Iris 39

Ты заходишь в элитный антикварный магазин где-то в сыром петербургском подвале. Воздух тяжёлый, влажный, пропахший ирисами, которые простояли в хрустальной вазе на два дня дольше нормального, и пыльными замшевыми переплётами старых книг. В углу сидит пожилой букинист в потертом вельветовом пиджаке. Он только что доел салат из свежего пастернака и сырой моркови, густо политый оливковым маслом, и теперь задумчиво протирает антикварное зеркало тряпкой, пропитанной спиртом и земляной пылью. Всё это смешивается в воздух настолько плотный и картонно-древесный, что его можно нарезать ножом. Пахнет дорого, странно и так, будто тебя сейчас заставят читать классику на латыни.

It’s ok, but a bit redundant when Ylang 49 exists and is a bit better for the overall smell, they smell very similar but this one is like a draft of Ylang 49. An Iris Chypre that doesn’t really go there.

aquatic, lotus petals, water-fresh, green lilypads.

Dark and spicy iris is something of a treat! I was struck by how dense the opening was -roots, dark and wet- then came the powdery and slightly candied notes of violet (heaven to me). It reads really unisex. The dry down on me is violet and patchouli, which is consistent across Le Labo in my experience.

A green iris that sparkles. The patchouli is what makes this so damn good. Very clean dry down that is not at all powdery. Like a damp forest after the rain. Worth every penny, especially for fans of classic iris/patchouli combos.

(Tested for one day) I loved wearing this fragrance. It felt like wearing a luxurious sunscreen, enhanced by an elegant patchouli twist. It gave me a feeling of harmony: I felt at ease, without being too naive or aggressive; it was pleasant and under control. Its longevity is exceptional; it lasted from morning till night. For all lovers of summery fragrances, this little gem is for you!

I'm not the guy that leaves reviews, nor one that wears anything feminine leaning. I prefer fougeres and citrus perfumes, but this one here is an amazing Iris perfume, ethereal and stunning.

It's 2006 alright. Gorgeous.

Disclaimer: I struggle with jumping on the Le Labo train, having resisted for so long. And yet, here we are. This was the first La Labo I tried, and it’s still the one I love most. The one I LOVE. Can’t promise it hasn’t gotten an “it smells like grass” comment, but I don’t mind! On me the opening is scrumptious, deep, unsweetened violet. Unlike Ylang 49, which for me is all about that glorious first 20 minutes before it loses its charm, with Iris 39 that opening symphony continues for several hours, quietly evolving to an even deeper, richer yeah maybe a little dirty — but still purple — base. The patchouli never presents itself as a distinctive note (as it does, for instance, in l’Eau Capitale), and that delicate iris-tinged violet lingers at the end of the day. Def not a “clean girl” scent, not for the gourmand lovers. Probably for someone like me who gravitates toward classics, chypres, earthiness, complex florals. The violet keeps it 21st century femme-leaning for me but I would love this on anyone. And having to specially request it at that smug Nolita flagship feels….sufficiently against the grain to temper my reservations about buying into the overpriced hype.

Smells like drinking a Japanese fizzy soda and trying a flavor completely new to you. Definitely a unique take on iris - not for me, but I can appreciate it.

To wear this fragrance you have to really really love iris. This fragrance projects really well. I personally dislike it and find it quite offensive but I respect it from afar. P.S. This fragrance is not discontinued they just only sell it in store.

This is a green iris scent, I felt surprised by how masculine it smells. Very classic and typical smelling. Nice but not for me.

smells like an old iris shower gel (Crabtree & Evelyn) my granny used to have that i LOVED as a child :)

If you look deep inside of this, you will find traces and clues of Santal 33. Those two are cousins, in my opinion.

I thought this had been discontinued. However, after visited the Le Labo boutique in my city, I was assured that it is exclusive to Le Labo boutiques; meaning, that you can only get it there, and not at stores that carry Le Labo, such as Nordstrom. I hope that is accurate, as this is one of the best iris scents in my very iris-heavy fragrance collection.Often, I think perfumers make iris perfumes too sweet, too powdery, or too cold and "rooty." But I find that Iris 39 strikes an uncanny balance between the "rooty" aspects of iris, and the powdery and sweet. I also love that there is juuuuust a teensy bit of skank from that civet, and depth from the patchouli.

They’re gonna discontinue one of their best scents because peasants are too afraid of Iris too appreciate proper perfumery

Amazing, earthy iris. Signature worthy. In-store only. Be sure to ask a sales associate to smell it because it's not on the main counter.

