Diorella

This review is for the 50ml EDT Diorella. So hard to find words for this one. I've wanted it for so long and finally got my hands on a bottle. I've worn it a few times trying to make up my mind about what exactly it is that makes people compare Diorella to 'flowers and garbage' 'Vietnamese beef salad' and 'fur rubbed with mint toothpaste'. Diorella starts out like lemon zest on me, joined by a very subtle fresh mint/ basil note. Very fresh smelling at first. I wondered how anyone could think those notes smelled dirty. Then came what to my nose is limoncello. Still lemon zest, but not as freshly grated and sweet. VERY sweet, almost syrupy and unappealing. In fact at one point it was approaching disgustingly sweet, almost rotten. Just as I was processing the syrupy sweet limoncello and being surprised, came what I think might be cumin, even though it is not listed as a note. I'm not really sure what it is, but it smells faintly like BO. The first time I tried Diorella was right after I purchased it because I was so excited at finally getting some, and I thought maybe the BO note was just in my imagination, or due to the fact I'd been walking around the mall all day and wasn't shower fresh by any means. Nope, it's Diorella! I tried again today after a shower, and the BO note is unmistakably still there. It's not unpleasant or overpowering, it's simply the smell of warm, sweaty skin. There is something almost coital about it, like you took a quick tumble in the hay and then didn't have time to really freshen up afterwards besides applying a quick squirt of cologne. So limoncello and sexy BO, then comes the 'chouli to say hi! At this point I can faintly pick up basil again, and combined with the slight warm fleshy scent that is developing I can say that I now understand the Vietnamese beef salad comment. It's savory, and almost edible. As it develops further I can also now understand the mint toothpaste and fur comment shortly after. There is just something animal and alive behind the mint and basil that I can't put my finger on. I could see it being a fur coat though, especially one that has been worn a long time and has picked up the scent of it's owner along with her toiletries. And this is where I fall in love with Diorella! Why, I cannot even begin to explain. Even reading back over my own words attempting to describe Diorella it sounds repulsive, but it's not. I never really got the flowers and garbage at any point, although maybe that registered as limoncello to my nose instead of flowers tossed in the trash. It was definitely approaching an almost rotten sweetness when the fleshy note showed up to tame it. All in all the fragrance really lived up to it's hype for me. I was afraid I'd built Diorella up in my head and would be disappointed by the reality of it as sometimes happens when I finally get to smell something I've spent time hankering for, but that was definitely not the case this time! My bottle was manufactured in January of 2010, so it's not exactly brand new, but now I really am hankering for vintage. If it smells this great even after it was no doubt tampered with and reformulated, I can't imagine how amazing vintage must be!

(Review of an early 80s EdT) If it’s possible to ascribe a magnum opus to Edmond Roudnitska’s name, it’s probably Diorella. If perfect is possible: Diorella. We have Roudnitska to thank for the use of synthetics to create the watery-melony fruit note at the top of Diorella that blew people’s minds - though I’m not sure “thanks” is exactly what Roudnitska would feel is deserved if he knew how perfumers and houses were handling calone today. The rest of the perfume is an impeccably - perfectly - balanced floral chypre. The perfume sparkles away in the opening with glimmering aldehydes and green and yellow hesperidics providing the watery melon and peach notes with a shimmer like sunlight bouncing off of sliced fruit. It shifts very seamlessly to the fruity facets of the floral heart, carrying an insalubrious and salty quality that tantalizes the nose into blind voracity. Perfection. The citrusy jasmine, the orange-flower-honey of honeysuckle, green roses, and a gentle swell of damp woody oakmoss (just to make sure the watery calone from the top has a natural link to help stuffy 1970s noses find familiarity). I could smell this heart section nonstop for days, weeks, months on end and never tire of it. But I guess it’s not perfect because it eventually leaves me, yearning, but yet presents a silky smooth woody base that is nearly equally divine. A creamy and slightly spicy sandalwood accented with a clove type note, gently green and aromatic vetiver, and a fine beige patchouli give me the chills. A perfect dry down that is hopelessly addictive. Edmond Roudnitska was a workhorse and a visionary. Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, as the saying goes, but how true that is to Roudnitska is debatable. The man certainly seemed to be inspired by more than a percent, but he played with this structure for decades on end - constantly tweaking and evolving it. Perspiring workhorse indeed. This is unheard of today, and would be unthinkable to the vast majority of perfumers and houses. But it paid off. He’s a legend, one of the all time greats that will always remain so. Diorella is a legend, one of the all time greats that will always remain so.

