Hey crew, It’s Portia in the Sydney spring sunshine.
What a lovely time of year down here. I was in Libertine Parfumerie (Australia’s most respected niche importer and distributor) offices the other day. It was so good to see everyone. Everything is being released by ZOOM meeting now, and we are all sent a package to sniff and join the conversation. It’s interesting but much more clinical discussion and little room for personal experiences or interaction. Got to sniff the new Amouage Renaissance Collection! Can’t wait to write about those for you. Also, I picked up my Press Bottle of today’s extravaganza, Interlude Black Iris. Yes, Amouage has released its first flanker of its most popular fragrance Interlude Man.
From Amouage:
Crafted as an overpainting, Interlude Black Iris uses a refined palette to smoothen the facets of the original creation. A complex interplay of dark stoic serenity and buried vibrant power bursting upwards, into the light…
Top: Bergamot, Rosemary, Violet Leaves
Heart: Orris, Amber, Frankincense, Cistus, Myrrh, Vanilla
Base: Leather, Agarwood Smoke, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
Right from open mixed with the zing of citrus and cool green of violet is the dry, dusty and earthy facet of iris. The opening is so fleeting on me I had to come back for a second and third round to really get an idea of how it flows. In the time it took me to write this paragraph we are already in the heart with all the resins surrounding and lifting the iris. At this point, the iris gets a buttery softness, and the resins start to feel very churchy. The cool heart of a busy, clean church with the memories of a thousands days of worship, incense, woods and their waxy clean/preservers.
I’m not sure if it’s the cistus, leather or oudh that brings darkness and a cold touch of otherworldliness to Interlude Black Iris. It descends like a whisper and then takes the iris to a carroty rootiness. GOSH! So interesting. It’s all this way in that I finally get a whiff of the green, herbal rosemary!
Dry down is a gentle woody melange with some patchouli and iris to give interest. Interlude Black Iris hums away quietly, nowhere near the beast mode power trip of the original Interlude. This is a refined, urbane, sophisticated journey. The word that I keep wanting to write is centered. Without being anything like it, I am reminded of the elegant aloofness and backbone inducing fortitude of CHANEL No 19. This is a much more 21st century niche offering, but the heart, the integrity of the scent seems similar to me.
I can’t wait to hear what you all think.
Portia xx
Hey Portia,
This sounds fabulous to me. Such a clever idea for a flanker for once. Love the idea of a smoky iris. The fact you mention No.19 intrigues me even more.
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Hi Tara,
It is really good. Had the crew over last weekend and Scotty thinks it smells VERY similar to the original but I am not convinced. Perfect amount of inspiration and distance, to me.
Portia xx
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This sounds fabulous to me as well.
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Hey Matty,
I’m loving it.
Portia xx
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Hmmmmmmm. Yep – would like to try it.
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I think I just sent you a small sample with some other stuff. Tell me when it arrives, if Black Iris isn’t there I’ll send you some.
Portia xx
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Wow. I sure will. If anything ever arrives ——- Bussis.
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SMOOCHY bussis
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I wrote a quick sniff of Interlude Black Iris last week. Not bad but not for me.
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Yeah, it’s not going to be for everyone Lucasz,
Did you like the original?
Portia x
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Hi Portia, I bought a sample of this from Libertine. I love the original and steal it from my husband constantly. Black Iris is much cooler on my skin and more herbal than spicy but I quite like it…
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Such a good description JackieB! Also, wonderful to see you hear.
Portia xx
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Though I didn’t like the original one, I want to try the new one: it has been a while since I found a new scent for my vSO, so I’m looking at what’s new out there that I would like to smell on him.
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I’ll pack you up some Undina. XX
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Not sure this is for me, but I enjoyed your evocative review!
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Hey Vanessa,
Thank you.
As to being for you. Maybe? Are you a big early Amouage fan?
Portia x
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