502 Iris CartagenaGourmand Woody Extrait de Parfum

502 Iris Cartagena by Bon Parfumeur is a niche woody, gourmand, and powdery perfume extract, unisex, created by perfumer Clément Marx. A tribute to Colombia.

A house where the number indicates the fragrance family

Bon Parfumeur is a Parisian house founded in 2017 by Ludovic Bonneton, a passionate collector who became artistic director. The project was born from two things: his return from Colombia, where he lived surrounded by the scents of cocoa, coffee, and tropical flowers, and his meeting with the great perfumer Raymond Chaillan, who showed him that perfume could be described through the five senses rather than through words. Its distinctive feature is its numbering system, which is far from arbitrary: the first digit indicates the fragrance family, while the following two indicate the fragrance's rank within that family. The creations are designed from the outset to be mixed and layered—the Mix & Match principle. Everything is made in France. The extracts are distinguished by their gold cap.

An opening of Caribbean rum, cocoa, and mandarin leaf

Caribbean rum opens warm and syrupy, West African cocoa brings its gourmand bitterness, and mandarin leaf—extracted from the leaves, not the fruit—adds a fresh, zesty green note.

A heart of Moroccan iris, Indian sandalwood, vanilla, and cedar

Moroccan iris establishes its cool, earthy, and woody powder. Indian sandalwood softens it with creaminess, vanilla provides its backbone, and cedar adds a dry edge. It is the most elegant heart in the collection.

A base of papyrus, coffee, vetiver, and sugarcane

Indian papyrus and Indonesian vetiver create a dry, woody foundation, enhanced by Ethiopian and Ivorian coffee, bright and robust. Sugarcane brings a final touch of sweetness. The extract is 80% pure.

The house's signature

An iris that takes seven years. The Moroccan iris essence used here is one of the rarest ingredients in perfumery: the rhizomes remain in the ground for three years, then dry for four years before they can be processed. Seven years for a single ingredient—and it is what gives the fragrance its cool powderiness. The inspiration, however, is intimate. Bonneton explains: "I wanted the night in Cartagena to become a fragrance. I wanted to remember forever that summer evening under the stars with my wife. A tribute to Colombia and its scents." And the perfumer measures the task: "The challenge was enormous. It was about recreating a defining moment in Ludovic's life: his first dinner with his wife." The official scene goes down to the last detail: the conversations end, the tablecloth is rumpled, and coffee, rum, and chocolates are served. Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia—not Carthage. It is the country where Bonneton lived before founding the house.

For whom, and for what occasions?

Woody, gourmand, and powdery, this perfume extract is for those who love cocoa and coffee but want them dry and elegant. It is at its best from autumn to winter, in the evening, and can be worn by both women and men.

With 502 Iris Cartagena Bon Parfumeur, Clément Marx captures a first dinner under the stars in a bottle.