[675] Diorella is another masterpiece composed by the legendary Edmond Roudnitska, and it certainly contains facets of his other compositions. It is a classic chypre, 1970s in style, featuring a prominent melon note up top - so far, so Le Parfum de Thérèse. Its woody-floral heart is reminiscent of a more potent Eau Sauvage, and there is an astringent green-citrus quality to the opening that recalls Chanel Cristalle (not a Roudnitska creation, but worth mentioning). It also reminds me of Ô de Lancôme, a radiant, summery citrus chypre (and affordable gem). I've long wanted to try Diorella, and bought a vintage miniature from the 1980s. It is a dream for this chypre-lover. Diorella has a radiantly fresh opening, with dewy green-herbal notes and bright citrus notes evident at initial spray. The melon note follows, initially green but becoming increasingly ripe as it progresses, dominating the opening for a while. Peach adds sweetness, rounding out the fruitiness of the opening. As it develops, the powdery floral heart emerges. Rose and sweet jasmine are initially detectable, given a nice spicy edge by the carnation. The herbal notes remain, alongside the melon note, muted at this stage, but keeping the fruity component alive. Soft woody notes ground it, and pave the way to the chypre base. It becomes deliciously mossy as it dries down - that vintage oakmoss is hard to beat. Patchouli adds earthiness, rounding out the chypre accord. The powdery florals remain until final fade, where it becomes a musky skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A masterfully-composed perfume, Diorella is cohesive, high-quality, reminiscent of other classics but is also very distinctive. Classically elegant yet bohemian, it is timeless, ageless and definitely unisex by today's standards. One of the best examples of its genre, Diorella is a stone-cold classic. 5/5.

Before I throw myself into this review, I'll start by saying that Diorella is one of my favourite chypres and one of the first scents I reach for during the Summer months. The Diorella I fell in love with was the most recent formulation, from the Les Creations de Monsieur Dior range. I never believed it was of upmost importance to test the vintage formulation, but now I'm kicking myself. I was warned that the fragrance I love was watered-down, and nothing like the Diorella from before, but at the time I refused to listen. The other day, hidden in a boutique, I had the opportunity to test the original, and much to my delight, it's even better than I expected. This fragrance is greener, with more of an aggressive bite. It's beautiful, dry and even a tad smoky. This newer version of Diorella is almost blasphemy. The old Diorella is an all-season fragrance, with enough warmth and depth to be enjoyed during the colder months too. While it's the oakmoss that has caused all this hassle, it's that allergen that makes the old Diorella so special and rich. I curse those restrictions. As a young person, born into a world of reformulations, it's sad to think of all the beautiful fragrances I've missed out on smelling. Thank goodness for the original Diorella. Don't get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoy the new formulation, but when I compare them both side by side, the differences are evident. In terms of composition, I'm more in favour of the one that contains the real oakmoss. It's difficult to put into words the mixture of thoughts running through my head at this present time. It almost feels like a slap in the face, but perhaps less brutal. In regards to lasting strength, the old Diorella also tops the newer version. To choose between the two, you'll either choose what is easily available or what essentially smells better.

One of my favourite perfumes. I have been wearing this fragrance since I was 15 when, armed with my first pay packet for a part time job, I went into a local perfumery and bought some (for £11 – which was nearly ALL of my weekend pay). I got it from one of those old style shops (even then), everything on show and in glass cabinets – it was 1981 and I was in heaven, mulling over the Dior section trying to choose between eau Fraiche, Dioressence or Diorella. I must have been in the shop for well over an hour and it was a small shop – sadly long gone. The edt of Diorella (vintage) is utterly beautiful. In 1981 I sprayed it liberally, on my skin, clothes, bed-clothes, as an air freshener – I just could not get enough of the stuff. I have never been without a bottle of Diorella since that day. I have tried the reform – it’s good but the memories that my old stash evokes remains with me – I even have some pure perfume which I snagged by chance and without realising it was the pure perfume which appeared on the market (I understand) briefly in the early 1980’s. Diorella is a perfume that is crystal clear, green, herbaceous and, I would whisper it quietly,a refined version of eau Savage – but above all this perfume is a complete masterpiece, not loaded with fruit or heady with musk – this is an elegant, classy fragrance. It’s redolent, intriguing and has me under its understated but oh so present spell. I loved it then, I love it now, I will love it forever. I wear this for summer, a cooling honeysuckle note, a mere suggestion of sweetness; it’s green, spikey and harmoniously sings with spirit. It is a complete sentence in perfumery, nothing missing, nothing needed. Can you tell I love this stuff?

