.
If I’m supposed to identify with those extremely beautiful women from different perfumes ads, dressed up either impeccably or with a calculated carelessness, I should say that it doesn’t work on me. I do not feel that any perfume might transform me into one of them – or even make me feel like I’m one of them: they are artificial; they are abstract and just an expected visual aid to the release de jour.
When Infusion d’Iris* by Prada was released, I immediately went to a store to try it. I didn’t like it. I think it was my first perfume with a prominent iris note (though I’m not sure I even knew then what it was). I didn’t expect to smell what I smelled – so I didn’t like it.
I don’t remember how exactly it happened but I remember that one day I was looking at the ad above and thinking that I liked that image so much that I just had to have Infusion d’Iris. I don’t even like that model, I prefer them older and … more human. But the image is hauntingly weird and cool and elegant.
I tried Infusion d’Iris again, liked it that time and bought a bottle without even waiting for it to make its way to discounters online. For me it smells very elegant, cold and refined – exactly the way that alien in gloves looks on the picture. And unless they colonize the Earth tomorrow, I do not want to look like it or project that image. But five years later I still enjoy wearing Infusion d’Iris and probably won’t want to be without in – just in case, you know, extraterrestrial invasion and all that.
For a real review (and a very cool suggestion on layering) read Birgit’s (Olfactoria’s Travels) Wallflower? – Review: Prada Infusion d’Iris. Robin (NST) had also reviewed this perfume. If you reviewed Infusion d’Iris on your blog share a link please.
Update: one more review of Prada Infusion d’Iris at Scentandshinythings.
* Infusion d’Iris in this story refers to the EDP version.
Undina's Looking Glass 
I love that model, is it really her or photo shop. She looks like a Paying Mantis.
Portia xx
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LOL. I always thought those looked like aliens.
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Your post makes me want to revisit Infusion d’Iris asap. Thanks for the link! :)
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I wrote my story before reading your review and was strangely pleased both by the fact that you liked it and that it also was your first iris perfume.
Now I can’t wait to try the combination, it sounds really interesting (and I have both “ingredients”).
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Infusion d’Iris is really pretty good, and now of course, because of this review I’ll have to go smell it again. And there is something alien about all those Prada scents, Maybe they should do Eau de Roswell?
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Aria 51 cologne might be a cult perfume :)
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I have a 10ml decant of Infusion d’Iris and agree completely with your cold and alien analogies, without ever having clocked that ad campaign. Oh, and when I saw your post title, my mind flew immediately to Mugler’s Alien, and I thought you might be talking of a layering experiment of some kind, and this before I got to the link to Birgit’s post! I have recently developed a surprise liking for Alien, which – on my skin at any rate – is not at all the intergalactic jasmine of my imaginings. : – )
PS How to they get those gloves to crinkle so evenly?
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I think those gloves come pre-crinkled.
Layering ideas must be in the air!
I like Alien. I have only a couple of samples but it’s enough for me to wear.
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I love Infusion d’Iris EDP (and would buy Area 51 or Warehouse 7 cologne by Daniela Andrier). Everyone should have some Id’I due to its elegant fabulosity.
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Thank you for sharing the link!
Aliens theme is definitely under-developed in perfumery. Thierry Mugler did their part but there is so much potential out there! :)
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen this ad before. Creepy in a good way! I know what you mean about advertising. Currently, the ad (campaign) that is affecting me this way is the Live in Love (Oscar de la Renta) campaign.
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I haven’t seen a single ad for Live in Love (not even sure if the perfume is out already). Maybe I shouldn’t? Just to be on the safe side ;)
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The perfume has not blown me away. :) You can Google to see the ads, and I have included one in my perfume in print roundup for later this week.
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I’d be drawn to an alien in gloves over your average perfume model any day. Great post!
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Thank you, Tara.
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Never thought of that ad in the way you did. I always thought the model looked a bit off and now that you’ve mentioned it, I can’t unsee it.
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Oops, I’m sorry.
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