Diorama Dior 1949

Bottle Design Guerry Colas

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7.8 / 10 87 Ratings

A popular perfume by Dior for women, released in 1949. The scent is floral-spicy. It is being marketed by LVMH.

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Main accords

Floral

Spicy

Woody

Fruity

Chypre

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Ylang-ylang

Bergamot

Heart Notes

Caraway

Jasmine

Peach

Plum

Rose

Base Notes

Patchouli

Cedarwood

Perfumer

Edmond Roudnitska

Ratings

Scent

7.887 Ratings

Longevity

7.370 Ratings

Sillage

7.073 Ratings

Bottle

8.181 Ratings

Value for money

6.711 Ratings

Submitted by Sani, last update on 31.03.2024.

Interesting Facts

This fragrance was reformulated in 2010 by François Demachy according to IFRA guidelines. Since then it is part of the collection "Les Creations de Monsieur Dior".

Reviews

4 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/26/2021

8
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 8
Scent

Serenissima
608 Reviews

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Serenissima

Top Review 18

Spice box in the flower garden

Like many of these classic fragrances of Christian Dior, I know this still in the oval flacon with belly band in houndstooth, silk bows and color matching the pattern cap with two gold stripes.
My miniature is unfortunately younger and already in the modern form.

The matter-of-factness, with which such a basically shy man like Christian Dior, gave his name to his fragrances, is actually astonishing.
But he is right: What comes from the house of Christian Dior, may also bear his name!

"Diorama" also still goes back to the forties of the last century; "the patron" himself was still the godfather in 1948/49.
So it is not surprising that a part of his personality seems to be included.

Alone the lily of the valley, Christian Dior's favorite flower, may not be missing here either.

But first, a summery freshness of bergamot, plum, peach and even melon welcomes elated and provides cheerfulness.
Amazing, however, is the box of spices hidden in the flower garden and their strength and variety.
Nestled in the summer scents of large-flowered jasmine, noble gardenia, the rose queen and the much-loved "little ones" - lily of the valley and violets - we are in for a surprise:
Caraway leads the regiment over cleverly used dosages of pepper, clove and nutmeg.
Thus, the familiar, so feminine floral scents are "spiced up"!
"Diorama" already seems younger and jauntier than the elegant, noble sisters!
Of course, the oak moss accompanying every classic fragrance in the base could not be missing here (which was lost in the reformulation), leather and the earthiness of Vetiver form a beautiful foundation.
Warm cedar spice and the ever-so-slightly animalic sandalwood oil set additional accents.
"Diorama" lives - even today!

Although the already then not in the first league of Christian Dior fragrances playing, such as "Diorissimo", "Diorama" inspired me even as a young woman.
Perhaps also because I read in the name a neologism from Christian Dior (which I like very much) and Panorama:
This "panorama of Christian Dior" gave me pleasure and the memory of it is dear to me!
My "nostalgic scent memory" is still intact: If I only read or hear the name of a perfume I lived with, the stopper of the bottle opens and it's all there again!
(This "gift" is by the way in the long run also quite exhausting!)

08/14/2020

7
Sillage 7
Longevity 10
Scent

SchatzSucher
107 Reviews

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SchatzSucher

Top Review 56

Timeless elegance and fragrance

There are huge differences in the rather large world of fragrances at Dior. There is the modern fragrance world, which gives us inclined sniffing noses fresh and spicy, fresh and flowery, iris-powdery, rather uncomplicated and suitable for everyday use.
Not every fragrance is well received. And the current development at Dior is unfortunately a cause for concern. The last big litters have been a while back and some popular fragrances have either already been taken off the market again or have even been reformulated already, which is also a cause of concern for many of us. In addition, we feel that new flankers are being brought onto the market at a rapid pace
Then there's the exclusive series of rather high-priced fragrances, which includes everything from odd to remarkable, and which you can't get in every perfumery. Okay, it's supposed to be exclusive. Even there, not every fragrance likes and meanwhile this series has become quite large
And finally, there is a world of Dior that looks back to a time when haute couture still had a certain status and fragrances were designed to match exquisite robes. The release of these fragrances was not done in a hurry. Often years passed before a new fragrance was launched.
Some of these fragrances have survived to this day and are offered as "Les Créations de Monsieur Dior". Some of them were created by Edmond Roudnitska (1905 - 1996), a fantastic perfumer who knew better than anyone else how to combine scents so excellently. Many a small masterpiece was created under his hand. And those who know his works can confirm that there are quite close relations among his works and that the fragrances are always based on each other Diorella is such a beautiful example of his great craftsmanship, one of my absolute favorites, a beautiful, bright and friendly chypre fragrance for example and diorama, which is what this is all about.

Originally launched in 1949, this fragrance has since been adapted to today's standards and guidelines.
Since I can't draw any comparison to an earlier version, I'll just say with full conviction that this fragrance has been revised very well.
And my enthusiasm is great.

Diorama has nothing girlish or playful about it at all. It is a mature and self-confident fragrance, which gets by without any sweetness and artificially tricked up liveliness.
It combines classic chypre elements (no wonder I like it so much) and also has fruity hints. But these fruity notes are also anything but sweet, but rather already dry and with a fine spice.
The prelude is already a grand entrance, the typical bergamot scent in combination with flowers. Also the blossoms appear without any sweetness. They are elegant, present, but never become intrusive. To the flowers I notice the fruity notes and as a refined counterpoint caraway is added. It is not cumin, which often brings an unpleasant sweaty note to fragrances. It is the "real" cumin with its certain spiciness.
Towards the base it gets a bit woody and I wouldn't be surprised if a bit of moss was used as well. Patchouli still gives a nice depth, but never looks dull or earthy.

