Floral

Italian iris smells like expensive powdered makeup mixed with creamy butter and a whisper of earthy rootiness. Imagine the dusty, slightly sweet aroma of face powder, combined with the soft, almost edible quality of fresh-churned cream and a subtle mineral undertone reminiscent of damp soil after rain. It's refined and gentle—never sharp—with an almost velvety, skin-like quality that feels intimate rather than floral in the traditional sense. There's a faint almond or iris-root sweetness beneath.

Woody

Imagine walking through damp earth after rain, then crushing dried autumn leaves in your hands. That's patchouli's essence: earthy, almost animalic, with a subtle sweetness lurking underneath. It smells vaguely like rich soil mixed with dried tobacco and a whisper of chocolate. There's a dark, slightly musty quality—think opening an antique wooden chest. It's grounding and intensely aromatic, never delicate. Fresh patchouli has peppery brightness; aged patchouli becomes deeper, warmer, almost leather-like.