Daphne

Upon my first encounter with Daphne, I’m pretty sure my pupils dilated and heart rate quickened. Right there and then, I knew I’d stumbled upon a true “hidden gem”, an overused and cliché term but I get the idea this perfume is somehow low-key, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves but I’m kinda glad about that, for many reasons. The bitter orange I get from the initial spray... in the very top is orange rind with a saffron glitter {for Daphne Guinness it *had* to be glitter}. The evolution of this fragrance is spellbinding, mind-bending even, it keeps you on your toes. I’ve spent time with this one, trying to identify individual notes from the list given but Daphne is crafted remarkably to a complex nature. From the top where the bitter orange starts to settle, the heart begins and the fragrance shapshifts—there-on the incense becomes prominent. I feel the rose peeking through and supports the dry, woody, dusty incense. This incense remains steadfast while the next stage of Daphne unfolds... narcotic tuberose blooms—balmy, bubblegum facets but not toothachingly so. This is a tuberose forward fragrance with jasmine giving the pivotal floral more animalic nuances. Where the tuberose starts to shine, the perfume reaches a waxy, honeyed sweetness... the amber. The tuberose charms and dominates throughout with the sticky amber embellishing it’s form. Smokey incense and a subtle touch of oud wisps throughout, with the gentle centafolia rose perfecting this stage. The incense note is one that perfumers that collaborate with the house of Comme des Garçons are known for doing exceptionally well. You can’t really push Daphne into an olfactory pyramid, the composition along with the warmth of the skin dances back and forth between its stages and reveals new and delightful facets every time this occurs but stays warm, alluring, sensual, fluffy throughout somehow. In the deep dry down the vanilla is pivotal and a adds depth, warmth, comfort and familiarity—I believe this vanilla in particular is what seals the deal and rounds off this fragrance. It creates a fuzzy, creamy, coziness. This vanilla is everything. But what is so beautiful is that this isn’t it... she isn’t done! Still—the tuberose lingers, smoky incense and spice lace through, amber glows softly, the iris whispers. I’m trying to best describe Daphne with the notes in mind and at each shift and waltz that takes place in this perfume. Daphne is so much more. Masterfully blended to perfection, made to bring you an element of suprise—to make you guess and wonder. Strangely captivating. I agree with @sundayinheaven. Daphne is just, Daphne. It is to be worn on the skin to really showcase its character and personality—albeit having a vibration of its own, I feel it desires to meddle with your own chemistry. I also wanted to add, the fragrance emanates beautifully on cloth. It is like nothing I’ve ever smelt. The most beguiling, mesmerising, narcotic tuberose wrapped in resins, powder and ribbons of fine smoke and delectable woods. A journey. Exquisite, enigmatic and breathtaking. Reminiscent of vintage perfumes in the absolute best way you could possibly imagine. A true delight to the senses—Daphne’s bottle is simplistic, her name etched into the glass oval flacon and placed in a red delicately crushed velvet pouch. Luxury. I need a backup bottle filled vault dedicated to this masterpiece. I need this for life. My bottle sits amongst the likes of my cherished and beloved bottles of vintage Dior Poison, CHANEL COCO, No5 vintage extrait and bottles of vintage Shalimar. Yes, indeed, I love Daphne that much. She is everything a fragrance should be. £185 for 50ml *eek* but so worth it. Comme des Garçons, take all my money. 💵💵💵 A handwritten note inside the packaging from Daphne herself reads: ❝These are some of my memories in a bottle. Created to make new memories.❞ I cannot wait to make new memories with this, my absolute favourite thing to do with perfume as well as evoke existing, fond and precious memories. Oh, this bottle is a piece of heaven itself encapsulated. Daphne has my heart.