Today I'm exploring another offering from Le Labo: Iris 39. This one has never crossed my path in discussions amongst fragrance enthusiasts. In fact, the only reason I even possess a sample is that it accompanied a decant of Santal 33 I purchased. That being said, my interest is piqued, as I genuinely enjoy iris notes. Indeed, one of my favorite designer fragrances is Dior Homme Parfum, renowned for its intensely iris-forward character. Will Iris 39 offer a similar experience? Let's get into it and find out. Opening: The opening is a luminous blend of delicate powder, ethereal ozonic freshness, and captivating florals. The primary notes that immediately greet my senses are violet, iris, patchouli, and ylang-ylang. Violet and iris are the most commanding presences. The violet is what first hits my nose with a substantial dose of an ozonic accord. It feels impeccably clean, airy, and aqueous, truly conveying the sensation of fresh air and pure, clean water. I must note, among all the violet notes I've encountered, this one stands out as the most natural and powerfully rendered. Trailing gracefully behind the violet lies the namesake iris, imbuing the opening with a powdery and floral accord that manages to be both pronounced and remarkably soft. Next, patchouli and ylang-ylang weave into the composition. The patchouli lends a subtle earthiness to the opening, gently tinged with a hint of verdant green. Lastly, the ylang-ylang manifests in the background as a gentle floral presence, underscored by delicate hints of fruitiness. Dry Down: The dry down continues its atmospheric progression, remaining distinctly ozonic, softly powdery, and now subtly musky. The primary notes I discern are violet, iris, musk, and patchouli. Violet and iris still hold the strongest positions. The violet remains the highlighted note in the dry down with its persistent ozonic accord, though it has become more subdued than in the opening. Likewise, the iris continues to follow the violet, providing that familiar dose of powdery florals, albeit now in a subtler manner. This evolving core is then joined by musk and patchouli. The musk emerges in the dry down, delivering a clean and fuzzy accord typical of well-integrated musk notes. Lastly, the patchouli has gracefully receded into the background, yet it remains detectable as a faint, earthy whisper. Performance: The initial projection is strong, reaching a robust six feet. Sillage likewise demonstrates a strong energy, leaving an easily noticeable scent trail. After approximately three to four hours, the projection had softened, settling to about four to six feet, and while the scent trail was a bit lighter, it remained distinctly perceptible. However, by the seven-hour mark, the fragrance had already receded to a skin scent, suggesting that any lingering projection and sillage likely dissipated around the five to six-hour mark. When to Wear: Iris 39 presents itself as a lovely spring and summer fragrance, ideally suited for daytime wear. This fragrance carries with it an airy and genuinely carefree vibe that makes it perfect for casual scenarios or any outdoor activity bathed in sunlight. One could also comfortably wear it to the office, offering a refined yet gentle presence, though I wouldn't necessarily suggest it for more formal or special occasions where a different kind of impact might be desired. Blind Buy: I would not classify this as a universally safe blind buy, primarily because its very name might lead one to believe it is predominantly an iris fragrance, when in actuality, the violet note takes center stage. However, if you have a particular fondness for ozonic, violet-forward fragrances, this creation may be precisely to your liking. Final Verdict: Iris 39 proved to be a somewhat perplexing wearing experience for me. On one hand, I certainly detected the iris note; there's no denying its presence within the composition. However, the undeniable star of the show, from its opening moments through to its dry down, is unequivocally the violet, with its intensely ozonic and fresh accord. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but it does feel a touch misleading given the fragrance's name. Furthermore, the performance came in a little under what I've generally come to expect from Le Labo. Both Baie 19 and Another 13, which also possess relatively light and ethereal scent profiles, managed to deliver around nine to ten hours of performance, leaving me to wonder about the discrepancy with Iris 39. In any case, this fragrance leaned far too feminine for my personal preference, so I will be passing on a full bottle purchase. Scent: 6/10 Longevity: 6/10 Sillage: 6/10 Versatility: Average Mass Appeal: High Gender: Feminine Value: Way overpriced

This is one of my favorite perfumes. Easily signature material. The iris here is rooty, earthy, and a bit animalic. It’s raw and vegetal, grounded in patchouli and civet, lived-in and physical. It starts warm and a bit damp, but ramps up quickly into something darker and more textured. It projects more than you’d expect for something this intimate in tone. If you’re expecting Prada Infusion d’Iris or anything sheer and powdery, this goes the other way. Closer to Iris Silver Mist in terms of being off center, orrisy and earthy, but with warmth and weight. More human than ethereal. This is perfect for people who like a bit of tension in their florals and something with roots and not just petals.

