Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir

I've made my way through my Ormonde Jayne Discovery Set a few times now, and as I go back and revisit each scent, my impressions seem to change slightly every time. In the case of Orris Noir, my affinity for the fragrance has been steadily increasing.

Notes list, from the Ormonde Jayne website:
Top: Davana, pink pepper, coriander seed, bergamot
Heart: Iris, sambac absolute, pimento berries, bay
Base: Incense, myrrh, patchouli, Chinese cedar, gaiac

Orris Noir can easily be worn by women or men, like many Ormonde Jayne fragrances. Pink pepper and bergamot really set the stage for the blend, and the acidic spiciness at the outset gives way to the beautiful Iris. This perfume plays warm against cool, but they play so nicely together. I am particularly fascinated with the scent of the iris and am enjoying seeking out the note in many perfumes currently.

I have admitted in the past that I have a lot of problems with floral notes, but I'm working on it. Orris Noir is perfect for someone like me, who is a touch floral-phobic, because the spices, woods and incense notes are comfortable territory for me. This perfume is grounded in all the things I find most appealing in scent, and does not force too much of any one thing, it is extremely well-balanced. Orris Noir maintains an effortless marriage between the notes throughout the wearing, and instead of sharply going through stages, it simply lessens in intensity over time. When you find a scent you really enjoy, this is somewhat of a blessing. I don't want to let any of these notes pass through into oblivion, I want to hang on to all of them. Luckily, I am able to do just that.

After a couple of hours, there is a gentle sweetness apparent on my skin that wasn't present before. That's my signal that the end is approaching. How I've managed to get around this is by spraying on my hair and clothing as well, the intensity lasts longer. I was even lucky enough to wake up one morning to the mesmerizing scent wafting gently from my hair sprayed the night before. I cherish my sleep and resent having to wake up, but when I must, this is the way to do it. The soft remnants of Orris Noir is incredibly seductive.

Orris Noir is definitely one of my favorites of the Ormonde Jayne line (the top spot still belonging to Ormonde Woman). It is a seasonless and sophisticated, multi-faceted perfume that I think could please a wide range of people. I think it can be worn day or night, and is work-friendly. It is a bold fragrance, and while it may not exactly speak softly, it is eloquent and grounded. I will be picking up a full bottle of this eventually, that is a certainty.


Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir is available at OrmondeJayne.com, a 50ml bottle of eau de parfum is 70 GBP. Also available in the tempting Gold Creme (15ml for 58 GBP), Pure Parfum 50 ml (184 GBP), as well as bath and body products, travel sprays and candles. Sample was provided by the company for review.