Canvas

Canvas is the Aqualis Parfum built as a blank page: a fresh, clean floral meant to be the starting point of the day. The London house makes its fragrances with Robertet, and Amandine Galliano composed this one at 30 percent concentration. It opens with a sparkling bergamot and a luxurious collage of white flowers, freesia and ylang-ylang with a touch of pink pepper. The heart is powdery iris with jasmine sambac, mimosa and rose, giving a suede-like texture that the brand calls tactile and luxurious. The base dissolves into white musk, a velvety swirl of vanilla, tobacco, tonka bean and Haitian vetiver. Wearers describe a pristine and clean atmosphere with an old-fashioned powderiness. It wears moderately: a quiet trail, and good but not exceptional lasting power. It suits spring best, with autumn and summer close, and works for daily, leisure and the office rather than for formal evenings. Opinion is split between those who find it a pleasant, dry iris and those who find it soapy, stale or poor value for the price. It sits closer to a soft iris and white-musk soliflore than to a sweet floral, and wearers mostly read it as feminine. Sold in 50 ml and 100 ml, it is worth a sample first, because the iris is the whole scent.