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Talc 2018

8.3 / 10 55 Ratings
A popular perfume by IUNX for women and men, released in 2018. The scent is powdery-floral. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Powdery
Floral
Woody
Fresh
Spicy

Fragrance Notes

White irisWhite iris Ambrette seedAmbrette seed Rice absoluteRice absolute White cedarWhite cedar

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.355 Ratings
Longevity
7.145 Ratings
Sillage
6.446 Ratings
Bottle
7.443 Ratings
Value for money
7.116 Ratings
Submitted by Elokitty, last update on 06/28/2023.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Infusion d'Iris (Eau de Parfum) (2007) by Prada
Infusion d'Iris (2007) Eau de Parfum

Reviews

2 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Cafenoir

15 Reviews
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Cafenoir
Cafenoir
Top Review 26  
From a Woman's Perspective
I want to preface this by saying: if you haven't done so yet, please make sure to read the previous, very vivid comment by Profumo. There, alongside a wonderfully nuanced description of the fragrance, you will find many interesting pieces of information. Profumo's comment was decisive for my sample order. I almost bought the bottle blindly, as I found the description so seductive, but I wanted to be sensible.

What follows is more a collection of my thoughts on the fragrance. They didn't fit into a statement and yet needed to be expressed, so a comment was the only option ;). Perhaps they will be helpful as a supplement for some of you.

So here we go: I spray, no, rather I envelop myself in the fragrance in the morning. I like it! Later, I read the listed notes and think, yes, that fits! Everything is there, but nothing dominates. It also fits that no pyramid is given, but the notes stand side by side. I can't really detect a progression, rather a minimal fluctuation. Is there perhaps a hint of juniper in there? It’s probably the cedar that triggers this thought in me.

Yes, I think, Talc is a talc fragrance. More so, it is for me a musk fragrance. More accurately, it should be called: an ambrette seed fragrance ;). So, an ambrette seed fragrance with fine rice powder and iris notes, interwoven with a pinch of cedar spice. Please forgive the listing of notes! Through the way and order, I try to convey how I perceive the interplay of the components; I hope I succeed.

When I think of talc fragrances, relatively sweet scents come to mind first, such as Puro Talco Eau de Parfum or Potiche. However, Talc has nothing in common with those for me. While the former can be almost suffocating and very sweet, Talc always remains subtle and fresh. I also don’t find the scent baby-powdery, thankfully. Based on the descriptions and the Colognoisseur reviews, I had expected that, but for my nose, there is nothing that reminds me of babies or childhood. I only perceive a very subtle powderiness, along with an almost metallic freshness.

Moving on to ambrette seed: when I read or hear this word, I always think first of "Les Exceptions - Over the Musk@Mugler / Thierry Mugler". By the way, I really like that one. But I also find little similarity to this one.

But does the scent remind me of something familiar, and what exactly? I just can't put my finger on it. Is it Easy for Ecstasy? I still have a little left and spray it on. Hm, the Philly & Phill is initially powderier and sweeter, so that's a no-go. In the development, okay, there is indeed a very slight similarity, but it’s not what I’m looking for. Could it be Acca Kappa’s "Muschio Bianco / White Moss (Eau de Parfum) | Acca Kappa"? Unfortunately, I have no way to check that, and my scent memory is too long ago. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, so I probably won't find the solution to this riddle anytime soon.

But that’s okay, or even good, because Talc is allowed and should stand on its own. I find it difficult to describe without resorting to comparisons. It probably reminds me of several fragrances I’ve already smelled, but apparently none of them were convincing enough to be in my collection. Talc, on the other hand, would definitely be a candidate. I’ll test it a few more times, and then we’ll see.