Diorella is a citrusy, fruity woody composition with a very substantial floral element and a chypre tonality. It has the individualist approach of Roudnitska around the same theme and is said to be his best work. Now, what can an amateur say about the most complex composition of Edmond Roudnitska whose impact in the perfume world has no match. Well as a masculine it works perfectly and as a feminine...I wouldn't know. I have a very vivid memory of this fragrance because I used to wear it in the army. Risky choice but men don't know many about fragrances so when asked I told them I wore adidas sport without ever knowing if such fragrance existed. I needed something fresh and "watery" for that summer which wouldn't bore me before the third full wearing. This was my choice since it seemed to have depth and complexity. It also features a prominent jasmine note which is a very meaty and decadent floral note which I like. In the beginning, I experienced a certain difficulty with the succulent melon and peach domineering but once I got used to the accord I found it extremely hard to break away. This is mainly because this accord is so unique, so characteristic and immediately recognizable, certainly a statement of its creators brilliance. It is meaningless to breakdown Diorella since its individual notes are meant to combine and support the character of the perfume and not stand alone as parts. So if you try it keep in mind that it won't comply with your need for a citrus, a floral, a fruity chypre or whatever. You simply have to deal with Roudnitska's signature. Now if this happens to whisper to your heart you may find it hard to substitute its voice with another.

Just received a bottle of 2004 vintage won at auction, in pristine condition inside and out. :) I LOVE this perfume and can hardly wait for summer to wear it out. I see it is listed as a floral chypre, but it is a lot more fruity on my skin than floral, up to the last. I get citrus, mostly lemon at the top, with some basil in the background. Soon after it's all about melon and peach, and bordering on over-ripe melon and peach at that. After about another 45 minutes I can smell honeysuckle. I'm not sure if I can parse out the base yet. It disappears on me after about 2 hours, or perhaps my sense of smell when it comes to this perfume is no good. But it's great while it lasts! It reminds me of visiting my gramma in the Texas panhandle when I was very young. She had a very old house with honeysuckle growing all over the porch, and there was often melon on the table for breakfast. A gorgeous, and for me, evocative perfume! 6 hours later - this perfume is so much richer than what I've described. There a note that comes and fades quickly right after I've sprayed it on. It's not the citrus, but it's incredible. I wish I had the knowledge and words to express what I'm smelling. Just lovely :) eta 2 weeks later: It's been a very long time since I've loved a perfume beyond all reason. Vintage Diorella is that perfume. :) eta a month later: I don't think I have EVER loved a perfume this much. It's almost scary. It's like getting blindsided by an intense love relationship you weren't expecting. THinking about buying a third bottle. Oh boy, have I got it bad.

Fresh, green, and earthy, Diorella is a perfectly balanced Spring and Summer chypre with fruity and floral nuances. The basil is more minty than peppery; green and a little sweet. It works well with the bergamot lemon note, which is light and both sweet and sour. This chypre is more green notes than moss, although the moss is very much present, well paired with vetiver, giving a rich earthy, rooty drydown. The green notes that appear earlier in development are the green of fresh leaves and cut flower stems, the bright fresh green of new Spring buds, made a little spicy by the basil. The melon is soft, subtle, and even the melon is green, not ripe or fleshy. The overall effect is effervescent. This is a stunning honeysuckle, a very realistic, soft, honeyed floral, paired beautifully with peach. The peach, although light, is not as subtle as the melon. There is no vanilla in this, but the peach and the honeysuckle give a slight vanilla tinge to the heart. The carnation and rose tend to come in waves before merging with the peach and honeysuckle, and the heart really hums, the soft fruity floral notes purring along on a big green cloud. The dry down seems to draw it all together, green, mossy, earthy, and rooty, a true chypre, but still fresh and green, great in Spring and Summer. An elegant and invigorating fragrance, Diorella is one of those perfumes with healing powers: in this case, the ability to calm and soothe while energizing. I am already trying to figure out how to buy a back up bottle.

