Best Infusion d'Iris (2015) by Prada Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Matilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I, was known for her breasts (“le plus beau décolleté”) and her talent as a painter. She also hosted a celebrated 19th-century Parisian salon attended by the greatest artists and writers of her time. This namesake perfume is an olfactory salon of provocative white florals (ylang-ylang, narcissus, jasmine) given tropical succulence with passion fruit and papaya. Mathilde’s heady brightness is softened by iris and sandalwood.

Lü Bu is a formidable Chinese warlord, tiger-fierce but volatile. At the end of his last battle he is a folded shadow. The once most-feared man of the Empire, son of iron and fire, is devoured by his own legend. This olfactory scar of a perfume opens with vivid, tannic clove, like the acridity of blood on a still-warm blade. On a forgotten altar smoulders the benzoin beauty of papier d'Arménie, while iris, noble and powdery, whispers the hero's solitude. More than glory and power, Lü Bu speaks of sacrifice and memory. Loyal to all those who wear their shadows with pride.

Lively and full of contrasts, Dancing Light is a reflection of the northern lights that inspired it. Icy mint and Siberian pine needles bring a breath of coolness. Then a bouquet of bright white flowers with jasmine, neroli and seringa, dances in the heart warmed by the sandalwood.

Perfumer: Sidonie Lancesseur

Inspired by the filigree formation of the Eastern Veil nebula, this extrait captures the interplay of light, darkness, sweetness and depth. Warm, salty-gourmand accents of popcorn and maple syrup meet subtle spices, while soft woody and iris notes give the scent a weightless structure. Like the nebula itself, Eastern Veil is a play of shimmering facets that continuously reveal new dimensions. A fragrance for those who seek to throw their glow into the darkest corners.

The tart sweetness of bergamot and yuzu is the pale moon rising over a landscape of aromatic lavender and silky sandalwood. The sharpness of cedarwood begins to subtly assert itself, underscored by a violet echo of orris, inviting you into a realm of serene oblivion.

Mint and rose are a dynamic duo, and here we have aromatic shiso putting pep in the step of voluptuous rose. There’s a pleasing friction between the combination of musky French centrifolia and syrupy Turkish roses, and shiso’s savory green. Iris, sandalwood and cedar are the wooden trellis upon which Rose Shiso climbs.

Orris butter, distilled from the root of the bearded iris, is one of the most expensive perfume materials in the world. Vanille des Afriques Intensivo harnesses its unique qualities – leather-adjacent with powdery undertones of violet and pepper – in a luxurious composition that is the very essence of stealth wealth. Jasmine, amber and Madagascan vanilla cushions the iris for the full pampered effect.

A floral abundance of radiant orange blossom and lily-of-the-valley, given extra oomph by sultry jasmine sambac. An incredibly holographic progression from dewy green to heady roawr, aided and abetted by musk and guiacwood.

A mist with soft orange notes that frees the mind and brings us back to balance. A beneficial essence. A touch of exoticism.

Perfumer: Serge de Oliveira

“Deeply regressive, Néroli & Petit Grain Printanier evokes the soothing cocoon of my childhood. So comforting, this fragrance reminds me of my grandmother's cookies and the skincare products I used when I was a child. Wearing this fragrance is the promise of an escape to a better world.”