Description
Crabtree & Evelyn Iris is delicate fragrance inspired by a single flower is expected in September 2010. Iris is a beautiful and gentle fragrance for modern women.
The composition incorporates the finest aromas of orris root, located in the heart of the perfume. Lively and fresh top notes sputter with Italian bergamot and cassis, while the base includes wooden aromas of patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver and cedar, blended with creamy musk.
Iris fragrance will be presented in a luxurious glass bottle, adorned with painted flower, symbolizing the key ingredient. This floral design was created by Bella Towse, a young graduate at the University of Art and Design in London, who took inspiration in the flower garden of her parents’ house in Sussex.
Crabtree & Evelyn Iris is available as 50 ml EDP and 100 ml EDT, along with the collection of luxury products for body and home.
Hammer69 – :
Is this truly the scent of iris/orris butter? I randomly applied some of the Crabtree & Evelyn Iris lotion after washing my hands this afternoon. It’s been made available in the ladies’ room at work (long story), and (IMHO) was/is the most pleasant/least loud of the goodies available at the sink. It turned a bit sharp and powdery as the afternoon wore on; however, the loveliest soft woody/musky scent is still lingering on my hands this evening. I may have to give this line some further investigation…
161VANO – :
This fragrance was my first encounter with Iris. I was blown away because it’s so pretty. Such a comforting smell which means that if you’re feeling a bad day this will lift your spirits, at least on my experience. It’s so floral and the fragrance so unique that makes it one of a kind product.
irina108 – :
Fragrance Review For Iris
Crabtree & Evelyn
Top Notes
Bergamot Orange Cassis
Middle Notes
Iris Orris Root
Base Notes
Musk Vetiver Patchouli Sandalwood Virginia Cedar
Oh this is lovely!
For me this is such a treat. Crabtree & Evelyn have such fine floral fragrances, with enough chemical recreated realism to satisfy my perfume purist nose. Their masterpiece Rose Water is still my favorite. I have also enjoyed so many of their fragrances, each with their own merit: Lavender, Lily, Lily of the Valley, Wisteria, Gardenia, Evelyn Rose, Sandalwood, Patchouli & Moroccan Myrrh Leather Musk West Indian Lime among others. It’s a fragrance line of high caliber and each perfume has something for everyone. They capture so many colors, moods, emotions and beautiful notes. Crabtree & Evelyn continues to impress the hell out of me.
Iris is one of the many purplish flowers I like along with heliotrope lavender and violet. In fragrance, iris comes through as inky, powdery, starchy, fragrant, dreamy, feminine, melancholic, wistful, romantic, elegant and wonderfully old fashioned. Iris is the one perfume note that always puts me in quite the time traveler mood. Iris makes me think of a Victorian Era lady in black taffeta. Think Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln in black mourning gown of taffeta, looking over the purple floral arrangement of iris and lavender in her home after Lincoln’s death, mourning her whole life and finding some comfort in the flowers that are always in her life. Iris is a flower of deep emotion. We recall the lugubriousness of iris based classics like Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue. Now I’m not saying that this perfume is anything like it, but it is still managing to touch my feelings.
The first spritz is a fresh blast of bergamot citrus and a dash of currant courtesy of the cassis note. So one can say that the opening is rather fruity as far as citrus & currant goes. I do like it and it sweetens up the scent, making it quite feminine and delicious. It seems to suit the spring and summer months and it definitely goes with day wear. The sweetness of the fruit eventually turns into a familiar iris scent with the powdery and inky starchy and realistic iris root smell. The fact that we have here both iris and orris, that is the root of iris flowers, makes this one of the more developed iris perfumes, almost to the point of being a soliflore.
Later, the iris appears to fade into the background when the base notes in the dry down emerge. The dry down phase reveals a green chypre like body. There is identifiable green herbal patchouli leaves, vetivers, and musk. The notes of sandalwood and cedar are throw in the mix but I don’t find this scent to be as woodsy as it could be. It’s clearly a floral musk. And as for florals, it’s pure iris powder. The musk is light, not too strong and it too succumbs to the powder notes.
The feeling I get wearing this is that it is meant to be worn with casual wear in the day time in the spring. She is reserved and conservative. Nothing about it is ostentatious, glamorous, or sexy. She is modest and introspective. She is good for a couple of hours to get you through your day when you want to smell like a woman and feel like a woman. Is it a “mature” fragrance? You bet your ass. This is not a sweet girly girl scent of cotton candy and cupcakes. She is floral with a big beautiful iris.
