I never miss a new release from Atelier Cologne, and perfumes like Silver Iris are the reason why. With its listed notes of saffron, rum, and leather, Gold Leather was the one that I was expecting to love, and I do like it very much. Gold Leather is a warm, boozy leather, heavy on the rum and minimally sweetened with a plum note. Of these two fragrances, Gold Leather is probably less original than Silver Iris, but it does fill the spot for darker fragrances that Atelier Cologne was previously missing. Silver Iris pairs an earthy iris note with a sweet, sparkling effect that I recognize from Philosophy Falling In Love and L’Artisan Mure et Musc. I’ve never smelled anything with this combination before! The drydown is sweet and clean, for anyone concerned about the listed patchouli note.

Silver Iris and Gold Leather come in silver-plated and gold-plated bottles, respectively. I saw them in-person at the Elizabeth Street boutique, where angelic S.A. Rossiter generously made me three samples (look for a review of Sois le toit de Paris soon!) They’re very glamorous, in that more-is-more way, but I suspect that more than a few perfumistas would prefer a plainer bottle and a price cut.