Iris Dragées by Lancôme

With this fragrance, I feel embraced by an elegant, tranquil sweetness. It has just the right amount of sweetness and an incredible longevity.

I hesitated for a long time before buying it. I had already tried a decant, comparing it with the Zara MSK-004 clone, and preferred the Zara one, yet I couldn’t resist the bargain of getting it brand new at half price. Here’s the comparison: the Zara scent is sweeter, with a candied almond note and a friendly musk; it smells a bit like baby powder and is more gourmand. Iris Dragees, on the other hand, leans towards a clean, soapy, floral iris that is much more refined. One could say MSK-004 is for a young girl, whereas Iris Dragees suits a more mature woman. I like both and don’t think owning them is redundant. As for our star, it opens with pepper and a note I can’t identify but which feels very ‘alcoholic’ to me, with no citrus. After three minutes, the pepper disappears and the scent transforms into an almond iris, carefully sweetened with subtle floral touches that distinguish it from Prada’s Infusion d’Amande. The dry down is similar but more vanilla-musky. On my skin, it doesn’t project much and doesn’t last long—only 4–5 hours depending on the weather. It’s a very versatile daytime fragrance suitable for any season and occasion. I’m very pleased to have acquired it.

This perfume is the jewel of my collection. It is powdery, floral-sweetened, very elegant and feminine, suitable for events in any season and time of day. It is a very different smell to the normal Lancôme line, majestic and with great presence, without being strident or cloying. Its projection is over a metre away in the first hours, which is unexpected for a floral. The downside is its longevity on my skin, which borders on 5 hours, and I believe that is its only problem… I am forced to re-apply.

Today I’ll be talking about a perfume I waited for with great impatience for a whole year. Now that it’s in front of me, admiring the bottle and enjoying the scent, I can’t help but ask myself: Was it worth it? My answer lies exactly in the middle: 50% in favour and 50% against. Let me explain my feelings, starting with what disappoints me. With every new launch, I expect something different, something that will widen my pupils, seeking its own personality rather than following in the footsteps of the ‘popular girl’ already proven, which turns into boredom. Iris Dragées is, for me, a perfume made with a tried and tested formula that aimed to please without taking risks. I understand it’s a business, but merchants forget that fragrances wrap emotions, and when a scent stops moving the heart, that’s the end of the story. It is a perfume with lovely iris petals and orris that give the sensation of luxurious makeup, with bitter almonds, vanilla and quite a bit of sweetness for a fragrance revolving around the nostalgia of vintage makeup. Was there a need to add sweet chords? For me, definitely not; that touch makes it a little ordinary, just another variation seen under a different light. Now, the 50% in favour: the perfume has quality, it is perceptible, it is impossible to deny. It is a lovely fragrance that does not overwhelm, subtle yet always with you, quite feminine and soft as silk. Iris Dragées is a genius in discretion and elegance; its balance is worthy of admiration. It has great longevity on the skin, easily 8 hours, but with a moderate sillage, inviting to coquetry and highlighting the bearing of a woman who does not need flashy clothes to look impactful and confident. Conclusion: if you love perfumes with iris notes and a reminiscence of luxurious vintage makeup, this is a must-have.

This fragrance stole my heart at first sniff. I tried it a couple of days ago and couldn’t get it out of my mind; despite having forbidden myself from buying more perfumes, I had to get one; a decant would not have been enough. Its opening is slightly citrusy, disappearing almost instantly to give way to flowers and sugary almonds. Among the most noticeable flowers are violets and a touch of freesia that balance the growing sweetness of the sugar. It is very sweet, creamy and powdery; its iris and sugar notes make it very tender and feminine; it does not smell of talc, it is a more luxurious and intimate aroma. It has good longevity and a moderate sillage; it is not a perfume that announces ‘I’m here!’, it is more for personal and intimate enjoyment. I can wear it daily in the office; I see it as a daytime, everyday fragrance, not suitable for special events as its projection can be overshadowed by more strident ‘party’ perfumes. It is a fragrance to feel pretty in a light dress and natural makeup. Longevity: +8 hours. Sillage: Moderate.