Iris is such a peculiar ingredient. In the past, it was viewed as strictly feminine, but with the arrival of Dior Homme and its kin, it catapulted itself onto male radars. With people calling the iris “lipstick” or “makeup,” one wonders how these ever ended up on the shelves of gentlemen around the world.

Well, I believe it has to do with the powdery aspect. In Europe especially, powdery scents have been given light as elegant and noble compositions. They smell of that European luxury that the world knows about, and with the added lavender in the Dior Homme Intense, it just radiates that wealth that people associate with Western luxury.

After the rabid success of the Dior line, at least among fragrance collectors, many iterations of lipstick iris were churned out with masculine labels. One of which was the reimagining of the original Gentleman line by Givenchy. While this line has since produced many flankers, I believe that the EDP is quite underrated these days, although it was hyped quite a bit a few years ago when it released.

The draw of Gentleman EDP is the soft, supple, and slightly rooty orris powder that is paired with a seductive vanilla. The genius of the legendary duo of Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp is on full display, exercising their knowledge of precision and class into a mouthwatering display of character.

The iris, as noble as it is, and despite my previous hesitance toward the note, is helped extensively by a soft, sweetened, and powdery lavender. The slight pungency of black pepper warms the coolness of these shaded florals while light traces of earthy clove permeate through the heart of the fragrance.

The star that brings Gentleman EDP to the upper echelon is the vanilla and tolu combo. It’s simply dripping with a dark, resin-infused vanilla that acts as a sensual anchor to the elegant and warm patchouli in the base. This isn’t a creamy gourmand vanilla, but one warmed with gentle amber sap, radiating with a coziness that recreates the glow of a fire on a frigid day.

One other outlier is the performance. Gentleman EDP actually performs like an EDP, boasting 10 hours or so of gentlemanly appeal. It’s classy while being incredibly restrained. and I think that is what seals the deal for me. It simply speaks and doesn’t shout, but does so with allure and chic.

As a reformed iris lover, it doesn’t get much better than this. Yes, each iris scent has its own personality, but I think Gentleman EDP is among the most seductive of its class, and it fits perfectly within traditional and modern tastes. The best part? You can get it for around the same price as a steak dinner at a nice restaurant. It’s simply a masterful scent, and it works very well with a suit and Windsor knot.