Infusion d’Iris (2015) by Prada

Another Prada gem, truly unisex. It smells clean, with a violet-tinged iris reminiscent of fine soap. Cedar and benzoin base: be careful, as it can trigger headaches in some, so don’t over-spray. It’s not meant to draw attention, but rather to be worn like a second skin. It could be your signature scent, though in summer I prefer other options. High-end, almost niche; the 100ml bottle is available online for €90.

I agree with those who said it smells like baby wipes; it’s the most innocent, fragile, and soft scent I know in perfumery.

I tried Infusion d’Iris over several days, and it was like experiencing an olfactory journey that changes depending on the moment. It doesn’t shout, it doesn’t ask for attention; it whispers with elegance. It opens with mandarin and orange blossom, which pass quickly. Unlike other citrus notes, there’s no explosion here, but rather a delicate transition to galbanum, bitter yet refined. Then comes the iris, the protagonist. Its powdery and clean facet reminds me of expensive but modern talc. It’s a simple elegance that doesn’t look simple. I never managed to isolate the incense; if it was there, it was just a touch of depth. What I did notice was the benzoin and vetiver base, warm, like wrapping yourself in a light scarf at the end of the day, although I expected more projection. It lingers on the skin for hours but doesn’t leave a strong trail. It’s meant to be enjoyed in silence. Compared to Chanel No. 19, this is kinder and less green, as if it whispers where Chanel speaks. It could have an affinity with Acqua di Parma’s Iris Nobile, but this is less floral and more minimalist. In the reformulations, I tried a recent one and understand why many lament the loss of potency. The structure remains beautiful, but the performance has dropped significantly. If you’re looking for something elegant and ethereal to feel impeccable without being the centre of attention, it remains enchanting. In the end, it’s like a freshly ironed white shirt: always appropriate, always elegant, but perhaps too contained to want to leave a mark.

I’ve never commented on this fragrance before; it’s one of my favourites. Bottled versatility. Iris is one of my favourite notes, and this is so fresh, soft, comforting, and well-blended; I don’t know the previous formula, but I love it. On me, it has good longevity, staying in a very pleasant personal bubble. One word: pleasant. (We’re starting a project: get a back-up so they don’t discontinue it and I’m left without it). ❤️

Do you want to smell good? Blindly. Whether you’re a man, a woman, elle, ella, illi, dog, cat, giraffe, whatever you are.

I’ll mention in passing that this reformulation devalues the result, with very poor performance and projection. Nevertheless, in terms of aroma, it remains a masterpiece. Danielle Andrier Roche has established herself as the best at using iris, masterfully musky-ing it to give it that clean, soapy air. It’s unique, and she created delicious flankers like Infusion d’Homme or Infusion d’Iris Cedre. A niche, white, clean, elegant scent, with a subtlety that makes it portable in summer. On the other hand, it disappears in the cold. For short distances, but it leaves an olfactory mark. Perfect for hospitals or the office, where it doesn’t invade or saturate, but acts as an immaculate second skin. Absolutely unisex; the composition ensures it doesn’t lean towards the feminine. A must-have in any collection.

One of the top iris scents on the market. It opens clean, elegant and sparkly, but dries down to a creamy, dense scent with a resinous woody base that I absolutely adore. It’s super versatile and unisex, though I’d say it leans more towards women. There’s no age or occasion it can’t handle. The downside is that on my skin it has no projection and lasts no more than four hours; if it performed better, I’d buy it without a second thought.

A soft, talc-like fragrance, ideal for any occasion. The iris and cedar are very prominent; the mandarin (a little acidic) only appears at the beginning and disappears over time. On my skin it lasts very little and its trail is weak. I bought it in a set with shower gel and body cream, and layering the scent helps it to last longer.

I’m not sure which version I have, I only know it says 2014 on the box…🤨 I’ve really liked it; it’s super elegant, sober, fresh and clean. The opening is fascinating, an exquisite citrus, but it changes quickly, sitting right on the skin and becoming very talc-like. What surprises me is that after a couple of hours it feels more intense; the iris is very beautiful and singular. Six hours have passed and I can still smell it on my skin and clothes, though subtly, with little trail, but the cedar, frankincense and iris remain… With it, the phrase ‘less is more’ comes to mind. I feel it’s unisex. On my husband it disappeared after two hours…😮. How good, as it will be just for me, hehe.

A very fine and beautiful scent. It reminds me of dried flowers, stacked letters tied with a ribbon, and toilet powder. The feeling it evokes is nostalgia, but also romance and cleanliness. I imagine a woman from Henry James novels, an elegant spinster aunt, or a very melancholic young girl. I picture myself in a room in Paris watching Picasso paint Olga, or a student in her attic wearing a nightdress with lace trim and frills. At first, when I put it on, I thought it didn’t represent me. Too much vintage inclination. But today I thought, surely not? It’s perceptible, but not cloying. I find it elegant and original without being strident. It gains with memory and hours, and that’s rare.

Change of opinion: I find it boring, it doesn’t last at all, and it has nothing to do with the perfume it used to be. It’s a con, and with the price it has, the drop in quality is a disservice to the brand. It’s excessively soft and short-lived; after two hours it has disappeared completely, it doesn’t scent clothes, it just has no strength, it doesn’t hold. For what it costs, it’s not worth it; I’m extremely disappointed.

An ode to cleanliness and tidiness. Truly, what a beautiful scent; I thought it would be much more woody and leaning towards masculine, but how wrong I was. It’s a very, very soft but lasting fragrance. I associate it with the smell of newborn babies, very soft. It’s a scent anyone can wear; I’d even put it on my children.

Infusion d’Iris launched in 2007 as a limited edition, a beautiful scent that was discontinued and relaunched in 2015 with notes different from the original 2007 version. The 2007 release featured a top of African orange blossom, neroli, orange and mandarin; a heart of iris, galbanum and juniper; and a base of incense, Virginia cedar, benzoin and vetiver. I won’t go into detail as there are already good reviews on its page, but I want to clarify that the 2007 version which made it famous has been discontinued and is no longer available, being very different from the 2015 one: it was more intense, richer and lasted longer. That doesn’t mean this version is bad, it’s very subjective and everyone has their own tastes, but it’s certainly not the same perfume.

Take the Infusions de Prada already! They are refreshing waters that linger with woody notes. In my opinion, Prada’s are better resolved than Guerlain’s L’Homme Idéal or the Aquas Allegories. They refresh, evolve and leave a mark. The iris here is found in its tenderest and coquettish facet, but here it has strength and firmness accompanied by a fine, elegant and strong wood. That wood gives it that ‘masculinity’ I so love in originally feminine perfumes; they are unisex in reality. A strong, resilient iris that doesn’t get damaged by the rain.

I am someone who has never been able to wear perfumes because I couldn’t tolerate them; they caused me discomfort, headaches and dizziness. Seeing reviews of light, soap or talc-like fragrances, I came across this one which took me three days to appreciate, but which I truly love. It is not invasive at all and evokes tenderness, elegance and cleanliness. I perceive it as unisex, leaning towards feminine.