Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
01/07/2021
Oriane
133 Reviews
Oriane
Very helpful Review
4
Wearable, Classic-Style, Floral Aldehyde Chypre
Diva by Emanuel Ungaro is a Chypre Floral fragrance for women. Diva was launched in 1983 and was available in both eau de parfum and eau de toilette formulations. The nose behind this fragrance is the legendary perfumer Jacques Polge, later in-house parfumer to CHANEL.
Ungaro’s first perfume was dedicated to women. The word ‘Diva’ carries an association with prima donna and has the Italian meaning "goddess." Diva was/is a classic-style perfume, and its composition is built around rose, Ungaro’s symbol. The bottle imitates curves of the female body, which is again one of Ungaro’s idols. The opening is classic, floral with a citrusy note, which harmonises with tuberose. Ylang-ylang is mixed with rose. The sweet and sensual finale is reached by the notes of vanilla, sandalwood and iris.
Top notes: Aldehydes, Indian Tuberose, Coriander, Cardamom, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot
Heart notes: Turkish Rose, Moroccan Rose, Carnation, Ylang-Ylang, Narcissus, Orris Root and Egyptian Jasmine
Base notes: Honey, Oakmoss, Civet, iris, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Vetiver, Musk and Vanilla
Diva is definitely a fragrance of its time meaning that you will not likely come across anyone around you wearing this fragrance these days. I have a vintage eau de parfum formulation. This is one of a few chypre fragrances I am able to wear. I must have a sensitivity to oakmoss in large quantities because that note makes some chypre fragrances unwearable or very seldom wearable for me, e.g. Estee Lauder Knowing and Christian Dior Dioressence---both of which are oakmoss bombs on my skin.
Diva is a beautiful chypre floral aldehyde fragrance with a lovely warm honey note in the base which I think is what allows me to wear this fragrance as it smooths out the hard, rough oakmoss note in the base. I particularly enjoy the top notes and the base notes. I mainly detect the rose and the oakmoss notes. I love ylang-ylang, jasmine, and iris, but I cannot differentiate these notes in this composition.
Diva is not overtly sugary sweet, but there is a sort of savoury sweetness to the base with the combined honey and oakmoss notes that are what draws me to this fragrance. I am happy to wear Diva on quite chilly Autumn and cold Winter nights either at home alone or out. I personally would not wear this fragrance to an office or even to church/synagogue/mosque. Two sprays would be sufficient in most instances. Three sprays would border on unbearable, and four sprays would be unbearable for all but those who are long anosmic to it.
I find this fragrance unisex. It is a sophisticated fragrance that is very classical in style (some may say "old style") and more apropos to someone over 30. I would not ever pair this fragrance with jeans or very casual clothing. Normally, I wear whatever fragrance I fancy with whatever clothing I wish, but in this case, that would not work. Diva requires some degree of dressiness if you are going to wear it in public.
Performance is above average compared to most fragrances these days with projection of 6'easily.
Personally, I find the bottle very appealing. It catches the light beautifully and feels nice in hand. All my fragrances are stored in a dark, cool cupboard, but this bottle would look very attractive on a vanity.
Fragrance: 7/10 (very high marks for a chypre for me personally)
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 8/10
Sillage: 7/10
Presentation: 8/10
Ungaro’s first perfume was dedicated to women. The word ‘Diva’ carries an association with prima donna and has the Italian meaning "goddess." Diva was/is a classic-style perfume, and its composition is built around rose, Ungaro’s symbol. The bottle imitates curves of the female body, which is again one of Ungaro’s idols. The opening is classic, floral with a citrusy note, which harmonises with tuberose. Ylang-ylang is mixed with rose. The sweet and sensual finale is reached by the notes of vanilla, sandalwood and iris.
Top notes: Aldehydes, Indian Tuberose, Coriander, Cardamom, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot
Heart notes: Turkish Rose, Moroccan Rose, Carnation, Ylang-Ylang, Narcissus, Orris Root and Egyptian Jasmine
Base notes: Honey, Oakmoss, Civet, iris, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Vetiver, Musk and Vanilla
Diva is definitely a fragrance of its time meaning that you will not likely come across anyone around you wearing this fragrance these days. I have a vintage eau de parfum formulation. This is one of a few chypre fragrances I am able to wear. I must have a sensitivity to oakmoss in large quantities because that note makes some chypre fragrances unwearable or very seldom wearable for me, e.g. Estee Lauder Knowing and Christian Dior Dioressence---both of which are oakmoss bombs on my skin.
Diva is a beautiful chypre floral aldehyde fragrance with a lovely warm honey note in the base which I think is what allows me to wear this fragrance as it smooths out the hard, rough oakmoss note in the base. I particularly enjoy the top notes and the base notes. I mainly detect the rose and the oakmoss notes. I love ylang-ylang, jasmine, and iris, but I cannot differentiate these notes in this composition.
Diva is not overtly sugary sweet, but there is a sort of savoury sweetness to the base with the combined honey and oakmoss notes that are what draws me to this fragrance. I am happy to wear Diva on quite chilly Autumn and cold Winter nights either at home alone or out. I personally would not wear this fragrance to an office or even to church/synagogue/mosque. Two sprays would be sufficient in most instances. Three sprays would border on unbearable, and four sprays would be unbearable for all but those who are long anosmic to it.
I find this fragrance unisex. It is a sophisticated fragrance that is very classical in style (some may say "old style") and more apropos to someone over 30. I would not ever pair this fragrance with jeans or very casual clothing. Normally, I wear whatever fragrance I fancy with whatever clothing I wish, but in this case, that would not work. Diva requires some degree of dressiness if you are going to wear it in public.
Performance is above average compared to most fragrances these days with projection of 6'easily.
Personally, I find the bottle very appealing. It catches the light beautifully and feels nice in hand. All my fragrances are stored in a dark, cool cupboard, but this bottle would look very attractive on a vanity.
Fragrance: 7/10 (very high marks for a chypre for me personally)
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 8/10
Sillage: 7/10
Presentation: 8/10
