PH FRAGRANCES
IRIS & MUSC DE LIBERTY

2018

PERFUMER
Yann Vasnier

Juniper
Freesia

Orris
Violet

tonka bean
Musk

Iris & Musc is an interesting scent to me. In the opening it has a bitter touch and a slightly green aromatic tinge. I think the cardamom plays a big role in the composition, as well as some violet. Overall it’s bright and there’s a sharpness from the juniper. It’s very floral, but it’s not at the same time. In a way that it’s a floral scent, but it’s not as bright as I would expect.

The iris is probably in part responsible for this, because it’s a dry fragrance. It’s not as dry as some iris-prominent scents, but I don’t get a ‘juiciness’ in this either. This is not a ‘clean linen white musk’ type fragrance and not a darker musk either; it seems to be middle of the road. I really like the light citrussy drydown.

Right off the bat, it’s quite clear to me that both the PH Fragrances that I’ve tried share a similar feeling, despite the scents being very different. They smell a bit traditional. I get hints of lacquered wood and varnish, which I relate to the pub my grandparents used to have and old paintings.

That’s not a criticism by the way, just a specific vibe I’m getting. It suits both the compositions I’ve tried well; it creates a more mature, subdued scent, with the mid still being vibrant, but the protruding highs and lows being faded. I do wonder if it has much of a mass appeal.