animalistic and unisex...but this has been my go-to for daytime & at work. It's strong, sexy, confident & success...can't go wrong.

I've been smelling through a lot of iris and powder scents lately, and reading up on this scent I thought it might be the holy grail. I like the aldehydes in the beginning, then I start smelling the iris, but then I'm overtaken by the lily (which no one else has mentioned, so I guess I'm just super sensitive to the smell). It's the same nauseating, ammonia-like smell I get from other lily fragrances like Gucci Bamboo. For iris, I'll stick with the soft, easy scent of Chanel La Pausa or the intense powder of Volnay Perlerette.

My favourite flowers are iris and jasmine, and both of them feature quite prominently in this scent. Of course, iris is the dominant note, but this jasmine here is no shrinking violet either. :) The fragrance does start off a bit "old-ladyish" due to the combination of aldehydes with iris, carnation and ylang-ylang, but it quickly settles into a most gorgeous, creamy, powdery, feminine smell. It is very seductive, but not in a vulgar way. Moreover, this scent is not meant to be worn by kiddies, because it does not have any notes that they find attractive (no pralines or cotton candy or gooey caramel or juicy berries here!), but any girl past the age of 20 will be able to enjoy this.

Lovely, somewhat soapy aldehydic composition that does not smell old-fashioned in the least. Heavy on the iris, obviously, but I don't find it a powderbomb. I have a hard time describing this as "sexy" though, but it's not all prim and proper either - I keep smelling it just to figure out what is going on, so certainly an interesting fragrance.

Iris poudre
Sensual powdery floral with undertone sweet fruity
Feelings.Delicate and feminine.
Its warmth would surprise you as feels more like a newly sun-dried tropical friutes
I can imagine yaung girls and chic ladies wearing it.

This iris is not light and casual like it is in the l'eau d'hiver. It is not shy but elegant, sophisticated and powerful (reminds me Jessica from suits).
To be honest i don't like the openning. It has some kind of a very sharp masculine bitterness on the background. A little bit cold almost. But the dry down (3 hours later) is heavenly. When sweetness emerges (not thick and syrupy of course) it gets better.
Aside from not being a powdery perfume lover, i find this beautiful and unique. But due to the sharp openning, i think i'll pass this one. Dior homme intense is a better iris choice for me.

Dear born for shalimar,
I can only speak for myself. In my humble opinion, "Little Old Lady" is a term used by people who are either young and not willing to look beyond whatever the trend is today or obsessed with youth as a concept and therefore trying to imitate the former category. I for one used this term tongue-in-cheek, referring to many people's hate for formerly popular, now allegedly "outdated" notes like aldehydes (you're right though, I shouldn't have). Notes are age- and genderless per se, of course. However, they carry cultural connotations, which is actually a beautiful thing - imagine the possibilities! It's not like I assume each and every elderly woman has been donning fur, wearing aldehydes or done anything else that is nowadays considered typical of the 1940ies-60ies. It's just my own, personal Betty Draper fantasy when I'm wearing Iris Poudre. Says a guy in his twenties.
Anyway. No offense intended.

Could someone tell me whats a little old lady.totaly offensive.what about a big old lady wearing the very best perfumes.please think before you write.in fragrance there is no old or young just what you love like or dont like.that little old lady in her furs was once a beautifull sexy lady who may have hated furs and spent her time smoking pot and having a good time with the floyd.im 67 ,my taste in perfume does not differ from anyone else.i live and learn.please dont use that term, its insulting and ignorant.sweet love to you all.ps i think aldehydes have something to do with it.i'll pass on iris poudre aldehyds are aging to my mind and nose.

Call me crazy or heretic even for my following statement might be considered as such, but I firmly believe Iris Poudre smells almost exactly like Johnson's baby bedtime wash (yeah, the purple one). It sounds like a joke - I know - especially considering the value comparison of both, but let's face it - there are plenty of people out there ready to smell like a divine baby soap (hell, I'm one of them!).
Delicate, powdery, clean and calming, completely inoffensive. Linear, fades away quietly, nevertheless longevity and sillage above average.
Not sure about cashing out for this cute little iris, but I'll surely enjoy my sample till the last drop.

