Citta di Kyoto

Florentine perfumer Santa Maria Novello released this scent as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of its connection with sister city, Kyoto.  I'm not a big fan of iris scents - the dry earthy, slightly metallic dirt-like quality they have leave me cold.  Citta di Kyoto is so far the only one I would wear, and only because the drydown is gorgeous.

It opens with the iris, dry and chilly, with an accompanying smoky quality and a soupçon of green pepper, or pickle...similar to Piment Brulant.  I don't get the citrus at all, but there is a presence of other floral notes, but nothing that stands out.   As the scent dries, the iris is no longer at center stage and other, more woodsy notes start to creep in with a little bit (just a little) of sweet fruit.  The cedar and sandalwood and the myriad other wood notes come out even more later on, softened by a bit of vanilla and maybe a touch of amber.  Really, the drydown is the best part.  At least for me. 

Notes: iris, lotus, bergamot, orange, jasmine, hyacinth, rose, hawthorn, ylang-ylang, plum, peach, cinnamon, cypress, lavender, birch, sandalwood, gaiac wood, cedar, ebony, patchouli, ambergris, vanilla