Dior Dior

The widespread reverence for Roudnitska could be attributed to his being slyly iconoclastic within the scaffolding of classical structure. This is no more evident than in his notorious commercial failure that is now deemed by many to be his artistic meridian: Dior Dior. He draws on Femme prunol, peach lactones, overripe melon, the poetic dew of muguet, and a Miss Dior slug of moss. Dispatched by some aldehydes that will bite your granny, Dior Dior does not apologize for its fierce assertion. It isn't exactly pure as driven snow, as this narcissus manages to belt even over the rebellious bitter, dusty crescendo of its heart. I purchased my bottle sealed, and was a bit concerned by its color, but I make no mistake by saying that there is almost nothing here that suggests fractured carbon chains and sunburnt-turnt (Dominique Deveraux would not complain of burned champagne here). I also want to add that, in spite of what seems to be a hodgepodge of his past works, make no mistake: he did not overcomplicate here, as this brilliant amalgam still manages to come out as a staggering distillation of his genius. I must add that I even detect the sweaty-citrus-leather of Eau d'Hermes making a cameo appearance here. I will concur with others that this is a lost treasure.

Top notes: peach, prune, cumin, bay oil, honeysuckle, aldehydes. Middle notes: jasmine, jonquil, rose, tuberose, lilac, narcissus, carnation, lily of the valley. Base notes: oakmoss, sandalwood, amber, leather, civet. Taken from Cleopatra’s Boudoir, this is the most accurate and complete set of notes there is for Dior Dior. In a nutshell, this lost and forgotten Roudnitska complex perfume, misunderstood back then and even now, is an amalgam of previous Dior’s, rolled into one; you have the LOTV from Diorissimo, the melon/jasmine fresh funk of Diorella, the animalic leather of Miss Dior, the peachy milkiness of Diorama, all dazzled in 70’s disco funk. Prim and proper like any classy Dior but also more bohemian, more aloof and infinitely more modern, just like the times. I believe the reason it flopped was because customers weren’t accustomed to such modernity from a house like Christian Dior and the ones who wanted the ‘theme du jour’ in perfume would turn to other hippier brands. In a way, this ties perfectly with something like Vu. Dioressence, which got a small face lift in 1979, would revisit this funky new style with different ingredients to slightly better success. Double Dior is a lost gem that culminates Edmond’s genius! A masterpiece!

@Bevren, Dior Dior isn't terribly difficult to find though at this point nearly as pricey as many (arguably lower quality) current niches etc. Like many frags it's generally as good now as ever. I know because I wore it then and wear it now. As a non aldehydic with it's particular base materials and lack of heavy citrus (and it's only early 70s not the 40s) unless it was left out on a dresser in the sun or a humid bathroom for a lifetime it's not one that goes off easily. I wear it out on the regular and get nothing but compliments (and I'm not going out wearing anything even remotely turned, you can believe it) I wouldn't recommend a vintage Diorissimo - they're often at least leaning towards some funk if not half or fully turned/negatively changed. Dior Dior however is an above average fragrance when it comes to lasting through time (again at least partly dependent always on good storage techniques, bottle fullness as lots of headspace contributes negatively to many juices aging) *P.S.* You'd be surprised how many of us who were alive and wearing great perfume in the 70s are still alive, with working brains & bodies! I'm not the only one here who has been wearing & collecting perfumes since the early 70s. :,-)

Dior Dior is an absolute beauty, a real treasure which seems a world away from the style of perfumery we see today. At its core, this scent is a beautifully smooth and soapy white floral, with elements of lust hiding just underneath the surface. The magnificent trio of narcissus, Lily of the valley and Jasmine is what leads the composition, creating this intensely leafy, soapy and slightly green feel. The flowers feel tangible, as though the petals you are smelling are right there - a pattern I seem to notice a lot with older perfumes. The addition of aldehydes furthers this soapiness even further, whilst a base of moss and woods creates this element of darkness whilst simultaneously inspiring this image of walking through a forest densely populated with beautiful flowers. This is one of the harder perfumes to find when it comes to vintage Dior, and for good reason. This lesser-known scent is to die for, and if you ever find a bottle at a good price do not hesitate to take advantage of it.

Thank goodness I'm not alone in my fond memories of this fragrance. Well, fond is far to mild a word. I found it rich and subtle at the same time. I could liken it to the difference between a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, the Rolls being flashy, eg (J'Adore, Private Collection, etc), the Bentley (ie, Dior Dior. Though there is no similarity to the fragrances, to me, it is in the same class as Joy (another of my top fragrances). Though it is 'well-behaved' it has hints of the exotic and naughty. I have no idea of layers of fragrance or the ingredients but I have a sensitive and accurate nose. Dior Dior is pure pleasure to me. I so wish they would produce it again. And I'm also pleased to learn there are others who love it too. With all the 'throw-away-smells' that I can't bring myself to call fragrances (see celebrity(!) smells), I wish someone would realise in this digital age, that there is a worldwide market for the eclectic and a huge distribution network isn't necessary. Rant over!!