Highly recommended for iris lovers.
starostinamila – :
This is such a beautiful perfume! A gorgeous gorgeous iris perfume! And the bottle is really beautiful too. Really beautiful! Divine!
The perfume is so soft and feminine, and powdery, with a gorgeous gentle, smoky woody vetiver, a lovely herby, rich and earthy patchouli and a deep mysterious musk and creamy sandalwood. It’s totally divine. It’s wonderful. I treasure this perfume, it’s so gorgeous. It’s a very very ladylike and elegant fragrance that wins me a multitude of compliments, all the time. I simply adore it. Adore it!
ScatoSydayFab – :
I bought this perfume for my mom,because I think it suits her better. It smells very refined,mature and classy. I didn’t quite like it before, because upon first spray it just smelt ‘old’ to me. But this perfume has kind of grown on me, because I just realized that I LOVE Iris note, especially the drydown which is comforting & powdery. My mom has CK’s Eternity as her signature fragrance for more than 25 years and she loves this Iris. So proud that I can perfectly pick a nice birthday gift for her :D. And now I’m planning to buy one for myself.
JannaG – :
It is not a bad fragrance at all. Well blended and long lasting. The patchouli here is very intensive, especially in the base. If you are not fond of patchouli you might want to keep away from this fragrance. Crabtree & Evelyn’s Iris reminds me of the scents of the 80s that were very intensive and based on patchouli and moss (Like Paloma Picasso though there is so much more in Paloma compared to C&E Iris). This one can easily be worn by a man as it is quite strong. It is not a flirty light iris, there is no sweetness or airiness in it. It is a ‘serious’ and ‘I mean business’ one. I can’t imagine somebody young wearing it but I might be wrong.
hiphophippy – :
Nicely done, as it doesn’t go too far in any one direction (iris/floral, citrusy, woody, or green) but smells natural. If you are looking for “monster iris,” this probably won’t satisfy you, but it’s got enough so that it can’t be discounted as some sort of “fake iris” scent. This is not of the powdery/wet/heavy/laundry musk type, but of the dry/particulate and slightly bitter variety (though fortunately not metallic). I definitely consider it unisex and for me it can be used to replace a bunch of other scents of the citrus/woody/green kind, because I prefer the iris to the other notes one usually finds in those kinds of “masculines.”
valentinvalik – :
Based on the reviews I blind bought this one and I’m so glad I did! Like always I sprayed once on my left wrist and dabbed it gently on the inner side of the elbow of my right arm and vice versa.
On my way to the office I stopped a couple of times wondering where these lovely whiffs of Iris came from because I wore a thick coat and my arms were beside my body ( due to heavy office artillery). I “gracefully” tried to sniff my wrist but no Iris to be found at that point. It happend quiet a few times today and it really felt like I got a small spring gift every single time. (It’s still winter in the Netherlands). So I’m very curious what this beauty will bring in spring or summer!
The fabric of my blouse, after 14 hours, smells just as fresh as the opening this morning. My wrists are a bit darker/sweeter and the scent lost much of it’s intensity of course but, as with any other perfume, the tiniest drop of water brings the scent alive again, at least long enough to realize what an exceptional delicate yet strong flower the Iris is.
AliepshesFlup – :
This is a hidden gem. It’s well balanced and centered around the note of iris. The drydown showcases musk that infuses the composition into the skin.
chervonec – :
I really loved this at first spray. “wow- this is different I thought- earthy, woody with a touch of sweet. But about 30 minutes later, I could not stand the scent. It smelled almost exactly like Gucci Rush after the dry down, which I had on the other hand and Gucci Rush makes me feel sick.
vlado-vlado – :
Iris is one of those notes that, having been present in so many of my memories, has become sort of my running scent theme, throughout time.
My Mom loves irises, she’s grown them forever and the ones she’s grown are from bulbs of hybrid purples and yellows, from my great-grandmother’s garden. Iris is a major note in the clothes detergent my grandmother uses. It’s the cool, silvery smell of snow on earth, during our New England winters. The frosty smell of early Spring irises is Easter to me; steamy and sugar sweet, over-ripe iris flowers are the scent of Summer.
C&E’s “Iris”, however, tops others for what it evokes, for me; the balmy, yet cool, excitement of Summer nights. Its grape-juice, wine berry undertones remind me of inky, starry skies. I’m sitting on my front step, drinking tea, ready to go out on the town, with my friends. I’m looking up at the sky, as a full moon illuminates cool pine trees.
I smell the damp, earthiness of soil in the crisp, night air. The softly green, spicy-sweet smell of clumps of irises carries on a gentle, evening breeze. I see a plane fly, overhead. What exciting places are they headed to? What new stories will be told? What’s out there, in The Universe? What’s the group at NASA up to, at that moment? Where are people going out to, tonight?