So this is the masterpiece everyone talks about. Plausible. I had the wonderful chance to try the first and later versions. I must say it’s an eau on a backdrop of sweat and moss: all hazed by sweet florals. When we say sweet in Roudnitska’s realm, it’s always a whiff from decaying fruits and almost wilted florals. Never sugary. And to highlight simplicity over complexity by making one accord the focus and letting others to enhance and imply nuances is impeccable. I’m giving this full marks as I can’t find fault in it. It is the prettiest chypre that I’ve smelt. The saltiness underneath warmed by a cologne base and diffused by modest florals is perfection. If you try to glean, there’s the warm base found first in Miss Dior which confirms Roudnitska’s virtue on coherence. I think he believed that Dior’s line would benefit from the semblances. Et voila, the Dior-themed chypres have garnered hall of fame status that is until Dior Dior. Then the market went cold and astray preferring the stormy orientals. By the way, the modern one is harsh on what I think is a cilantro accord made by amping up melon, basil and lemons. It does retain the dreamy and languid quality the vintage imparts in feel but nothing beats the first iteration. Edit: It also has quite a cyber animalic quality to it rendered by the accord which I believe might have come from cumin. A full-on French snobbery. Get it if you can.

A week or so ago I agreed to swap a few perfumes that did not get enough love from me for a big bottle of Diorella. As a lover of vintage fumes, I was really happy to add it to my collection, the more so that my lovely swap partner informed me that it is from 2007. In the meantime, being an impatient, curious being, I tried it in perfumeries, and wore the recent EDT for two days. I was ever so slightly disappointed, I didn't quiet get the hype, the "milestone in perfumery", Roudnitska's masterpiece, etc. references. Nice, slightly bitter fruity chypre, where is the exciting Vietnamese beef salad (Tania Sanchez), the nearly rotting fruit, the muskiness? Then my swap perfume arrived. Not from 2007, but from 2006, so well before the disastrous reforms in 2009. And NOW I get it! Gosh, this perfume is outrageously good! It is all what it is said to be and more! Sweet and savoury, fresh and musky, juicy and dry, clean and lived-in, fascinating, exciting, a multitudes of facets intertwining and playing in different lights like a sparkling gemstone. The recent one is nothing like this. It is nice, but boring. A picture so pixelated that you can just guess what it looked like once. I am sure that the 2006 version differs from the original one, too, but gosh, this is alive and shimmering with Life! Go for it if you can find a bottle! Vintage version: 9.5/10 New version: 5.5/10

Ever since I first encountered Diorella, until this day, whenever I smell it I always get the same synesthetic sensation in a form of sequence of mental images: white calla lilies and white tulips - a sharp, clean cut through the firm green floral parts - the dripping of the thick, milky-white juice coming from the crisp stems. Being used to aldehyde sharpness, oriental spiciness and heavy perfumes in general, I was never so astonished by a beauty of this sort; citrus clarity, white flower elegance and serene herb and fruit notes, harmonizing in a composition of such relaxing, revitalizing quality. It gets even better. On top of all this, a dirty note; a delicate one, not animalic, but almost has a cyber character - like the one in Kenzo Elephant, but more subtle and erotic. Earlier someone mentioned cumin - Mr. E. Roudnitska signature note - so that just might be the reason why I perceive Diorella as clean and pure, but never sterile, sexy and playful and still very idealized. There's no cliche's or heavy burden of perfumer's tradition and history imposed, no expectation of mandatory development of composition, or heavy notes dominating over the pyramid or each other... But there's a lot of confidence and experience in it, as well as pure pleasure, all the way... Beautiful, feminine, sophisticated, a classic!

I tried this when I was fifteen years old - many, many moons ago - and fell in love with it. Did I also mention I'm a guy. I would never have tried this if it weren't for an older lady who worked the counter at Carson Pierre Scott near where I grew up. I was used to smelling men's colognes until Gladys sprayed this on my hand. I was confused - never smelled anything like it. Needless to say I was really disappointed when she told me it was a women's fragrance! It has an energetic buzzing, fizzing melon, leafy basil and boozy wine kind of feeling at first with a really good citrus note that doesn't say lemon or lime but is instead just an all around clean juicy citrus. That opening transitions into a really abstract floral and melon with hints of moss and cedar. It settles into an earthiness with oak moss and a nice patchouli (oh, I love patchouli) which makes it comfortable for a guy like me to wear even though there are noticeable fresh floral notes and powdery smooth musk note meant more for the ladies. I love this fragrance but it drives my wife crazy when I want to spray it on before going out. I like to tell her I'm going to spray it on before heading to her parents for dinner! Freaks her out every time! Can't a guy have fun?

