So I'm wearing Dries Van Noten's Neon garden today and although it's actually a very competent, pleasant, cheat mode (I mean orris/iris who does like that?) fragrance from Fanny Bal, I'm just not quite feeling it. I think the expectation of 'Mint' as it's clearly listed in my little sample set, made me think 'hmmmm iris and mint? I don't think I've had that combo, could be something really special this!!!' I think that expectation coupled with the OTT packaging and the Bladerunner name, had me longing for something with a bit more oomph than I got. Like I said it's a nice 'niche' Orris perfume with the most subtle vegetal qualities, and greenery, and indeed mint top note but it's too fleeting to be considered something I'd really seek out and have the ability to stand out in the crowd. The Orris goes from fleshy and leathery/powdery to that dry, papery woody ionone/irone, as a modern, uncluttered Iris perfume, I like it, but unless you're some massive DVN fan then this is just another nice perfume. Up that mintiness, and give us some shock greenery of galbanum or geranium in a top/heart that was detectable for longer, then let it retreat to a very nice iris and I would've probably sang the praises of this perfume. Take more risks what I think.
