Irisia Creed 1968

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 :-))