“Iris” is an earthy buzz of silvery-floral excitement and it really tunes me in and helps me feel alive, vibrant, engaged. If you like inky, velvety, earthy florals and woods, you’ll love “Iris”.
wbg845speagoessenda – :
I just found this today at TJMaxx for 10 bucks! I was expecting a single note of iris, but it is not. I can smell the patchouli and vetyver along with other notes. But to say it smells like irises, well, the irises I used to grow never smelled like this. Yes, I do love the scent, but to me it does not smell like an iris. It is a very lovely perfume though and I feel that I will wear it often.
stapet – :
I did not know I like Iris until I tried this edt. It goes on a little sharp and my first reaction was “yuk”. But after about 10 minutes it starts to soften. It’s most lovely after about 2 hours. I detect the iris, the orris root the musk and the bergamont. I find the patchouli and vetyver to be soft. I find the cedar quite faint which is good because heavy cedar reminds me of sweat. Overall I agree that the woody accord is most prominent in this scent but it’s a comfortable woody accord. Not harsh at all. I don’t detect the aquatic note that others mention but could understand the musk being interpreted that way.
This is a subtle perfume with a somewhat ladylike manner but not the least bit prissy. I think a man could easily pull this one off.
glock552 – :
I’ve not tried Crabtree and Evelyn before but tried this today and fell in love with it. It is so nice. It’s definitely a keeper.
majkal – :
I have the EDT and the solid perfume, I think the solid perfume smells better. I don’t like the first smell when I spray it, but as minutes go by, it gets better
elq972bedyWelty – :
Closest thing to Devon Violets yet.
I have this in a shower gel, and absolutely love it, but it’s too bad the scent doesn’t last.
If the scent is as equally the same as the perfume, I’m going to get it!
I love the smell of violets, and of course orris root smells just like them.
It’s a mature violet. Not sweet, but floral, with a light woodsy musk in the background.
makos – :
for me these flagrance is to much nice,i have these parfum and body cream,it very pleasurable experiences,
never be bored;thank you crabtree&evelyn:)
ScarVit – :
This is a an aquatic iris with soapy overtones, to my nose. It is clean, pretty, with a rustic charm. I can smell wet iris flowers, fresh, earthy orris root and some spice. Unfortunately, the prominent aquatic note makes me queasy so I can’t wear this fragrance, but for people who are not sensitive to it, and who are looking for an iris fragrance inspired by a simple, countryside charm, this is it.
kodial – :
I got my mom a small gift set of this scent and can’t wait to see if she loves it. I think she will, because we’re both big fans of iris. This brand has nice options for sets so you can try the scent in different products and layer. It’s a really well done and beautiful scent.
zzf376elipseskism – :
It is really an iris scent I have been looking for so long. A lot of orris root is complemented with a significant note of sandalwood, vetiver and musk at the end. Beginning is quite green but it dries down quickly and lives bold and aromatic, yet short life on skin – around three hours, then sillage is almost undetectable without sniffing skin (for next three to five hours). It lasts noticeably longer if spritzed on clothes, although it does not open up so nicely, so it ends up as some 12 hours of quite musky and sharp orris root scent (which is sometimes welcomed, by the way).
I would like to add that this fragrance has enough character not to be labeled as some season’s aroma or suitable for particular hour of the day. Also it feels that it could be worn by both women and men easily and actually by person at any age. It is all about ones taste and ability not to disappear in the different and strong (I’m still talking about character, not staying power) fragrance. Very chic fragrance.
9716435 – :
I agree with lilybelle911 as I find this soothing. It is still high summer temperatures and adding perfume seemed, at times, to close in on me, somehow. It was not so much a new scent that I was looking for but something to calm and escape the heat? Anyway,testing this iris EDT at first made me think of a new powdery “Vintage”. The floral, iris and patchouli all worked well and in the dry down, seemed calming, soothing. During the daytime, it is still mostly soap and showers (did not get the Iris soap, too late someone else bought it) but as the temps change toward autumn, I may spritze this iris more and more.
ComprarViagraAR – :
Got this in 30ml. Vintage is definitely the word for Iris. Initially, i didn’t like the smell. I found it too disturbing and I couldn’t figure out what it smelt like. It’s like a puff of cranky olden days. But after using it a few more times, I started to like it. It’s a unique acquired smell, different from all the other perfumes i ever tried. I’m not a fan of floral, so with the woody and powdery smell on top of the floral, it helps. Overpowering in the beginning, but by the end of the day, its a soft powdery smell.
