Sisley Izia

I’ve never been one for those trite sayings often found on Pinterest, but one caught my eye last week that I thought fitting for today’s post, on International Women’s Day.

It says; ‘Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.’

I love it because it not only resonates with me, and my tribe of family and girlfriends who will ‘help me hide the body’, but it also very true of today’s product post.

Now I thought nothing on earth could ever knock my Stella by Stella McCartney off the top of my fragrance list, but then came along Chanel No 5 L’eau, and now, just a few months later, Sisley Izia entered my life.

The brainchild of Isabelle d’Ornano, Izia (pronounced Ijia) is the Polish diminutive for Isabelle, and is wholly based on the notes of just one rose in her garden. One that she was specifically drawn to because of it’s unique citrus note; one that none of her other roses possessed. The petals, too, were different. As they unfurled, they unveiled a rich, golden orange centre.

It is said that five roses make a bouquet, so five women created Izia.

Isabelle entrusted Amandine Clerc-Marie with the juice of the scent. Amandine was an obvious choice, as she is a nose famous for her rose creations.

The creative side of the scent was in the hands of Isabelle’s daughter, Christine and her friend and artist, Quentin Jones, known for her exquisite collages. Together they molded the theme behind the scent into the beautiful art piece we see today.

And finally, Sonia, the ethereal face (a first for Sisley). The Brazilian born model embodied everything Isabelle was looking for – beauty and grace, but with a certain nonchalance, too. Her Polish heritage gave a fortuitous nod to the name of the scent, too.

The magnificent bottle was designed by Polish sculptor, Bronislaw Krzysztof, and was inspired to look like two pebbles delicately balancing on each other. The soft ombre shades are, of course, reminiscent of the rose behind it all.

The juice itself is the real triumph, though. Opening to a top note of white bergamot, freesia, tea and pink peppercorn. The heart is unsurprisingly rose centred and accompanied by jasmine, peony, lily of the valley and angelica. This gives way to a beautiful warming base of musk, cedar and amber.

Izia is available now at all Sisley counters.