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Irisia Creed 1968

7.9 / 10 57 Ratings

A popular perfume by Creed for women, released in 1968. The scent is chypreartig-floral. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Chypre

Floral

Green

Spicy

Powdery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Mandarin orange

Heart Notes

Iris

Galbanum

Tuberose

Bulgarian rose Violet

Violet

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Amber

Musk

Sandalwood Vanilla

Vanilla

Cedarwood

Ratings

Scent

7.957 Ratings

Longevity

8.049 Ratings

Sillage

7.546 Ratings

Bottle

7.650 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro · last update on 03/08/2024.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

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J'ai Osé Eau de Toilette

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/08/2012

8Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Sherapop
1240 Reviews

Sherapop

Helpful Review 4

Glorious Nutty Oakmoss Chypre

When it comes to Creed, as with all things, I suppose, there are skeptics, and there are believers. I am a believer. But my estimation of this house is not a matter blind infatuation or some sort of credential worship. In what has come to be this period of the niche house bubble, I do not consider price to be a very sure indicator of quality. Everyone and his mother is a creative director today, it seems.

I have a great deal of respect for traditional houses which have stood the test of time in some cases (such as this one) for centuries. However, I could not care less whom Creed designed perfumes for in the past--probably for the most part a bunch of privileged people entirely ignorant of perfume. Who cares? It's totally irrelevant to me. What matters to me is only the quality of their creations, which I deem to be top notch. IRISIA is a fine example of what I mean.

First off, oakmoss in all its glory is in ample evidence in this chypre composition, which sounds from the name as though it's going to be an iris soliflore. Far from it, in fact. When I first reviewed this perfume a while back, I was altogether unable to detect any iris. However, today I suspect that I may have been sniffing for the wrong iris. The note in question appears to be the base note orris, and I do believe that I detect it here in its beautiful ever-so-slightly soapy form.

A variety of other notes are blended together in IRISIA to produce a glorious perfume-wearing experience. Yes, it's a galbanum green chypre, but it is not at all sharp, and its projection does not quite make it to that of Sisley EAU DU SOIR, which I think of as a cousin to IRISIA. There is an appealing nuttiness to the drydown of this perfume, which I truly love, and it's an utter pleasure to wear a composition such as this after having recently tested so much banality in liquid form: dishwasher steam, shampoo and conditioner frags, and sugar solutions. IRISIA, in contrast to all of those "fragrances", is a perfume.

Is Creed a bunch of bunk, or just hype, pure and simple, as the naysayers maintain? No, not at all. Sniff these creations for yourself, and you shall see...

07/14/2012

jtd
484 Reviews

jtd

Helpful Review 2

Concise and Well-Proportioned

Iris? Huh?

This is a lovely classic, earthy chypre. I could liken it to many other chypres of its time (1968), and as I am a fan of the genre and era it would be a compliment, but let’s just consider it on its own. Classic opening with bitter bergamot and oakmoss. Not floral, not powdery. It really moves in a small range of grassy, woody, earthy and leather tones. What I mean by simple here is that it focuses smartly and cleanly on the bergamot, oakmoss and amber triad (with a lot of galbanum and patchouli) that makes a chypre a chypre. Irisia doesn’t stray off course and remains focused on fine-tuning rather than frill. It demonstrates textbook, classic progression over time and captures the unfolding of tones that defines the chypre.

If I had to characterize Irisia, I’d call it whip-smart.

01/22/2021

9.5Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

SchatzSucher
107 Reviews

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SchatzSucher

Top Review 55

Creed in a Whole New Way

At the repeated request of a certain individual, I would like to once again share a somewhat longer description of a fragrance.
When a fragrance evokes great enthusiasm in me, I believe it deserves more than just a brief statement. Moreover, nothing has been written here for over 5 years.
Now that the cobwebs have been carefully removed from this page, I would like to share my opinion on Irisia with the general public.

