Diva by Ungaro c1982

Diva by Parfums Ungaro: launched in 1982. Created by Jacques Polge and Francois Demachy. The name Diva was chosen because it is the Latin name for Goddess, and this was exactly what Ungaro envisioned women would feel like when they wore his perfume. To him, a diva means someone who is a strong person, with charisma and power.

The name was chosen partly because it would be recognizable in many countries, although one country counted more than others. "The moment you are successful in America, you are successful in the world.," confessed Ungaro.

"DIVA is an aura that envelopes a woman in pure magic. That's the wonder of it."

- Emanuel Ungaro

Perfumer Francois Demachy said that it took two years to develop the Diva fragrance. However, Ungaro said it took three years from the concept to the final creation. Ungaro said that "I pretend to be a creator of atmosphere and to me, the perfume is complementary to my fashion."

The first to wear the perfect mixture was his constant companion, Anouk Aimee. "The fact that a woman like her was wearing it and liking it was important to me," he said. He wanted to make sure the perfume was "seductive" like his clothing. "Diva is complete seduction for me," he said. "With a perfume, you say something. My perfume is for a woman with charisma, personality who wants to be a human being, not just a fashion victim. Often you have the image of a masculine woman, which I hate. I am working since many, many years now for sensuous woman. I like liquid clothing."

Diva was promoted as a glamourous perfume. One ad copy reads "Enfold her in the aura of Diva, And give her all the elegance and opulence of the world of haute couture."

This warm floral oriental begins with tuberose, cardamom, mandarin and ylang ylang; melting into a heart fo rose, iris, narcissus and jasmine. the deep amber tones base has woody undertones of sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an aldehydic floral chypre fragrance for women. It starts off with a fresh flowery top, followed by a rosy floral heart, resting on a warm, woody and mossy base punctuated by animalic facets. 

Top note begins with the brightness from Calabrian bergamot and mandarin oranges, pungency from cardamom, Russian coriander and Ceylonese bayberry,  and a floral marriage of Indian tuberose, tender Dutch hyacinth, ylang ylang from Nossi-Be, a touch of Brazilian rosewood lends a bittersweet facet.  

The body note includes spicy French carnation, Florentine irises, narcissus and precious Egyptian jasmine and four varieties of rose: Turkish rose, honeyed Moroccan rose, centifolia rose and Damascena rose.

This is followed by the animalic foundation of ambergris, Abyssinian civet and Tonkin musk that alternates with notes of costly Mysore sandalwood, earthy patchouli from Indonesia, sweetness from Mexican vanilla beans, labdanum from Malta and Provencal honey, and the green richness of oakmoss from the Tyrolean forests and the dry note of Haitian vetiver. 

"Underscored by a deep ambergris note. Alternates with woody notes of Mysore sandalwood, patchouli, oakmoss. The body is entirely floral notes of Turkish rose, honeyed Moroccan rose, Florentine orris, narcissus and Egyptian jasmine. The head note is a touch of Indian tuberose, full and fruity, cardamom (an aromatic Celoneyes berry), mandarin and ylang ylang."

• Top notes: aldehyde, Brazilian rosewood, Dutch hyacinth, Ceylon bayberry, Calabrian bergamot, Russian coriander, Indian tuberose, cardamom, mandarin, Nossi-Be ylang-ylang
• Heart notes: Honeyed Moroccan rose, Turkish rose, French carnation, Damascene rose, centifolia rose, Florentine Iris, orris root, narcissus, Egyptian jasmine
• Base notes: Haitian vetiver, Mysore sandalwood, Indonesian patchouli, Provencal honey, Mexican vanilla, Abyssinian civet, Tonkin musk, Maltese labdanum, Tyrolean oakmoss, cistus, mousse de chene, ambergris

Bottle:

Presented in a flacon designed by Emanuel Ungaro and Jacques Helleu; the folds on the bottle represent the dramatic draping of a woman’s dress, the bottle was made by Pochet et du Courval.

Diva came in the following products:

•  1 oz Parfum 
• 1/2 oz Parfum 
• 1/4 oz Parfum 
• 1/4 oz Parfum Purse Spray 
• 1/4 oz Parfum Purse Spray Refill
• 6.8 oz Eau de Parfum Splash
• 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Splash
• 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Splash
• 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 5.1 oz Perfumed Body Lotion
• 5.1 oz Perfumed Bath Gel
• 5 oz Perfumed Body Creme
• 4 oz Perfumed Dusting Powder
• Perfumed Soap

The eau de toilette called Eau de Seduction was released in 1989.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Diva is still being produced, however, it has suffered from reformulation over the years. You may wish to get the vintage versions as much as possible.

CLICK HERE TO FIND DIVA BY UNGARO

Flankers:

In 1989, a flanker, Eau de Diva was released.

Fleur de Diva by Emanuel Ungaro: launched in 1997. 

It is classified as a fresh aquatic floral fragrance for women. Discontinued before 2011.

• Top notes: black currant bud, freesia, rosemary, water lily, wisteria, hyacinth
• Middle notes: Grasse jasmine, Alpine lily-of-the-valley, water hyacinth, Moroccan rose 
• Base notes: Indian sandalwood, Tonkin musk

Divas by Emanuel Ungaro: launched in 2000. Created by Max Gavarry. It is classified as a floriental fragrance. The bottle was designed by Jacques Helleu.

• Top notes: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian orange, Hawaiian pineapple
• Middle notes: peony, orchid, coffee blossom, dark chocolate accord
• Base notes: Seychelles patchouli, white amber, Tonkin musk

Diva Rose by Emanuel Ungaro: launched in 2011, is classified as a floral fragrance for women. Discontinued by 2016.

• Top notes: litchi, green leafy notes and bergamot
• Middle notes: Bulgarian rose, lilac and freesia
• Base notes: musk, woodsy notes and amber

Diva Pépite by Emanuel Ungaro: launched around 2017, is classified as a floral chypre fragrance for women. 

• Top notes: tuberose and mandarin orange
• Middle notes: Turkish rose, ylang-ylang 
• Base notes: sandalwood, Florentine iris and vanilla