Dear Looking Glass-ers, I have a decant from Surrender To Chance. Yes, it cost an arm and a leg BUT I really didn’t want a full bottle. What I wanted after trying the Les Extrait collection in stores was to have enough to really get to know them in my own time, without the miasma of all the other perfumes beating my nose to death. So that’s what I’ve done. My 2ml spray decant has lasted months because I put some on a forearm and spend the next few hours luxuriating in Iris Pallida Extrait 6.
If you can afford these then I envy you (just a bit). US$630 for 50ml of extrait.
ALSO! arrived this week in the mail from the lovely Ingeborg, all the way from Norway to Sydney! Thank you. I seem to have lost you on social media (if we ever were connected) so I thought the best way to get my thanks to you is here on ULG. Jin and I are really touched. HUG. They will have pride of place on the fridge.
Iris Pallida Extrait 6 by Guerlain 2023
Guerlain gives these featured accords:
Iris, almond, musk, suede, sandalwood
First breath of Iris Pallida Extrait 6 is almond meal, dry orris and something quite bittersweet like nougat with wood chips and some weird greenery darkness. It’s like fermented grass in an unturned pile during the hottest peak of summer. Sounds vile but actually it adds depth and interest to a fragrance that would otherwise be too simple, pretty and dull. As I head into the heart the suede and sandalwood become more apparent and a streak of cold wet cardboard heads in. Cardboard is one of my favourite facets of iris, combined with the other perfectly blended notes it is interesting rather than repulsive. The super glam Guerlain version of cold wet cardboard.
Towards the end of the heart my ride gives old fashioned make up vibes. Powdery, lipstick-ish and a little of hairspray. Very movie star and every housewife trying to live up to their impossible standards of beauty. This stays and gets more woody, yet still that distinctive iris/orris till fade.
Iris Pallida Extrait 6 is gorgeous. I’m unsure why we got these as a group instead of dropping one each year and why on earth did they come in extrait? I would quite like to have enjoyed it with more effervescence in an EdT and a swipe of the extrait to give it some extra depth (Did LVMH not think these perfumes worthy of pillar status?) This though is what we got and if I could spend that money right now I would without hesitation.
What did you think?
Portia x
Undina's Looking Glass 
$630? Way beyond my price range, haven’t come near to sniffing these. But this one sounds wonderful. Alas, I can’t even see purchasing a decant. I think I’ll go sniff something else Iris to make myself feel better (my latest Iris purchase was Nicolaï Iris Medicis Intense – the small bottles have a price point that works for my budget!)
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Heya MMKinPA,
Yeah, it’s currently beyond my budget too. When I win the lotteries this year I’ll grab it.
PdN does fabulous perfume and the 30ml is all we’ll ever need.
Portia xx
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Agreed! Iris de Medicis is my go to iris scent now and I doubt that Iris Pallida is $630 better. Even if it is, I can’t afford that now. I’ll get a small sample and give it a sniff. Great review as always, Portia.
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Hey RR,
Yeah, my favourite iris to date was Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc by L’Occitane. It doesn’t have to be expensive to hit the spot.
Guerlain doesn’t seem to care about selling truckloads anymore. They’d rather sell one bottle for the price of 5 or more of their regular range.
Portia x
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I have a bottle and indeed it is a wonderful extrait. I bought it when it first came out.
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Woo Hoo! So happy that you have it Hajusuuri. Glad that someone I know is wearing this beauty.
Portia xx
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You lost me Portia at powdery, lipstick-ish and a little hairspray. I never want to experience the scent of the bottom of an old cosmetic bag in a $600 plus extrait.
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HA! Fair call but it really is gorgeous Flaconneur.
Portia xx
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That’s not to say I won’t give it a try, Portia.
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HA!
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Lipstick, powder & hairspray? If I wasn’t in a no buy I might be tempted to a single ml. Is there a relationship to Guerlain’s own Insolence?
My current Iris is Les Abstraits Belle Ame
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Hey Alityke,
It’s not as sticky and overwhelming as Insolence but there are some correlations. If Insolence was your go-to then this might be a bit tame.
Portia xx
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Happily I am not so much of a fan of iris as a note that this could likely tempt me. ;) I loved Flaconneur’s comment too!
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If you get to a Guerlain counter Vanessa it’s definitely worth a try, even just for your own knowledge. It’s pretty special.
HA! Yes, Flaconneur gives good comment.
Portia xx
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I tried it at a store. I thought it was great on a paper strip. Then I applied it to my wrist… and was quite pleased that I didn’t love it: while I wouldn’t mind buying a couple of ml (and one day I might), I wouldn’t want a bottle of it – even if it weren’t for my “low-buy” mode.
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Always a nice feeling to not want to open your wallet Undina.
Continuing the low buy for 2025? Good luck my friend.
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