MadameLegras

Diorella is the fragrance I have the earliest memory of.

In the 70s - my teenage years - I read an old book from the bookcase of my parents. The lover in this book wore "Diorissimo", this lily of the valley fragrance was mentioned there several times and described very beautifully and my curiosity was aroused. A little later I had to disclose this secret in our local H department store (I had not yet dared to try a "real" perfumery at that time, the "turquoises" did not yet exist).

I actually sniffed my way through the scents of Dior and my favourite was definitely "Diorella". I didn't buy it then (it was too expensive for me), but I got samples again and again, until one day I got it as a present. Over the years I lost sight of Diorella, there were too many other exciting scents. Very much later it ran me then again over the way and moved in meanwhile as a permanent companion again with me.

The fragrance still convinces me - even though it has changed in the meantime -: the start is tart, green, even a little scratchy, but immediately afterwards the unique, wonderful Diorella note appears and it becomes more floral. The fragrance becomes a little warmer and softer over time, but it remains bright and still fresh, only a little bit of sweetness creeps in, it doesn't get musty or musty at all. It is not a light fragrance, it has a wonderful intensity in its own way. It reminds me of a walk in the forest after a light rain, wild flowers blooming along the way, birds singing and the sun shining. I connect it with nature and do not want to give it away in the reformulated version.

These days I discovered the bottle deep in the back of my perfume drawer. This wonderful crystal bottle, even with the rest of the eau de parfum. I had completely forgotten him, now triggered by my recent activities at Parfumo my drawer browsed and found him again

The perfume was a surprise present of my husband (an absolute perfume muffle!) from the 90s. That's why I was so happy about it at the time. Of course I had to test the scent immediately after such a long time. And lo and behold: He has not tilted, he is still present in full intensity and glory.

It starts wonderfully flowery-herb, with me without any fruit and sweetness, not a bit intrusive, but dense and splendid. After some time it gets warmer and more woody, the flowers step into the background. It is still wonderful, unmistakable and elegant in its own way. Unfortunately it doesn't stay as long as before, after five hours I can only sniff a spicy hint. I think that's due to his age.

Perfectly also the name Safari, which suggests robustness, freedom and adventure. Less suitable for the small black, more suitable for dignified excursions into nature. And last but not least, the bottle is also a real jewel. I'm very happy to have found him again!

My acquaintance with Roma began in the 90s with a shower gel, a gift from my mother-in-law. The shower gel had the same column shape as the scent and immediately inspired me. I really had to try this scent. The first encounter was rather sobering for me, the scent had too much buzz for me at first. He still wouldn't let go of me, though.

Fishy with the shower gel, I sniffed my way up to him and gradually made friends with his intensity until Roma finally moved in with me. At that time I had learned to appreciate its intensity and its splendour. We had breaks in our friendship from time to time, but I always came back to him.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been what he used to be for a long time. However, I can still feel what my first encounter with him was like: very intense and very beautiful.

Even today I recognize the currant and the bergamot at the beginning, and immediately afterwards the jasmine and the rose. And then the heavyweights come around the corner. Unfortunately then everything becomes quite fast a mixture, which is nevertheless quite far away from the old Roma. Unfortunately, Roma, like so many others, have suffered a great deal from the usual modernisation measures, even though the individual components are still rudimentary.

Nevertheless, he still lives with me now and will remain so in the future, just so that I can sniff the bottle from time to time and remember the beginnings of our relationship. And when I want to dive deep into the past, he opens the doors for me. And if one day I'll find another original, it won't leave my place anymore!

After years of reading membership at Parfumo I now try to take up the cudgels with my first comment for this beautiful Fragonard fragrance:

I discovered Miranda many years ago directly in Grasse in the Fragonard shop. Of course I "sniffed through" all the fragrances on offer and finally decided on the three fragrances Miranda, Belle de Jour and Capucine. I bought the pure perfume for 28 Euro/15 ml and had it brought to me by a colleague from my holiday afterwards

Miranda is for me a very warm scent that envelops and caresses me. I find it very pleasant not to be pushy despite its sweetness and to use it also in spring or summer. It has a strong base with me, the vanilla stays in the background, I smell jasmine with amber and sandalwood. The fragrance is straight-lined and actually has no surprises in store. But that's exactly what makes him a pleasant companion for me.

Unfortunately it is no longer produced. I couldn't believe it at first and asked Fragonard directly. Unfortunately it was confirmed and at the same time it was announced that no comparable smell from the house can be recommended to me.

So I started looking for a replacement and of course the first thing I did was to test the fragrance twin Casmir. A hit on the first Riecher, but afterwards he develops unfortunately like nearly all "successors" tested by me as obtrusive and fruity-sweet. I've been looking for fragrances that have little or no fruitiness. I have tried all possible scents, which were just me from earlier (from the "Patchouli times") in memory, again. I searched in Parfumo for the perfume directory and the different fragrances and compared them with Miranda's. I found the perfume directory and the different fragrances in Parfumo. I went to a local perfumery and was shown contemporary sweet scents.

I probably don't know enough about the different scents and/or didn't look for the right places. ALL tested scents could not be compared to Miranda for me. Most of the compared scents have too many fruity-sweet notes, which sometimes cause me headaches after a while.

I don't think Miranda smells like a vanilla pudding supply pack. But as every reader here in the forum has already noticed, the scents on the skin develop very differently and one is already astonished, which effect some scents achieve with other people. For example, I can't see any fresh and sparkling effect of Miranda on myself.

All in all, I like the Fragonard fragrances so much because they are made from mostly natural essences and the variety of the new (designer) fragrances on offer today always strikes me down. Of course, out of curiosity I keep making new attempts, but I find that such a complex fragrance experience as a visit to the turquoise perfumery completely overwhelms me. I prefer to limit myself to the traditional houses as well, and also to smaller family businesses like Fragonard or I Profumi di Firenze, which also work mainly with natural and original ingredients.

I will now be thrifty with my remaining rest of Miranda and always keep my eyes open for appropriate offers.

Today I also used it in the office ... and was promptly asked by my colleague about the good fragrance.