House  Masque
Released  2016
Perfumer  Luca Maffei
Fragrance Family  Soft Floral
Notes  bergamot, neroli, champagne accord, orris butter, Madagascan ylang-ylang, tuberose, orris, Mysore sandalwood, leather, oakmoss

Description  L'Attesa is Masque Milano's take on iris, one of my favorite notes and a notoriously difficult material to work with. As iris flowers yield no oil, perfumers instead use the iris rhizome (sometimes referred to as the root or the bulb). Two species are harvested for use in perfumery: Iris germanica and Iris pallida. Once the flower has matured, the rhizomes are peeled, dried, and aged for several years. The resulting material is known as orris and is one of the most valuable raw materials in perfumery with an odor profile described alternatively as woody, oily, violet-like, powdery carrot-like, earthy, fruity and starchy. Suffice it to say, this is not your typical floral aroma. Unlike some orris-centric fragrances that shy away from the star material, L'Atessa is all about orris from start to finish. The fragrance uses three different forms of orris: Italian orris absolute, Italian orris butter and French orris butter. L'Attesa opens with the unmistakable aroma of high-quality orris root and a Champagne accord. The two aromas work well together with the yeastiness of the Champagne accenting the earthy, rooty aspects of the orris root. They are soon joined by the green earthiness of neroli and a crisp bergamot and warm heart notes of Mysore sandalwood and leather. The orris-leather-sandalwood combination is a hallmark of many classic vintage fragrances and gives the fragrance a timeless quality. L'Attesa continues in much the same manner for hours, never losing its charm. In its later stages, a dark and inky oakmoss emerges, its powdery facets mingling with the orris and sandalwood, eventually drying down to a soft, woody whisper.

35 ml eau de parfum spray
$175.00

1 ml eau de parfum sample
$7.00