Dia 40

Soapy, powdery aldehyde bomb. It feels simultaneously babylike and old ladyish, neither necessarily in a bad way. But for me, ultimately in a bad way. Babylike in that at first it reminds me of wetwipes or a warm bubble bath in J&J. Grandma like in that it's one of those old school powdery florals like the vintage guerlain or anais lines that pervasively wafted in the bingo halls in the 80s. At first, I thought she was a powerhouse, because 1 spray hit my nose hard, and this comes from a diehard perfume lover who doesn't mind if you smell me one block over. But for such a strong start, she disappeared unexpectedly within an hour, leaving only a vague floral version of a baby powder behind. If you love aldehydes like I do, you'll probably like this. Many of them disappear quickly (I adore lazy Sunday but constantly curse it's fleeting nature), and this is no exception. At the high price point, respraying will cost you like $10 a day. The original Dia is a lot better.

I own neither it nor the original, but I have tried the original several times, and today I have tried Dia 40 Woman. I like them both, but prefer Dia 40, and if I was going to buy either of them that would be my choice. This is very much a matter of my personal taste though. Dia 40 is a little more dusty/powdery/incensey/woody with a little less of the clear, sweet floral aspect of the original(peony perhaps?), and as someone who likes powder, incense and woods it appeals to me just that little bit more. The original is still lovely though. It should be noted, as others have mentioned, that they are both more in a classical perfume style than a modern one, which will attract some people and repel others.

This is the scent of like an opulent Qatari woman who spends her leisure browsing through luxury malls. Herself adorns in bronde beige flowy silken hijab much like the color of this bottle. She radiates a sort of radiance that I could describe someone like Angelina Jolie or Monica Bellucci leaving trails of this scent. An overall addictive fragrance it has a Chanel No 5 aldehyde feel but a totally different soapy note with tinges of white florals adding to its complexity. Very feminine very chic like mademoiselle had bottled herself which is justified for the price it’s unmistakably luxurious a true benchmark quality for high end niche fragrance

Dia 40 is an ultra-clean scent with radiant aldehydes, a soft floral heart, and a powdery, soapy base. The composition is clearly a nod to classic French perfumery, with rose, orris, and ylang-ylang giving it a luxe, vintage edge. It opens fresh with just-out-of-the-shower energy, and a hint of lipstick-like sharpness. Elegant and long-lasting, it’s the cleanest of the clean. It’s impeccably crafted, though for me, more admirable than something I’d want to buy for myself.

Dia 40 is impeccably polished, ruthlessly refined, and not remotely interested in trends. It opens with crisp aldehydes, violet leaf and musk, with a distinctive vintage soap vibe, before melting into a spicy floral heart of rose, carnation and tarragon. The dry-down is powdery, woody, and velvety smooth, and the overall effect is ultra clean. Perfect for those who prefer their fragrances like their humour: dry and devastatingly elegant.