I think I must have blasted my olfactory sensitivities with too much oud-spicy, vanilla-woody wintry offerings cos I'm getting nothing here. Bearing in mind I spent an entire summer trying to source an iris scent that came anywhere near Chanel's 28 La Pausa (queen of irises, surely), and became a little obsessed with sniffing out the merest hint of iris (L'Occitane Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc was the budget winner).
I get cool, rather old-fashioned hints merely of something clean, aldehydic, musky..... that's it, apart from, yes something a little Chanel. Bad sample? comes straight from FM so surely not. Maybe on a warmer day on warmer skin I'll get the violet, vanilla, wood that I should!

Iris Poudre really brings out the Little Old Lady in you - you know, the one that used to be a 1940ies Bombshell in a fur coat. 'Perfume like that, they just don't make it anymore' I would say if I didn't know better. How harmoniously the notes blend feels like a puzzle coming together or an orchestra playing. And even if you know that everything is familiar and you can, at times, tell notes by name, it still seems magical. A perfume like no other.

Edit: I wore this on a particularly cold, grey, early Sunday morning in January when the wind was abrasive and made one's face hurt. I had chosen it counterintuitively, as opposed to the Shalimars and other winter treats. The aldehydes became the cold and the cold became the aldehydes. It was perfection.

aldeidico e old style. su di me pessimo.

My favorite iris scent...

Iris Poudre is such a content, lovely iris. I feel an overwhelming sensation of wistful, sunny girliness when I wear it - like I'm Anne of Green Gables daydreaming and strolling around Prince Edward Island, taking in the surrounding floral beauty and enjoying my long-awaited stylish dress with "puffed sleeves".

It is powdery in the most comforting way, with dignified support from woodsy notes and enough musk to be considered cozy-sexy. Iris Poudre has an optimistic, breezy personality while it maintains its cool (like the onset of a new crush) unlike Hiris from Hermes, which is cold and steely and feels like the saddest heartbreak ever, or Infusion d'Iris which feels too modern and droll in comparison.

This sparkles in chilly-sunny weather. I love it in the Fall and Spring, especially.

I really like it - it's a very rounded and creamy Iris, instead of being watery and polite like Hermes' Iris Ukiyoé. This one is dreamy and sensual... And even though it would sound like everything I love in a 'fume, still it's absolutely not "me". It has that kind of vanilla/tonka/sandalwood combination that makes it overbearing to me. Actually, it's quite the same J'adore L'or did to me with the exact same combo - it's like a man being in love with a woman for her grace, mistery and sensuality, but in the end he discovers she's just too eager and too sticky, so he just gets fed up with her and flees to a next one.

Firstly, aldehydes; rather sharp, but then a very delicate character develops. It's so much better after those aldehydes have died down. Eventually becomes a powdery soft slightly musky skin scent, iris-woody. Even the stronger ingredients are no match for that initial sharpness, but thankfully it flows and changes in interesting ways after that. I do like the powdery iris, in all it's very pleasant and a bit unusual; not very strong, but not all scents have to be strong, do they. :)

for me its mixing Shalimar with Chanel No. 5. Very elegant.

Iris Poudre caught me off guard. I don’t remember the last time I thought “Wow!” with the first spray. This is a remarkably beautiful and complex fragrance. I’m afraid I’ve oversprayed (2 spritzes), but I don’t care!

It starts with a distinctly powdery note that appears to be a warm sandalwood powder combined with the cool, earthy powder more typical of iris, further grounded by the vetiver. It is a remarkably unique powder that I think even anti-powder perfumistas will enjoy; I was delighted to discover sandalwood warming up the opening of this scent and making it so much more than a typical iris fragrance.

After the opening, the notes sparkle and glisten as they shift and develop; this scent has not been the same for 2 minutes together from the time I applied it. I see only a handful of notes listed on Fragrantica, but I swear I smell much more. I’ll tell you what I smell…. The powder becomes lightly peppery, which transforms into a peppery green rose that then alternates with a ripe and indolic rose…. fresh-faded-fresh-faded…. The indolic nature of the rose note moves toward what I think is freesia, golden and round. The green pepper of the fresh rose moves toward a floral pepperiness I associate with passion flower, which then alternates with the sweet, clean and feminine scent of heliotrope that may also be the vanilla and tonka. All of this undulates with my skin temperature and environment, pulsing and shifting. The sandalwood and iris powder are still there, the complex powder notes combining with the floral notes.

