Friday, June 12, 2015

Diorama by Christian Dior c1949

Diorama by Christian Dior: created by Edmond Roudnitska and launched in 1948 in France, in USA by 1949.





Fragrance Composition:


So what does it smell like? It is classified as a sweet fruity chypre fragrance for women with a slight oriental essence. An exotic blend of tropic plants and flowers with spicy overtones.
  • Top notes: bergamot, peach, melon, plum, aldehydes
  • Middle notes: jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, rose, lily-of-the-valley, violet, caraway, , meridian fennel, strawberry, pepper, raspberry, galbanum
  • Base notes: patchouli, labdanum, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, oak moss, Virginia cedar, castoreum, civet, leather


Diorama was available in the following:

  • parfum
  • eau de toilette
  • eau de cologne
  • dusting powder


Mademoiselle, 1949:
"From France. Dior's sulky, sweet Diorama. $5 per dram."

Cue, 1951:
"Dior suggests a tender, blossoming fragrance. Miss Dior, for the young in spirit. For the worldly wise, Diorama, a vivid, opulent perfume. $5.00 for a dram."

Home Journal, 1953:
"Dior's deep-toned scent of elegance, Diorama."

Vogue, 1968:
"Adventurous and slightly Oriental Diorama."

Christian Dior, 1970:
"A second scent, Diorama, was launched in 1949, when the first licence for Christian Dior stockings was agreed with Julius Kayser."


Bottles:



In the early 1950s, Diorama parfum was presented in Baccarat cut crystal urn/amphora shaped flacons, in blue, ruby and white cut to clear crystal.

To open the classic Dior crystal flacon, use the following tip provided by Parfums Christian Dior themselves in 1963:
Should warm water on the bottle neck fail, tap the stopper gently with a knife handle; or try rubbing face cream or vaseline around neck of stopper.

Another rare presentation is the Baccarat crystal obelisk, from the 1950s.





The New Yorker, 1953:
"Dior, a practical fellow, has made some plain bottles for Diorama and Miss Dior. Sold with funnels, these are meant to refill the fancy bottles that were presumably, last year's Christmas presents. $9 a quarter ounce and $24 an ounce."

Home Journal, 1953:
"Dior makes refills for his deluxe urns in both Miss Dior and Diorama. Refill for the $30 bottle. $20."

Homes and Gardens, 1954:
"An elegant and delightful gift is Christian Dior's " Duo," of a 1/2 oz. amphore of Miss Dior perfume, and another of Diorama, in a grey-and-gold case."

 Cue, 1966:
"Christian Dior has just introduced a complete aerosol perfume collection. In addition to the purse-size atomizer (at $5), you can now color-select your favorite in three sizes — Miss Dior in white package, Diorama in grey, Diorissimo in pink, Diorling in yellow."



Fate of the Fragrance:


Diorama was discontinued by 1990. But it was re-orchestrated with modern ingredients and relaunched in 2010 as part of Dior’s collection Les Creations de Monsieur Dior.

The new version's composition:
  • Top notes: bergamot, ylang ylang, orange blossom
  • Heart notes: Indian jasmine, Turkish rose, peach, caraway, Egyptian cumin,  plum
  • Base notes: Indonesian patchouli, Virginia cedar
Les Creations de Monsieur Dior Diorama is available as:
  • 50ml eau de toilette
  • 100ml eau de toilette

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