Burn your bra and wear DIORELLA. Unless you happen to be 36C, in which case I highly recommend that you keep the bra and wear DIORELLA. In any case, whatever your beliefs about appropriate displays of women's liberation might be, I encourage all of you, men and women alike, to wear DIORELLA! This 1970 creation opens aromatically and entirely unisex. Lots of lemon, lots of basil, lots of other greenness as well. No one can convince me that this is not every bit as suited for a man as a woman. Refreshing, clean, invigorating, DIORELLA lies at the extreme end of the chypre spectrum (at the other end of which are found lots of shadows and fog...) and is a true gender-bender fragrance, eventually winding up in a subtle, lightly floralized vetiver drydown, which could be interpreted as feminine, but decidedly not in the pink lipstick, vanilla sugar, bouquet of roses way. I love DIORELLA, and have added this to my wish list, although I'll be buying the edp--if such exists--since the edt seems too shortlived to me.

Edmond Roudnitska claimed Diorella as his proudest creation and although absolutely justified, I do not think it is his best creation. That aside, I adore this scent. Roudnitska created a new type of floral chypre with Diorella, one which was inspired by the great Eau Sauvage and to a lesser degree, Eau Fraiche. The airy freshness of jasmine, along with a rindy bergamot and lemon, is a major key in this composition. But he somehow removed the sweetness and headiness of traditional jasmine, amplifying the floral heart through carnation, rose and cyclamen which are given a natural feel through the inclusion of basil - whose aniseed warmth, alongside a traditional Chypre base, stops the scent from feeling cold. Whilst the current formulation is also beautiful, the restriction of certain materials over time, namely oakmoss, means that nothing will compare to the original formulation. This is such an incredibly unique take on a floral Chypre with it’s satisfying herbal freshness, a true masterpiece.

Mirth! vitality! Elegant jump. Sweet melon green, that salty taste will guide people to a better entrance. The "New look" of the perfume industry comes from the traditional Dior. Chanel cristalle side by side Diorella, which comes from the Edmond Roudnitska I admire. Diorella is concise and powerful, and this style points to a modern one, away from the so-called classical form. Young cristalle are cold, young Diorellas are gentle, and their relationships are close, but often opposing from different angles. Atypical chypre, with jasmine as its core, sketching out the spring and summer seasons, the yellow daffodils on the lake, around the fresh flowers. Refreshing, moist and juicy, diorella is an extension of Eu Sauvage, the ancestor of Frederic Malle Le Parfum de Therese. Like a cup of iced tea, that is more delicious than perfume. Did women's aesthetics gradually change in 1972? Worryingly, care needs to be taken to collect it to avoid spoiling. I'm afraid Diorella will change a little.

This is an incredible fragrance. The work of pure genius. So many good reviews here, I am not going to be repeating things that have already been said in a much more eloquent way. Suffices to say that Diorella has shot up to be one of my most favourite fragrances of all time. I cannot put my finger onto precisely what makes it so interesting and beguiling, is it the surprising but harmonious combination of notes, the melon and honeysuckle, citruses fading into background. The soapiness, pleasant soapiness. Diorella is sophisticated and complex whilst at the same time being totally natural and free. Never dull and boring. I have several vintage bottles, not tried the new version. Its like a beautiful stone you lift up against the light and every time you turn it a little you see a different colour, different facet sparkling; its a living fragrance, different temperature and setting emphasising one element over another. An unassuming masterpiece.

To me, this is the enchanted garden. Green and damp and full of sweet sunshine and life. I wore this for the first time last night, from a decant of a vintage bottle, gifted to me from a lovely Fragrantican. How I love this community! So many opportunities to try such amazing scents! This one goes on with a blast of what leans a bit "classic," if you know what I mean. It's just on the edge of vintage without smelling outdated, though I'm certain some noses would find it so. But the drydown. Oh heavens me! Heavens is right! This is heavenly! When the oakmoss and greens calm, we are left with a burst of fruity, floral, freshness that is perfect for spring and summer. It's such a unique scent, and so special, I'm tempted to put it on my want list and pine for it until I either give up or find a killer deal! Definitely worth a sniff. I will treasure every drop of my little decant.

I was lucky enough to find a bottle of 50 ml which is obviously a previous edition. Not vintage, but thanks God not the latest one which is badly reformulated. I can cope with my reformulated version, as the smell I remember from my childhood, will never be the same. I will tell you the story of my love for this fragrance. When I was 8 years old, (that must have been in 1975), I met a singer, a kind of Diva! She was an old lady, full of makeup, and dressed in an exaggerate sparkling gown. What impressed me immediatelly, was the fact that her wonderful smell, was completely incompatible with her appearance. Her smell, was an airy, mossy, citrusy, peachy one, very transparent and out of her world! I asked her at once. What was that smell?... "Diorella" she replied. THAT Diorella does not exist any more...Reformulations are cruel, as cruel is time that passes by....