The song with the line “but she’s always a woman to me….” comes to mind; this perfume may smile like a child and steal like a thief, but is incredibly feminine, timeless, elegant and beautiful. Sillage is quite strong, longevity still going strong at 2 hours. Not many fragrance samples really make me want a full bottle of a perfume, but this one certainly does!

Oh, WHERE to start with this one?

WARNING: For iris lovers only! What an elegant, womanly fragrance! A refined, classy scent with a hint of warmth to it, and a huge personality! This one really packs a punch.

The initial spray is a STRONG burst of powdery iris bar-soap. It's clean and delightful, and I think I could safely say... If you're a fan of the classic Chanels, this will fit right into your collection in a slightly more understated, modern way.

The dry-down is much more warm and cozy, it has a similar feel (Almost exact) to the drydown of Chanel Chance, mixed with maybe a little bit of the drydown of Chanel No 22 - (I guess I never realized how much I love the combination of Iris, Musk + Vetiver??). The slight powdery touch lasts throughout the entire life of this one, which I'm so happy about.

This is a top-notch, special occasions, feel-like-a-million-bucks scent. Worth every penny.

This thing is heavenly.i'm surprised that this doesn't get more recognition that it does. I am actually thinking about selling my Carnal Flower (anyone want to buy? Its a 50 ml bottle at about 98% full) so I can purchase Iris Poudre. In the initial opening is a bit strange that is reminiscent of old fashioned floral soap, but in the drydown you get a mindblowing iris with tonka/vanilla concoction that just puts a smile on your face. Definitely unisex.

Longevity:B+
Projection:B
Uniqueness:A+
Versatility:B

OVERALL: A

Creamy, dreamy, a bit musky and certainly comforting. Iris is definitely present and in tradition with all other FM fragrances, this is complex, deep in it’s layers and very classy. Iris Poudre is strong with great silage and reminds me a bit of Datura Noir/Serge Lutens. Will have to try Ferre as per other comparisons here!!

This smells a LOT like Petale Noir by Agent Provocateur - only, Noir taken to the next level. Musky powdery, womanly, clean, and it swims around you in a haze. Well done fragrance, and less screechy than Petale Noir.

Definitely a predominant jasmine, but it works superbly with the iris.

3D dimensional Iris with huge projection, especially on open air. Its crispy but powdery, loud but whispering, soapy but velvety at the same time.
If I wouldnt know the notes I would bet there is rose somewhere there as well.
Drydown has exact ammount of dry non-sticky vanilla and an accurate dosage of musk to keep border between elegance and sensuality.

It was very pleasant olfactory experience thanks to one generous Scottish fragrantica, as it was first Malle fragrance I ever smelled.

This was my favourite among all the samples I recieved from Cecilia. :-)

It smells a bit like the dry down of Chanel 5, soft and cuddly. Friendly.
Violet, iris, powder, spicy rose, musk, sandalwood, soap, sweet warmth.

BUT with a small dose of indolic jasmine unfortunately, just like in No 5.
If it weren`t for the jasmine, this would have ended up on my love list.

Classic, timeless.

Thank you C!

Iris Poudre is a vanillic-iris powder bomb with a blunt woody base. The opening is glorious to my nose: beautiful soapy, powdery aldehydes, iris and vanilla with a musk that feels fatty and rich. The smell conjures memories of velvety smooth lather made of tiny soap bubbles.

It could have been love for me if the top and heart notes were the sum total of this perfume, but as Iris Poudre dries down the woody base becomes too much for my preferences. Whatever this long lasting base is, it is something pre-made that I have identified in other perfumes, namely the Bvlgari Omnia series. This base smells blunt and indistinctly woody and has what I can only describe as a hot and dry characteristic on my skin. Once it gets going, it projects and overwhelms the other notes, leaving me with a somewhat negative final impression of Iris Poudre.

If you want the powder without the woody base, I recommend Ferre. Ferre is almost identical but lacks this final disturbing blunt woody aromachemical base.

Edited in 2019 to add: My review above is from 2014 based on a bottle produced in 2012. Since then this has gone through a minor reformulation and the offending base note referenced above has been toned way down. I can still smell it but the base has been tweaked to smooth it out. Overall and improvement to my nose. Otherwise the scent is largely unchanged.

Okay, so I'm back...

