Happy New Year! For my first write-up for the year, I wanted to begin on a positive note. It comes from an unlikely source of inspiration: an Armani fragrance. I’ve paid little heed to their Armani Privé line over the years, despite having relatively easy access to most of their offerings.
From time to time, I’ve dipped into the Privé collection and found some nice ones: Vetiver Babylone, Thé Yulong, and Bois d’Encens have had samples drained and enjoyed. So, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise that I would like a scent from the range. In the lazy, leisurely days between Christmas Day and New Year’s, I visited the department store and stumbled upon Iris Bleu, a new addition (2025) from the house. Like the vetiver and the tea, it forms part of their more reasonably priced Les Eaux range.
I must admit the name had me a little worried. Was this going to be another in the endless conveyor belt of mediocre “blue” shower gel fragrances? Fortunately, it’s not, and indeed it’s not very blue at all, other than perhaps creating an image of blue skies in your mind. Right from the opening citrus burst of bergamot and lemons, I imagine spring gardens flourishing under sunny, cloudless skies. It feels like the perfect scent for this lighter line.
The floral component doesn’t smell overwhelming or vintage, as some reviews might have led me to believe. Indeed, the jasmine smells green and airy, and Dora Baghriche renders the iris note buttery and smooth. It never becomes overly powdery or lipsticky. The galbanum note enhances the greenery and imparts a subtle, hazy ashy effect on the florals. At one point, it even reminded me of Celine’s Nightclubbing.
However, this one smells less of a cigarette ashtray than Nightclubbing and might pair well with a clean white shirt. It’s much more delicate than Nightclubbing, and, despite the galbanum/iris combination, it smells warmer than Chanel No. 19. It dries down to a lemony, soft pastel-green fragrance with musky, woody notes that give it some body. Ultimately, Iris Bleu veers more toward the clean, polished Prada-style iris.
There’s no mention of aquatic accords in the note pyramid, but Iris Bleu transports me to a place of calm overlooking a water lily pond. As it develops, there’s a fuzzy suggestion of dewy lilacs, lilies, and hyacinths blooming as the vernal breeze of spring carries the promise of new beginnings. It’s almost as if Dora Baghriche has used a Monet painting for inspiration. A lovely ethereal piece of work.
Have you sampled this one? Do you have a favourite from this Armani line?
Note: Bottle image from Armani. All the other photos are my own.