Jean-Claude EllenaThe nose · 104 fragrances · also made Hermessence Ambre Narguile (2004)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Hermès · Sold as unisex
Hermessence Iris Ukiyoé
The quiet dignity of a Japanese garden, where the iris blooms with subtle grace against a backdrop of earthy moss and delicate florals.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Hermessence Iris UkiyoéPremium · $100–250
48%Similar accords, often for lessClassique X · Jean Paul GaultierMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares iris, african orange flower and mandarin orange8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
NotesAs listed
The story behind the bottle.
Jean-Claude Ellena launched Hermessence Iris Ukiyoé by Hermès in 2010, crafting it as an olfactory poem centered around the purple iris flower. This fragrance is part of the prestigious Hermessence collection, where each scent embodies a distinctive and poetic interpretation of nature. The composition opens with bright citrus notes before giving way to the heart of white florals, rose, and violet, all grounded by earthy undertones and powdery musk. Iris Ukiyoé captures the essence of Japanese artistry, reflecting Ellena’s admiration for ukiyo-e prints that celebrate nature in its most delicate and unusual forms.
Apply this fragrance to pulse points for a warm embrace that unfolds throughout the day. The citrus opening is bright but fleeting; the heart notes take center stage after about an hour, making it perfect for daytime wear where its nuanced warmth shines through.
Fig. 01 — Hermessence Iris Ukiyoé, Hermès
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Jean-Claude Ellena
The perfumer of transparencyJean-Claude Ellena is widely regarded as the most intellectual perfumer of the modern era — a minimalist poet whose work redefined what fragrance could be.
“Cézanne's watercolours contain areas of wash that don't overlap. I proceed in a similar fashion.”
Jean-Claude Ellena · The Diary of a Nose (2011) / Frédéric Malle bio
Designer Hermès
More from the house
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalHermessence Iris UkiyoéHermès · Premium · $100–250Jean Paul Gaultier · 2010Classique XShares Iris, African orange flower and Mandarin orange$40–100★ 3.98 (847)66%Match
Zara · 2014Zara Baby BlueShares Iris, Mandarin orange and Roseunder $40★ 4.47 (15)49%Match
Zara · 2008Lirio de AguaShares Iris and Mandarin orangeunder $40★ 4.07 (29)47%Match
Jean Paul Gaultier · 2011Classique X Jewel Edition 2011Shares Iris, African orange flower and Mandarin orange$40–100★ 4.08 (24)
With Olfactive Studio Autoportrait
Adds woody, aromatic and amber; shares two accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 39%, disliked or hated by 11%.