Emporio Armani Diamonds (2007): A Girly Party Rose {Perfume Review} {Celebrity Fragrance} {Smell-The-Roses-Till-Valentine's Day Challenge - Day 8}
Emporio Armani Diamonds is yet another example of one of the most popular feminine perfume note accords that were last year: the rose-amber-patchouli accord. You might have come across it in the major launches of Dior Midnight Poison, Gucci by Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent Elle, which capitalized on it. Of the scents found in the series alluded to above, Diamonds is the least sophisticated one as it aims a younger age group or at least, seems to. It is a rose perfume updated to meet contemporary mainstream taste; it took a detour to the candy factory and was made to adhere to a pink-coded girlish ethos despite the fact that the juice is colored white. If you smell it, you will see that in fact it is a pink juice. One can read in the copy from Sephora,
This surprising and decadent fragrance is based on the traditional symbol of femininity, the rose, but is twisted with luscious, edible notes to create a truly desirable combination.
We will not linger here on the celebrity context for the scent. You can find more details about Beyoncé Knowles fronting the ad campaign in our previous post......
The interpretation of the rose here is fruity (fresh lychee is prominent), tart, sweet-toothed, sparkling, and as they might have said, "mischievous". The copy people may not have said "mischievous" but it feels like a standard "mischievous rose". The scent thus feels more like a rosé wine without alcohol meant to be consumed by underage people than an adult fragrance.
Having said that, if the fruit-cocktail effect is the most predictable twist one could have come up with for a rose-based perfume for contemporary women labeled as "young", the result is not absolutely tepid and bland as the tart facet and the candied nuances have been pushed enough to make them feel a little edgy and are rather well-balanced. It smells fresh, rosy, citrus-y, slightly jam-y. Of course the scent is not particularly subtle, but nor is it as hazardous and cheap-smelling as Paris Hilton Can Can, our new standard of low quality celeb fragrance. People who love sour candies will probably appreciate it. People who like the scent of Japanese erasers might also see an interesting connection here. It is a perfume created for mass-consumption, nothing less, nothing more and can be seen more as a sociological object than an artistic one.
People who will hate it will have the consolation to know that it was not meant to be worn by them, and people who will love it will know that someone has been thinking about them, their tastes and laid-back, unfussy lifestyles.
Notes: Lychee, Raspberry, Rose, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, Vetiver, Cedar Wood, Patchouli, Vanilla.
Previous Posts in Perfume Shorts:
L'Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses (1993): An Earthy Masculine Rose
Aroma M Geisha Nobara-Cha (1997): A Spicy, Contemplative Rose
Isabel Derroisné Rose Divine (2006): A Gourmand Rose Au Naturel
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Fun and way cool. Evokes these memories, sparkling drink with a raspberry, kiss of a rose, smooth leather jacket and Italian sunglasses, learjet, sportscar, shopping Rodeo Drive, skiing Aspen/Vail/Jackson Hole, trip to Norway/Amsterdam or around the world. Just a spritz on one wrist goes a long way or can seem old ladyish, but the raspberry/rose/vanilla makes it feminine and sweet. It's the end notes that's a trip. One word to describe is ICE. Not a headache ice but a nice ice. Cool, Ciao Bellas.
Posted by: jr | February 8, 2008
JR,
Thanks. I'd be earnestly interested to know what is a scent that to you smells old-ladyish?
Posted by: Marie-Helene | February 8, 2008
Perhaps the rose. Don't usually go there, but again Diamonds spritzed lightly evokes just a single rose for me. I'm falling in love with this one. It's fun and uplifting.
Posted by: jr | February 8, 2008
Dear Marie-Helene
Diamonds is an Italian Masterpiece. The Rose in Diamonds is evoking such memories and feelings of love for everyone current and past in my life. It's like a song sung to the next generation. It was such a jungle shopping for V-Day 08 another song found was Pleasures Delight, PD sums up much of the market, yet done masterfully. Diamonds, however, is an original work of art. Love it. Happy with both of them.
Posted by: jr | February 8, 2008
I am VERY picky about fragrances and while my husband didnt like it (lol he likes pechy stuff) I LOVE it! This scent is not too overpowering and not too sweet. Its fresh and clean and slighly sweet but smells very feminine and slightly floral. Its very different and can be worn day or night. Its fruity licicuos but also sophisticated. IF that can even be a combo lol! Its reminds me of something, I just cant put my finger on it though. Maybe a walk in the park with flowers in bloom, sun casscading in my hair, and a trip to the snow cone stand, with a flowing summer dress, soft leather sandals, and a smile on my face.
Posted by: Alicia | March 16, 2008