Giveaway of Niche Perfume Samples

Irises (and iris-named perfumes) come plentiful in both mainstream and niche sectors lately: from best-selling Infusion d'Iris by Prada, Donna Karan Iris and Iris Nobile (A.di Parma) to Guerlain's Figue-Iris, Iris Ganache (also Guerlain), Iris Poudre (F.Malle) and Iris Silver Mist (Serge Lutens). Even The Body Shop has a white musk version in their Midnight Iris edition. And many many more….Everyone wants to have an iris in their fragrance portfolio!

So it came as no surprise that Aedes de Venustas, a niche abode known to all aficionados, came up with Iris Nazarena. The effort is rewarded with a Fragrance Foundation award (Parfum Extraordinaire) and it's my privilege to be able to give away 10 samples to 10 readers who will put in a comment under this post until Thursday midnight. The lucky recipients will be announced on Friday 1st August, stay tuned. This is closed, thank you!

Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena: new fragrance

"With Iris Nazarena eau de parfum", perfume creator Ralf Schwieger explains "I had to face two major challenges: to find a point of difference with Chanel No. 19, which has always been a reference point for iris-based scents and an unsurpassable model since its launch in 1971, and to incorporate transparency so that the beauty of the Nazarene iris would be best expressed".



The second eponymous fragrance by niche haven Aedes de Venustas in Greenwich Village, New York City is launching this June and is inspired by the Bismarck variety of iris, also known by the name of Nazarene iris thanks to growing in the mountains east of Nazareth, which piqued Karl Brad's (the co-founder of Aedes) interest.

German perfumer Ralf Schwieger (with the perfume-producing company Mane), is winner of the Fragrance Foundation France Prix des Experts, 2012, creator of such successful fragrances as Eau des Merveilles (Hermès), Lipstick Rose (Frédéric Malle), The Afternoon of a Faun, and Philippine Houseboy aka Fils de Dieu (Etat Libre d' Orange) and Orange Sanguine (Atelier Cologne). Previously Aedes de Venustas had employed Bertrand Duchaufour for their first eponymous fragrance, in a flacon of deep purple glass. This time the bottle of Iris Nazarena takes on a fittingly dark grey tint.

In Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena ambrette, with its facets of pear, rose and musk, is luminous on the top notes while juniper berries introduce the theme of incense. The fresh and vivid green star anise evokes the stylized leaves and stems of the flower with woody notes such as patchouli and vetiver alluding to the roots in the earth. The clay like earthiness is further warmed by touches of cloves and oud.

Notes for Iris Nazarena by Aedes de Venustas:
Top: iris, ambrette, juniper berries, star anise
Heart: leather, oud, cloves, rose de Mai
Base: incense, woods, musk, vetiver