I have this in 30ml. Used a few times. Up for swaps.
RAMZEC333 – :
This fragrance reminds me of my grandmother. She never got to wear it, but I think she would have loved it. It’s earthy, woody, and is so connected to nature, of which we both shared a love for. Powdery and vintage smelling, it reminds me of the irises in her garden she loved so much.
Definatley a keeper…
WANTEDnsk – :
i love this spicy iris, it’s a very pleasant aroma. Not overly powdery, not flowery, not aquatic, not overly spicy: it has an optimal balance of them.
I have problems with the sillage and the longevity, they said in the perfumery that 6 hours guaranteed..
well, I dont know..it’s about 5 mins that I applied but..I can’t smell it on me.
I’ll give another chance to it, tomorrow I’ll update my review.
update: it’s smells on me, but the sillage is weak I think, or just doesn’t work on my skin.
Available for swap this bottle.
dredddddd – :
further to my review below, I must note that the scent is made in the USA. If this is an American company(?), then I salute them in making fragrances in an English style which are really nice quality, something that many of our own companies are failing to do.(Floris, Penhaligons)
zxh355speagoessenda – :
I love Iris simply because it makes me feel grounded. Not too girly. More like I am connected to the essence of nature and sound in mind. At first try, Iris smells a bit woody, but immediately dries off to a perfect blend of orris and bergamot, at once clarifying and peaceful.
Silca – :
This beautiful fragrance takes me back to another space and time: when I was much younger, naive, and carefree… when I dreamed of what the life that lies ahead of me would hold for me. My fantasy world was one that bloomed with irises!
vzh001speagoessenda – :
I received a gift set of this last year in a beautiful purple embossed jewelry type box with soap, lotion, bath gel and a 3.4 oz EDT. I remember thinking I would save it for autumn when the temp lowered. Well we had snow two days ago, so time is time. It feels like Christmas. I love the black currant and the cedar, patchouli ground and the smooth creamy comfort. I wore this shopping and received 2 compliments, 4 hours and still going. I was checking my Prada sample and comparing. Crabtree just makes quiet quality and this will be great for work. I will use my Prada dollars for Chanel or Givenchy and their longevity. If you like iris, give this one a try and then indulge in a whole ritual after Christmas. I love their online sales.
gvm850821 – :
i fell in love from the first sniff, such a lovely scent that combines freshness with warmness… the only problem is that it’s not long lasting due to the fact that it’s EDT but when used with the Iris body cream it lasts longer and smells even better, my favorite from C&E.
vit321 – :
i liked this on first try……………but wasn’t really certain how my nose would react with it,because it is such a ‘delicate’ and ‘soft powdery’ smell . I also prefer my frags. to have sillage,and be strong.
Well,to my surprise, it clings closely to my skin and I love it.Although I’m wearing it in winter,I actually thinks it is more suitable for Spring as it is based on a Spring flower.
Admittedly,I have felt that because it has no sillage that over-spraying is essential{in my case} so others can get a whiff as I go about my buisness.
p.s. the fact that MEGAN GALE wears it was very persuassive in my decision to purchase
Haxaddilm – :
I got to know this Iris at the recent Excense expo in Milan. I liked that in this composition the iris note is not associated with talk notes, as in too many others iris-based parfumes. Sharp and green I appreciated this scent. But even if I used it in combination with the body lotion it didn’t last. Too shy for my taste. Otherwise a good product.
Emparomma – :
I like this, and could detect an impressive dose of said flower and root in the heart notes,(also backed up in the ingredients on the bottle, two types of Iris root, no less!) however, the drydown suffers from that usual mid range smell which makes it seem more like a bath product than a luxury fragrance. That said, it’s not expensive, I did enjoy wearing it and I love these traditional companies. This is a very English, classic ‘middle class mum’ scent to go with a frilly apron and scones on the lawn.
I layered it over Chanel no 19 today – wow, my perfect Iris is born…sorry Le Labo, this is the way I’ll be getting my Iris kick!
evellStalo – :
Crabtree and Evelyn is one of those companies that just does not get the correct notice. Quiet and conservative, their products most often found in gift shops and up-market chemists in the UK. Not tagged onto the back of a fashion house, they just make good stuff, and if you care to go and find it, you will be rewarded.
Just bought a bottle of this and it is lovely!!!
Sprayed some on the back of my hand so that it would not be overly affected by body temperature, and it is just sitting there on my skin, emanating gentle waves of this lovely tart, juicy, floral sherbit.