I find it very astonishing that the fragrance shows all its capabilities in its last phase, when it has already become very quiet, and finally closes with a beautiful flowery finish. Here once again true perfume art is shown, when a fragrance is designed so multi-faceted.
Diorama has a quite good durability with a good 7 hours and never gets loud and brazen. This scent appears altogether adult, rather cool and slightly distant, a bit serious and self-confident. A fragrance from the category of those fragrances that don't have to prove anything to anyone anymore.
This classic orientation suits Diorama very well, but the 71 years of age are not noticeable in this fragrance.
In any case, the fragrances whose names begin with Dior- have without exception aroused great enthusiasm in me and I am pleased that these fragrances are still available.
Surely, fragrances like Diorama are not everyone's cup of tea, but you should have tested the fragrances in any case.
And the full score is more than earned.

My big thanks go to Gold, who made it possible for me to get to know Diorama so wonderfully.

09/15/2018

8
Bottle 8
Sillage 7
Longevity 8
Scent

Fabistinkt
5 Reviews

Fabistinkt

M'n souvenir uit Nederland

Diorama is an unplanned addition to my collection, suddenly it was there. We met in Damstraat in Amsterdam, in the middle of a crowd of noisy tourists. It was the beginning of September with unsettled weather. First it bucketed down like mad, then the sun flashed out from behind the clouds, just to give way to the rain again an hour later. During a long shower I fled from the swells of water and vacationers into a small perfumery.
It was a strange experience for two reasons. First: I had already seen it on YouTube when Arlene from "Delicious Delights" tested a few fragrances there. Second: it is the kind of perfumery that my generation hardly knows any more, because there are no rows of shelves through which you can walk and spray as you please. No, it is rather a shop with a large open space in the middle and a long sales counter all around, behind which the vials are kept by the vendors and can only be tried on request.
Normally this would have driven me away as a relatively shy creature, but the offers in the shop window were too tempting: "Calandre" by Paco Rabanne, the original "Chloé" from the 70s and other classics, which you rarely get in front of your nose, pulled me unstoppably naar binnen, as the Dutch would say.
A friendly gentleman in his forties quickly took care of me and gave me everything to test that my heart desired: "Bandit" by Robert Piguet (not really my thing), Karl Lagerfeld's Chloé, Calandre, Rochas Femme, Je Reviens by Worth and many more... I was in seventh heaven, especially when the exclusive series of "Les Creations de Monsieur Dior" caught my eye at the very bottom. Was the orange one on the edge really "Diorama"? The one Dior that you can hardly buy anywhere in Germany, let alone test? Fantastic.
The nice salesman sprayed some of it on a strip. What was that? I knew that one! A familiar note of lily of the valley and jasmine came up my nose. Clearly "Diorissimo".
Surprised, I asked him if he had really grabbed the right bottle. There it was imprinted, no doubt, Diorama. Finally I blamed it on my overstrained nose and decided to buy it, despite of any financial shortages. After all it was quasi a treasure which I had unexpectedly found between Dam and Voorburgwal.
Back in Germany the next day I unpacked it and sprayed it on my skin, as it should have done back in Amsterdam. And again the well-known Diorissimo tone of lily of the valley and jasmine came out, this time however supplemented by strong caraway. Thank God, it wasn't bottled wrong, it was a scent of its own. Over time it became a little more varied, flowery and slightly fruity, which probably comes from the peach. But the whole thing kept the lightness of Diorissimo and never became deeper or darker.
Slowly disappointment spread. Not because the perfume is bad, no, it's a very beautiful, radiant fragrance, but because I expected something completely different. No 1940s depth, no prunes, no roses. Maybe it is because of my nose that I perceive it differently than others.
Anyway, I decided to give it a new chance in a new collection and released it into the endless expanse of the Souk. With Diorissimo in my closet, it makes no sense for me personally to also own Diorama, considering my nose almost perceives it as a twin perfume plus caraway seeds. Tot ziens, Diorama, het was heel leuk om jou te hebben.

06/12/2013

7.5
Bottle 5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 10
Scent

Zora
16 Reviews

Zora

Helpful Review 2

Style and Elegance

This fragrance is a real challenge. First, thank you, dear member Medusa, for the sample. I shall try to convey my impressions, albeit from an inexperienced nose.

For me, this scent clearly embodies the spirit of the Fifties. I am thinking of Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock's "The Birds", perfectly groomed, a lady in any situation, stylish and elegant, somewhat inaccessible, yet with an aura of warmth. I am thinking of a time when men accompanied their date home and the good-night kiss at the door was a kiss on the cheek. When men treated women with respect and did not grope all over her body at the first evening. When ladies would have strongly objected. When everything still had style.

This was the time when poor women at least afforded themselves a fragrant soap and their richer "sisters" would wear this luxurious perfume.

It is without question a beautiful feminine scent, opening elegantly with full flowers and then gliding into rich, creamy, consummate elegance. No tacky sweetness, no masculine tartness, no oriental heaviness, nor any sensual or erotic calling. A notch above it all.

Who can wear a scent like this today?

For me, this is clearly an ideal companion for a business lunch where you want to be feminine but ensure the necessary distance in an elegant way.

This perfume pleases me very much; however, I don't know on what occasion I could wear it. I would want to be in harmony with it and fully give it justice ...

(Translation: Pipette)