Iris is an ingredient that almost always sways me, and yet the more iris fragrances I smell, the harder it becomes to be genuinely surprised. Iris is among the most complex materials in perfumery, whether natural or reconstructed. It originates from the rhizome of Iris pallida, and its scent moves effortlessly between contrasts: violet petals and frozen roots; green buds and powdery floral softness. It is elegant and ethereal, yet anchored by a strong, unmistakable core. That is precisely why Iris Hermit by Lapot Studio felt like such a revelation when I discovered it in Shanghai. It gave me my iris ideal type when I least expected it.
What struck me immediately was the texture of the iris. Soft, but not vague. Delicate, yet not fragile. There is a beautiful opalescence about it, like the pale interior of an oyster shell, smooth, luminous, and quietly sensual. The iris is gently cushioned by light peachy nuances that add a hint of sweetness, while green accents shimmer through the composition. Notably, there is no overt woodiness anchoring the scent. Instead, the structure feels suspended, airy, and finely balanced.
Iris Hermit stayed with me as a persistent presence that kept returning to my thoughts. That was a feat, because the day I smelled it, I also tried several dozen of other perfumes and raw materials.
I learned that the fragrance was created by Givaudan perfumer Jasmine Liu, who is the only fine fragrance perfumer at the company’s Shanghai office. Since then, I have had the chance to explore more of her work, and what consistently impresses me is her deep understanding of the classics. This is clearly a perfumer who has studied great historical fragrances closely, not to replicate them, but to internalize their logic and reinterpret them with clarity and restraint.
Iris Hermit openly acknowledges Iris Gris by Jacques Fath as a point of reference, yet it never feels like a remake. Instead, it feels like a conversation across time. The composition rises softly, but it retains the confident spine that defines the best iris fragrances, those that balance coolness, poise, and presence. In spirit rather than in scent, it brings to mind Chanel No. 19, Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist, and Frédéric Malle Iris Poudre, fragrances that understand iris as both austere and intimate.
On me, Iris Hermit wears beautifully. There is no blurred, over-smoothed effect and no cosmetic haze. Instead, the fragrance remains crisp, tactile, and close to the skin. The sillage is discreet rather than dramatic, but it lingers and creates what I can only describe as a quiet aura, a personal soundtrack that moves with you rather than ahead of you.
That balance, elegance without aloofness and softness without loss of structure, is what makes Iris Hermit a five-star perfume in my book.
21 Comments
Tara C: Luca Turin spoke favorably of it as well. Unfortunately they don’t have any distribution outside China as far as I know – do you have any information Victoria? February 9, 2026 at 9:21am
Victoria: We both loved it instantly. I don’t think that they have a boutique outside of China, but I know that they were trying to find a distributor. Maybe contacting them directly is a good idea. https://www.instagram.com/laporteparfums/?hl=en February 9, 2026 at 9:29am
nozknoz: I found Iris Hermit on a US website called Weee! Headquartered in Fremont, California, it’s primarily a source of Chinese groceries.
However, it took a week for the site to give me a tracking number, and delivery is still a week or two away, so I cannot yet confirm that this works. June 8, 2026 at 12:32pm
Karen A: Sounds beautiful! Might make me an iris convert! February 9, 2026 at 9:23am
Victoria: It’s gorgeous! I need to review more of her other perfumes. February 9, 2026 at 9:25am
Alityke: Cool, pallid iris I find challenging. No19 I enjoy but ISM is way too chilly. Admittedly, iris & peach is something I would very much like to explore though. I wish there was a chance to try it February 9, 2026 at 11:11am
Victoria: I understand exactly what you mean. Pallid, chilly iris can feel severe if it is not balanced. Iris Hermit stays cool but softens it with a faint peach skin warmth rather than icy abstraction. Iris and peach is a pairing I also wish were explored more often. I hope you get a chance to try it someday. February 10, 2026 at 3:31am
Donna: Wow, this sounds like a dream Iris fragrance.