I love the hand-in-hand of the bergamot and blackcurrant which is enveloped with a gentle surge of sandalwood and patchouli. And the amazing thing is that you really do smell them all quite distinctly. This has been very skillfully concocted as it is refined and yet not shy. It has a very definite personality. And I would wear this at any time; nice for the office as not overpowering, but also I can imagine wearing this for a beachcombing walk or a lazy day on the couch. It sort of reminds me of that heady sharpness that you get from a bunch of freesia that have been left in a warm room with the door closed.
SCORPIOSHEEP also noted the very nice bottle; the only downside is that I have the 100ml bottle and it is VERY heavy. But gals, you know that most of us carry the equivelant to the weight of a small child in our handbags these days, so will not dissuade me from carrying it for top ups throughout the course of the day. I may not have to do that very often though as it seems to have very good staying power.
WOOHOO!!! Winner. Fab. Love it. Yahoo!!! This will be my Spring/Summer scent this year.
Try it………….you might like it too!!!
korsac – :
M-mm Good! Love this Iris concoction. Definitely can be a unisex scent but still pretty sexy enough for the ladies. The iris/patchouli/vetiver notes have given my nose a lovely menage-a-trois to languish in until the spell wears off a couple of hours later. This scent smells fresh, a little bit powdery, a little green, a little bit flowery, a little woody (although some would prefer a big woody, I know, 😉 And since my nose digs patchouli, the scent it also a little bit patchouli.
I have the body lotion too that I like to layer with the EdT. I also have the large and small bottle of the juice because I love it so much. Yeah that’s right. It’s all good for me.
Yaroslaw1007 – :
I am pretty much a slut for anything with a bergamot opening followed by prominent iris, vetiver, and woods. Predictably, I love C&E Iris! It’s very green, and the patchouli added to the iris gives it a big earthy kick. It’s not sweet, it’s not powdery (I think all the green keeps it “moist”), and it’s dirt cheap. I have smelled cheap irises, and I have smelled good irises, but this is the best low-priced iris ever — much nicer IMO than Yves Rocher Iris Noir, which is enjoyable in its own right but smells more synthetic and sweety-fruity than this.
This would smell GREAT on a man, despite the pretty, girly bottle. But hey guys, no one sees the bottle once you’ve sprayed it on!
andyblack776 – :
Starts very delicate at the beginning and then turn into green and slightly masculine smell. I could really detect the cedar and patchouli. I’m surprise that this frag doesn’t get powdery in my skin cos the orris is listed as the main ingredient on the box. In my experience many frags that contains orris note would usually tend to get powdery on my skin and this frag just didn’t.
I too found a little resemblance of this frag to Kenzo Pour Homme and I think it must be from the sandalwood,vetiver,cedar and patchouli combo.
Overall, I’m liking this frag it could simply fall under the unisex category IMO cos the smell is not that ladylike nor too manly. It sort of floats in the middle.
Sillage is moderate and the longevity is good stays up to 6hrs on my skin.
robertbrucekaa3 – :
I Love this beautiful,soft,delicate Iris scent. When its first sprayed on, it takes me right back to the 1970’s days of opening my bag of penny sweets at the corner shop when i was a kid and opening the little lilac tube of sweets called Parma Violets(if anyone remembers them)and the delightful waft of floral powder being drawn up to the nose. It goes on lovely and even though it is an edt, it stays put for 3 hours and even after then it still lingers.Such a shame it doesnt have more staying power but its instantly become one of my fave scents after only trying it once.
Stropuva – :
The only thing I like about this fragrance is the bottle. I bought this fragrance without smelling it first and I regret doing this. At first the fragrance smells clean and reminds me of freshly, clean ironed laundry. I found the base notes rather masculine and bitter, a man could easily wear this. Too much patchouli and cedar for my liking, it lacks something perhaps a little sweetness or another flower note. Not for me, I am sorry to say.
baks 321 – :
Just had the opportunity to smell this. I really like it. Love the black currant leaf-cassis- in the top note (always one of my favorite ingredients in perfume), the iris is pretty & I think rather green, not overly powdery or heady like some iris fragrances out there like Insolence by Guerlain, which I also happen to like. Love the base notes, especially the vetiver. I think this note combined with the cedar and patchouli may be responsible for the more green smell & lack of rounded powderyness found in most iris-laced florals. This creates a slight sharpness/mild bitterness that you don’t find in alot of fragrances nowadays, & I really appreciate that quality.
I think this is perfect for early autumn because to me it is not my concept of a spring floral, which is on the powdery or white side or a more lush, heady, luxurious type of flowery scent. I think this is worth owning for floral loving gals out there that can fit this into their budgets. I don’t own anything like this so I will be treating myself in the near future.