Christian Dior Miss Dior (that was once upon a time known as Miss Dior Chérie) is going to be released in the extrait de parfum version. Miss Dior Le Parfum was created by perfumer François Demachy. It is a richer, more floral take on the original. It includes notes of mandarin, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, patchouli, amber, and vanilla. Miss Dior Le Parfum is going to be available at Dior boutiques and department store counters starting September 2012.
I love this ad with Natalie Portman!
Also, earlier this year, Dior released a new version of Poison Esprit de Parfum, originally created by perfumer Edouard Fléchier. It’s close to the original Poison, except that the floral heart is heavier and darker. At first, it smells disconcertingly like grape juice, but over time, the sugary sweetness subsides, and the bold tuberose takes over. The drydown is sweet and smoky, with a strong amber nuance. I have an older version of Esprit de Parfum and it feels more velvety and opulent next to this new take.
Chanel has launched Coco Mademoiselle L’Extrait this spring. For those who enjoy the original Coco Mademoiselle, it’s an interesting variation. It amplifies the ambery gourmand notes with a richer dose of iris and rose. It won’t sway those who find Coco Mademoiselle too loud and sweet, but it’s nicely crafted.
Another parfum variation I’ve sampled and enjoyed was Cartier Baiser Volé. In contrast to the Eau de Parfum, it’s warmer, and more nuanced. The lily notes are opulent, with a hint of honey that lingers in the drydown. A crunchy green note is a fresh leitmotif that wraps the composition nicely.
37 Comments
Rachel: Thanks, V! This is very helpful, my local department store doesn’t have any parfum testers. If I ask, they look at me as if I have two heads. Baiser Vole sounds very good. Do you think that it’s significantly better than the edp? August 3, 2012 at 8:55am
Victoria: I discovered a perfume shop here that has testers of all concentrations on display. Their selection is limited to a few big brands, but it was great to compare Baiser Vole in several different concentrations. I think that the parfum is heads and shoulders above the edp. It smells so rich and elegant, but also multifaceted. I’m not tempted by the edp, but I really would love the parfum. August 3, 2012 at 12:34pm
Rachel: Thanks, V! I like the edp, but it doesn’t last on me. My b-day is in two weeks, so I might nudge my hubby towards Baiser Vole parfum. 🙂 August 3, 2012 at 12:47pm
Victoria: Hope that you will enjoy it! It lasted for the whole day on me, and the packaging is beautiful. I can see how it would be a lovely birthday present. August 3, 2012 at 12:53pm
Barbara: I don’t care for Natalie Portman as an actress, but the ad is gorgeous. It reminds me of some old YSL Paris ad. August 3, 2012 at 12:54pm
Victoria: I can see that! The ad with Loulou de La Falaise holding a big bouquet of pink roses? August 3, 2012 at 1:16pm
annemariec: Oh I loved those ads! I bought Paris on the basis of them, and cut one or two of the ads out of magazines to keep. Yes, there is quite a similarity with this Portman ad, except that these days we are less well groomed, and allow Natalie’s hair to slip out of its fastenings. August 3, 2012 at 6:02pm
Victoria: Anne Marie, that’s an interesting observation and it’s so spot on! The older ads are definitely much more glamorous and groomed in the “not a hair out of place” fashion. Today it isn’t so. Probably, it’s a reflection on how much more casual we’ve gotten overall. For my mom’s generation, the idea of going to the store wearing jeans and no makeup is very strange, but open a fashion magazine and what do you see–celebrities vying each other for their non-makeup, low grooming looks. August 4, 2012 at 4:47am
annemariec: Yes, now you mention it, we have become more casual. I’m thinking now of those Lauder ads from the 1980s: perfection (if you like that sort of thing!). And my mum dressed up for a trip to the city too. When I began work in the public service 20 years ago I would not dream of wearing jeans. Now my workplace is full of stylish, confident women who think nothing of wearing jeans to work. Always dark, beautifully cut jeans, of course. August 4, 2012 at 5:50pm
Victoria: You would like this story then, Anne Marie. My grandmother lives in a small village in the Eastern Ukraine. One day when I was staying with her, she asked me if I could help her with some grocery shopping. The store was within 2 minutes from our house, but my grandmother placed an order for something heavy. I said yes and was about to walk out. My grandmother was horrified, “no, no, you can’t go like this, without lipstick and wearing this old cardigan.” She made me arrange my hair, put on some makeup and wear a perfectly ironed jacket. 🙂 All for a 2 minute walk to the local village shop. August 5, 2012 at 12:49pm
Daisy: Ah! I got a magazine in the mail the other day and saw the Natalie Portman ad for a new perfume called Miss Dior. I remember thinking, “Hmmm, that’s strange . . . I thought there was already a Miss Dior . . .” I guess I didn’t look closely enough at the label to see the “Le Parfum” bit.