I went on a sampling binge once , smelling as many of the renowned Iris fragrances as possible.. only to be deeply disappointed.
Hoping this can be found somewhere! February 9, 2026 at 1:10pm
Victoria: Iris has such a legendary reputation, yet many interpretations end up either too austere or oddly cosmetic. This one surprised me precisely because it avoided both extremes. I hope it becomes more accessible. February 10, 2026 at 3:33am
Seta: Sounds wonderful, but it seems to be directed only to the chinese market -sad for me iris-lover!
P.S. Is the name Lapot or Laporte? February 9, 2026 at 2:43pm
Victoria: I share your frustration. At the moment it is indeed focused on the Chinese market.
This brand is Lapot Studio. I hope they eventually consider a wider distribution for fellow iris lovers. February 10, 2026 at 3:34am
Laura Scheuer: Victoria, how would you compare Iris Hermit to Hermes’ Hiris, which I recall was a favorite of yours (at least pre-reformulation)?
This Iris sounds enchanting! I hope the Shanghai folks can find a distributor here.
Thank you as always for this wonderful, evocative review. February 9, 2026 at 5:59pm
Victoria: Compared to Hiris, Iris Hermit feels more inward and hushed. Less green bite, less herbal sharpness, and more mineral softness. Hiris feels like a landscape in daylight, while Iris Hermit feels like an interior space. Thank you so much for your kind words. February 10, 2026 at 3:34am
Karen Dubin: Thank you so much for your review, Victoria… as a life-long Iris lover, it is much appreciated. In fact, I am so enamoured and loyal to Iris that I have often bought a fragrance blind and unsniffed, simply because Iris was listed as one of the ingredients. And I have never been disappointed! And I have to say that it makes my heart so happy to see more and more female perfumers getting recognition. We know they’ve been there for years, but now they’re getting prominent air-play. I look forward to your reviews of more of Jasmine Liu’s creations. February 9, 2026 at 6:16pm
Victoria: Your comment made me smile. Iris inspires that kind of loyalty. It is wonderful to meet another lifelong devotee. I also share your joy in seeing more women perfumers recognized for their work. Jasmine Liu has a very sensitive hand, and I hope to explore more of her creations in the future. Thank you for reading so attentively. February 10, 2026 at 3:35am
Fangying: I tried their Jasmine Poet and Yuzu Cologne and absolutely love both. They do feel quite linear and straightforward to me, but I really appreciate the purity and how faithfully Jasmine Liu captured the fresh, natural scent of jasmine and yuzu.
In one interview, she mentioned that she used 12% yuzu essential oil from Kochi, Japan in Yuzu Cologne. It’s kind of become a swan song now — due to limited production, the company has imposed restrictions and formulas can no longer contain more than 0.2%…
I haven’t tried this iris yet, but I bought a sample set of all seven perfumes in the collection (had a friend bring it from China to the U.S.), and after reading your review, I’m especially excited to try the iris! February 11, 2026 at 3:29pm
Trixi: I really enjoyed this review. Iris can be tricky for me too — sometimes it feels too powdery or distant — but the way you describe the texture here sounds beautiful and airy. Lately I’ve been reaching for warmer, smoother scents for contrast. I’ve been wearing Musamam Black Intense quite a bit, which leans more woody and cozy on me. Sharing the link in case anyone’s curious: https://palette21.com/products/musamam-black-intense-edp-spray February 12, 2026 at 5:19am
emercycrite: Is this a Chinese brand? Where is the fragrance made? February 14, 2026 at 9:52pm
Maria Yanushevskaya: Our local store in Hong Kong now distribute La Pot studio, I am sure they will ship internationally. It’s called scented niche April 3, 2026 at 12:35am
Victoria: Thank you very much! April 6, 2026 at 1:41pm
Amir: This was a great review. What perfume do you think could be similar to Iris? July 11, 2026 at 5:50am