After rebuilding my relationship with this fragrance, I can honestly say this IS in fact another FM masterpiece. Nowadays, this fragrance does EXACTLY what I imagine pheromones are supposed to do. When this mixes with my body chemistry...it seriously heightens my attractiveness to the opposite sex. There are trails of men following behind me asking "what are you wearing? You smell so good." Looking completely puzzled and as if they don't know what hit them. I get the feeling this is supposed to perform best in winter, but so far this spring/summer season, IP has done pretty well on me.

Old-style perfume, the brother of Chanel No. 5. Elegant, refined, for ladies of a certain age. The iris is the absolute master. For fans of the genre.

this is exactly what i imagined chanel jersey to smell like..a purple iris, powdery with aldehydes.. yummy winter scent

Received some sample when I purchased my first niche perfume, en passant, which I was hugely disappointed in.


Iris poudre smelled good for evening wear, better than en passant, but smelled a bit aldehydic- fake scent, not from natural ingredients. I know that all perfumes, including niche perfumes contain scents made from petroleum, yes that dark black oil, but niche perfumes are supposed to smell closer to the real flowers, thus we pay for their success in the chem lab.

I never believed that I would like a Iris based fragrance although I do long to try Iris Gris - the pinnacle of all perfume-istas apparently.

This arrived today as a sample - I had ordered Nirmala from Les Senteurs and they always send a couple of samples based on my order .

So its sitting on the back of my hands as i write .

Its very, very soft and powdery - the aldehydes have burned out in the first five minutes on me . I am left with a scent that is not at all like Chanel 5 as some perceive - how can it smell like le monstre? It has no jasmine ! It is something far sweeter and creamier , more user friendly , very un-agressive , sensual and gentle but definitely NOT old lady floral aldehydes . I can almost taste the sandal wood and the vanilla . And the iris is a revelation as I thought it would be funereal and morbid - which it isn't .

People seem surprised at the aldehydes - it DOES say on the description if not on the notes that aldehydes are present - aldehydes are not notes per se. they are just there like the alcohol is there.

Its not cold either, its very , very warm IMO which surprised me looking at the reviews - also Luca Turin rated it 3 star - but I often find that we don't agree when I actually try the 3 star fragrances he doesn't like .

I think I could wear this and really enjoy it - I will re-spray before bed and see just how much longevity it has and then I will decide ........ more expense !

Update : These are the real ingredients by the way , from Frederic Malle's website :Aldehydes Bergamot Rosewood Ylang Ylang Magnolia - Jasmine Violet - Rose - Lily of the Valley - Carnation Iris Musk - Amber - Vanilla Sandalwood - Vetyver - Karanal : NOTE there is NO TONKA BEAN LISTED.

I agree with some earlier reviewers, there must be aldehydes in this fragrance. It simply refused to settle, staying sharp and rather astringent for way too long. Yes, it is a lightly powdery iris that does eventually dry down to an irisy-vetiver that is quite lovely, but the first 2/3 of the time this fragrance was too sharp for me. The powdery iris and green aldehydes were too combative on my skin. Toward the end, there is also a sweet vanilla note that added some nice depth and character. It did have good longevity--about 6 hours or more--and sillage was pretty strong.

Ok, so I tried IP again, because I am so in love with almost everything FM, But, I have to say, on me this is not an iris fragrance, but a fully aldehydic one! There is no trace of Iris, root or flower, until the late dryDown when the fragrance finally looses it's fresh beauty and becomes Iris, powder and something dark. Lasting power is good, sillage is elegant but I can't say i am dying to own own it

I love Iris Poudre but I am very curious about Ferre, as I have not tried it yet. If they smell very similar, what is the point in paying so much more to IP.
If anyone in here have both in their collection, please let me know which one you prefer and why.
I rather not having to purchase both in order to compare the similarity.
I would like to think IP has much more quality maybe?

update:
Got this lovely juice now.. so happy...thanks Fragrantica member fedz for the help.x

I love Iris Poudre and this is my signature since three years. I can feel that it will stay that way forever.
I can always turn to Iris Poudre whenever I go to work or for a special occasion. This is the puriest, the most beautiful and the most amazing fragrance that I have ever worn. I can be with this beauty in the winter, in the spring, summer and the autumn and it will never let me down! Iris poudre will stay with me all day long or even after the shower in the evening after an exosted day just to remind me that I am one happy woman to have it. And I really am!
I love you Pierre Bourdon for creating this beauty!