RiverSong

After I learned about this release at the beginning of the year, I was incredibly excited. Oh, what am I saying. After reading about a strawberry note and a release in connection with Miss Dior, I was completely over the moon!!!

!!!!!

Just a few words on a personal note:
The Miss Dior Cherie version from 2005, its flankers and new releases up to and including the EDP version from 2017 have thrilled me all these years. For me, everything fit together:

Above all, the advertising campaign,

I have always found Nathalie Portman incredibly beautiful - she fit the character of the fragrance, this typically advertised luxury world and everything that went with it, like a glove.

The bottles, always classically beautiful, very well crafted. - I really miss the metal bow and the heavy glass that felt so good in the hand -

Indeed, they have always been quite sweet, fruity, somewhat cheeky, playful, but always classic and stylish. From flanker to flanker, sometimes more, sometimes a little less …FRESH.
In my eyes, they possessed a dynamism, a beginning and an end that fit in; a scent progression I could identify with.

I have always perceived something girlish or Lolita-like in the DNA. But it didn’t bother me. If you will, it felt like the princess within me was addressed and happily catered to.

In 2017, the character of the Eau de Parfum was significantly rejuvenated by its suddenly increased sugar content and a certain heaviness in my eyes. The previously strongest character version of Miss Dior from 2012 had to give way. … very, very unfortunate…

I don’t even want to go into the 2021 version.

Outrage.

I personally have high hopes that one day an ‘Eau Fraiche’ or ‘L’eau’ from the line will be released that is also wearable for girls over 30 like me. Since 2021, I just can’t cope with these new releases anymore. It’s incredibly sad that nowadays almost everything is filled with sugar and/or vanilla, devoid of meaning and character. I do like sweet fragrances, that’s not the issue! No one should be judged! However, these fragrances have one thing in common: heart and character. And a development that ultimately suits a completely normal housewife and mother of teenagers and possibly toddlers, who has saved the world about 100 times during the day, accomplished 20 miracles on the side, or simply chased kids and husband off to school or work, but then eventually slumps on the sofa in sweatpants in the evening and watches some dance shows with some celebrity cast. (….Nathalie Portman is surely not among them.)
I hope you understand what I’m trying to express. Unfortunately, this fragrance is not wearable for me, neither during the day nor in the evening.


Quintessence:

In my opinion, the perfume has a quite decent opening. After all, it is a more concentrated version of the ‘original scent’. Even a hint of freshness can be sensed. However, this lasts only briefly. I smell a lovely strawberry and other sweet fruits. There’s something citrusy in there too. I think I can detect jasmine, but the floral aspect doesn’t really come to the forefront or center. I find that particularly disappointing.
I was really looking forward to the jasmine in combination with the strawberry.

Nevertheless, at this point, I can draw parallels to Coco Mademoiselle or the Miss Dior from 2012. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. The dry down is completely catastrophic for me. Too much of everything! From now on, the composition, which doesn’t really resonate with me, completely fails. The strawberry and jasmine notes recede far into the background, and the base dominates everything.

For the first time in my career, I got a headache.

It got stronger instead of calming down and becoming more forgiving after a few hours: too dark old man patchouli, too much amber fruit puree, but above all WAY too sweet-woody-mossy-earthy and all in an endless loop mixed together.
I am convinced that the situation could have been salvaged with a significantly reduced sweetness.
That’s why I ask myself a question: Why only??!! Why this way??!!!
Where is the courage for innovation??!!! The cycle must be able to be interrupted at some point. :-(

I am really very sad about this.


My conclusion:

It is no longer in my possession. My last wearing attempt ended miserably; I had to jump in the shower and wash it off after just a few hours of wear, which was rather mediocre. The longevity is really very good!
However, after this experience, one thing became immediately clear to me:

Dior, that was probably…

Outrage number 2.

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Please, please be gentle with me. This was my first detailed review.