The perfume house Creed is indeed very much in the spotlight here at Parfumo. Daily, a certain magical and sacred fragrance seems to waft through forums, tickers, and discussion groups almost like a mantra. A fragrance said to possess mysterious qualities and that is now revered almost iconically. This admittedly perplexes me a bit.

Until recently, I was not aware that, aside from the big A, there is a significantly broader fragrance spectrum at Creed, as hardly any other scents are mentioned apart from the big A.
Perhaps a spritz of Himalaya or a hint of Green Irish Tweed. At best, a splash of Virgin Island Water, and that’s about it.
Nevertheless, Creed offers quite a large selection of fragrances that range from classic to modern and cater very well to most tastes.

The Creed house was originally founded in 1760 and started as a tailoring shop. It made a name for itself in the 19th century as a purveyor to the English royal family. Additionally, the European high nobility, including Queen Victoria and Napoleon III along with his wife Eugénie, were among its regular customers.
However, the history of the perfume house is somewhat shrouded in mystery, as publications are not precisely documented, and the actual and well-known success story only begins in the mid-80s with Green Irish Tweed.
It can be assumed that the very early released fragrances were produced in the smallest quantities and were personally intended for the prominent clientele.

In 1968, Irisia was launched on the market. I recently got my hands on a sample of this fragrance. And I am extremely delighted.
Irisia is a beautifully crafted fragrance that exhibits the classic characteristics of a true Chypre. A citrusy top note, a floral heart, and a mossy-woody base, which is rounded off with a fine spiciness.
With Irisia, the basic recipe has been followed closely. However, a distinct animalistic component in the base (e.g., amber or castoreum) has been omitted.
In the opening, beautiful citrus notes emerge, with bitter-sour bergamot and a touch of mandarin mixing in. Shortly thereafter, the flowers make their appearance. They are closely intertwined, with none really standing out dominantly. The interplay harmonizes beautifully. A slight green tint is contributed by a bit of galbanum. It’s not much, as it is not as prominent as in other green Chypre fragrances, but this typical green note is noticeable.
As the scent develops, I notice amber and oakmoss, which give Chypre fragrances their corresponding note. Musk, however, ensures with a fine soapy undertone that no strong scratchiness arises.
And I also recognize some woody notes in the fragrance that add a little rounding and form.

What I find interesting about Irisia: Although it is a Chypre fragrance from the 60s and during that time there were already quite harsh and dry Chypre fragrances on the market, I do not perceive Irisia as cumbersome or particularly scratchy at all.
The fragrance does seem rather cool overall, but it gives off a thoroughly friendly impression. Even those who generally struggle with Chypre might find access here.
It has an astonishingly good longevity and is by no means intrusive even with one or two extra sprays.
Irisia is categorized as a women's fragrance, but since it is well known that I often disregard these classifications, I also believe that the fragrance works very well on men.
And I find it fantastic. But why "only" a 9.5 and not a 10?
Because in terms of class, complexity, recognizability, and perfection, it does not quite reach the masterpieces like Parure, Dioressence, or Fendi, which surpass Irisia in these aspects.
But that should not dampen the enthusiasm in any way. Irisia has everything an excellent fragrance needs. And once again, it shows: There used to be more lametta.

However, the joy has a catch... Because Irisia is no longer available. I cannot say when the fragrance was taken off the market, but it is a real shame.
I have added the fragrance to my wish list. I will not chase after it, as I am now more than well-equipped in the Chypre department. But who knows...