I just purchased a sample of diorella as it sounded intriguing, I didnt expect to like it much because it sounded so different to my usual fragrances and I don't usually like green-type ones. But - it is love at first sniff! The moment I sprayed this I felt a bright, sparkly joy, it is summertime here and very hot but I felt instantly cooler. Because a lot of reviews talked about it being lemony I thought it would be very sharp but it is so soft and beautiful, a truly classical smell. I have only been wearing it for 4 hours and it smells very similar to when I first applied it so will see how it wears throughout the day. It is so unlike any thing I have smelled before, so far removed from the sweet generic fragrances that are popular now, I absolutely love it! And this is only the cureent EDT formulation so I will now try to hunt the original version down.

this was my first fragrance that my mom bought for me at the age of 18. but I have a confusion though..the packaging was a plead print in off white and navy colors..they must have changed it..anyways..it represents so many sweet memories for me..I truly treasured this bottle and loved wearing it!! should get one and try to see if it still smells good on my older skin:-) update-long time passed since I wrote this 10 years ago and I now have 10 times more knowledge as a collector lol! The one I was longing for IS the original formula and this is a reformulation. Sorry--Nothing like the original. The original bottle (it is a splash) can still be found by vintage sellers but there's always a risk of getting a rancid one :-((( Beautiful memories of this will never fade..the object is almost gone.

I saw a bottle of this in a perfume shop today and something told me that I should try it. I LOVE it!!! It's packaged like the picture above. The lady behind the counter had the nerve to say it had an "old lady smell". Whatever. Had I been as bold and courageous in my teens as I am now, I would NEVER have worn the likes of Acqua di Gio, Calvin Klein Eternity, Tommy for Men or even Polo Sport. I actually had a sniff-a-thon today and I prefer this over Acqua di Parma's Colonia Assoluta.... now THAT should say it all for what I think of Diorella. Needless to say, this will be in my collection within a week. When the bottle runs out, I'll be ordering the newer one from the Les Creations de Monsieur collection...

This is a masterpiece if you like your perfumes green and dry with tones of citrus. I'm amazed it's for women because it could work equally well for both sexes. In some respects it resembles "Miss Dior", but only in the broadest aspects. This has more guts than the prim Miss Dior, almost converging on YSL's priceless "Y" creation. Only, the latter has more darkness and bitterness whereas Diorella appears more light-hearted at the outset before going on to develop into a serious scent which seems to be very thoughtfully composed. Most definitely a top mainstay of my current perfume wardrobe and for those of you who don't know this scent, I can strongly recommend ordering a small sample.

Beguiling perfume trailing contradictions and radiance. Opens with a dusty-juicy lemon and moss with a distinctly watery melon and floral vibe. It's an alchemical marvel that Roudnitska managed to create the foundational contradiction of dry-dusty-juicy-fresh olfactory experience and that alone makes this perfume a masterpiece. My bottle is a 1976 glory, rising up from my skin like a bottled spring morning, creating a distinct aura around me for hours. I don't have to put nose to skin to smell this but I can't help myself and do for the sheer pleasure of the up-close immersion. What a joy this old beauty is. Distillation: beguiling vintage radiance of early spring capturing my heart

Diorella is no chef d'oeuvre to be be trifled with. An exacting, precise, cerebral perfume it is not a work but an embodiment of art. It takes the basic chypre recipe and deploying Occam's razor removes any fat, skims off excess and leaves only clean muscle and salient seasoning. A list of ingredients reads as unremarkable: lemon, oakmoss, basil, bergamot, a melodius melon, some greens and sprig or two of patchouli. Each is of the highest quality, but it is the genius of their deployment and not the hauter of their demeanor that gives the dish as served its unrivaled effect. There is no man or woman in a kitchen, merely the one in charge in whites. Diorella is Chef.

I still have a tiny actual perfume of Diorella from, most likely, the late 70's. It is still wearable, although undoubtedly past it's prime. I haven't smelled the new formulation, but this scent has always struck me, as Eau Sauvage for women! (I couldn't find Eau Sauvage on your data list, BTW or I would have posted it.) It is so much like Eau Sauvage that I feel that Dior must have just added some lovely honeysuckle and a little jasmine to the men's scent and called it a day!This is another scent that invokes summer for me, always. Annick Goutal's "Eau De Sud" made me think of Diorella right away, the first time I smelled it. No where near as lasting though.