Daphne is as gorgeous as all of the reviews before mine imply. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who pointed out that Daphne was again available! I bought a backup bottle (non-discounted with ridiculous shipping fees considering it's coming from New York and not Great Britain as the Daphne Guinness website seems to suggest) and am now back to wearing this incensey white flower bomb with unadulterated joy. I didn't think I was the type of person who wouldn't wear a perfume for fear of using up a discontinued fragrance. Yet there I was... hoarding a barely used bottle ca. 2009. Despite not wearing it consistently, if at all if I'm being honest, in the last 10+ years this is the first perfume that comes to mind if I have to pick a signature or can't-live-without fragrance. I wasn't slacking while my poor bottle of Daphne was languishing in it's cool dark resting place all these years. Here's a list of my favorite Daphne-like fragrances, though I wouldn't actually call any of these dupes: 1. Olympic Orchids' Mardi Gras--it's another massive white floral incense, very slightly animalic, but not the least bit scary. If Daphne was really never again going to be available I would have been quite happy with Mardi Gras. It's a gorgeous perfume in it's own right. 2. M. Micallef Watch--another massive white flower blend that's super sweet but missing incense, or any other note that might be considered challenging, to temper all of that sugar. I consider this "prettier" than both Daphne and Mardi Gras--but Daphne is still my #1. 3. Lush Sikkim Girls--pretty white flower incense with comparatively poor longevity. I think it's currently discontinued, but it pops up on selling sites and Lush often brings things back. It's only worth tracking down if you can't get your hands on either Daphne or Mardi Gras. In any case, Daphne is so big and bold that it feels like it should be a vintage perfume--with none of the curdled top-notes that you sometimes find in actual vintage perfumes. Is that a retro vibe? A modern vintage? It's an oxymoron in fragrance form. Vivienne Westwood Boudoir, some early Serge Lutens, and any of Rogue Perfumery florals fall into this category for me.

Knowing some of Antoine Lie's work for ELDO, I kind of knew what to expect, and Daphne delivered for sure. It opens with a citrus aroma giving way to a tuberose-saffron combo which is overpowering at first - I felt like a nuclear bomb wearing this one after I sprayed two spritzes of it. This loudness stayed for an hour or two, and later a touch of oud and incense calmed it down(no matter how weird it may sound). Now, there is a heart of tuberose, spice, oud and incense - a conglomerate of pretty risky and polarizing notes. However, they all seem well orchestrated to work in conjunction, while never feeling like too much of anything. The base adds some patchouli and maybe some other stuff, while putting spices aside - it is still complicated, but also well-composed, just like heart. In my opinion, that speaks of perfumer's mastery more than anything. As I said earlier, its sillage is ridiculous at first, but it weakens a bit with time. Its longevity is amazing on my skin with an easy 10 hours period. I can't say I agree with 'for women' label, at least not completely - I feel like it's equally wearable for both genders, BUT only for those who love challenging compositions - this one is everything but safe, no matter if on a woman or on a man. This is not your typical CdG, it feels more like an ELDO, but surely is in line with its very best creations. This is an incredibly balanced composition, especially considering its notes, and a true niche at that. Not exactly my type of perfume, but I can't and I won't deny its quality. 9.5/10

Where to start with you dear Daphne? A month ago I didn't even know who you were. Then a dear fellow Fragrantican suggested we should be introduced. So I Googled you, read your profile, was hesitant to meet because of your unconventional style and that badger-like black and white 'do that you wear; not to mention what others here on this page had to say about you. I was so sure we wouldn't click, yet I was strangely intrigued. And today, I let you touch my skin for the first time. A firm slap actually is what you imposed. With sweet incense, bitterness, and compelling tuberose, all at once agressive, yet somehow, never contradicting your sensual spirit. Grounded with wet spicy patchouli and ambery woods, you are a fascinatingly bright, yet deeply resinous story that is not afraid to be told--a complex open book--with a voice that eventually soothes the soul as the story unfolds. And somehow you seem familiar. Prada Intense, your little sister comes to visit me now and then and I enjoy her company immensely. She even has her own comfy chair in my living room. Perhaps this is why I feel so at-ease with you, both with dark orange, rich incense/resins, sweet florals, patchouli, smooth woods and vanilla spice. In any event, Daphne, you're a keeper. I admire and appreciate your independence and integrity. I hope you'll stop by often because I'm looking forward to getting better acquainted with you, and especially even more so that your (now discontinued) little sister Prada Intense is going to move away for good one day.