And before I forget, perhaps someone is wondering what the title is about? It’s a teaser ;).
There is, of course, a connection, because so far there are only a few descriptions of the fragrance, and they are written by men. These gentlemen obviously like Talc very much. Which doesn’t surprise me, as the scent is not feminine and should suit men very well. Women too! Currently, 20 Parfumos have marked the scent, 19 of whom are women. Don’t be seduced or put off by words like talc, iris, and powderiness; this is not a fairy fragrance. Talc is definitely unisex!

Edit on 8.03., so 4 days after writing the comment: after wearing it several times, my rating remains at 8.5, and (@smellie13) the scent does not make it onto my wish list. I wrote 'definitely unisex', and now 'androgynous' comes to mind as well, in the sense of androgynous aesthetics, slightly cool. That makes the scent interesting, but it won’t be love for me ;)
13 Comments
Profumo

288 Reviews
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Profumo
Profumo
Top Review 37  
Talk powder, interpreted in a minimalist and modern way
When Mark Behnke from ‘Colognoisseur’ compiled his top 25 list of new releases for 2019 a few weeks ago, Olivia Giacobetti's fragrance ‘Talc’ landed in second place, just behind ‘Weinstrasse’ by Chatillon Lux, which Mr. Behnke declared the ‘Perfume of the Year 2019’. ‘Weinstrasse’ seems to be a rather special, but certainly original perfume, which cannot be said of Olivia Giacobetti's scent. Her trademark is not exuberance, the wild mixing of divergent notes to achieve a shrill effect. No, what characterizes Giacobetti's art is her transparent yet present style, the silky yet robust texture of her compositions, their refinement, and perfect blending. She is truly not a scent punk, rather a haute couture perfumer with a penchant for understatement. And the adjective ‘sublime’, no matter how snobby it may sound, is well-deserved for all of Olivia Giacobetti's fragrances - especially ‘Talc’.
But let's take it step by step.

When I read about the new IUNX scent on Mark Behnke's site, I was already a bit intrigued, as a new Giacobetti fragrance has become a rare event. Far removed from the increasingly short-winded and hectic perfume market, Madame takes her time and completely withdraws from the madness of today's marketing strategies. She can afford to: she has a name and presumably a loyal clientele. One store is enough for her. Online, her fragrances can only be ordered directly from her, as well as a part of her portfolio from another Parisian shop. That's it.

Since I have been a big fan of Olivia Giacobetti's creations since her L’Artisan days and also really like rice, iris, and ambrette notes, I was quite sure that I would enjoy ‘Talc’. Mark Behnke's enthusiastic praise only added to my anticipation, and soon after, the fragrance was mine - untested, one of those unloved ‘blind buys’ that I had actually forbidden myself, having been wrong a time or two before.
But I was not disappointed!
‘Talc’ smells fantastic. However, you MUST like powder, talcum powder. Anyone familiar with the wonderfully old-fashioned smelling Italian talcum powder ‘Felce Azzurra’ will have a rough idea of the direction the IUNX scent is heading.
‘Felce Azzurra’ smells much more fougère, distinctly of lavender, nutty-powdery-sweet coumarin, and light musky clouds. ‘Talc’, on the other hand, smells more modern: rice absolute, white iris powder, cedar, and ambrette seeds form a perfectly balanced, minimalist quartet that you may not have smelled exactly like this before, but certainly something similar. A Giacobetti fragrance is, as mentioned, usually not a paragon of originality, but her scents are always exceptionally well made. This is also true for ‘Talc’. The few notes are extremely well coordinated, with the iris powder initially taking on the role of the protagonist. Flanked by aromatic-dry rice notes, it rests on a bed of light woods and subtly scented ambrette seeds reminiscent of grappa and musk.
With so few main players, it’s hardly surprising that the scent development is not particularly dramatic, but it is not linear either. The ambrette seeds unfold a rather surprising volume in the base and give the fragrance what it previously lacked: body.

Which brings me to the inspiration. Olivia Giacobetti writes on her website:

“Talc by IUNX is inspired by Butoh, a Japanese dance form characterized by extreme slowness, poetry, and minimalism.”