The names are really getting confusing, but the strip smelled nice — well, as nice as it can given it’s one of those magazine things! August 3, 2012 at 1:28pm
Victoria: It’s confusing, I know! Ok, here is what happened–Dior decided to relaunch its fragrance called Miss Dior Cherie, so they renamed it Miss Dior. The original Miss Dior from 1947 is now called Miss Dior Originale. So, whatever called Miss Dior Le Parfum is actually the parfum version of Miss Dior Cherie. Phew! August 3, 2012 at 2:55pm
Daisy: That is so complicated! I think I need a spreadsheet! August 3, 2012 at 3:16pm
Victoria: Or an organizational flow chart! I agree, it’s ridiculous. August 4, 2012 at 4:43am
Mimi: Have you been able to sample Miss Dior Originale? It’s available on Dior’s site, some stores and e-bay, but I haven’t been able to try it. I am so hoping it will at least be close to the original. August 5, 2012 at 2:41pm
Victoria: I smelled it a couple of times, and yes, it’s close to the original. But it’s as if the original got significantly diluted. August 6, 2012 at 7:28am
Undina: I’m boycotting new Miss Dior perfume. I can’t get past stripping the original one off its place. It feels very wrong – even with a very attractive Natalie Portman as a model. August 3, 2012 at 6:42pm
Victoria: I love Portman and this ad, so she’s probably the only reason I decided to announce it. But boycotting Miss Dior perfume isn’t hard for me. I really don’t like the edt/edp. It smells sweet and sticky. August 4, 2012 at 4:48am
Ariadne: I L L L LOVE Cartier Baiser Vole, however the only variation I could get was the EDT in Sephora. Sadly it lasted for only an hour on my skin and disappeared w/o a trace. I have read others who commented the same. I am thrilled to see it offered in a perfume but I will have to track it down here in CT. This scent is such an interesting one and reminded me of your excursion through the memory rooms with their respective aromas. This perfume unfolds. August 4, 2012 at 9:33am
Victoria: The parfum lasts much better. I know that when I reviewed the edt/edp, several people complained that the lasting power was minimal. This shouldn’t be an issue with this new formulation. August 4, 2012 at 4:36pm
Lisa: It’s rather serendipitous that you blogged about CD Poison — a couple of nights ago, I fished my old EdP out just so I could get a whiff of the fragrance that takes me right back to my freshman year. I would be interested in trying the Poison Esprit de Parfum — I don’t love the fragrance any less. However, I have to wonder if the original Poison in any carnation is appropriate for 2012. 🙂 August 4, 2012 at 12:27pm
Victoria: Maybe, if it’s worn with a light hand! But you know, tuberose is hugely popular these days and it continues to be a trendy note. So, I wouldn’t worry about Poison being dated. August 4, 2012 at 4:37pm
Nancy A.: Victoria,
Glad you clarified that Natalie Portman was the face in the Dior ads. I’ve always loved her. I think back when Baiser Vole was launched here –from its packaging and scent and drydown on me, I had lost interest in Cartier for awhile until this new launch. And, yes Victoria that was always my immediate impression of Poison, grape juice! Oddly enough, I have kept a mini-bottle of Poison, which I kept simply because I like the bottle color, etc. and one day against my better judgement I sniffed and decided to put some on and I was surprised that it had evolved into a lovely fragrance on me. Maybe, it was my body chemistry, but it still doesn’t convince me to purchase a new bottle. Some perfumes I will re-visit and test and some that I thought that I would forego sustenance to purchase one that I love changes all too often. And commenting on Dior: disappointing. August 4, 2012 at 12:58pm
Victoria: My favorite movie with Portman is The Garden State. I love it! Black Swan was well-shot and she was believable as a dancer, but I hated the plot.