Whoever at le labo discontinued this, thank you. My wife can finally stop wearing this when it runs out. Hallelujah!

I’ve been a fan of soliflores lately, and Le Labo impresses me with florals that feel photorealistic. Their take on ylangylang was so stunning, Iris 39 continues that streak! Yes I know this is technically not a soliflore, but the Iris here is so prominent that I would say it does the job. I never knew iris could smell peppery and salty, it must be the ginger doing this and giving it a kick. The longer I wear it on my skin, the more it transforms. What begins as a dry, ginger-iris becomes a prominent violet-iris. When the patchouli finally peeks through? Pure magic! It smells like a fairytale. For whatever reason, this makes me think of the Lady of the Lake from King Arthur. Feminine in a mythical, maternal, enchanting way. If you love iris but hate when it's drowned in aquatic or overly floral blends, this might be good for you. Personally, it’s not something I’d wear. Some people are connected to specific flower notes, for me that is not Iris, but I respect it. If you ever loved Moonlit Path by Bath & Body Works, Iris 39 is a more expensive-feeling version of that. It smells like that scent grew up and became a goddess.

Off the top I get primarily cool, crisp iris and violet, with a powdery floral sweetness that, at first, borders on shrill. However, beneath that, the spicy zing of ginger combines with the sunny, bubble-gum sweetness of ylang to create an almost balsamic element—warm, creamy, resinous, and floral. After an hour or so, the bright, dynamic elements of the composition grow muted, and a woody, rooty component emerges, creating a soft, tastefully-muddled kind of scent. Overall, I find Iris 39 a little bit intimidating initially, but then it quickly softens into a classy, welcoming scent. Like a garden party at an old-money manor house on a warm summer day; the bright clink of silverware punctuating the drowsy afternoon lull. This is an update of my 2020 review.

Bright violet on an iris backbone, and then settles into something very wearable, pulled just a bit on one end by an animalic note and on the other by a soapy one to give it some complexity. Like the best of Le Labo, would be an easy, attractive daily wear. Makes me nostalgic for something I didn’t experience and hopeful for the future. I don’t love it love it but am almost there.

Iris39 is coming back

Today: April 19, 2025 a rainy day listening to Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite spraying on Le Labo’s Iris 39. Perfection.

I love the florals, but I just expected this to be light and airy and it is REALLY not, it is a full on old lady perfume (sorry!). It is, without doubt, absolute quality and very, very classy, it is just also thick and heavy and a little cloying, so go light handed, and sample first!

This is a gorgeous, earthy floral that is very much still available in Le Labo flagship stores, as well as online via Lucky Scent as of March 2025. I just bought myself a bottle for my 39th birthday, and I feel like it perfectly embodies the sophistication and self-assuredness I want to feel as I settle into what I hope will be the second half of my life. The opening is fresh, powdery, dramatic–I think of a showgirl in full purple splendor. Don't let first impressions deceive you though–this is an androgynous bouquet. Though moody and Victorian, it doesn't have the typical funerary gloom of most iris concoctions. Ginger and patchouli come through strongly in the dry down, which is also stunningly beautiful in a warmer, darker way. It reminds me of the peppery scent of some rare orchids. I picture of Dorian Corey applying her stage makeup in "Paris In Burning," and sharing her hard-won wisdom: "I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you." Iris 39 does makes me feel like a big star but in an enjoyable, every-day kind of way. I bought the smaller 50 mL bottle, but I imagine I'll be back for a refill by my next birthday.

Y’all it’s not discontinued they sell it at every in person location

One of my favorites, I get more of the violet or iris note from this more than anything. This reminds me of my childhood eating Chowards Violets. It smells exactly like that and it's so disappointing that its been discontinued.

I also have the perfume oil / cream for this, so it is indeed a love, but, the perfume itself 'plays' a bit differently... The sickly-sweet rose really REALLY comes across more in the perfume version -- it's patchouli-soaked and really sweet. I mean, I'm picking here, but if I'm being super-honest, I really wish the cream/oil I have was the version that was available as a perfume. The perfume is an 8.0 / 10, whereas the oil/cream is closer to 9.0 / 10. Nonetheless, the iris and violet notes are wonderful here and I reckon I could actually finish a bottle of this in my lifetime. Maybe. Big fan. Almost a love (very close).