Definition of "orris" []

• Any of several species of iris having a fragrant rootstock, especially a variety of the hybrid Iris germanica. (noun)
• The fragrant rootstock of the orris, used in perfumes and cosmetics. Also called orrisroot. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Then the delectable, creamy blend of vanilla, heliotrope and orris, which is like a layer of dark-golden nougat ..."
• "When I use violet flower note in my perfumes, it is a compound made if various oils that are rich in ionone - such as orris root, violet leaf absolute, boronia along with other floral oils or absolutes to round off the accord and give it a soft flowery impression."
• "But no orris root really fascinated and excited me as much as a particular batch I received from Eden Botanical: Beurre d’Iris aka orris butter -which really is the essential oil, but with a consistency of crumbly butter or powdery wax."