Underrated Friday: Divine by Divine
August 3rd, 2006
To consider Divine by Divine underrated is akin to saying Chanel No 5 is a myth. The nose behind it is Yvon Mouchel in Dinard, France, who used to be a perfume shop owner and later decided to create his own fragrances. That’s about all I know about him (if you happen to know more, feel free to comment). So how come I classified it as underrated? Well, if nothing but for the fact it’s very rarely mentioned and not very well known. I feel like it deserves all the praise I can give it and then some. Let me also add I feel immense pride for recently converting March to be its unadulterated lover which I realize is a utopia when it comes to us, perfume fanatics, but it sounded good together (wishful thinking).
The scent starts out with a pulpy peach note that’s on the verge of smelling like bruised peaches. March at Perfume Posse labeled it as “animalic skank” which I must say I had not noticed before in Divine but now it makes total sense. I find it quite fascinating how animalic/stinky notes make so many perfumes absolutely irresistable. While I don’t get much of animalic action here, a rotting fruit note is definitely present. But don’t you worry, it smells gorgeous nonetheless for the peach is immediately seasoned by coriander, and with other white florals coming into play, namely, gardenia, tuberose, and rose, the whole effect is very much along the lines of the legendary Coco by Chanel (that also combines peach and coriander) – the difference being in that Coco is much spicier and ambery. The white florals are very much subdued in Divine exposing just enough warmth and charm to allow oakmoss to be their partner in crime. And a crime they do commit for they manage to steal my affection before I know it, leaving a most stunning sillage.
For me Divine is a very French perfume. It embodies sophistication, maturity, and class that are so distinctly present in the classics of Guerlain, Jean Patou, Chanel, Piguet. If it were a fabric, it’d most certainly be satin in a deep, opulent color.
I highly recommend to also read another gorgeous review by Cait on Legerdenez.
Divine fragrances are available at The Perfume Shoppe, Luckyscent, Aus Liebe zum Duft, and directly from the Divine online shop.
Image source: www.divine.fr
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
28 Comments
1. Elle | August 4th, 2006 at 5:34 am
You’re right – this really doesn’t get enough press on the boards. I think of it as a modern classic and it’s underrated in the same way a lot of the great vintage classics are now. I fell in love w/ this when I was still a confirmed floral phobic, but the coriander and oakmoss set this one apart enough for me to go into immediate swoon mode. I’d never really thought of the peaches as being rotting before, but, now that I do, I see what you’re saying and I’m sure that was also a major part of its appeal for me.
2. chaya ruchama | August 4th, 2006 at 5:38 am
My, my,my…
I’m TRYING to behave here- but all this praise for Divine is so seductive!
I’m still waiting for Ayala to send me [12!] samples I’ve requested- from every genre possible-
What to do…bruised peaches, oakmoss, coriander, whispers of Guerlain and Piguet…
I na, you really don’t play fair… and the lyricism is lovely…
TROUBLEMAKER
3. Judith | August 4th, 2006 at 5:40 am
I do like this very much, although I probably wear the other scents in this line more (l’ame soeur and the masculines). I need to get more, and wear it more often:)
4. The Scented Salamander | August 4th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Very much looking forward to testing this one. I have a sample of it on its way.
5. Marina | August 4th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Rotting fruits, animalic, very French…all the magical words…I want this!
Thank you very much for the review!
6. Christina H. | August 4th, 2006 at 7:44 am
I totally agree that these are sadly overlooked. I love all three of the ladies’ fragrances and the men’s fragrance smells pretty darn good too! Thank you for a lovely review of Divine.
7. chloe.f.puff | August 4th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Love it, smells like Ysatis. Unfortunately, I rarely feel ladylike enough (elegant, refined, classic – not) for either one.
8. marchlion | August 4th, 2006 at 8:18 am
Ina, I’m going back to resniff the others in the line this morning. I think the two men’s scents were particularly appealing. Patty tried this at my urging and it smelled oddly synthetic on her, and not so pretty. But on me! it lives up to its name. Of course Marina will find NO skank at all
Thank you again for helping me find this one, I totally owe you.
9. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:28 am
Elle, rotting peaches is definitely major part of the appeal here.
10. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Chaya, that’s the point of Underrated Friday, right? To tell you that you need this!
11. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Judith, L’Ame Soeur deserves a post of its own.
Love the other creations, too.
12. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Helene, I think you’ll really like it.
13. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Marina, point taken.
14. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Christina, you’re welcome!
15. greeneyes | August 4th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Oh, I used to wear (and love) Coco…even if this is less spicy and ambery as you say, it sounds worth trying.
16. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Chloe, I must sniff Ysatis soon. Can’t remember what it smells like. I also think Divine smells somewhat like Jill Sander #4.
17. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:31 am
March, I’m so glad you love it.
L’Ame Soeur might be another winner for you.
18. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 8:32 am
Greeneyes, definitely worth a try.
19. BBliss | August 4th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Glad you reviewed this one – let’s keep Divine in business!
I adore this one – and it is like Ysatis just much smoother and better – actually, I think all of the line (M/F) are really special. L’Ame Soeur is the only one that doesn’t work on my skin, but I still love to smell it!
20. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
BBliss, you’re the second person who compares it to Ysatis. Now, I must really track it down.
21. violetnoir | August 4th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Ina, I will have to go back and sniff this one again. I prefer L’Ame Soeur, although I feel it’s a bit to aldehydic for my taste.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs!
22. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 1:54 pm
Robin, L’Aem Soeur is another beauty. Do let me know how you like Divine.
23. Sara | August 4th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
I love all the Divine scents–they definitely don’t get enough attention–wonderful review. Someday I will be girlie and refined enough to rock Divine–the scents for me feel more like “me” right now though.
24. Sara | August 4th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
oops–meant to write “the scents for MEN feel more like ‘me’ right now though.”
25. Ina | August 4th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Sara, I don’t wear Divine much myself, and I’m still testing the ones for men.
26. Victoria O | August 10th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
A bottle of this is in my future.
:O)
27. Aromascope » L̵&hellip | December 12th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
[...] L’Inspiratrice is the new addition to Parfums Divine, a French niche perfume line created by Yvon Mouchel. I have a very high appreciation for the entire line, my constant favorites being L’Ame Soeur and Divine. Needless to say, the news of a new scent sent me over the moon, and, while I’ve been thoroughly testing L’Inspiratrice the minute a sample was in my hands, I feel like I cannot quite give it justice just yet – I see new facets each time it touches my skin. [...]
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