Comme des filles Have you ever watched the advertising spots for Comme des Garçons perfumes? These works of art video have the gift to put into images all the chemical olfactive experience that your nose will live by touching this little wonder. For this one, elements float in a liquid dream world and visions keep coming in as a narcotic addict poet delirium. Daphne Guinness is a perfume of Antoine Lie about tuberose but as always with CdG it's an offset vision of the red districts flower. Prostitute it remains fortunately, the décolleté in opening with camphory notes (but less intense than Lutens). Above a body molded in a corset who is worthy of the art of Japanese bondage. This is the incense (signature of CdG) who lasciviously sinking into the fleshy flower and highlights the softer features. Further down more musky odor reveal themselves. Caught between the legs you are the paralyzed victim of a praying mantis. Who eats who? This side of bad taste and mastered vulgarity reminds me undeniably some Etat Libre d'Orange creations . If the explanation is not clear I must tell you that this is not a fragrance for family gatherings with your stepmother. By cons it will work your imagination for many other occasions.

She's strange, alluring, intoxicating. A fleeting memory, that keeps shifting, or a forgotten dream just out of reach. I get old dusty churches, then memories of dancing at hippy festivals with wilting flowers in my hair as the sun goes down. The incense is strong on me, but it's balanced out with the white flowers. A beautiful creamy tuberose, a hint of bitter orange. Then cedar and smoke and incense and oud, wrapped up in a subtle warm vanilla that gives it that comforting feel. She's complicated. She's mysterious. She's an enigma. She is difficult to grasp. But I can't stop sniffing my wrist and I think I love her! A completely blind buy for me as I couldn't get hold of a sample. I read the reviews and liked the notes mentioned. Not disappointed at all. Though I am still trying to work her out. But I think that is her charm. She is just out of reach like that memory that perhaps didn't even belong to you, of a child running through late summer gardens in some far off land. Daphne might be my new love affair.

(New profile name - Anais Nin) This is super glamorous! I adore tuberose scents there's a crazy-fiery beauty in them. They always make me feel so good. Incense and tuberose is an intoxicating combination of notes here The first spray was lots and lots of orange. (I think that Daphne is truly unique, because although this is a dark fragrance, the orange undulates throughout this fragrance.) Tuberose, after a little time, and then the incense came through. The tuberose is indolic, still lovely, still going strong, along side with the incense, I do not sense oud here. There is a smooth combination of amber, vanilla here. To my nose the rose, oud and patchouli is truly well blended here because I do not sense it on my skin. The longevity is good but I think the sillage was 5 hours and then became very soft. If you like Poison, Fracas, you should try to hunt down a sample of this. If you do not like Tuberose (it is heavenly here), stay away from this, as for me, I desperately need a bottle of this.

I have waited to review this fragrance because it is so incredible and mesmerizing. I have truly had a love affair with this perfume. This is not ladylike or demure it takes a bold woman to carry it off. As soon as i sprayed- it was breathtaking: i was taken back to the 1980's Dallas/Dynasty glamour- big shoulder pads in your face 'the woman has arrived'. Its like the 60's chick(incense/patchouli) had a baby who has become a woman to be reckoned with: independent, stand out, sexy confidence. The initially blast is overwhelming but quickly forms the tuberose incense that remains throughout, supported by patchouli. it has a sweetness that is stunningly balancing. The dry down presents the powdery iris and remains the following day. it has incredible staying power and huge sillage. i get loads of compliments about it when i wear it. it is not a perfume to be ignored.

This is glorious! I mean really truly glorious. This is to me a unique and haunting creation. It brings together notes that don't always work for me and makes them sing. I would also call this a shape shifter. Daphne starts out w/tuberose and oud on me. Somehow, someway these two comingle to make the perfect compliment. They don't stay in the forefront for too long before things start to change. Maybe...15 min.? Then all of a sudden~shift. Then different shape and shift. These notes dance together and truly bring out both the floral and woods, incense and amber,then wait......oh~ there's vanille. None of this is jarring but oh so smooth and fabulous. Daphne's a wild ride. I'm gonna buy a ticket and buckle up.....mmmmmmmmmm

raffinata interpretazione della tuberosa, distante anni luce dalla freschezza di carnal flower, qui il fiore è astratto ed accompagnato da sentori classici che conferiscono all'insieme un allure di altri tempi. insomma sembra un profumo vintage, ma non lo è. come ogni buona fragranza da signora la piramide olfattiva è complessa, fatta di zafferano, ambra, patchouli, vaniglia, ma, soprattutto, incenso ed arancia. le note predominanti sono appunto la risultante di una tuberosa fumosa e dolce di arancia. l'effetto complessivo è simile ad altri classici, chanel n. 5, fracas, arpege, ma qui è più morbido e quasi vellutato. molto buono, più adatto al freddo.