When looking at images of this Butoh dance, the inspiration becomes understandable: the dancers are usually completely powdered white, giving them a statuary, almost petrified appearance. The thick layer of powder and the slow movements allow their muscle and facial expressions to stand out particularly well, creating an impressive contrast - lifeless minerality on pulsating skin.
And indeed, the fragrance behaves quite similarly: a powdery layer of iris, rice, and cedar settles over the warm musky body of the ambrette seeds. This creates the abstract olfactory idea of powdered skin, not necessarily perfumed skin, rather fragrant skin.
Powdered skin with ‘Felce Azzurra’, on the other hand, smells much more perfumed, and that's how it should be. After all, in earlier eras, people often tried to cover body odors with scented powder. With ‘Talc’, that certainly does not work. It will not neutralize a strong sweat odor, as it is far too transparent and delicate for that. A dense powdery musk cloud like ‘Felce Azzurra’ can manage that, at least for a while.
No, ‘Talc’ rather requires clean skin and washed clothes. Only then can the fragrance wrap around the wearer like a veil, caressing them.

Thus, 'Talc' also has no excessive projection, remaining close to the body and developing a radiance of up to an arm's length with generous application. Close to the body, the fragrance remains perceptible for a long time, surprisingly long for an EdT. It even clings excellently to clothing.
Since I had already expected that ‘Talc’ would not be a scent powerhouse (Olivia Giacobetti's fragrances are all rather understated, moderately present works), I immediately ordered the 150ml bottle, but I was not prepared for such a gigantic flacon. It is taller than a wine bottle, resting in a cylindrical black foam case that certainly does not fit in any normal shelf. Where to put this monster?
I still don’t know. For now, it just sits on my dresser, but I thoroughly enjoy using it generously - such a giant bottle easily yields more generous amounts than a pretty mini bottle with a small amount of extrait inside...

However, over-perfuming with ‘Talc’ is likely to be difficult - the fragrance is so inoffensive that it is, at least for me, a true pleasure.
Many other fragrances force me to my knees with their annoying longevity and booming loudness - not so with ‘Talc’.
The scent has a really wonderful, effortless presence, like all Giacobetti fragrances, actually.
But I’ve already mentioned that...
12 Comments

Statements

15 short views on the fragrance
31
27
Dry iris powder (♥)
with wood & musk, no frills!
A delicate veil of scent in white
like cool dew drops in the morning
*magical*
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27 Comments
4 years ago
20
16
Sweet was yesterday.
Iris is rocking it cool on the cedar bars today!
All dusted with rice flour, not just the hands.
Slightly pale noble understatement.
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16 Comments
21
12
Papery iris in a green veil. Hints of coumarin & powder cream, concrete dust & white paint. Mineral-clean yet protective & warm. Well done!
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12 Comments
17
11
They roll out the flour-dusted silver carpet for her. Iris wants it that way. A film-worthy entrance celebrated with cool, controlled elegance.
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11 Comments
17
14
Probably the best white iris musk or ambrette seed scents currently on the market. Pure!
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14 Comments
16
18
Galadriel with the vial in front of her mirror - the cool, wise ruler of the Elves. Silvery-white coolness + freshness. Like a delicate veil.
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18 Comments
15
8
Mineral powder swirls fall on warm skin. Gentle movement in the dim light. Abstract white in perfect balance. One of a kind.
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8 Comments
13
4
If white had a scent, it would be this one: talcum powder, rice, iris & ambrette, in the finely woven Giacobetti style. Truly great perfume art!
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4 Comments
10
4
Absolutely dry-dusty iris, its gentle powder shifting between white & silver. Cool yet warm, quietly present.
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4 Comments
10
11
The better Un Amourette. Dry, greenish, brilliantly bright, skillfully dusty-powdery. Despite its restraint, it's incredibly present. Amazing!
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11 Comments
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Images

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