I had bought EDT Diorella in Paris in 1991. A bottle with silver-edged blue cup. It was my favorite (along with Turbulescense) at that time. Actually I had only these two, but I had chosen them from many others in the store. In 1998 I have bought in New York a huge bottle of EDT Diorella with white cup. When I brought it home it was almost the same but different. More transparent, more basil and more watered down. I like the first one much more. Actually I would say they are two different fragarances, while they have the same notes. The first one always draws compliments from men, so bright and flowery, just fantastic. I never met this again anywhere.

This is for Diorella the vintage parfum. From the vial a most alive and vibrant aromatic and fruity citrus. Simultaneously spicy earthy woody mossy and bright. It as though the color white had it’s own scent. It has an overwhelming whiteness to it without smelling of white florals specifically. A spicy aromatic slightly sweet white scent. It is fresh yet dry. A neat trick of subverting sweet fruit and white florals with citrus, woods mosses and dry grass. 20m in it is taking on a honeyed hay-like quality. 5h 27 later it has a dry sweetness of hay (vetiver) and a touch of oakmoss. Very unusual. Very appealing. 8.5/10.

Diorella, in its purest form, is my ultimate fragrance desire. The eau de toilette is fine, but it doesn't last and it lacks the incredible richness and complexity of the pure parfum which, sadly, is no longer produced. The extrait sat in its slim bottle, with a substantial stepped silver top. The word Diorella was engraved into the top. Just a few dabs lasted all day or night. Such luxury! In my dreams Dior re-releases it as a parfum on one of its anniversaries. This year is 40 years since its release. Has anyone heard anything? Will I have to wait another 10 years for this treasure to return? Or will it never?

i recently (& finally) got a sealed late 70s vintage diorella on ebay and i am simply in love with this gem. the current formulation is ok but nothing to get excited about - too citric, too generic. this, however, is a remarkable fragrance: deep moss that floats!, a floral undercurrent that gives it real old school elegance and a very ripe fruit (some say peach, i say the whole basket) note that projects & lasts. i really love this and see it being an all-season wonder. moments like opening vintage diorella are what make this expensive hobby so utterly enjoyable. timeless masterpiece....

Dior Diorella (1972) - melon chypre - is a classic masterpiece that embodies Edmond Roudnitska’s signature style. The fragrance begins with a woody-citrus opening, featuring herbal notes of basil and an overripe melon. As it progresses, it transitions to a rich citrus-floral accord, where the flowers are so well-blended that they’re almost indistinguishable. However, I can definitely detect the perfumer’s signature of carnation, rose, and jasmine. The dry-down transforms into a dry, woody-floral scent on a chypre base that evokes the fragrance of #eausauvage.

What an absolute beauty. Crystalline. Citrus. Testing 1970's vintage edt. Smells so much like Cristalle (came out 2 years after this I see) initially and then turns into a stunning citrus woods. Others springing to mind, eau hadrien (from memory) and the drydown, balmain de balmain parfum (worn the other day). All said, nothing compares. This has got to be the best citrus I have ever whiffed and will ever whiff. THAT oakmoss! and the slight melon/peach fruitiness. And something a bit musky/fulsome. They certainly don't make em like they used to.

I'm going through a vintage phase and Diorella was next on my list to revisit. I cannot believe I used to wear this in my early teens! How on earth did I pull it off?? All I can think is that it was a different time and we were probably all reeking of oakmoss, as opposed to today's teenagers who love to smell saccharine sweet, like candy and flowers. This to me smells old money, pure class, divine decadence. I feel rich and aristocratic just wearing it, sitting here in my Target pj's ... I definitely appreciate this more as an adult.

The amazing muskmelon note in this immortally beautiful fragrance sets it apart from the plethora of spawn, many of which I adore.....Cristalle, Après Mousson, philtre d Amour, etc. (Upon smelling Roja Dove Diagliev I instantly thought Diorella with a big dash of Mitzy). In fact Diorella is probably the great mother of the aquatic melon female seaweed genre. I am using a beloved vintage version. I've never seen a new version in Australia. It is ridiculously sexual, driving one into that maddening quest.

