Scentzilla!

Givenchy released Ysatis Iris as a limited edition with little fanfare during last year’s holiday season at the end of 2004. It bears little relation to its “parent,” Ysatis. Where Ysatis is a rich, sweet woody scent, Ysatis Iris takes a lighter, airier apporach.

It opens up with a decidedly fruity blast of berries, almost like marionberries (a type of blackberry.) Then the florals begin to roll out. I smell what must be a jasmine note, the most transparent of tuberose, and a small bouquet of other soft flowers. They wear so gently and aqueously, that I think the biggest fans of the original Ysatis would be bored spitless.

And I would be, too, were it not for the way it dries. Ohhhhhh, how shamelessly I adore the dry down. As the fruitier edges and white florals begin to taper, I notice a delicately placed violet leaf. Moreover, the iris finally begins to assert itself. Mixing into the last of the fruity-floral elements, the iris on display here approaches what I think must have been an attempt to capture the smell of the iris bloom rather than the root. The attempt ultimately fails, but that’s all right. It’s a lovely smelling failure. Vanilla is placed way down deep at the bottom of Ysatis Iris. It’s not the sort of vanilla that you instantly recognize and wave hello to. It’s here for a sweetly melodic effect, and probably wears on my skin during the whole wear, but I just don’t notice ’til the end.

Do not ask me how, but the way those bottom notes of iris, vanilla, and violet leaf interact with the dying flowery trills somehow recreates the smell of baby heads on me. Baby heads! Who doesn’t love the smell of baby heads? If you’re one of those rare folks who do not, then clearly you have a cold, cold heart, and there’s simply nothing to be done for you. That wonderfully mysterious aroma like the tops of baby heads is the most lingering smell on me. Needless to say, it’s delightful to have that smell conviniently located in a bottle. Just… baby heads. Sigh. I won’t pretend Ysatis Iris is some great masterpiece, but… have I mentioned the baby heads? Baby heads, baby heads, baby heads, baby heads. Swoon. I am in love.

Top image of Ysatis Iris bottle from imaginationperfumery.com. Second image entitled Flowerpond by Oscar Flores-Fiol, from oyetu.com. He’s also an Oregon resident, and one of the warmest human beings you could ever meet, in addition to being a fine artist. He also has the distinction of being one of the few people I’ve ever met who can get away with a cheery greeting of “Aloha” outside of Hawaii and not sound pretentious.