Poison is one of those perfumes that bear revisiting. It’s complex and it takes time to develop. I don’t regret keeping a bottle on hand. August 4, 2012 at 4:39pm
fleurdelys: I’m excited to hear about the Poison Esprit de Parfum. Never wore it during its heyday (way before my perfumista days), but I like the eau de parfum very much – so pretty as long as it’s not oversprayed. Can you compare the EDP with the Esprit? August 6, 2012 at 11:00am
Victoria: I don’t think that it’s made in the EDP, only in the EDT and Esprit de Parfum. Compared to the EDT, the Esprit is sweeter, heavier, more white floral, but also more ambery. The EDP feels lighter on top and citrusy. August 6, 2012 at 11:38am
Zubi d’Nova / Melissa de Blok: I wonder if the MDC (or MD whatever) will be similar to the “vintage” MDC from 2005 (which I am a die-hard fan of.
Natalie Portman is too sexualised and modern in this, imo, but I’m an 80 year old in a 23 year old body. Put someone with big classic eyes in a classy pose, like Aishwarya Rai, or even Katy Perry (those eyes!). August 6, 2012 at 3:47pm
Victoria: I would love to see Aishwarya Rai in a perfume ad! That woman is stunning, just stunning. August 6, 2012 at 4:22pm
Zubi d’Nova / Melissa de Blok: Isn’t she??
I’ve seen her in a watch ad but don’t have the photo…(I had photographed it with my Blackberry as inspiration (I shoot fashion) and recently deleted it – while my gut went, “you might want to save that”…..)
I’ll look for it now. August 6, 2012 at 6:43pm
Zubi d’Nova / Melissa de Blok: Here: http://joliebrittish.blogspot.nl/2011/03/from-archives-elegance-is-attitude.html August 6, 2012 at 6:50pm
Victoria: Ah, those eyes! I watch my Devdas DVD whenever I want an escape and a reminder of how unbelievable beautiful some people can be. 🙂 August 7, 2012 at 4:30am
Zubi d’Nova / Melissa de Blok: You should watch Guru; her and her husband (and the music) are awesome in it! 🙂 August 7, 2012 at 4:58am
Victoria: I already saw it and then replayed the dance sequences I don’t know how many times! My favorite one is called “Barso Re.” August 7, 2012 at 5:01am
Daisy: I LOVE the Aishwarya Rai version of Devdas! I had the great fortune of seeing it in IMAX in Paris. Gorgeous!
I haven’t seen Guru, but it sounds like a great thing to add to my Netflix list. August 7, 2012 at 12:22pm
Victoria: Definitely add it to your list! It’s one of my favorites, and it’s really made. Even all of the supporting actors are excellent. I read that it was based on a true story. August 8, 2012 at 2:54am
Adriana: And can You imagine her favorit fragrance is Clinique Happy? I couldn’t. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. I just imagined her enveloped in something like “A la Nuit”. 🙂 September 27, 2016 at 3:21am
Adriana: Back from Paris since a few days, I came more confused than I went, so much flanker stuff on Dior count that I was dizzy. Imagine even Le Parfum has been once again reformulated in 2015 and it smells different than the 2012 one and…. God bless, I got into that feeling that too much information dropped on me all of a sudden and I don’t know anymore what I like, what I would love having, and… what was the reformulation I did not enjoy…. There used to be one Le Parfume I used to love, but don’t ask me whether it was 2015 or 2012 because I don’t remember. And btw, Fragonard was as well an experience, but I was disappointed deeply by the rush we were taken through and by the reluctance of the guide to talk too much about competitors, reformulations and shockingly MR. Lalique. I guess his fault has been creating his own brand which didn’t set right with Fragonard. Just a guess. September 27, 2016 at 3:28am