I’m wearing my 1970’s bottle. Continuous and generous spray and still one of my favourite perfumes of all time. Bright, fresh and a juicy burst of funky overripe melon. This is a sensational fragrance. I have been wearing this for decades and the vintage remains beautifully complex and a more sophisticated eau sauvage (original). I don’t wear this often because to replace it is pricey however I am never disappointed with this concoction. Hypnotic, multilayered and unique.

One of the most famous and beautiful feminine fragrances of all time--a green and floral chypre with complexity and elegance. You can recognize the basic DNA of this from Edmond Roudnitska's many other great chypres of mid-century: Dior's Eau Fraiche, Eau Sauvage, Diorama... each of them a masterpiece. This is one more among them. This will never, ever be old-fashioned--it will always be a classic.

Indisputably a masterpiece and one of the best floral chypre fragrances around. Sister of Eau Sauvage, this one is a bit more watery and round with the Roudnitska signature. This one adds a bit more floral freshness over Eau Sauvage's sweaty caraway, though both are cozy and lived in, as great chypre fragrances tend to be. I can never decide which of the two I like better. I guess I don't have to!

Am I missing something here - but how can perfume lovers on Fragrantica forums keep telling us that they have and use 'vintage' versions of things like Diorella? Where do they store it - in ice? Someone below mentions Dior Dior - that disappeared over 40 years ago - how can you still use it? I have an old bottle of Diorella in the box in storage and it smells vile. It's off. End of.

The current version is rather a tragedy - the vintage edt is in my rotation of scents, usually a spring/summer wear. I always used to wear Eau Sauvage in versions that were fairly close the original, before it too was ruined. Diorella builds on the Eau Sauvage backbone so cleverly, and when smelled objectively is a stunning unisex fragrance. A reference green fruity/floral chypre.

Classy - a real fragrance that exudes elegance, totally different from modern perfume, not even a little coquettish, or sweet.All moderate to perfection, even the initial sharpness is softened; on my first fresh and floral, slightly green. The signature Dior feeling at any time, in fact even today when someone mentioned to me the first Dior fragrance association was - Diorella!

An amazing feminine fragrance also perfect for males. Woody citrus at their best. Diorella is awesome and should be tried by any fragrances lover in order to put some good basis on their personal olfactory culture. No need to spend many words on this kind of perfumes , instead we should hand down history to always preserve this marvellous creations from olbivion. Rating: 10/10

I bought a vintage bottle of Diorella. It is absolutely divine. People complain here that they wouldn't wear vintage, that somehow it's gone bad. That's how you know it hasn't been used. It takes several sprays with a vintage bottle to clear out the tube to get to the good stuff. Don't underestimate an authentic, vintage perfume as long as it's been stored out of sunlight.

Hot and cold, fizzy, sparkly musky 7UP! Finally a fresh citrus based scent that doesn't bore me. I'm sure the original formulation was better but I love the modern incarnation for what it is. The old `toothpaste on a fur coat` analogy still makes sense even with this version. Warm and fuzzy glow meets icy, tart herbal liquid. Clearly unisex.

Slipping into the stream flowing to the centre of the cool dark green river, hair floating, flowing underwater. Diving down and then looking up to see the brilliant flawless cerulean sky turned turquoise in the emerald underwater glow. Quiet, calm and cool in my world. I, Mermaid, wear Diorella. Diorella, a perfume by Christian Dior.

Strepitosa fragranza anni '70. Fresca, vivace, effervescente. Un classico per ogni momento della giornata. Ci sento il caprifoglio e il mughetto... ma quello che mi piace di piu' sono le note iniziali di limone e basilico... mettono il buon umore!!!

Classical and beautiful-the most beautiful bergamot in the perfume world! Suitable for warmer seasons, in winter you might feel cold wearing it. Unfortunately, it's hard to find it in the stores, especially in my country.

wonderfull fresh fragrance. When smelled it for the first time when I was young, I connected it with the organza textile. A transparent smell. Years after, it reminded me of Cristalle by Chanel.

My elixir of youth. Actually my first fragrance, at 16, and still love it like crazy. Forever green, fresh and real, nothing like the juices on the marked today.

I have Diorella for decades, honeysuckle fragrance ! It was reformulated , added citrus , it is also a very complex fragrance . Feminine and aromatic !

One of my favourite Dior scents. Long lasting, very femine Dior at its subtle and most enchanting. Definitely recommend.

OK: I have a vintage (probably 80s) EDT and it is divine. Is it just me or is the dry down quite bit No 19?