This is really lovely, really classic, really refined and very beautiful. I had a major hankering after it when I first got my sample in mid-spring, but my skin in the torrid heat of midsummer has gobbled every sweet note, every fruit and every flower, and left a sharp, uncomfortable but amazingly persistent incense/patchouli desert, dry as a bone. I'll come back to it in the winter, since I remember such a madly glorious scent from the first time we met - perhaps this too, is a seasonal lovely. Highly recommended to those who eschew the sweeter perfumes, or who, like myself, love incense and any intimation of the big, bold classics of yore.

My truest blessing from the perfume gods was snagging an opened bottle of this online for super cheap. This is everything I've ever wanted. Old fashioned, smokey, floral while being young, clean, bright, and almost soapy (in the sexy Johnson & Johnson way) There is just something so luscious and comforting about this while being bold and edgy. A rare feat in that it has a hefty dose of tuberose but doesn't let tuberose overpower everything else (something most other tuberose frags fail at and they all wind up smelling the same). A monument to the versatility of CDG. If they ever rerelease this I urge you to try it

What is this sorcery!?!? I am stunned and speechless. I thought this would be cloying, busy and over the top, but it is exquisite. The dry down is a strong tuberose-amber scent, an intellectual fragrance that makes you want to match its authority and charm. I want to wear Daphne but I don't want Daphne to wear me - if that makes sense. I think this is a bold fragrance that needs to grow on you, I will purchase a sample to see how it develops on me after a few wears, to see how we get along. Just what I needed stepping into the autumn cold. I image Margot Tenenbaum wearing this in her long fur coat.

When I want to be more woman, sweet and tuberosa kind of lady, I choose Daphne. It's quite much tuberosa in the end. I love most the beginning and the first hour on my skin. I'm studing the way tuberosa expresses and turns into on my skin, it's facinating. It's modern but ladylike. It's retro but not. It's not something reinvented. It's for young and for adult (wo)men. For the daytime and nights. Daphne is enough in small portions, more friendly. But I use it a lot in my private life.

Stunning!!! DAPHNE is balsamic resinous tuberose - smooth and caressing.... It's velvety, without edges. The feeling it gives me reminds of Bal a Versailles... It's not fresh, nor green, not at all like Carnal Flower (that I love as well)...it's opposite of La Chasse aux Papillons (that I don't like so much)...and it lacks the soapiness and the lady-like feeling of Fracas (my love again)...but Daphne - it is the most sensual tuberose !!!

Ok so I blind bought the new released Daphne and I do own a vintage bottle as well, they are not the same . The newer one is lighter and doesn’t last nearly as long and if u hold the bottles up next to eachother you’ll see one is orange in color and the newer one is a lite yellow. The newer release is ok. It’s still Daphne but in edt. I’m glad I own the original. Nothing like it. So beautiful. Animalic incensy goodness

It does not produced anymore? So disappointing!!! I 've fallen in love this perfume from last year. I met this 'woodwood' shop in cophenhagen. It was stunning! I want to plant tuberose in my garden. This is so gorgeous , sweet and elegant. I need this more. I can't understand why they don't produce it anymore. It can not be compared with another perfume. Plz Recommend me similar perfume.

I dislike saffron and oud. Incense is tricky to me. This one has all three and I find it totally addicting. Sweet, warm, cozy. It is glowing. I don't find it overwhelming at all. Just fabulous. The sweet tuberose subsides eventually and towards the end it is more incense and somewhat dryer. Not as lovely as the beginning but also very nice to me.

Daphne - the coolest Lady! I have finally found my signature scent, as my 57th birthday is coming up! Never too late! I'm interested in buying a bottle, if anyone happens to have one-too-many!

For those who have tried the new one out now-how does it compare please!