I would like to sincerely thank Anarlan for this wonderful fragrance experience and the wicked temptation, and I thank you all for reading :-))

03/20/2011

8Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Esther19
151 Reviews

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Esther19

Top Review

Wondrous Metamorphosis of an Old Maid

As a warning, there should actually be a note on the bottle: Please enter strict seclusion for about 90 minutes after spraying, preferably in the restroom-
stall.
The top note really has something old-maidish about it; for the first two minutes, it smells like a visit to the hairdresser with a perm, but from ages ago, and the nasal receptors curl up just as worryingly. The only way to cope with this is to have something aromatic nearby, perhaps banana peels?
Strangely: I smell strong myrrh, undiluted, even though it shouldn't be present at all. Or bergamot like in an over-brewed tea? Very sour, and the faces of the testers will look just like that. But like many chypres that start off very harsh, the fragrance gradually develops into a more acceptable direction. And this journey is long and rocky here.
After about half an hour, vanilla and sandalwood begin to timidly resist the sourness; it gets slowly exciting, everything becomes softer and a bit more elegant. It crackles, and then the first reward:
An exceptionally noble note begins, strict, still a bit aloof, but the hardened crust of the old maid is breaking. The vanilla doesn’t sweeten but brightens. And the iris root finally comes out of hiding and dusts with softness, but without a thick layer of powder. And what an iris it is, wonderful! Irisia becomes softer and more cuddly, through the woods; I can’t perceive any other flowers. The lady suddenly gains a radiant quality. A surprising metamorphosis of an old maid in a high-necked, outdated dress into a woman who has finally found her style, perhaps a light gray flannel suit, a beautiful piece of jewelry
of a special kind. She was not so easy to crack, this beauty. In the end, she even has a very subtle erotic touch. And she smiles!
Irisia is certainly not a fragrance for very young women. Just as the scent matures,
so should its wearer be somewhat matured - by which I do not mean "old"!
And patience is required, which almost overwhelmed me. But I can only recommend taking this time to experience this wonderful development without prejudice and fear. It’s worth it. However, one should plan for a good hour of unfolding time before going out among people! (I once received a negative compliment when I left the house too early. Stoic exterior and inner smirking.) For that, it lasts very well.
I could also imagine Irisia as a tough scent for difficult negotiations, not too distant, but also not yielding - soft! Clear position: Up to here and no further. I know what I’m worth.

03/21/2022

9.5Scent 9Longevity 8Sillage

Mörderbiene
46 Reviews

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Mörderbiene

Top Review 13

Black as the night, hot as love, sweet and bitter as life

I have long left Creed very much to the side. The deceitful marketing propaganda has repulsed me too much.
Creed is indeed an old company, and the titles of court supplier are also quite genuine - although Creed did not supply anyone with perfume until the seventies of the twentieth century, regardless of whether they were blue-blooded or otherwise.
The years of appearance of the perfumes, supposedly dating back to the eighteenth century, are sheer nonsense.
Likewise, the pretty stories about various perfumes are nothing more than that: stories.
Despite all this, one must credit Creed with having created very classically oriented perfumes in a quality that is almost unknown today.

Black as the night, hot as love, sweet and bitter as life - this saying is sometimes heard in response to the question about coffee.
Irisia is certainly not black, but Irisia has fire, and Irisia is sweet, and there is also a good portion of bitterness.
I encounter a Chypre that consciously relies on sweetness for the first time with Irisia - it is indeed used moderately, but it runs consistently through the entire scent progression.
The traditionally citrusy Chypre opening here reminds one of the sugary water of canned mandarins - with a certain freshness and sprightliness that, however, takes a backseat to the dominant sweetness - receives a strong contrast with a rich galbanum note, and transitions into a interplay of rose and tuberose, which is equally characterized by radiant, clear sweetness. The tuberose note, which confidently takes center stage, always remains far from the boundaries of the indolic or rubbery and rests on a warm, balsamic, and above all sweet base, where the use of real amber indeed comes into the realm of the probable, and which can also be found in a more austere variant in Miss Dior.

Actually not a fan of sweet scents, I can only explain the subjective attractiveness of Irisia alongside its high quality by the fact that here the cookie, candy, and other gourmand notes have been omitted.
For me, Irisia is one of the most beautiful scents that a woman can adorn herself with.

Creed, with such scents you may gladly do penance. You are forgiven.

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