IRIS BUTTER

Iris butter, also called orris butter, is a natural perfumery material with powdery floral, woody and rooty facets. Different grades can bring out violet-like softness, a soapy impression or a subtle leathery edge. The word butter refers to the extract’s consistency: it solidifies at room temperature yet can remain soft and pale yellow. It is not dairy butter, and the name does not mean that a perfume must smell of a creamy dessert.

This material is obtained by distilling iris rhizomes, the thick underground stems, including those of Iris pallida and Iris germanica. Traditional maturation helps develop the aroma, while some producers use accelerated processes. Butter and more refined orris extracts are distinct material grades. The extract chosen and the surrounding composition determine whether its powdery, woody or root-like aspects are most noticeable.