Yellow Diamond Versace 2011

I love yellow diamonds, so much so that I don't think I'd accept anything less as an engagement ring, as it is pretty much my dream. Husband to be, I will apologise in advance for my fussy behaviour. However, when it comes to Versace Yellow Diamond, I am impressed but also under-whelmed.

I enjoyed the opening top notes immensely. The initial blast was quite citrusy, sweet and fresh. Lemon, mimosa, pear and orange blossom danced about on my skin all light and sparkly for the first ten or so minutes. At this point I was smiling in agreeance with its scent.

Unfortunately the heart was much thicker than I expected, with the fruits taking on a more sourish quality. The floral notes also became richer with a hint of soapiness, mostly due to the freesia accord. It was at this point that Versace Yellow Diamond began to smell very much like Marc Jacobs Daisy. I am so glad other reviewers have backed me up in this observation, as for a while I felt it was only me that thought this.

Like Daisy, I like it but I find it a bit too strong for hot weather. It has a similar salty play-doh accord that begins to grate on my nerves after awhile. I am beginning to question whether Versace was purposely attempting to re-create Daisy in order to leech off its success.

The sillage and longevity may be superb, and the bottle equally as impressive, yet I'm not completely sold on this fragrance. It's in the same vein as Bright Crystal, very citrusy and sharp, which was another scent I couldn't warm to.

Perhaps I had built this fragrance up to be something a lot better in my mind prior to smelling, in order for me to feel so cheated now. I believe that if Versace Yellow Diamond had been a little softer in scent, I may have liked it more.

I'm extremely open-minded, but I cannot get around the fact that this smells like Daisy! There must have been some inspiration behind Yellow Diamond, aside from wanting to produce a clean-classy floral. The dry-down is slightly different. Yellow Diamond becomes more floral opposed to fruity. The clean aspect is more associated with the pear note. However, Marc Jacobs Daisy and Versace Yellow Diamond are still in fact, far too similar. It wouldn't make sense for any woman to own them both. Who has the edge?? Yellow Diamond, hands down... but Daisy stands up to her newly born, and more sophisticated sister dressed in black as a parfum.

I have a metal box where I keep dozens of samples that I get every time I purchase perfume, still to be examined and reviewed. That being the case, I thought it was time again for a fragrance review created for the female universe, as apparently, they are most of what is left in the box. This one caught my attention, the yellow leaflet with the flowers and the medusa emblem. While they marketed it for women, I don’t find it feminine; I think it would suit anyone who wants that smell of fresh citrus and just blooming yellow flowers. Today’s perfume comes from Versace, has been around for about ten years, and allegedly discontinued and bears the name of Yellow Diamond. It’s pretty interesting how Versace created the yellow color within the confines of a fragrance. At each stage of its evolution, the aroma recalls images of all kinds of fruits, flowers, and woods that belong to shades of yellow. It is just like breathing in the smell of flowering trees in early spring.

The opening of Yellow Diamond is quite interesting to me. I get a citrus blend which might sound potent but is quite fleeting. Also, captivating fruity notes, namely the pear sorbet, which fades in and mitigates the citric, I feel strongly. Besides, bittersweet neroli plays its role and adds some further calmness to it, with a very adorable creamy sweetness and a mellow floral aura in the background. So, those who might be worried about a runaway citrus aroma can rest assured that Yellow Diamond isn’t like that. Despite having seen many sites that mention lemon in the top notes, the fragrance contains Diamante’s citron, which takes its name from the city of Diamante on the southwest coast of Italy, which is presumably different from the lemon. The scent of citron is somewhere between a lemon and lime. But it has sweet facets and a herbaceous and leafy note that balances the acid. The result is a citrusy, fresh, and clean aroma. Perhaps you would like to check Perris Montecarlo’s Cedro di Diamante for getting a better idea. So, the initial stage is all about dark yellow citron and pale yellow pear.

I pick up more of the sensual floral notes in the heart, and the scent becomes like being among some lush greenery. The presence of the intoxicating yellowish mimosa and pristine orange blossom is noticeable. It blended those two blossoms with aquatic nymphaea and freesia, resulting in a more wet and dew aroma. I love how all those flowers react with my skin chemistry; close to the skin, the fragrance is bitter yet soothing and mysterious. Since fluffy mimosa is the type of flower that you either hate or love, and some people get migraines from its smell, remember that the middle phase is all about it.

That sort of mystical atmosphere eventually fades into the background but persists throughout the drying process. The base has deep and vibrant tones of dusty amber and Palo Santo wood, enriched by voluptuous musk notes, seductive and luminous. The amber and musk tame the aquatic edge, so it’s not too watery, although it still keeps the powderiness from the violet leaves, a kind of green sensation that I bet is secretly present in the recipe.

Yellow Diamond does an outstanding job of not being a linear perfume experience, and you can pick out all the shades of color throughout the day. It starts moderate from a projection point of view but then is primarily a light skin-like fragrance throughout its duration. However, longevity is average, and I found I have about 6 hours on the skin where the scent remains clear. I would say it is perfect in spring, and I will keep it as a day and late afternoon perfume. Honestly, I think I’ll buy a bottle of this hidden gem because none of my kids smell the same, and I love it.

This review is based upon a decant I own.

-Elysium

The opening made me think of melons. Like a nice honeydew or cantaloupe. Not particularly sweet or exciting, but definitely summery and refreshing. It has a very generic department store type aroma. But it's also fresh, bright and fairly inoffensive. I think you can wear this all year and smell just "nice." A classic easy-reach for people who aren't really fragrance enthusiasts but want to smell classy.

This is a really great summer scent. It is fresh, a bit sweet and lasts for quite some time. I use it as a day scent, since it lifts my mood and goes well with lots of activities such as work and sports it is too light for evenings, in my opinion.
The bottle is nice, even though I am not a huge fan of the colour yellow. But in this case I think it is perfect - it suits the smell.
310/365